Document Document Title
US09150122B2 Vehicle seat, in particular utility vehicle seat
A vehicle seat has a scissor-type stand vibratable and adjustable in height, with a pneumatic spring and cranks, intersecting at a scissor shaft. A control device for level control and for height adjustment of the stand has a control element, a valve device controlled by the control element, for controlling the spring, a switching element movable relative to the control element or the valve device, and a bearing. The control element and valve device are kinematically assigned to different parts of the stand movable relative to one another. The control element is linked to a first crank. The bearing is spaced from the shaft and connected with a second crank. The valve device is connected with the switching element movable relative to the control element.
US09150121B2 Adjusting mechanism, in particular in the interior fittings area of a motor vehicle
The invention relates to an adjusting mechanism, in particular in the interior fittings area of a motor vehicle, in which a support structure is movable relative to a base element.
US09150104B2 Vehicle steering-based speed control system and method
A control system and method is provided for a vehicle. The control system includes a speed sensor, a wheel angle sensor, and a vehicle position sensor. An electronic control unit (ECU) determines a yaw-rate error as a function of at least the vehicle position signal, determines a first speed limit as a function of the yaw-rate error, determines a second speed limit as a function of a vehicle lateral acceleration, and determines a third speed limit as a function of the wheel angle signal. The ECU selects the lowest of the first, second and third speed limits, generates a front wheel drive command and a diff lock command as a function of the wheel angle signal. The ECU also limits the vehicle speed to not greater than the selected lowest wheel speed limit.
US09150098B2 Reinforcement structure for a vehicle fuel filler tube
A vehicle fuel filler tube comprises: a fuel filler tube configured to fluidly connect a fuel filler adaptor with a fuel reservoir and having an exposed segment; an elastomeric sleeve at least partially circumscribing the exposed segment; and a rigid reinforcement plate at least partially overlaying the sleeve, the plate extending longitudinally along a circumferential portion of the exposed segment and shaped to approximate a contour of the exposed segment.
US09150097B2 Adjustment device, air inlet, and motor vehicle
The invention relates to an adjustment device for adjusting shutoff strips of an at least partly closable air inlet of a motor compartment of a motor vehicle between at least a first position in which the shutoff strips leave the air inlet at least partly open and a second position in which the shutoff strips at least partly close the air inlet. The adjustment device comprises a drive unit, situated in a housing, which has a motor and a drive train with reduction stage. The drive train comprises an output shaft provided with a first coupling means facing outside the housing and a second coupling means facing outside the housing, opposite with respect to the first coupling means. The coupling means are configured to cooperate with, respectively, a first and a second coupling element of a first and second set of shutoff strips, respectively, for coupling the output shaft on both sides of the housing to the respective set of shutoff strips.
US09150096B2 Grill shutter structure of vehicle
A grill shutter unit comprises a shutter unit provided in back of a traveling-air introductory port formed at a front end of a vehicle body and including shutter members, and a traveling-air guide member including a guide frame portion provided at an outer peripheral edge portion of the shutter unit and a seal portion provided to extend forward continuously from a front end of the guide frame portion and be made from soft synthetic resin having more flexibility than the frame portion, wherein the grill shutter unit is configured such that when the shutter members are closed, a seal portion of the traveling-air guide member is pressed against an outer peripheral wall face of the traveling-air introductory port by pressure of traveling air shut off by the shutter members closed.
US09150092B2 Drive unit for vehicle
A drive unit for a vehicle includes: an engine (2); a compound motor (3) having a first rotor and a second rotor that are differentially rotatable with each other; and an automatic transmission (4A) that delivers power output of the engine (2), which is input via the compound motor (3), to an output shaft (33), in which the first rotor is connected to an input side of a gear pair that corresponds to an even shift speed and the second rotor is connected to an input side of a gear pair that corresponds to an odd shift speed.
US09150078B2 Vehicle suspension apparatus with bar and body load reaction component for ride height management
A suspension apparatus for a vehicle includes a bar operatively connectable to driver-side and passenger-side suspension corner assemblies to extend therebetween and rotatably mountable to the vehicle body between the suspension corner assemblies. The suspension apparatus also includes a body load reaction component that is operatively connectable to at least one of the body and the bar. The body load reaction component is engaged to provide reaction force on the body to manage vertical displacement of the body.
US09150075B2 Methods and apparatus for suspending vehicles
A method and apparatus for a shock absorber for a vehicle having a gas spring with first and second gas chambers, wherein the first chamber is utilized during a first travel portion of the shock absorber and the first and second chambers are both utilized during a second portion of travel. In one embodiment, a travel adjustment assembly is configured to selectively communicate a first gas chamber with a negative gas chamber.
US09150070B2 Actively controlled torsion bar suspension
A suspension system for a vehicle having a vehicle body arranged along a first axis includes a steering knuckle configured to rotatably support the vehicle's road wheel. The system also includes a torsion bar that is configured to generate a spring rate and arranged along a second axis that forms an acute angle relative to the first axis. The system also includes a tensile drop link fixed relative to the steering knuckle. The system additionally includes a semi-trailing arm having a first end and a distal second end, wherein the semi-trailing arm is operatively connected to a first end of the torsion bar at the first end of the arm and to the tensile drop link at the second end of the arm. Furthermore, the system includes an actuator fixed relative to the body and configured to rotate a second end of the torsion bar about the second axis.
US09150065B1 Fifth wheel trailer hitch adapter
A fifth wheel trailer hitch adapter permitting a fifth-wheel trailer hitch to be mounted outside a truck bed and coupled with a vehicle rear hitch so that neither the adapter nor any portion of a fifth-wheel trailer occupies any portion of the truck bed by including a wheeled L-shaped support frame with a vertical shaft having a telescopic inner shaft therein and a horizontal hitch frame telescopically coupled to the rear hitch, a solid wedge between the vertical shaft and the hitch frame, and a plate attached to the inner shaft by a plurality of braces to ensure structural integrity. The fifth-wheel trailer hitch mounts to a base attached atop the plate.
US09150061B2 Carrier device
In order to improve a carrier device for motor vehicles which is designed to support loads such that the loads acting on it can be detected, it is suggested that the carrier device be provided at the least with a first sensor at a first installation point and with a second sensor at a second installation point, that a section of the carrier device be located between the installation points, its deformations caused by a load being detected by the sensors at least in part and that an evaluation unit be provided which records measurement values of the sensors and determines a borne load from them.
US09150057B2 Tire having tread with hidden tread blocks
Tires in use wear in a host of ways. One negative manner in which tires, especially truck tires, may wear is in an irregular fashion. When this phenomenon happens, the tread of the tire may become unusable, forcing the user to replace the tire, which is undesirable. This patent application poses a new and useful way of preventing irregular wear involving the use of hidden sipes or tread blocks. In some embodiments, these hidden sipes or tread blocks are found in tread blocks or ribs adjacent other tread blocks or ribs that have been determined to be susceptible to irregular wear. In other embodiments, the hidden sipes or tread blocks are formed by a sipe blade that has a connecting member to which two y-branched members are attached, and further comprising dividing members that connect between the y-branched members.
US09150056B2 Pneumatic tire
A pneumatic tire has: a circumferential groove on each side of the tire equator; oblique grooves extending from the circumferential groove while inclining to one circumferential direction; and lug grooves extending axially outwardly beyond the tread edges from positions axially outside the circumferential groove while inclining to the one circumferential direction. The lug grooves include: a first lug groove comprising an axially inner steeply-inclined part and an axially outer mildly-inclined part; and a second lug groove extending along the mildly-inclined part. The axially inner end of the first lug groove is at a distance La of 8 to 12% of the tread width from the circumferential groove. The steeply-inclined part inclines at an angle larger than an inclination angle of the oblique grooves.
US09150053B2 Pneumatic tire
A pneumatic tire comprises buttress parts each provided with a row of protrusions arranged circumferentially of the tire. The protrusion has a radially outside wall surface rising from the surface of the buttress part, a radially inside wall surface rising from the surface of the buttress part, and a top surface extending between the radially inside wall surface and the radially outside wall surface. The radially outside wall surface starts to rise from the surface of the buttress part at a certain distance from the tread edge so that the minimum radial distance Kmin from the tread edge to the protrusions is in a range of from 5 to 15 mm.
US09150048B2 Tool for holding a wheel bearing or a wheel bearing seal of a vehicle wheel, method of installing or maintaining a set of vehicle wheels and set of wheels using such a tool
A tool for holding the wheel bearing or the wheel bearing seal of a vehicle wheel. This tool is useful in the fields of aircraft manufacture and aircraft maintenance. The aircraft wheel is of the kind comprising a rim that has a flange on the hub side and a wheel bearing, mounted on a stub axle. The holding tool comprises a plate bearing a collar that presses against the wheel bearing. An arrangement to lock the tooling onto the rim of the wheel flange brings the pressing collar into locked contact with the wheel bearing.
US09150046B2 Envelope inserting apparatus
An inserting apparatus, for inserting documents into envelopes, comprising: an envelope holder for holding an envelope at least in a document inserting position, a document inserting path arranged upstream of the envelope holder for feeding a document to the envelope, an envelope opening device comprising an opening element adapted to be inserted in the envelope to move an envelope throat and an envelope body away from each other, the opening element comprising an opening element inserting finger arranged to be inserted in an inner space of the envelope, a sensor device with a primary sensor part mounted to the inserting finger and a secondary sensor part mounted to a base part or to the inserting finger of the opening element, wherein the sensor device is adapted to detect if the inserting finger is positioned in between the throat and the body.
US09150045B2 Method and device for surgical marking
A surgical marking pen may include a pen body, a first chamber within the pen body containing at least one powdered dye, a second chamber within the pen body and separated from the first chamber, and a tip in fluid communication with the first chamber or the second chamber. The second container contains a solvent, and the first chamber and the second chamber are selectively placeable into fluid communication with one another. The at least one powdered dye and the solvent, when mixed, form a dye solution which is disposable upon a skin or tissue surface and is able to be visualized simultaneously by a user in ambient light and with a fluorescence imager.
US09150042B2 Fully automatic coil binding machine
A fully automatic coil binding machine includes a main body, a width adjusting device, a paper clamping device, a resting device, a coil driving device, a cutting device and a driving device. The main body has a coil guiding slot and a guiding row of teeth. The width adjusting device may be used to adjust the width of the coil guiding slot. The paper clamping device has a paper slot, in which a stack of paper may be placed. The binding edge of the stack of paper may rest on the resting device, so that its curvature may be adjusted. The coil driving device may move the coil located in the coil guiding slot along the guiding row of teeth into the paper slot and drive the coil to spin through the holes of the stack of paper.
US09150039B2 Image forming apparatus including skew correction mechanism, control method therefor, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus that can detect a leading edge of a tabbed sheet after skew correction with high accuracy and without increasing a size of the apparatus. A transfer unit transfers a toner image to the sheet, the skew of which having been corrected based on a detection result of a first skew detection unit, while the toner image is controlled to be synchronized with the sheet based on the detection result of the first skew detection unit and a detection result of a second skew detection unit.
US09150033B2 Printing apparatus and printing method
There is provided a printing apparatus including: a transport unit which transports a medium in a transport direction, a first head, a first light source which is provided further to the downstream side in the transport direction than the first head, a second head which is provided further to the downstream side in the transport direction than the first head and the first light source, and a second light source which is provided further to the downstream side in the transport direction than the second head and which irradiates light with a stronger irradiation energy than the irradiation energy of the first light source, in which the first head ejects ink of one color of any among magenta ink, cyan ink, and black ink onto a medium, and the second head ejects yellow ink onto the medium.
US09150032B2 Methods, apparatus, and systems for controlling an initial line width of radiation curable gel ink
A radiation curable ink initial line width control system includes a print head that deposits radiation curable ink to form as-deposited ink lines on a substrate. A substrate heating system heats the substrate to heat the ink and spread the ink to increase a line width of the ink. The line width of the ink is increased before the ink is contact-leveled at a contact-leveling nip. The substrate is heated to a temperature that minimizes or avoids showthrough and/or coalescence in a printed image.
US09150029B1 Liquid ejection device
An ink ejection device includes: a head section ejecting a plurality of kinds of inks; and an ink supply section supplying the plurality of kinds of inks to the head section. The ink supply section includes: two outlet ports which are separated from each other in a first direction intersecting with a vertical direction and through which a first kind of ink among the plurality of kinds of inks is supplied toward the head section; and an air-trap chamber in communication with the two outlet ports. The air-trap chamber protrudes to one side of a second direction intersecting with the vertical direction and the first direction relative to the two outlet ports. A portion connecting the two outlet ports of the air-trap chamber has an arc shape in a plane containing the first direction and the second direction or a bent portion of the portion connecting the two outlet ports of the air-trap chamber has an obtuse angle in the plane.
US09150027B2 Liquid supplying device, droplet discharge device, and image forming apparatus
A liquid supplying device includes a liquid container detachably mountable to the container mount portion, a liquid supply channel to communicate with both the liquid container mounted in the container mount portion and a liquid supply target, a liquid feeder at a midway of the liquid supply channel to pressurize a liquid in the liquid supply channel to feed the liquid to the liquid supply target by pressurizing the liquid, a bypass channel connected to the liquid supply channel to bypass a portion of the liquid supply channel and communicate with both an upstream side and a downstream side of the liquid feeder in a liquid supply direction of the liquid supply channel, and a first valve in the bypass channel to close when the liquid container is mounted in the container mount portion and to open in response to detachment of the liquid container.
US09150026B1 Liquid jetting apparatus
There is provided a liquid jetting apparatus including: a liquid jetting head; a cartridge installation portion; and an electroformed filter provided in a channel between the cartridge installation portion and the liquid jetting head. A lower limit Smin of the area of the filter is expressed as: S min = aL + a 2 ⁢ L 2 + 4 ⁢ ⁢ ab 2 provided that a is a constant expressed as: a = 128 ⁢ ⁢ μ ⁢ ⁢ Q N ⁢ ⁢ π ⁢ ⁢ d 4 ⁢ Δ ⁢ ⁢ P M , b is a constant expressed as: b=αcCVtotal, and L is a thickness of the filter. An upper limit Smax of the area of the filter is expressed as follows, S max = S b · 0.9 X .
US09150017B2 Liquid ejecting head, liquid ejecting apparatus and piezoelectric element
A liquid ejecting head which discharges a liquid from a nozzle opening including a piezoelectric body layer and a piezoelectric element possessing an electrode which is arranged on the piezoelectric body layer, wherein the piezoelectric body layer consists of a complex oxide having a perovskite structure, and when 2θ is fixed within the range of 21.9° to 22.7° to scan in the direction of the χ-axis, the piezoelectric body layer has a peak in the range of 4.75° to 28.3° and when 2θ is fixed within the range of 31.1° to 32.6° to scan in the direction of the χ-axis, the piezoelectric body layer has a peak in the range of 24.8° to 40.75°.
US09150009B1 Printing apparatus, printing method, and program
A discharge amount of ink is corrected so that thinning rates of a discharge amount of ink to be discharged to an end portion on an upstream side in a scanning direction are larger than thinning rates of a discharge amount of ink to be discharged to an end portion on a downstream side in the scanning direction.
US09150001B2 Hybrid reinforcement structure
A structural reinforcement for insertion into a cavity of a vehicle structure including a base reinforcing portion, an expandable material and a localized reinforcement is disclosed. The localized reinforcement is placed within the structural reinforcement at a location of anticipated increased deformation during vehicle impact in an effort to reduce deformation and control the load distribution post-impact.
US09149999B2 Method of repairing, splicing, joining, machining, and stabilizing honeycomb core using pourable structural foam and a structure incorporating the same
A method of the present disclosure includes of repairing a core stiffened structure with structural foam. Another method includes splicing core members together using structural foam. Another method includes joining a core member to a structure using structural foam. Another method includes using structural foam to stabilize a core member during a machining process. Another method includes stabilizing a core member with structural foam to prevent the core member from crushing in autoclave pressure. The present disclosure further includes a core stiffened structure have a core member with structural foam therein.
US09149983B2 Crystal used for closing the top of the case of a portable object and method of welding a crystal of this type
A crystal and an ultrasonic welding method for a crystal. The crystal is used to close a top of a case of a portable object, the crystal being made of a transparent plastic material and being secured to the case of the portable object by ultrasonic welding. The crystal includes a top surface and a bottom surface that carry one or more conductive paths made of a transparent conductive material, and a peripheral rim that extends along at least one portion of the perimeter of the crystal. The peripheral rim provides at least one surface for the ultrasonic welding of the crystal to the case of the portable object.
US09149980B2 Ultrasonic sealing of packages
A method and apparatus for sealing films. In one embodiment the sealing device comprises a horn and an anvil. The film has a standard portion and an increased portion. Increased energy is applied to the film in the increased portion compared to the energy applied to the standard portion. Such a method allows for sealing of varying number of layers.
US09149968B2 Method for producing molded parts from a polyoxymethylene polymer
The invention relates to a process for the production of moldings composed of a polyoxymethylene polymer via blow molding, in which the polyoxymethylene polymer is extruded to give tubing, using an extruder with a grooved feed section, where the feed section is heated to a temperature in the range from 100 to 230° C., and the extruded tubing composed of the polyoxymethylene polymer is introduced into a blow mold, and a molding composed of the extruded tubing is produced in the blow mold.
US09149953B2 Scribing wheel, method for manufacturing the scribing wheel, and scribing method
A scribing wheel for scribing a brittle material-made substrate. Disc-shaped scribing-wheel base material in use is so designed that mid-portion of disc periphery has the largest diameter. Diamond film is formed on the periphery by a CVD method. The periphery is ground in the middle so that a plane including a circle defined by ridge line becomes perpendicular to the central axis of the scribing wheel.
US09149946B2 Apparatus and method for manufacturing hard book cover components
An apparatus, method, and system are provided for cutting panels of stock material for producing hard book casings. The apparatus may include a transport mechanism, a vertical cutter, and/or a horizontal cutter. The vertical cutter may produce a vertical cut of the stock material. The horizontal cutter may produce a horizontal cut of the stock material. The apparatus may produce properly dimensioned panels from the stock material in a single pass.
US09149936B2 Robot having arm with unequal link lengths
A transport apparatus including a drive; a first arm connected to the drive, where the first arm includes a first link, a second link and an end effector connected in series with the drive, where the first link and the second link have different effective lengths; and a system for limiting rotation of the end effector relative to the second link to provide substantially only straight movement of the end effector relative to the drive when the first arm is extended or retracted.
US09149930B2 Control system, program, and method of controlling mechanical equipment
A control system includes a force sensor that has a mechanical mechanism (e.g., an end effector) and N (N is an integer equal to or more than two) triaxial force sensor units, acquires unit output values to which values resulting from the mechanical mechanism have been added from the respective triaxial force sensor units of the N triaxial force sensor units, and outputs force sense values based on the unit output values, a force sense value corrector that corrects the force sense values based on the force sense values output by the force sensor, and a controller that performs control of mechanical equipment (e.g., a robot) including the mechanical mechanism based on the force sense values corrected in the force sense value corrector.
US09149926B2 Collapsible stand
A collapsible stand includes a base frame, a first supporting frame pivotally connected to the base frame, a first supporting unit pivotally connected between the base frame and the first supporting frame, a second supporting frame pivotally connected to the first supporting frame, a second supporting unit pivotally connected between the base frame and the second supporting frame. When operating the base frame, the second supporting frame is able to be extended away from the first supporting frame, and it is easily operating the collapsible stand from a collapsed position to an extended position; or the second supporting frame is able to be received toward the first supporting frame to a collapsed position by lifting up the first supporting frame.
US09149925B1 Ergonomic garden tool handle
An ergonomic tool handle is designed for “one-handed” use by incorporating a hand grip and a forearm support in a compact arrangement. The tool handle includes a longitudinal shaft with a vertical hand grip formed at one end and a forearm support at the opposing end. The hand grip is essentially U-shaped and oriented such that the “U” is upside-down and attached to the longitudinal shaft at two separate locations (the “top” ends of each leg of the “U”). The forearm support takes the form of an enlarged support area (with respect to the diameter of the shaft) and in one embodiment is V-shaped (with a cross-member attached between the legs of the “V”). Preferably, various tool implements may be removably attached to the longitudinal shaft of the handle (e.g., screw-on, locking pin, etc.).
US09149923B2 Oscillating tools and accessories
A power tool constructed in accordance to one example of the present disclosure can include a repositionable tool accessory. The repositionable tool accessory can be selectively coupled to a first mounting structure on the tool. The repositionable tool accessory can include a tool accessory housing, a rod, a roller, and a locking knob. The tool accessory housing can define a first rod opening and include engaging structure that is configured to cooperatively mate with the first mounting structure. The rod can slidably translate along the first rod opening. The roller can be rotatably coupled to a distal portion of the rod. The locking knob can be movable between an unlocked position wherein the rod is freely translatable along the first rod opening to locate the roller at different locations relative to the output member, and a lock position wherein the rod is fixed relative to the tool accessory housing.
US09149922B1 Tool structure for shaping an object
A striking or shaping tool structured to size and/or otherwise shape an object such as, but not limited to a jewelry object, which is mounted on a mandrel. The tool comprises a generally hammer-like construction including a head having a base. A striking member, having a striking surface, and an alignment member are connected to the base and are cooperatively dimensioned and disposed. The striking member also includes a mandrel engaging portion comprising one or more recessed, exposed surfaces dimensioned and configured to substantially conform to an exterior surface of the mandrel. The cooperative dispositions and dimensions of a recessed exposed surface and the alignment member facilitate a concurrent, movable engagement thereof with the mandrel during a striking procedure of the striking surface on the mandrel mounted jewelry object, resulting in a predetermined operative orientation of the striking surface relative to the jewelry object, during the striking procedure.
US09149911B2 Processes and apparatus for surface modification
The present application relates to processes for changing the composition of surfaces and the application of such processes. The process involves the introduction of a surface augmentation composition within an aerosol formed from a liquid precursor with bombarding particles in an ultrasonic shot peening apparatus.
US09149906B2 Apparatus for CMP pad conditioning
A chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) apparatus is provided that includes a conditioning disc for conditioning a polishing pad of the CMP apparatus. The conditioning disc includes a plurality of portions of subsystem discs. The portions may be regions of the disc that are concentric. Each portion of the disc is operable to rotate at a different angular velocity. In some embodiments, a different applied loading is provided to each of the portions of the disc in addition to or in lieu of the different angular velocities.
US09149894B2 Fence system
A fence panel and method of assembly. The fence panel includes end brackets that are affixed to panel facing sides of fence uprights. A top rail and a base rail span between the uprights. Panel and spacer members are secured between the top and base rails. The fence panel construction method facilitates construction of lengths of fence by a single person by first installing uprights in the ground, then affixing the base rail to the uprights. A magnetic strip spans between the uprights. Spacers and panels are supported by the base rail and by the magnetic strip. After placement of the spacers and panels, a top rail is positioned between the uprights and adjacent to upper ends of the spacers and panels, thereby securing the spacers and panels between the top rail and the base rail to form a fence panel.
US09149890B2 Laser puncher for punching hole on tipping paper in a curved manner
A laser puncher for punching holes on tipping paper, comprises a panel, a light guiding cylinder, a laser connected with the light guiding cylinder, and a transmission system for driving a piece of tipping paper to move in a curved manner. The laser puncher further includes at least one focusing optical head, at least one driving motor fixed on the panel, and a connecting rod fixedly connected with at least one moving optical cylinder. The moving optical cylinder is associated with the light guiding cylinder that penetrates the panel and is connected with the focusing optical head. The driving motor drives the focusing optical head to reciprocate back and forth via the connecting rod and the moving optical cylinder.
US09149884B2 Universal head-mix swirl injector for gas torch
A head-mix swirl injector for gas torches. The swirl injector may include an injector body adapted to be disposed in a head of the torch. The injector body may define a swirl baffle, an injector orifice in fluid communication with the swirl baffle, and a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the injector orifice. The swirl injector may further include at least one gas port extending from the mixing chamber to an exterior of the injector body. The mixing chamber may have a larger diameter than the injector orifice.
US09149880B2 Electrical discharge machine and electrical discharge machining method
An electrical discharge machine that performs electrical discharge machining on a workpiece by supplying a machining fluid to a machining gap between a machining electrode and the workpiece, the electrical discharge machine including: an air-bubble generation unit that generates air bubbles in the machining fluid; a storage unit that stores therein the machining fluid containing the air bubbles generated by the air-bubble generation unit; and a flow-rate adjustment unit that adjusts a flow rate of the machining fluid that flows in the storage unit, wherein the flow-rate adjustment unit adjusts the flow rate according to a diameter of the air bubbles contained in the machining fluid to be supplied to a machining tank in which the workpiece is placed.
US09149878B2 Family of cutting inserts, milling cutting tool, and cutting insert
A family of cutting inserts includes a plurality of different inserts, each having a different geometry. Each insert of the plurality of different inserts is adapted to be mounted in a common insert-receiving pocket on a toolholder of a milling cutting tool so that an outer diameter generated by the milling cutting tool is the same, regardless which insert of the plurality of inserts is mounted in the pocket.
US09149874B2 Tool holder
A tool holder includes a holder body having a trunk and a grip tube, a pressure ring fitted around the grip tube, a nut for axially moving the pressure ring, and a sleeve defining a pressure chamber around the outer periphery thereof. The trunk is formed with cylinders in which pistons are inserted respectively. The cylinders communicate with the pressure chamber through a communication channel. Hydraulic fluid is sealed in the cylinders, the communication channel and the pressure chamber. When the nut is rotated, the pressure ring is axially moved, thus radially compressing the grip tube. Simultaneously, the pistons are pushed into the respective cylinders, thus increasing the pressure in the pressure chamber. As a result, both a first holding hole formed in the grip and a second holding hole formed in the sleeve decrease in diameter, so that a tool inserted in these holes are held in position.
US09149873B2 Collet retention mechanism for a rotary tool
An accessory tool retention assembly for a rotary tool includes a collet having a body defining a collet axis and a plurality of flexible segments that extend longitudinal along the body generally parallel to the collet axis. Each flexible segment includes a curved end portion that curves radially outwardly from the collet body. A collet chuck is configured to be coupled to an output shaft of a motor of a rotary tool. The collet chuck defines a collet receiving passage configured to slidably receive the collet. A detent structure is positioned to block the collet from exiting the collet receiving passage while the flexible segments of the collet are in a relaxed state.
US09149870B2 Additive manufacturing chamber with reduced load
A disclosed additive manufacturing machine includes a fixed platform defining a work surface for supporting fabrication of a part and a housing defining a chamber over the work surface. A material applicator is supported on the housing for depositing material onto the work surface. An energy directing device is also supported on the housing and directs energy within the chamber to form a part. The housing is movable relative to the work surface therefore moves the energy producing device relative to the work surface to maintain a distance between the energy directing device and a surface of the part during fabrication.
US09149865B2 Method for manufacturing micro gas turbine
A method for manufacturing an inexpensive micro gas turbine has an existing compressor-turbine unit divided into two separate parts being a compressor and a turbine. The compressor and turbine shafts are joined. Two existing bearing units are taken, wherein one of them may belong to the existing compressor-turbine unit. The rotor of an existing generator is mounted on the joined shaft. A generator housing is manufactured and connected to the bearing units. The stator of an existing generator is mounted into the generator housing. Energy input into the working cycle of the gas turbine can be implemented by adding either an internal burner or external burner with a heat exchanger. By using inexpensive and often mass produced off-the-shelf components, a cost effective micro gas turbine can be derived.
US09149855B2 Equipment for forming a frontal toothing, in particular on an inner ring of a wheel hub
An apparatus including rigid plate having a first face and a second face, a plurality of through seats arranged as a circular crown about an axis of symmetry (A), perpendicular to each seat and shaped as a circular crown segment; a plurality of knives carried by the plate, each being axially slidingly guided into a seat, independently of the other knives; each knife has a head which protrudes from the seat from the side of the first face, a prismatic body having an axial length greater than the seat, and a wedge-shaped end, opposite to the head, which protrudes from the second face when the head substantially abuts against the first face; the wedge-shaped ends circumferentially having a first profile, complementary to that of the frontal toothing to be obtained, and the knives can be replaced totally or partially with others having a second profile different from the first profile.
US09149853B2 Device for notching and secondary battery manufactured using the same
Disclosed is a device for notching, at an interval of a unit electrode, a continuous electrode sheet in which an electrode active material is applied to one or both surfaces thereof, to form a plurality of unit electrodes from the electrode sheet, the device including a press to press notches on the top and the bottom of the electrode sheet at a set position, and a drawing member arranged at the rear of the press based on a feed direction of the electrode sheet, the drawing member drawing and transporting the electrode sheet by one pitch, a size corresponding to the unit electrode according to operation of the press, wherein, when one of the grippers draws and transports the electrode sheet, the remaining grippers move to a position for drawing.
US09149847B2 Indented tube for a heat exchanger
A shell tube and heat exchanger (10) includes a plurality of tubes surrounded by a shell (16). Each tube (12) includes a plurality of indentations. A mold is placed in a desired positions and orientation in a die. A tube is placed in a first position within a die, and the mold crimps the tube to form the desired indentation in the tube. The mold is then released, and the tube is moved relative to the mold to a second position. The mold again crimps the tube to form an additional indentation. Alternately, the mold includes a roller that forms a groove on the tube. The tube is translated or both translated and rotated relative to the mold to form the groove.
US09149846B2 Roll and a roll stand for rolling stock
A bearing for a rolling-mill roll (1) having two stub shafts (2) of which at least one is equipped with a journal bushing (3) mounted to resist torque, a bearing bushing (9) held in a mount (10) surrounding the journal bushing (3), a bearing lubricant film provided between the journal bushing (4) and the bearing bushing (9), and a pressure ring (11) is characterized in that the journal (2) and the journal bushing (3) are connected to one another by a polygonal connection.
US09149843B2 Sheets processing apparatus
In a sheet processing apparatus which checks sheets and sorts the sheets for a plurality of cassettes on the basis of the check result and conditions for the sheets which are assigned to the respective cassettes, conditions for sheets such as bill types and bill states which are assigned to the respective cassettes are displayed on a display unit. When an instruction to save these setting contents is issued while a cassette and conditions for sheets which are displayed on the display unit are selected, the selected conditions for sheets are assigned to the selected cassette.
US09149835B2 Methods for repairing defects in automotive coatings
A method of repairing defects in automotive coatings is disclosed. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of repairing defects in color-clear composite coatings.
US09149823B2 Fluid product dispenser
A fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir (1) and a dispenser member (2), the reservoir (1) comprising a slide cylinder (11) that is cylindrical, and a follower-piston (14) that includes at least one lip (16) that is in sliding contact with the cylinder (11), the slide cylinder (11) being provided with a bottom (12), an equalizing space (E) being formed between the follower-piston (14) and the bottom (12), this space (E) communicating with the outside so as to keep the space (E) at atmospheric pressure, such that, each time fluid is dispensed, outside air penetrates into the space (E), which increases as the follower-piston (14) moves away from the bottom (12); the dispenser being characterized in that a bacterial filter (F1) filters outside air coming into contact with the lip (16) of the follower-piston (11) through the equalizing space (E).
US09149822B2 Quick release mechanism for paint sprayer
A sprayer generally includes a tool housing have a wet housing portion that disconnects from a dry housing portion. A solenoid motor is contained in the dry housing portion. An arm member is connected to the dry housing portion. The solenoid motor is operable to move the arm member relative to the dry housing portion. A spray nozzle is connected to a chamber member in the wet housing portion. A piston member extends from the wet housing portion and terminates with a tip portion operable to engage the arm member. A catch member is movably connected to the dry housing portion having an extended condition and a retracted condition. The catch member in the retracted condition is operable to release the wet housing portion from the dry housing portion and disconnect the piston member from the solenoid motor. The catch member in the extended condition is operable to lock the wet housing portion to the dry housing portion and keep the piston member engaged with the arm member.
US09149821B2 Cordless spray device
A system may include a portable spray device having a battery powered drive, a rotary atomizer driven by the battery powered drive, and a syringe configured to supply a liquid to the rotary atomizer, wherein the rotary atomizer is configured to rotate to atomize the liquid into a spray. A system may include a portable spray device having a barrel portion with a first syringe fluidly coupled to a spray head, and a handle portion coupled to the barrel portion via a break-action mechanism. The handle portion may include an actuator assembly configured to drive a first plunger in the first syringe.
US09149817B2 Showerhead system with front mounted diverter control interface
A shower fixture is provided that includes a fixed fluid dispensing unit and a removable fluid dispensing unit releasably secured to a receptacle therefor associated with the fixed dispensing unit such that the fixed dispensing unit and removable dispensing unit in a secured relationship form an integral dispensing face. A fluid supply provides selective communication with a front mounted diverter control interface for directing fluid flow to at least one of the fixed and removable fluid dispensing units.
US09149809B2 Thermal cycler with vapor chamber for rapid temperature changes
Rapid and uniform temperature changes in the wells of a microplate or any thin-walled plate that contains an array of reaction wells or sample receptacles are achieved by the use of heating and cooling elements with a vapor chamber interposed between such elements and the microplate. The upper surface of the vapor chamber and the underside of the sample plate in certain embodiments are complementary in shape, i.e., they have identical but oppositely directed contours in the areas around each of the sample receptacles, to provide continuous surface contact along the surface of each receptacle. In other embodiments, an intermediary plate is placed between the vapor chamber and the well plate, with the top surface of the intermediary plate being complementary in shape to the underside of the well plate.
US09149807B2 Specimen test unit
A self-contained specimen testing unit consisting of a swab-tip with attached, hollow swab-stick, an outer, elongated, removable tube housing cover that surrounds and protects the swab-tip and swab-stick, a dropper removably secured to the end of the tube cover, a dropper cap, a piercing closure member, a rotatable base closure member coupled to the piercing closure element, a membrane member mounted in the base closure member, and reagent-solution storage container screwed onto the end of the rotatable base closure member and sealed by the membrane member thereof. A method of using the unit is also disclosed whereby the piercing unit pierces the membrane when reagent solution is to be delivered to the swab-tip.
US09149806B2 Microfluidic devices and methods for cell sorting, cell culture and cells based diagnostics and therapeutics
Microfluidic devices and methods that use cells such as cancer cells, stem cells, blood cells for preprocessing, sorting for various biodiagnostics or therapeutical applications are described. Microfluidics electrical sensing such as measurement of field potential or current and phenomena such as immiscible fluidics, inertial fluidics are used as the basis for cell and molecular processing (e.g., characterizing, sorting, isolation, processing, amplification) of different particles, chemical compositions or biospecies (e.g., different cells, cells containing different substances, different particles, different biochemical compositions, proteins, enzymes etc.). Specifically this invention discloses a few sorting schemes for stem cells, whole blood and circulating tumor cells and also extracting serum from whole blood. Further medical diagnostics technology utilizing high throughput single cell PCR is described using immiscible fluidics couple with single or multi cells trapping technology.
US09149799B2 Eggshell catalyst consisting of a hollow cylindrical support body and a catalytically active oxide material applied to the outer surface of the support body
An eggshell catalyst consisting of a hollow cylindrical support body of length 2 to 10 mm, external diameter 4 to 10 mm and wall thickness 1 to 4 mm, and an eggshell, applied to the outer surface of the support body, of catalytically active oxide material of the general formula I, Mo12V2 to 4W0 to 3Cu0.8 to 1.5X10 to 4X20 to 40On  (I) in which the variables are each defined as follows: X1=one or more elements of the alkali metals and alkaline earth metals; X2=one or more elements from the group of Si, Al, Ti and Zr; and n=the stoichiometric coefficient of the element oxygen, which is determined by the stoichiometric coefficients of the elements other than oxygen and the charges thereof in I.
US09149796B2 Use of metal-accumulating plants for implementing chemical reactions
The use of metal-accumulating plants for implementing chemical reactions.
US09149790B2 Porous body and production method therefor
The present invention provides a porous material which has continuous pores and comprises a polymethyl methacrylate as a main component, wherein the continuous pores have a diameter of 0.001 μm to 500 μm and at least one surface of the porous material has a porosity of 10% to 80%; a separation membrane composed of the same; an adsorbent composed of the same; and a method production of the same. A porous material whose surface porosity and pore diameter are each controlled in a specific range can be obtained. The porous material has a fine and uniform porous structure in which the pore diameter can be controlled in the order of nanometers to micrometers; therefore, it can be advantageously used as a separation membrane such as a blood component separation membrane of an artificial kidney or the like or as an adsorbent.
US09149787B1 Acidic gas-permeated carboxyalkyl starch particles, extrudates, and process for making the same
The present disclosure relates to particles comprising carboxyalkyl starch that are permeated with an acidic gas and their uses as absorbent materials. It was discovered that superabsorbent materials could be obtained from carboxyalkyl starch particles permeated with the acidic gas and heated to a temperature of at least 100° C. until they reach an AUL at 0.7 psi. of at least 14 g/g and a CRC of at least 18 g/g. Moreover, it was discovered that the pH of alkaline starch extrudates can be adjusted by permeating particles of the extrudate with the acidic gas even with treating the particles to temperatures less than 100° C. The carboxyalkyl starch particles obtained by the methods described herein are characterized as having intramolecular ester bonds, which are greater in number at the surface of the particle than in the core, and the particles have a greater concentration of cation of the acidic gas at the surface than a the core.
US09149785B2 Hydrated humidity control substance and process for its preparation
The present invention relates to a process for preparing a hydrated moisture control substance comprising the steps: (i) providing a predetermined amount by weight of humidity control substance having a moisture content lower than the moisture content desired with respect to the relative humidity of the atmosphere to be established and/or maintained within a sealable packaging material, (ii) determining the amount of water necessary in order to impart the desired moisture content to the humidity control substance, (iii) introducing said predetermined amount of the humidity control substance into a mixing apparatus, (iv) introducing said amount of water into the mixing apparatus under mixing and allowing the humidity control substance to adsorb the water to form the hydrated humidity control substance. The present invention also relates to a hydrated humidity control substance obtainable by said process and to a container comprising said hydrated humidity control substance and a pharmaceutical or diagnostic product.
US09149783B2 Device for producing ethoxylation derivatives
A device for producing ethoxylation derivatives includes an assistant circulation loop with lower starting quantity is added on the base of the main circulation loop, and the assistant circulation pump is started first when slight chain initial dose is added with low flow rate of the ethylene oxide and high growth rate of polyreation; when the amount of reactant gets to the starting quantity of the main circulation pump, the main circulation loop is started with high flow rate of ethylene oxide. The two circulation loops cooperate with each other shorten reaction time and high yield in one batch; a pre-reaction cavity with smaller inner diameter than that of the main body of the reactor is extended from the bottom of the main body of the device, so that lower chain initial dose can start the assistant circulation pump, and then start the assistant circulation loop.
US09149781B2 Reactor with gas distribution system in bottom
The invention relates to a reactor for carrying out an exothermic process comprising a reactor shell, inlets for introducing reactants and coolant into the reactor shell, outlets for removing product and coolant from the reactor shell, at least two reactor tubes, a coolant chamber, and a gas distribution system below the coolant chamber, whereby at least two reactor tubes extend through the coolant chamber to enable fluid communication between the space below the coolant chamber and the space above the coolant chamber, said reactor comprising one or more highly porous catalysts, said catalyst(s) having a size of at least 1 mm and comprising a porous body and a catalyst material, whereby the porous body has a porosity within the range of between 50 and 98 volume %.
US09149764B2 Air-purifying device for vehicles
An air-purifying device for vehicles capable of diagnosing function deterioration of an ozone purifier with an inexpensive configuration is provided. At Step 120, applying current to an injector 20 is started. As a result, injection of ammonia from the injector 20 is started. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not i a heat generation amount is more than a predetermined amount A (Step 130). In the case of the heat generation amount>predetermined amount A, it can be determined that there are a large number of pores (fine pores) of activated carbon supporting a deterioration detection substance. In the case of the heat generation amount≦predetermined amount A, it can be determined that fine pores have decreased and an ozone purifying function of the activated carbon has deteriorated. Thus, an MIL 30 is lighted (Step 140).
US09149746B2 High speed filtration device using porous media, and backwash method thereof
The present invention relates to a porous media-mediated high speed filtration device for easy backwash, wherein the inflow water to be filtered is guided to an upper portion of the high speed filtration device and is filtered by downflow and porous media are backwashed for maintaining optimum filter efficiency by blocking the flow of inflow water and water to be treated after sensing the level of the inflow water or the change in the flux of the water to be treated, supplying backwash water and/or air by upflow through a backwash equipment to separate pollutants in the porous media by the collision and friction between the porous media by flowing of the porous media through the stream of the backwash water, placing the porous media in a stationary location, and discharging the pollutants through a discharge pipe of the high speed filtration device before the pollutants settle. In addition, the present invention comprises a backwash method of the high speed filtration device using porous media.
US09149745B2 Drinking water filter with integral self-disinfecting delivery system
An aspect of the present invention is generally directed toward an appliance that includes a water source inlet that receives intake water from a water source and a water outlet proximate a water dispensing location on a door of the appliance in fluid communication with one another via one or more water conduits spaced within the appliance. The appliance also includes a removable water filter and dispenser assembly configured to be removably engaged and disengaged with the water outlet of the appliance by hand without the use of tools. The removable water filter and dispenser assembly includes: (1) a housing that includes at least one water treatment media; and (2) a treated water dispensing outlet configured to deliver water treated by the at least one water treatment media for use or consumption.
US09149739B2 Production of higher alcohols with minimum methanol content from the gasification of carbonaceous materials
Systems and methods for generating higher alcohols from synthesis gas produced from carbonaceous materials are described, which can include a reactor configured to produce an alcohol stream and CO2 from a syngas feed. The alcohol stream can be separated in one or more downstream separators to produce a net reactor product and a methanol stream that can recycled into the reactor. The net reactor product preferably comprises higher-order alcohols such as ethanol, propanol, and butanol.
US09149730B1 Action figure display kit
An action figure display kit includes a plurality of square shaped display boards having a top surface, a bottom surface, and four equidistant side surfaces, respectively. The kit including a plurality of connection dowels having a first end spaced apart from a second end. A plurality of dowel joints are disposed on each of the display boards. Each dowel joint is configured to removably receive the first, or second end of one of the connection dowels, therein. Three of the dowel joints are disposed on each of the respective side surfaces of each display board. A plurality of the dowel joints are disposed on the top surface of each display board. Each of the dowel joints of the top surface of each respective display board are spaced equidistantly. Each of the dowel joints of each respective side surface of each respective display board are also spaced equidistantly.
US09149728B2 Entertainment ride
In order to provide an amusement ride having an enhanced experience factor, the amusement ride comprises a motion base, an audience platform mounted to the motion base, a plurality of seats, each accommodating at least one guest, supported on the audience platform, wherein the seats are arranged in at least one circular row, a 360° projection screen surrounding the audience platform, wherein the projection screen comprises a dome portion and a lower extension portion directly adjoining the dome portion, a plurality of projectors being arranged to project images on the entire projection screen.
US09149726B2 Method, system and computer readable recording medium for providing ranking of game group
A ranking method and system for providing a ranking of a game group is disclosed. The method includes creating a game group including a user and at least one member among the user's registered friends who have joined a game service, based on a game group creation request received from a user terminal. The method further comprises calculating a ranking of the user with respect to other members of the created game group based on a ranking inquiry request received from the user terminal, and providing the user terminal with the calculated ranking of the user. The user terminal drives a game service platform associated with a plurality of games and provides the game group creation request information and the ranking inquiry request information through the game service platform.
US09149721B2 Communication hub for video game development systems
A video game development system for enhancing communications between development tools and video game platforms or running games. The system includes a communications hub module running on a computer or server and communicatively linked with first and second video game platforms to allow the communications hub module to forward messages to and receive messages from the game platforms. Memory accessible by the communications hub module stores communication data sets or libraries controlling communications with the game platforms. A video game development tool is provided in the system and is communicatively linked with the communications hub module. The development tool transmits messages formatted based on a client-side communications library defining communications with the hub module. The hub module receives the transmitted messages, generates game platform messages from the received messages based on the platform communication libraries, and forwards the game platform messages to the first and second video game platforms.
US09149716B2 Game apparatus and game program
A task of the present invention is to prevent timings of a plurality of objects to arrive at the same destination from becoming uncoordinated and perform efficient computation processing to perform control of moving a plurality of objects in game space to the same destination. A movement control unit of the present invention reads information related to a moving speed of each player object from an object memory unit to perform control of moving a plurality of plurality objects. Further, the movement control unit determines a party moving speed for moving a plurality of player objects as a party based on the read information related to the plurality of moving speeds. Furthermore, the movement control unit performs control of moving a plurality of player objects according to the party moving speed.
US09149713B2 Wheel bearing assembly
A wheel bearing assembly has a wheel bearing with an inner race and outer race for fitting into a hub of a wheel. Bearings are seated between the inner race and the outer race. The inner race has an extension that axially extends inboard beyond the outer race. A spacer sleeve has a cup shaped end for snugly nesting the extension of the inner race. The cup shaped end has an inner radial wall for abutting an end wall of the inner race. The spacer sleeve also has an outer cylindrical wall forming a side wall of the cup shaped end and has an outer diameter sized for being snugly received into the hub of the wheel.
US09149708B2 Inflatable game field system
An inflatable game field system includes at least two inflatable modules, at least one connecting pipeline and one air inlet system connected to blower(s). The inflatable modules are connected by the connecting pipeline, and the air inlet connects to one of the module at one end and connects to a blower at the other end, so that the air flow coming from the blower can move freely between the modules. This game field system can be setup in various locations, formed different field sizes and provide a safe game field.
US09149707B2 Ball hitting teacher
The tool includes a rigid base with an upright rigid post attached perpendicularly to the base a rigid form fitted outer sleeve, measured to fit snug over the upright post. This sleeve allows for height adjustability, also includes a uniquely formed and rigid wand, with a measured, weighted counterbalance end with a small hole to accommodate a bungee cord attachment and on the other end a set and re-settable fix tennis ball mounting the tennis ball itself is mounted on a spindle on a small rod which allows free rotation of the ball for the purpose of ball striking muscle memory development, the ball-mounting wand is bent, geniculate and curved into a question mark like configuration using holes and peg attach the wand to the crown of the form fitted outer sleeve using the counterbalance and the bungee cord the ball can be repeatedly struck, displaced and self-reset.
US09149705B2 Multi-rotor apparatus and method for motion sculpting
A reversibly attachable muscle trainer includes a multi-arm structure with motion sensors and force generators for exercising opposing muscles of a person moving an implement so as to maintain an ideal movement. When attached to the implement, the muscle trainer trains the opposing muscles to consistently move the implement in an ideal way. While the person moves the implement with the muscle trainer attached, a processor receives signals from the motion sensors and determines differences between the actual implement motion and an ideal implement motion. The difference indicates a dominating force direction in which the dominating muscles urge the implement. The processor activates the force generators to apply external forces to the implement to urge the implement in various types of training force directions.
US09149703B2 Multi-mount heavy bag with: sculpted body side, extended head like appendage, contours and developed striking areas
A multi-mount heavy bag designed for a single user for striking with the intent of developing and conditioning users muscles and skill with at least one unique sculpted body side having contoured features and developed striking areas with at least one forward extended head like appendage that creates for the user a unique orientation to the bag simulating an opponent: providing a distinct opponent posture and specific exposed set of target areas. A bag that can be suspended from either the top, or mounted to a surface below that will provide multidirectional movement. A device of three embodiments of construction each has an option of a digital data analysis package that consists of appropriate components and software for: data storage, retrieval and or wireless transmission for displaying a visual and auditory measure of the intensity of the strike and providing analysis and comparison of performance data.
US09149701B1 Training basketball
A basketball is disclosed that includes a plurality of indentations formed in the outer surface of the basketball, indicating where the hands of a shooter should be positioned. The indentations are formed with a material having a higher density that the surrounding material to keep the basketball balanced.
US09149689B2 Dual core golf ball having positive-hardness-gradient thermoplastic inner core and positive-hardness-gradient thermoset outer core layer
A golf ball includes a core including a thermoplastic inner core and a thermoset outer core layer. The inner core has a surface hardness of about 40 to 80 Shore C and a center hardness of about 30 to 75 Shore C. The center hardness is less than the surface hardness to define a positive hardness gradient. A cover is formed over the core and includes an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer. The thermoplastic inner core includes a highly-neutralized ionomer formed from a copolymer of ethylene and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, an organic acid or salt thereof, and sufficient cation source to neutralize the acid groups of the copolymer by 80% or greater. The outer core layer comprises a polybutadiene rubber and has a positive hardness gradient of less than 25 Shore C.
US09149686B2 Golf ball
An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball with an improved controllability by enhancing a dry spin rate and wet spin rate in a so-called distance type golf ball. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a constituting member that is formed from a polyurethane composition containing, as a resin component, a polyurethane elastomer using 1,4-bis(isocyanatomethyl)cyclohexane as a polyisocyanate component, wherein the polyurethane composition has a shear loss modulus G″ of more than 5.03×106 Pa and 1.17×108 Pa or less when measured in a shear mode using a dynamic viscoelasticity measuring apparatus at the conditions of the temperature of 0° C., and the oscillation frequency of 10 Hz.
US09149683B2 Exercise device control ring
A control ring that usable in adjusting one or more operating parameters of an exercise device includes a body, user input mechanisms, and a transmitter. The control ring is wearable on a finger of an exerciser. The body of the control ring has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The user input mechanisms are associated with the body and may be selectively activated by the exerciser. Upon activation of the user input mechanisms, the transmitter communicates a control command to an exercise device in order to adjust the operating parameters of the exercise device.
US09149679B2 Elastomeric cord-resistance unit
A non-gravity type resistance exercise apparatus that includes a base assembly, a connector strut having a first end pivotally connected to the base assembly, a second end spaced apart from the first end and an intermediate portion, a first pair of sheaves rotatably connected to the connector strut, a selector assembly connected to the connector strut, a body engaging member, a second pair of sheaves rotatably connected to the body engaging member and a resistance assembly for yieldably resisting movement of the body engaging member, the resistance assembly comprising a pair of elastomeric belts entrained about the first and second pairs of sheaves.
US09149666B2 Fast acting SNARE-cleaving enzymes
The present invention relates to metalloprotease enzymes isolated from scorpion venom, their nucleic acid and amino acid sequences, and methods of use thereof in the treatment of various diseases, disorders and cosmetic conditions.
US09149665B2 Method and composition for reducing appearance of wrinkles
The present invention provides a cosmetic composition having a cosmetically acceptable vehicle and one or more gap junction inhibitors and/or one or more choline acetyl transferase (CAT) inhibitors in an amount effective for reducing the appearance of deep wrinkles on the skin. Also provided is a method of reducing the appearance of deep wrinkles on the skin, including the steps of topically applying to the skin the above cosmetic composition in an amount and for a period of time sufficient to reduce the appearance of deep wrinkles on the skin.
US09149663B2 Antiperspirant emulsion compositions and processes for making antiperspirant emulsion compositions
Processes for making an antiperspirant emulsion composition and antiperspirant emulsion compositions are provided herein. In an embodiment, a process for making an antiperspirant emulsion composition includes combining water and an antiperspirant active component to form a water phase. A hydrophobic carrier and a structurant are combined to form an oil phase. The structurant has a melting point above ambient temperature. The oil phase is heated to a first temperature of at least a melting point of the structurant that is disposed in the oil phase. The water phase and the heated oil phase are mixed to form the antiperspirant emulsion composition. The antiperspirant emulsion composition is cooled under continued mixing.
US09149660B2 Composition and method for cream bleach product
This invention relates to compositions and methods for hair bleaching. In particular, the invention concerns stabilized hair bleach products that contain at least one persulfate salt, and an oil gel. The composition of the present invention forms an emulsion where the oil and salt do not separate providing a consistent and stable hair bleach formulation.
US09149659B2 Cosmetic composition for increasing hyaluronic acid synthesis in skin and its use for repairing wrinkles
The present invention relates to a skin composition which has an excellent effect on smoothing or repairing wrinkles. The composition comprises Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 (Palmitoyl-Lysyl-Dioxymethionyl-Lysine) and Piper nigrum (Pepper) seed Extract which combination has been found to result in a synergistic effect on hyaluronan synthase 1 (HAS1) mRNA expression in human fibroblasts. The hyaluronan synthase is responsible for the synthesis of hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid) in skin. Hyaluronic acid is a constituent of the extracellular matrix of the skin and responsible for space filling, tissue repair and retention of moisture.
US09149654B2 Radiotherapy device controller and method of measuring position of specific-part
A radiotherapy device controller includes: a visual line calculator configured to calculate a visual line based on a position on a transmissive image imaged using a radiation penetrating a subject, a specific part of the subject being shown at the position; a position calculator configured to calculate a position of the specific part based on a position of a trajectory of the specific part and a position of the visual line; and an emitter configured to control a radiation emitter that emits a therapeutic radiation, so that the therapeutic radiation penetrates at the position of the specific part.
US09149651B2 Non-invasive vascular treatment systems, devices, and methods of using the same
An energy treatment system to treat a patient includes an energy delivery device having a plurality of energy emitters used in combination with an energy activatable drug. A mask can be used to define a treatment area. Energy from the energy emitters passes through an optical window of the mask to activate a cosmetically and/or therapeutically effective amount of the activatable drug at the target site to bring about a desired change of tissue, for example, to reduce visibility of one or more blood vessels, while energy from the energy emitters directed outside of the target site is blocked by the mask.
US09149649B2 Semiconductor laser blood oxygen therapeutic apparatus
A semiconductor laser blood oxygen therapeutic apparatus comprising a host (32); a terminal being an oxygen output terminal, a laser irradiating terminal and an ozone output terminal (48), a laser generator located in a therapeutic terminal (34); the oxygen output terminal includes an oxygen absorbing device (25) and a laser-oxygen two-in-one therapeutic device (27); the laser-oxygen two-in-one therapeutic device (27) is provided with a two-in-one nasal clip (31); the oxygen absorbing device (25) is provided with a detachable atomization pressure decreasing device (24), while the host (32) is provided with a security identifying device which identifies the external atomization pressure decreasing device automatically; and an ozone generating cabin (36) is connected between a relief pressure valve (20) and a humidifying bottle (9).
US09149647B2 Method for deep tissue laser treatments using low intensity laser therapy causing selective destruction of Nociceptive nerves
Deep Tissue Low Intensity Laser Therapy or Treatment (DT-LILT) as described here is a novel methodology through which selective destruction of nociceptive (pain) nerves can be brought upon by a medical laser delivery system using the phenomenon of absorption and cell resonance. Using this method nerve cells that transmit pain can be selectively destroyed leaving the surrounding tissues intact as no heat is generated. The delivery system incorporates a fine needle through which a 703 nm (range 690 to 710) pulsed wave low intensity laser is delivered deep into the body, directly to the area of pain causing selective destruction of pain nerves. Laser devices based on this methodology should be used only by the physician or equivalent professional community since diagnosing and defining the area of pain is critical to providing successful pain relief.Key Words: DT-LILT (Deep Tissue Low Intensity Laser Therapy or Treatment)
US09149644B2 Method of manufacturing a set screw-less pacemaker header with lead lock system
A method for manufacturing a header for an implantable medical device such as a pacemaker which contains an advantageous molded design with encapsulated wires and conductive features. The header including a specifically formed lead lock member in which a plurality of collets residing in bores in the molded housing are used to retain and lock implantable leads in place without the use of set screws.
US09149628B2 Neurostimulator for treating occipital neuralgia with housing sized and curved to conform to a subcutaneous neck region
The disclosure describes an implantable neurostimulator device for delivery of neurostimulation to treat head, neck, or facial pain or tension, including pain or tension caused by occipital neuralgia. The device may be a neurostimulation device having a miniaturized housing with a low profile that permits subcutaneous implantation at a stimulation site directly adjacent a neuralgic region at the back of the neck of a patient. For example, the device may be subcutaneously implanted at the back of the neck of a patient to relieve symptoms of occipital neuralgia.
US09149626B2 Catheter insertion device
Embodiments of a catheter insertion device are discussed comprising: an approximately hollow cylindrical catheter sleeve, at whose distal end a catheter is attached; a needle sleeve with a hollow needle, which is attached thereto and which, when ready for use, extends through the catheter sleeve and the catheter, and; a needle protective element that is arranged inside the catheter sleeve while being able to move on the needle. Said needle protective element has an engaging section that engages with an engaging device, which is formed in the vicinity of the needle tip, when the hollow needle is withdrawn from the catheter sleeve. A check valve is placed inside the catheter sleeve between the catheter and the needle protective element. The hollow needle, when ready for use, extends through said check valve, and the check valve automatically closes once the needle is withdrawn.
US09149619B2 System and method for storing, shipping and injecting ocular devices
A shipping system for a medical device, such as implantable lens for an eye, is provided that may be reconfigured from a shipping mode into an injection mode without manually handling the contained lens or other device. Upon manufacture, a lens may be placed within the system assembly in the shipping configuration. Upon arrival at the destination, the user may attach a nozzle assembly for injecting the device into a body. A new assembly for a medical device utilizing the shipping systems is also disclosed. The insertion assembly includes a body for containing the medical device, a plunger casing, a finger-engaging flange, and a resilient ring member all of which are formed as a single piece assembly. Additionally a nozzle assembly may be integrally formed with the insertion assembly or formed as a separate body that is attachable to the insertion assembly.
US09149617B2 Device, system and methods for the oral delivery of therapeutic compounds
Embodiments of the invention provide swallowable devices, preparations and methods for delivering drugs and other therapeutic agents within the GI tract. Particular embodiments provide a swallowable device such as a capsule for delivering drugs into the intestinal wall or other GI lumen. Embodiments also provide various drug preparations that are configured to be contained within the capsule, advanced from the capsule into the intestinal wall and degrade within the wall to release the drug to produce a therapeutic effect. The preparation can be coupled to a delivery mechanism having one or more balloons or other expandable devices which are expandable responsive to a condition in the small intestine or other GI lumen to advance the preparation out of the capsule into the intestinal wall. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for the delivery of drugs which are poorly absorbed, tolerated and/or degraded within the GI tract.
US09149614B2 Systems and methods for treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes
The present invention provides systems and methods for treating and controlling obesity and/or type II diabetes. In one aspect of the invention, a device comprises a hollow sleeve sized and shaped for positioning within a duodenum of the patient, an anchor coupled to the proximal end of the sleeve and being sized and shaped to inhibit distal migration of the sleeve and a plurality of elastomeric objects coupled to the distal end of the sleeve and being sized and shaped to inhibit proximal migration of the sleeve through a pylorus of the patient. The bypass device can be placed and removed endoscopically through the patient's esophagus in a minimally invasive outpatient procedure and it is “self-anchoring” and does not require invasive tissue fixation within the patient's GI tract, thereby reducing collateral tissue damage and minimizing its impact on the digestive process.
US09149604B2 Aspiration catheter
There has been a demand for an aspiration catheter which has a sufficient amount of aspiration, which is sufficiently flexible to satisfactorily track tortuous blood vessels, in which the possibility of kinking of a catheter shaft is decreased when the aspiration catheter is inserted into a guiding catheter from outside of the body, and in which good operationality is achieved. An aspiration catheter of the present invention includes an aspiration lumen for removing a substance by aspiration, the aspiration lumen extending to a hub provided at the proximal end of the catheter; and a detachable core wire disposed in the aspiration lumen.
US09149603B2 Port cannula for the puncturing of port catheters
A port cannula for puncturing implantable or implanted port catheters includes a cannula tube with a ground surface, which is formed from a ground cut inclined with respect to a center axis of the cannula tube by a ground-cut angle and from two facet cuts lying at an angle to each other, and of a cannula tip which is provided by the ground surface and which is oriented via a first bend in the direction of the center axis of the cannula tube. The ground cut and the facet cut are adapted to each other in such a way that, on the one hand, during puncturing, a bending of the cannula is least reduced and, on the other hand, the pain caused to the patient is kept within an acceptable range.
US09149593B2 Nasal mask system
A mask system includes a frame (20) adapted to attach headgear, a sealing arrangement (40) releasably connectable to the frame, and an elbow (70) provided to the sealing arrangement and adapted to be connected to an air delivery tube that delivers breathable gas to the patient. The sealing arrangement defines a breathing chamber and is adapted to form a seal with the patient's face. The sealing arrangement includes structure (50) to establish a positive connection with the frame and with the elbow.
US09149588B2 Systems and methods for driving sealed nebulizers
Various methods, devices, and systems are described for aerosolizing a liquid. Embodiments may include sealing the liquid within a reservoir. An output waveform signal may be generated. A nebulizer element may be vibrated to aerosolize the liquid. A negative pressure may be produced within the reservoir as the liquid is aerosolized. The output waveform signal may cause the nebulizer element to vibrate. Embodiments may involve determining a phase shift between a current of the output waveform signal and a voltage of the output waveform signal. Also, embodiments may involve adjusting a frequency of the output waveform signal at least partially based on the phase shift. Further, embodiments may involve adjusting the voltage of the output waveform signal at least partially based on the frequency of the output waveform signal.
US09149582B2 Administration apparatus for medical use
An expansion/compression mechanism of a piston rod assembly is composed of a bush shaft, a first cylindrical piston rod that is screwed with the bush shaft, a second cylindrical piston rod that is screwed with the first piston rod, and a piston rod holding member for housing the bush shaft and these piston rods. Therefore, the piston rods move linearly in multiple stages.
US09149572B2 Chondroitin sulfate having decreased molecular weight and use thereof
A chondroitin sulfate having a decreased molecular weight which has utilization as an inhibitor of peritoneal disorder caused by long-term use of a peritoneal dialysis fluid containing glucose or a polysaccharide thereof as an osmotic agent, utilization as an osmotic agent in a peritoneal dialysis fluid, and the like. The chondroitin sulfate having a decreased molecular weight of the present invention as a means for achieving the object is characterized by having a weight average molecular weight of from 1000 to 20000 and containing a constituent disaccharide unit represented by the following structural formula in an amount of from 65% to 100% (molar ratio) of the total: -[4GlcAβ1-3GalNAc(6S)β1]- (wherein GlcA represents a D-glucuronic acid residue; GalNAc represents an N-acetyl-D-galactosamine residue; β1-3 represents a β1-3 glycosidic linkage; β1-4 represents a β1-4 glycosidic linkage; and (6S) indicates that position 6 of the monosaccharide residue is sulfated).
US09149571B2 Peritoneal dialysis system
The invention relates to a peritoneal dialysis sampling system to be used together with a peritoneal dialysis system which is programmed to deliver fluid to a peritoneal cavity of a patient and to drain the fluid from the cavity, said peritoneal dialysis system comprising a supplying line and supplying means for supplying dialysis fluid to the peritoneal cavity, a draining line and draining means for draining the fluid from the cavity, said peritoneal dialysis sampling system comprising an automatic sampling system which is able to automatically sample volumic fractions of the dialysate contained in the peritoneum of the patient at specific time intervals in order to evaluate the peritoneal membrane characteristics and/or improve the peritoneal dialysis for a given patient.
US09149562B2 Method for use of a double-structured tissue implant for treatment of tissue defects
A method for use of a double-structured tissue implant or a secondary scaffold stand alone implant for treatment of tissue defects. The double-structured tissue implant comprising a primary scaffold and a secondary scaffold consisting of a soluble collagen solution in combination with a non-ionic surfactant generated and positioned within the primary scaffold. A method of use of a stand alone secondary scaffold implant or unit for treatment of tissue defects.
US09149561B2 Injection molding of poly-4-hydroxybutyrate
Compositions of P4HB and processes to injection mold these compositions have been developed. These compositions are prepared from P4HB polymers and blends having intrinsic viscosities less than 3.2 dl/g but greater than 0.8 dl/g, moisture contents of less than 0.5% by weight, and more preferably less than 0.05% by weight, and using a polymer melt temperature during molding of at least 150° C. A preferred embodiment comprises a P4HB molding with an intrinsic viscosity of less than 3.2 dl/g that degrades rapidly in vivo.
US09149559B2 Antimicrobial polymer compositions and the use thereof
An antimicrobial composition comprising an ionic complex of an anionic polyester with an antimicrobial metal, wherein the anionic polyester has an ion exchange capacity from about 0.19 meq/g to about 1.0 meq/g.
US09149551B2 Plasma generating device, plasma generating method, and method for suppressing ozone generation
The purpose of the present invention is to minimize ozone production while increasing the production of an active species. The plasma generating device (100) comprises: a pair of electrodes (21, 22) in which dielectric films (21a, 21b) are disposed on at least one opposing face; voltage application means (4) for applying a pulse voltage across the electrodes (21, 22) to bring about a plasma discharger; and fluid circulation holes (21b, 22b) that are disposed in locations corresponding to the electrodes (21, 22), respectively, and that are configured to pass entirely therethrough. The plasma generating device is also configured such that a fluid passing through the fluid circulation holes (21b, 22b) comes into contact with the plasma, generating ions or radicals, wherein the voltage applying means (4) varies the peak value and/or the pulse width of the pulse voltage applied across the electrodes (21, 22).
US09149547B2 Process for production of heterodimers of glutamic acid
A manufacturing process for the preparation of radiolabeled compounds of formula (I) includes reacting compounds of formula (II) with a source of readionuclide of a halogen in the presence of an oxidant under acidic condition, wherein: *I is 123I, 124I, 125I or 131I; R is lower alkyl, optionally substituted with one or more fluorine atoms; Q is C(O), O, NR′, S, S(O)2, C(O)2, (CH2)p; Y is C(O), O, NR′, S, S(O)2, C(O)2, (CH2)p; R′ is H, C(O), S(O)2, C(O)2; Z is H, C1-C4 alkyl, benzyl, substituted benzyl or trialkylsilyl; m is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; n is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6; and p is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.
US09149546B2 Compound having affinity for amyloid
A compound that is effective as a diagnostic imaging probe that targets amyloid including is represented by the following formula (1), or salt thereof: wherein R1 is a radioactive halogen substituent, A1 and A2 independently represent CH or N. A diagnostic agent for Alzheimer's disease includes the compound represented by the above formula or a salt thereof. The above compound and the above diagnostic agent for Alzheimer's disease transfer into brain after administration, and indicate good accumulation on amyloid deposited in the brain.
US09149541B2 Tyrosine ligation process
A process is provided for preparing a conjugate of Formula (I-A) or (I) comprising a polypeptide containing n number of tyrosine units, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 1, dispersed within the amino acid chain having and amino terminus end (A1) and an acid terminus end (A2) of the protein or polypeptide and having a weight average molecular weight equal to or greater than 10,000 Daltons (10 kDa), wherein the conjugate comprises a number m of tyrosine conjugates (modified tyrosine residues) as depicted in Formula (I-A) or (I), where m is at least one and is less than or equal to n: where X, Lg, L and R are as defined herein.
US09149539B1 Crystalline naloxol-PEG conjugate
Naloxol-polyethylene glycol conjugates of the formula: are provided in oxalate or phosphate salt forms including crystalline forms. Methods of preparing the salt forms and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the salt forms are also provided.
US09149533B2 Tamper resistant pharmaceutical formulations
Disclosed in certain embodiments is a solid oral dosage form comprising a heat-labile gelling agent; a thermal stabilizer; and a drug susceptible to abuse.
US09149528B2 Topical vitamin D oral supplement compositions
Topical, vitamin D, oral supplement compositions useful in treating oral inflammation comprising vitamin D in an aqueous-free emulsion containing a trans-oral mucosal absorption facilitator, where said emulsion forms a mucoadhesive coating in the presence of saliva; wherein saliva dissolution of the mucoadhesive gel releases vitamin D and the trans-oral mucosal, absorption facilitator; effecting: vitamin D passive diffusion; regulating in vivo availability and immune response of vitamin D; and maintaining adequate levels of circulating vitamin D while minimizing the risk of hypercalcemia.
US09149526B2 Suppression of cancer growth and metastasis using nordihydroguaiaretic acid derivatives with metabolic modulators
Disclosed is a composition comprising a derivative of NDGA and at least one metabolic modulator. The composition can be in a unit dose form or kit. The composition can comprise at least two metabolic modulators. Also disclosed are methods for achieving cytotoxicity, particularly of rapidly dividing cells such as cancer, by administering a composition of the invention. In various embodiments of the invention subjects with cancer achieve prolonged survival and/or diminution in the size of their malignancies and cancer metastasis.
US09149524B2 Human cytomegalovirus neutralising antibodies and use thereof
The invention relates to neutralizing antibodies which are specific for human cytomegalovirus and bind with high affinity as well as immortalized B cells that produce such antibodies. The invention also relates to the epitopes that the antibodies bind to as well as the use of the antibodies and the epitopes in screening methods as well as the diagnosis and therapy of disease.
US09149523B2 Compositions and methods for treating cancer and neurodegenerative diseases
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for regulating ROC-mediated death-associated protein kinase (DAPk) activity. The compositions and methods of the present invention are useful for treating or ameliorating cancer as well as pathologies associated with neuronal cell death, such as epilepsy and hypoxia/ischemia acute brain injury. The present invention further relates to screening methods for identifying agents that regulate ROC-mediated DAPk activation.
US09149522B2 Compositions of vaccines and adjuvants and methods for the treatment of urinary tract infections
This invention describes novel adjuvant compositions and formulations with excellent stability at refrigerated and room temperatures and up to and about 37° C. that can be produced at remarkably low costs. This invention describes novel vaccine compositions and formulations to treat and prevent urinary tract infections caused by gram-negative bacteria including Escherichia coli and multi-drug resistant E. coli. This invention also describes methods of administration of said novel vaccine compositions and formulations and methods of treatment to prevent and treat urinary tract infections caused by gram-negative bacteria including E. coli and multi-drug resistant E. coli.
US09149520B2 Saponin adjuvant compositions and methods relating thereto
An adjuvant composition which comprises an anionic macromolecule component particularly an ionic polysaccharide such as DEAE-dextran, and a saponin component, particularly an immunostimulating complex component. Immunogenic compositions comprising an immunogen and this adjuvant composition are also disclosed together with methods of use thereof.
US09149516B2 Polyvalent conjugate vaccine for cancer
This invention provides a polyvalent vaccine comprising at least two conjugated antigens selected from a group containing glycolipid antigen, polysaccharide antigen, mucin antigen, glycosylated mucin antigen and an appropriate adjuvant. This invention also provides a multivalent vaccine comprising at least two of the following: glycosylated MUC-1-32mer, Globo H, GM2, Ley, Tn(c), sTN(c), and TF(c). This invention provides the vaccine above, wherein the adjuvant is saponin-based adjuvant. This invention provides a method for inducing immune response in a subject comprising administering an effective amount of the vaccine above to the subject. Finally, this invention provides a method for treating cancer in a subject comprising administering an appropriate amount of the vaccine above to the subject.
US09149511B2 Procoagulant peptides and their derivatives and uses therefor
The present invention is directed to a hemostatic or tissue sealing material having (a) a peptide having a sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 or an amino acid analog sequence thereof, and (b) a scaffold for said peptide or amino acid analog sequence. The scaffold is preferably hemostatic, such as a natural or genetically engineered absorbable polymer, a synthetic absorbable polymer, or combinations thereof. The natural or genetically engineered absorbable polymers can be selected from the group consisting of a protein, a polysaccharide, or combinations thereof.
US09149506B2 Modified polynucleotides encoding septin-4
The invention relates to compositions and methods for the preparation, manufacture and therapeutic use of oncology-related polynucleotides, oncology-related primary transcripts and oncology-related mmRNA molecules.
US09149505B2 Pharmaceutical composition for suppressing angiogenesis, and method for screening active material for suppressing angiogenesis
The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for suppressing angiogenesis, containing heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) or a nucleic acid encoding HSP27. In addition, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer, containing HSP27 or a nucleic acid encoding HSP27. Additionally, the present invention provides a method of suppressing the in vitro growth of endothelial cells using HSP27. Further, the present invention provides a method of screening an active material for suppressing angiogenesis or an active material for treating cancer, comprising the following steps: processing endothelial cell lines into samples, respectively; measuring the content of HSP27 in an endothelial cell line; and selecting the sample in which the content of HSP27 in an endothelial cell line is increased compared with a control group.
US09149491B2 Reduced toxicity in alcoholic beverages
The present invention relates to reduced toxicity of functional alcoholic beverage composition comprising distilled alcohol, deionized water, 18β-Glycyrrhizin or 18α-Glycyrrhizin and a sugar alcohol or sugars, having pH in the range of 4.0-9.0. More particularly, alcoholic beverage composition comprises distilled alcohol, deionized water, 18β-Glycyrrhizin or 18α-Glycyrrhizin and a sugar alcohol/sugars as hepato-protectants. The present invention provides an alcoholic beverage for reducing hepatotoxicity caused by its consumption and a process to manufacture the said alcoholic beverage.
US09149480B2 Use of meloxicam for the long-term treatment of musculoskeletal disorders in cats
The invention is directed to the use of a formulation comprising meloxicam or a pharmacologically acceptable meloxicam salt of an organic or inorganic base thereof for the long-term treatment of musculoskeletal disorders in cats. No negative effects on renal function occur following a treatment from 10 to 20 months or more.
US09149478B2 Diabetes therapy
The present invention relates to methods for treating and/or preventing metabolic diseases comprising the combined administration of a DPP-4 inhibitor and a long-acting insulin. The invention further relates to a DPP-4 inhibitor for subcutaneous or transdermal use.
US09149470B2 Macrocyclic lactone compounds and methods for their use
The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient and a compound of the general formula:
US09149468B2 Multicomponent crystals made ([2-amino-6-(4-fluoro-benzylamino)-pyridin-3-yl]-carbamic acid ethyl ester and 2-[2-[(2,6-dichlorphenyl)-amino]-phenyl]-acetic acid
The invention relates to novel multicomponent crystals, to the production thereof, and to the use thereof for treating pain conditions, in particular of unclear genesis, by means of a simultaneous effect on pains which are caused by muscle tension or degenerative joint diseases as well as on pains that are based on inflammatory processes. The novel multicomponent crystals contain ([2-amino-6-(4-fluoro-benzylamino)-pyridin-3-yl]-carbamic acid ethyl ester (flupirtine) and 2-[2-[(2,6-dichlorphenyl)-amino]-phenyl]-acetic acid (diclofenac) as the sole active ingredient combination and can be produced by dissolving the two components in a molar ratio of 1.0:0.9 to 1.0:1.1 in an inert organic solvent and subsequently crystallizing the complex compound.
US09149463B2 Methods and compositions of treating a Flaviviridae family viral infection
Briefly described, embodiments of this disclosure include compounds (e.g., such as Formula II, Formula II-a, and specific compounds shown in Table 1), pharmaceutical compositions, methods of treating a host infected with a virus from the Flaviviridae family of viruses, methods of inhibiting HCV replication in a host, methods of inhibiting the binding of NS4B polypeptide to the 3′UTR of HCV negative strand RNA in a host, methods of treating liver fibrosis in a host, and the like.
US09149461B2 Carbapenem antibacterials with gram-negative activity
The present invention provides β-methyl carbapenem compounds and pharmaceutical compositions useful in the treatment of bacterial infections and methods for treating such infections using such compounds and/or compositions. The invention includes administering an effective amount of a carbapenem compound or salt and/or prodrug thereof to a host in need of such a treatment.
US09149457B2 Nutraceutical composition for PDE4 inhibition, enhanced dopamine metabolism and long term potentiation
A nutritional supplement for increasing cognitive functioning. The supplement includes a flavonoid such as luteolin and a labdane diterpene such as forskolin. The supplement can also include one or any combination of L-phenylalanine, L-carnitine, acetyl-L-carnitine, and vitamin B6. Artichoke extract can be used as a source of luteolin. Methods of using the nutritional supplements to increase cognitive functioning are also included.
US09149451B1 Apparatus and method of stimulating elevation of glutathione levels in a subject
An apparatus configured to provide a beneficial biological effect for a subject, and/or a method of treating the subject using the apparatus. The apparatus may be configured to trigger and maintain the elevation of Glutathione levels within the subject. The apparatus may rely on a non-invasive mechanism to elevate Glutathione levels in the subject. The apparatus may not require a traditional power source such as a battery or wall plug in order to be effective in elevating Glutathione levels in the subject. To trigger and maintain the elevation of Glutathione levels within the subject, the apparatus may transmit communication to the body of the subject that results in increased levels of Glutathione within the subject.
US09149447B2 Lysine specific demethylase-1 inhibitors and their use
The present invention relates to a compound of Formula 1, wherein: (A) is heteroaryl or aryl; each (A′), if present, is independently chosen from aryl, arylalkoxy, arylalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryloxy, halo, alkoxy, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, haloalkoxy, and cyano, wherein each (A′) is substituted with 0, 1, 2, or 3 substituents independently chosen from halo, haloalkyl, haloalkoxy, aryl, arylalkoxy, alkyl, alkoxy, amido, —CH2C(═0)NH2, heteroaryl, cyano, sulfonyl, and sulfinyl; X is 0, 1, 2, or 3; (B) is a cyclopropyl ring, wherein (A) and (Z) are covalently bonded to different carbon atoms of (B); (Z) is —NH—; (L) is chosen from a single bond, —CH2—, —CH2CH2—, —CH2CH2CH2—, and —CH2CH2CH2CH2—; and (D) is an aliphatic carbocyclic group or benzocycloalkyl, wherein said aliphatic carbocyclic group or said benzocycloalkyl has 0, 1, 2, or 3 substituents independently chosen from —NH2, —NH(C1-C6 alkyl), —N(C1-C6 alkyl)(C1-C6 alkyl), alkyl, halo, amido, cyano, alkoxy, haloalkyl, and haloalkoxy. (A′)X-(A)-(B)—(Z)-(L)-(D) formula (I) The compounds of the invention show activity for inhibiting LSD1, which makes them useful in the treatment or prevention of diseases such as cancer.
US09149426B2 Nanoparticle composition and methods to make and use the same
The present invention provides a novel nanoparticle drug delivery system generated from poly(ortho ester) polymers with sustained drug release capability and can be functionalized to allow for systemic delivery to various organ systems throughout the body. One important aspect of this invention is that the nanoparticle drug delivery system generated from poly(ortho ester) polymers encapsulate several types of drugs in poly(ortho ester) nanoparticles, including but not limited to lipophilic, hydrophilic small and large molecules and also hydrophilic and lipophilic dyes by adopting appropriate emulsion techniques. These poly(ortho ester) nanoparticles are biodegradable, biocompatible and controlled release drug delivery system with zero order kinetics, which can be used in various biomedical applications such as eye-related diseases, cancer, arthritis, etc.
US09149424B2 Compositions and methods for reducing hepatotoxicity associated with drug administration
The present invention relates to the discovery that acetylsalicylic acid (ASA or aspirin), salicylic acid (SA) and related salicylate esters and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, when coadministered in effective amounts with a drug or other bioactive agent which typically (in the absence of the salicylate compound) produces significant hepatotoxicity as a secondary indication, will substantially reduce or even eliminate such hepatotoxicity. Favorable therapeutic intervention results from the use of the present invention having the effect of reducing hepatotoxicity associated with the administration of certain drugs and other bioactive agents and in certain instances of allowing the administration of higher doses of a compound which, without the coadministration, would produce hepatotoxicity which limits or even negates the therapeutic value of the compound.
US09149420B2 O/W-gel-compositions having pentaerythritol esters or oligomers thereof
An oil and water gel composition is provided containing a polymer gel former of a polymer or copolymer of acrylic acid or acrylamide, a wax component having a melting point of at least 30° C. containing esters of pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol and/or tripentaerythritol, and an oil component liquid at 25° C. and water.
US09149413B2 Package
A package (1) for containing loose items comprises at least one outer casing (2), at least one inner casing (3) accommodated slidably within the outer casing (2) and capable of motion between a closed configuration, in which an opening (4) presented by the inner casing (3) is concealed completely by the at least one outer casing (2), and an open configuration in which the opening (4) is exposed at least in part. The package (1) further comprises at least one connecting appendage (5) hinged along a first line to a side wall of the outer casing (2), and along a second line to a side wall of the inner casing (3) breasted in sliding contact with the side wall of the outer casing. The outer casing (2) comprises a locking part with a flap (6) folded to act against a corresponding locking part of the inner casing (3) also comprising a flap (7), both flaps (6, 7) in folded state being attached to the outer casing (2) and the inner casing (3), respectively. The two locking parts prevent immediate opening of the package from the closed configuration to the open configuration and wherein said part of the outer casing (2) is thicker than said part of the inner casing (3).
US09149411B2 Programmable cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) detection device
Time after time studies find that often, even when administered by trained professionals, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) compression rates and depth are inadequate. Too week, shallow or too forceful compressions may contribute to suboptimal patient outcome. Several parameters are crucial for optimal and properly-administered CPR. Crucial parameters include proper hand positioning on the patient's chest, depth of compression of 4-5 cm, and compression rate of 100 compressions per minute. The crucial parameters are often affected by patient parameters, and relative to the patient, rescuer parameters, such as patient thoracic volume; weight; age; gender; and rescuer's, relative to the patient's, parameters, such as weight, height; physical form, etc. Proposed is an automated CPR feedback device with user programmable settings for assisting with real-time feedback and subsequently correcting rescuers patient customized CPR technique.
US09149410B2 Roller barre
The present disclosure provides an exercise device comprising a base that is attached onto an exercise machine and a rolling rod, which is cradled into the base. The apparatus can be attached either into the jumpboard connection located near the footbar or into the shoulder rests depending on the reformer model. The attachment site allows the user to perform a wide variety of movements or exercises in a manner depending on level or special considerations. Related methods of exercise are also provided. A DVD, instructional manual, or programming exercises may optionally be included.
US09149408B2 Mobility assistance device
A mobility assistance apparatus includes first and second frames positioned on left and right sides of a user; a hinge arm mechanism coupled to the first and second frames; and a harness or a walking seat coupled to the frames to transfer at least a portion of the user's body weight from the legs and to transfer weight through the user's hip or pelvis to the first and second frame enabling the user to stand or walk for an extended period without requiring the user's arms to hold the frame.
US09149407B2 Device for therapeutically treating and/or training the lower extremities of a person
A device for therapeutically treating and/or training the lower extremities of a person, having driven controllable motion devices connected to a stationary frame and retaining means for attaching to each extremity, that can be displaced independently along walking trajectories. Motion devices provide an outrigger pivotable to various height levels, jointedly connected at a first carriage of a linear guide on one side, and rotationally connected to a retaining means on the other side. A second carriage of the linear guide is disposed ahead of the first carriage and jointedly connected to the outrigger by means of a connecting element. The first carriage has a first linear drive for changing the longitudinal position of each retaining means, the second carriage providing a second linear drive for changing the height level of each retaining means. The outrigger provides a rotary drive for changing the slope of each retaining means.
US09149403B2 Bed frame, mattress and bed with enhanced chair egress capability
A bed frame 36 disclosed herein includes a calf section 72 with a foot end 74 and an upper end 76 longitudinally spaced from the foot end, an upper body section 54 with a head end 56 and a lower end 58 longitudinally spaced from the head end, and a medial section 66 longitudinally intermediate the calf and upper body sections. The bed frame is capable of assuming a chair state and a chair egress state. The upper body section and medial section define a sacral corner 68, and the calf section and medial section define a popliteal corner 70 spaced from the sacral corner by an intercorner distance. The intercorner distance is smaller in the chair egress state than in the chair state. A mattress 100 disclosed herein includes an upper body segment 102, a calf segment 116, and a medial segment 124 The lower end 106 of the upper body segment cooperates with the upper end 120 of the calf segment to define an intersegment distance. The mattress has a chair state in which the intersegment distance is a distance D1 and an egress state in which the intersegment distance is a distance D2 which is less than D1. A bed disclosed herein includes a frame whose intercorner distance is smaller in the chair egress state than in the chair state, and a mattress having a medial segment which is conformable to accommodate smaller and larger intercorner distances.
US09149402B2 Cover for patient transfer devices
A cover 10 for keeping an air assisted patient transfer mattress sanitary is disclosed. The cover includes generally a top panel 12 connected to a bottom panel 14. The cover 10 includes at least one opening 24 to allow a mattress, such as an air assisted patient transfer mattress to be inserted and removed. The bottom panel 14 includes air passing means to pass air through from an air assisted patient transfer mattress onto a supporting surface.
US09149392B2 Casting apparatus
In a casting apparatus for external skeletal and joint fixation, a plurality of articulated segments may comprise a plurality of cuboid members threaded on a continuous cord having distal ends connected to actuators. The cuboid members may be disposed between guide members threaded on the cord. Actuation of the actuators applies a tension force to the cord, thereby compressing the cuboid members together to form rigid cuboid segments and maintain the casting apparatus in a rigid configuration for skeletal and joint fixation.
US09149388B2 Attenuated RF power for automated capsulorhexis
A capsulorhexis apparatus includes a capsulorhexis probe configured for insertion into an eye through an incision and a pulse generator configured to deliver at least one radio-frequency (RF) pulse to the capsulorhexis probe. The delivered RF pulse has a pre-determined attenuation profile such that the power level of the delivered RF pulse is substantially attenuated over the RF pulse's duration. In some embodiments, the pulse generator is configured to deliver a series of two or more RF pulses to the eye, such that the energy of each of the second and subsequent pulses of the series is substantially attenuated relative to the energy of the immediately preceding pulse.
US09149384B2 Ankle-foot orthotic for treatment of foot drop
An ankle-foot orthotic is provided that treats steppage gate by preventing foot drop during movement. The orthotic having an ankle brace linked to a user's shoe by an elastic strap. The elastic strap having sufficient elasticity to provide the appropriate amount of tensile force to the shoe to prevent foot drop, while having sufficient flexibility to allow the user to naturally flex their foot and ankle during movement. The elastic strap comprises hook fasteners attachable to and removable from the shoe, such that the orthotic can be easily put on or taken off by the user.
US09149381B2 Apparatus and method of placement of a graft or graft system
An endoluminal prosthesis system deployable in a region of a patient's vasculature having one or more branch vessels, having a main graft body having a first opening in a wall portion of the main graft body and a pre-loaded guidewire positioned inside the main graft body and advanced through the first opening. One or more branch grafts can be attached to the main graft body to cover one or more openings in the main graft body.
US09149380B2 Release device for disengaging a medical implant from a catheter and catheter having a release device
A release device for disengaging a medical implant from an insertion device, in which the implant is releasable by a relative movement between a first insertion element and a second insertion element, comprising a body having a proximal end, which faces toward a user in the usage state, and a distal end, which is remote from the user in the usage state, a toothed rack having a first speed range and a second speed range being provided between the proximal end and the distal end, the toothed rack being provided to generate a targeted relative movement between the first insertion element and the second insertion element of the insertion device. Furthermore, the invention relates to an insertion device having such a release device.
US09149376B2 Reconstrainable stent delivery system
The stent of the present invention combines a helical strut band interconnected by coil elements. This structure provides a combination of attributes that are desirable in a stent, such as, for example, substantial flexibility, stability in supporting a vessel lumen, cell size and radial strength. The structure of the stent of the present invention provides a predetermined geometric relationship between the helical strut band and interconnected coil.
US09149374B2 Methods for manufacturing secured strand end devices
A woven, self-expanding stent device has one or more strands and is configured for insertion into an anatomical structure. The device includes a coupling structure secured to two different strand end portions that are substantially aligned with each other. The two different strand end portions include nickel and titanium. The coupling structure is not a strand of the device.
US09149371B2 Prosthetic knee
A prosthetic knee for active users has a locking head generally parallel to a vertical axis of the prosthetic knee, a chassis, and a plurality of links connecting the locking head to the chassis. The knee includes a swing control mechanism having a flexion stop connected to the chassis and arranged to control the flexion angle of the knee. The flexion stop extends outwardly from the chassis and obliquely relative to the vertical axis. The knee has an audible feedback mechanism for providing the user with information about the location of the knee. The knee may also have a block lock forming a manually activated mechanism allowing load bearing in a flexed position.
US09149358B2 Delivery systems for prosthetic heart valves
A delivery system for delivery of an implantable stented device to a body lumen, the device having a plurality of structures at its proximal end, wherein the delivery system comprises a first body portion removably attached to a second body portion and wherein the second body portion includes a plurality of attachment components at its distal end for attachment to the plurality of structures at the proximal end of the device.
US09149352B2 Implants and procedures for treatment of pelvic floor disorders
Implants for the treatment of pelvic support conditions and methods of implementing the same. The implants comprise relatively soft, flexible bodies and relatively strong arms extending in predetermined orientation therefrom. Methods and devices for placing the implants minimize trauma to the pelvic floor and provide well-anchored support to pelvic organs without interfering with sexual or other bodily functions.
US09149351B2 Apparatus and method for repairing vaginal reconstruction
A system for treating vaginal prolapse including two implants, each implant including a mesh support portion and two mesh extension portions, wherein for each implant the support portion is capable of contacting vaginal sulcus tissue while the two extension portions extend to tissue of an obturator foramen. The implant may include a mesh strip, with the support portion having a length between 4 and 6 centimeters, with the total length of the mesh strip being between 15 and 20 centimeters, and with the mesh strip being of substantially uniform width in the range from 0.5 to 1.3 centimeters. The implant may include two sutures, with one suture connected at each opposing end of the implant, and/or the implant may include one or multiple sutures connected along a length of the implant.
US09149349B2 System for producing dental moldings
A system for producing dental moldings from blanks, having a machine tool for machining a blank, and a workpiece holder for securing the blank during machining. The machine tool has in this case a mount for the workpiece holder, and the workpiece holder has a shank region that can be inserted reversibly into the mount and in the inserted state can be secured in position in the mount. Furthermore, the system has a lever element, wherein the system is configured so that the lever element can be clamped between the mount on one side and the shank region on the other side to secure the shank region in position in the mount. With such clamping of the lever element, a particularly high clamping force can be produced, by way of which the shank region of the workpiece holder can be secured in position in the mount.
US09149334B2 Light-based method for the endovascular treatment of pathologically altered blood vessels
A light-based method of endovascular treatment, in particular, of pathologically altered blood vessels. Provided are a Method of Endovascular Light Treatment and a corresponding Endovascular Light Application Device.
US09149321B2 System and method for cooling of a heated surgical instrument and/or surgical site and treating tissue
A cooling system for a surgical handpiece may provide fluid flow to the surgical tip and to the internal electronic components to prevent temperatures that may damage or make the patient or surgeon uncomfortable. Tip directed gas further controls the tip-tissue interface by displacing blood or serum from the incision point, increasing precision and diminishing coagulum build-up. In the alternative, cooling fluid may be used to quench tissue being treated.
US09149319B2 Methods and compositions for stabilization of a vertebra
Compositions and methods are provided for stabilization and treatment of vertebrae, and in particular for stabilization and treatment of a vertebra having a fracture. Compositions are provided that stabilize and heal a fracture while facilitating healing and reducing the chance for re-injury to the vertebra or adjacent vertebra. Methods include elevation of the vertebra to facilitate healing under reduced pressure situations and include leverage points to elevate the fracture before or during composition insertion.
US09149318B2 Low cost inflatable bone tamp
A surgical system and method for correction of a bone injury or disorder are provided. The device includes an elongated shaft that extends between a proximal end and a distal end and defining an interior lumen. A valve disposed with the proximal end of the elongated shaft and including a membrane. An inflatable structure is coupled to the distal end of the elongated shaft. A stylet is configured for insertion through the membrane and is removably disposed in the interior lumen of the elongated shaft such that the stylet provides strength to the elongated shaft.
US09149317B2 Surgical tool holder
A device for holding a surgical tool comprising a base extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end is configured for engagement with a body of a patient to stabilize the device. A retaining portion is disposed at a fixed angle relative to the longitudinal axis and includes an inner surface defining a passageway configured to receive the surgical tool and hold the surgical tool at the fixed angle. A locking element is configured to apply a clamping force to the retaining element such that translation of the surgical tool is prevented in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.
US09149306B2 Spinous process device
A device for immobilizing adjacent spinous processes can comprise a first element, a second element, and a spacer element. The first element can have a side configured to grip first sides of the adjacent spinous processes and a first separation bar that extends between the adjacent spinous processes when the first element and the spinous processes are engaged. The spacer element can have an adjustment bar and a second separation bar. The second element can have a side configured to grip second sides of the adjacent spinous processes and a clamping feature configured to selectably lock the first separation bar and the adjustment bar in place. The second separation bar can extend between the adjacent spinous processes when the second element and the adjacent spinous processes are engaged.
US09149303B2 Posterior spinal prosthesis
A posterior spinal prosthesis is configured to cover exposed portions of a spinal column especially, but not necessarily, as a result of a medical spinal procedure and particularly, to provide posterior coverage of an exposed spinal cord, soft tissue, Foramen and/or adipose tissue, associated with one or more vertebrae as a result of the removal the spinous processes and/or the spinous process and laminar hoods from the one or more vertebrae of the spine as a result of a spinal decompression procedure or other reason. A plate forming the prosthesis is connectable to spine rod constructs implanted on lateral sides of the vertebrae and projects in the posterior direction relative to the connection. The plate is generally curved in the superior/inferior direction to provide either a lordotic or kyphotic curvature depending on the portion of the spine to which the prosthesis is utilized. As such, the posterior spinal prosthesis may be used on any portion of the spine such as the cervical vertebrae, the thoracic vertebrae and/or the lumbar vertebrae. The present posterior spinal prosthesis also provides posterior stabilization of the associated vertebrae as well as aiding in preventing post operative soft tissue cavitation at the decompression site.
US09149300B2 Bone anchoring device
A bone anchoring device includes an anchoring element having a shaft and a head; a receiving part for receiving the head and a rod, the receiving part being formed in one piece and having a top end and a bottom end, a bore extending from the top end to the bottom end, an inner wall defined by the bore, a substantially U-shaped channel adjacent to the top end for receiving the rod and a seat adjacent to the bottom end for accommodating the head; a pressure element; and a spring element having a spring force. The anchoring element is inserted from the top end and is pivotable with respect to the receiving part. The pressure element is movable in the bore so as to be able to fix the anchoring element at an angle with respect to the receiving part by exerting pressure onto the head. The spring element acts between the pressure element and the receiving part and allows the pressure element to be introduced from the top end but withstands against removal of the pressure element through the top end.
US09149295B1 Methods and apparatuses for shaping cartilage for tympanoplasty
A system that harvests cartilage, trims the thickness of the cartilage and shapes the cartilage for reconstruction of the tympanic membrane. The system includes a punch and a template. Punch can include a handle and a plurality of interchangeable cutters having differently shaped cutting portions and a first cutting portion harvests cartilage. Template includes top template and bottom template between which harvested cartilage can be captured to trim the cartilage to a desired thickness. The punch can then be fitted with a second cutter having a desired shape, which is inserted through a pass through recess one of the templates to contact the cartilage to punch out the desired shape in the cartilage.
US09149292B2 Probe adapted to treat living tissue and actuation method of device
A probe which is configured for a treatment device which is configured to treat a body tissue using ultrasonic vibration, includes a base member which includes a base surface defined by a longitudinal direction and a width direction shorter than the longitudinal direction and which is a vibration-retardation member configured to hardly transmit the ultrasonic vibration, a waveguide main body which has a width smaller than a width of the base surface in a width direction, protrudes with respect to the base surface, and is extended along the longitudinal direction of the base surface, and an end effecter which is provided at a tip end portion of the waveguide main body and which is configured to treat the body tissue by the ultrasonic vibration transmitted through the waveguide main body.
US09149283B2 Sacroiliac fusion system
An undercutting system for preparing a region between an ilium and a sacrum for sacroiliac fusion. The undercutting system includes an insertion apparatus, a probe assembly and a cutting assembly. The probe assembly is operably mounted to the insertion apparatus. The probe assembly is moveable with respect to the insertion apparatus between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. In the extended configuration at least a portion of the probe assembly extends from the insertion apparatus. The cutting assembly is operably mounted with respect to the probe assembly and the insertion apparatus. The cutting assembly is movable with respect to the insertion apparatus between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. In the extended configuration at least a portion of the cutting assembly extends from the insertion apparatus.
US09149278B2 Occlusive device delivery system with mechanical detachment
A delivery system for an embolic coil including a delivery tube having a lumen. A proximal coil junction is disposed between the delivery tube and the embolic coil. Insertable through the lumen and extending proximally beyond the proximal end of the delivery tube is a detachable wire with a terminating feature disposed on its distal end. At least one stretch resistant member is disposed within a lumen formed by the embolic coil. A distal end of each of the at least one stretch resistant members is secured to a distal end of the embolic coil, while each of the at least one stretch resistant members is also secured proximate the proximal end of the embolic coil. The distal end of the delivery tube is retained by the wire physically against without being attached in any way to the proximal junction.
US09149277B2 Expandable device delivery
A device for delivering an expandable member to a luminal structure in a patient is described. In some embodiments, the device has a carrier member, with a carrier lumen extending at least partially therethrough. The device can have an elongate member that extends through the carrier lumen across a first notch in the carrier member. The device can have an expandable member that expands within and engages the luminal structure, can be carried by the carrier member, and has a first portion that fits within the first notch. When the elongate member extends through the carrier lumen and across the first notch, the elongate member secures the first portion to the carrier member. The elongate member is configured to move axially through the carrier lumen such that the elongate member permits release of the first portion from the carrier member and expansion of at least part of the expandable member.
US09149276B2 Clip and deployment apparatus for tissue closure
A tissue engaging device and a corresponding deployment apparatus. The tissue engaging device has a generally annular-shaped body disposed about a central axis. The body has a plurality of inwardly protruding members separated by corresponding intermember spaces. The body is movable between a first position where the body is substantially convex before engagement with the tissue and a second position where the body is substantially concave when the body is engaged with the tissue. The tissue engaging device may be bioabsorbable. The deployment apparatus has a sheath and a tissue eversion apparatus for everting the tissue and positioning the everted tissue within the tissue engaging device.
US09149272B2 Suture passer guides and related kits and methods
A suture passer guide that includes an elongate member having a longitudinal axis and defining a first proximal opening and a first distal opening. The first proximal and distal openings are substantially aligned with one another such that a suture passer can be extended through the first proximal and distal openings at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member. The suture passer guide can be configured to be passed through a central lumen of an endoscopic port.
US09149268B2 Method and apparatus for attaching tissue to bone, including the provision and use of a novel knotless suture anchor system
Apparatus for securing a first object to a second object, including an elongated body having a lumen extending between distal and proximal ends, the lumen comprising distal and proximal sections, the distal section having a wider diameter than the proximal section; a window extending through the side wall of the elongated body, in the vicinity of the intersection between the distal and proximal sections, and communicating with the lumen; an elongated element comprising proximal and distal ends and extending through the lumen; and a locking element mounted to the distal end of the elongated element and disposed in the distal section; whereby, when the elongated body is disposed in a second object, and a first object extends through the window, proximal movement of the locking element causes the elongated body to capture the first object to the elongated body, whereby to secure the first object to the second object.
US09149264B2 Cam driven compaction tube for vascular closure device
A method and apparatus for sealing a puncture or incision formed percutaneously in a tissue. The apparatus including an anchor, a sealing plug, a filament connected between the sealing plug and the anchor, a compaction member assembly, a spool and a driving plate. The compaction member assembly being disposed adjacent the sealing plug and structured and arranged to apply an axially directed compressive force to automatically compact the sealing plug toward the anchor. The spool has a portion of the filament wound thereon. The driving plate being connected to the spool and having a cam surface portion. The cam surface portion is arranged to contact a proximal end of the compaction member assembly upon rotation of the spool to advance a distal end of the compaction member assembly.
US09149259B1 Patient safety and wellbeing device for covering wires and needles used in mammography or ultrasound guided needle localization
This apparatus consist of three devices. The first device is latex free radiolucent small diameter piece of tubing with a small diameter opening in its center. The wire that is protruding from the patient is run through the small diameter opening. The tubing is long enough to fully cover the sharp ends of the wire. When the tubing has been placed over the wire, it is looped in a loose loop and held to the skin by a rectangle latex free adhesive bandage which has no adhesive in its center. The third device is used when the patient is waiting for surgery and the needle and wire are left in the breast. At this point an adjustable height cup is placed over the wire. The adjustable height cup has four tabs extending from its bottom which are used to hold the cup in place on the body over the wire.
US09149257B2 Image guided catheters and methods of use
An interventional medical device is provided that incorporates a forward-directed ultrasound imaging system integrated into a single minimally invasive device. The medical device can be in the form of catheters and interventional devices having a tapered distal tip, particularly those suitable for minimally invasive direct introduction into the human or other mammalian body. The imaging system comprises one or more small ultrasound transducers that can be permanently integrated into the device or integrated into an interchangeable ultrasound transducer that may be inserted into and removed from the device to customize the device for a particular use. An ultrasound system can be provided in the device either alone or in combination with fiber optic imaging to provide a range of forward imaging and therapeutic capabilities of the device for direct access to a target site from the skin via an introducer needle.
US09149241B2 Method of generating image by using multi-energy radiation data and apparatus therefor
A method of generating an image by using multi-energy radiation data and an apparatus therefor is provided. The method includes receiving multi-energy radiation data including a plurality of pieces of radiation data indicating an inner portion of a subject with respect to a plurality of radioactive rays in different energy bands, respectively, generating, based on the received multi-energy radiation data, radiation data of a radioactive ray in an energy band that is different from the different energy bands, and generating a radiation image of the subject based on the generated radiation data.
US09149238B2 Foot-activated controller for imaging system
A foot-activated controller that communicates with at least one medical device is disclosed. This controller may incorporate a number of features. Multiple displays may be positioned on the controller for depicting the functionality of its various actuators. “Tapping” or partially depressing an actuator may cause an output that is representative of its functionality to be generated on its corresponding controller display, while fully depressing an actuator may initiate execution of its assigned function. The function assigned to each of the various actuators may be programmed by an external computer that may communicate with the controller over an appropriate communication link and via a communication port on the controller. Different audible feedbacks may be assigned to the various actuators, for instance to provide an audible indication of the function being executed.
US09149235B2 Oedema detection
A method of detecting tissue oedema in a subject. The method includes determining a measured impedance for first and second body segments. An index indicative of a ratio of the extra-cellular to intra-cellular fluid is then calculated for each body segment, with these being used to determine an index ratio based on the index for the first and second body segments. The index ration can in turn be used to determine the presence, absence or degree of tissue oedema, for example by comparing the index ratio to a reference or previously determined index ratios.
US09149233B2 Systems and methods for processing sensor data
Systems and methods for processing sensor data are provided. In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided for calibration of a continuous analyte sensor. In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided for classification of a level of noise on a sensor signal. In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided for determining a rate of change for analyte concentration based on a continuous sensor signal. In some embodiments, systems and methods for alerting or alarming a patient based on prediction of glucose concentration are provided.
US09149226B2 Method of and apparatus for monitoring of muscle activity
Apparatus for monitoring muscle activity, said apparatus comprising means for providing signals indicative of muscle activity, for example EMG-signals, means for processing of said signals in order to detect a particular activity and means for providing a feedback signal, wherein said device is designed in order to be individually adaptable in a set-up mode. The apparatus can be used for detecting and prevention of undesired activities such as bruxism, movements that are damaging or unwanted etc. The detection can be performed with great certainty since the individual parameters of the user are utilized for laying down reference values, threshold values, criteria for triggering of feedback signals, etc., which may take place at a set-up procedure.
US09149224B1 System and method for measuring skin movement and strain and related techniques
Described herein are systems and techniques for a motion capture system and a three-dimensional (3D) tracking system used to record body position and/or movements/motions and using the data to measure skin strain (a strain field) all along the body while a joint is in motion (dynamic) as well as in a fixed position (static). The data and technique can be used to quantify strains, calculate 3D contours, and derive patterns believed to reveal skin's properties during natural motions.
US09149222B1 Enhanced system and method for assessment of disequilibrium, balance and motion disorders
A system and method for providing therapy and assessment utilizing vibrotactile feedback is disclosed. Such treatment is useful for the assessment and treatment of disequilibrium, movement and balance disorders. The system and method measures a subject's performance of predetermined tasks with respect to expected parameters using sensors such as force plates, inertial sensors, and three dimensional cameras. Predetermined motions are motions such as stand, sit-to-stand, reach, bend, functional gait, functional gait plus headshake, and other functional tasks. Vibrotactile stimulation may be applied during the subject's performance as disruptive input. Variance and rate of change of variance between measured and expected parameters is used as a tool for assessment of said subject, and is also used for providing real-time vibrotactile training to said subject. The invention is useful in the treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), neurologic disorders causing disequilibrium and balance disorders, and the like.
US09149211B2 Monitoring system for pressure sore prevention
Systems and methods for monitoring pressure at a contact surface, for applications such as pressure sore prevention. The system includes a number of force sensors positioned at different locations in relation to the contact surface, the force sensors providing a signal in proportion to the amount of force detected. The system includes a controller for receiving the signals from the force sensors and determining values associated with each force sensor. The controller is configured for comparing a first one or more values associated with a first subset of force sensors with a second one or more values associated with a second subset of force sensors, determining from the comparing whether a threshold between said first one or more values and said second one or more values has been exceeded, and controlling, based on the determining, an indicator to provide an indication to the user.
US09149210B2 Automated calibration of posture state classification for a medical device
Techniques relate to operating a medical device by classifying a detected posture state of a patient. This classification may be performed by comparing the detected posture state to posture state definitions available within the system. Each definition may be described in terms of a parameter (e.g., vector) indicative of a direction in three-dimensional space. The posture state definitions may be calibrated by automatically estimating values for these parameters, thereby eliminating the need for the patient to assume each posture state during the calibration process to capture actual parameter values. According to another aspect, the estimated parameter values may be updated as the patient assumes various postures during a daily routine. For instance, estimated vectors initially used to calibrate the posture state definitions may be changed over time to more closely represent posture states the patient actually assumes, and to further adapt to changes in a patient's condition.
US09149209B2 Interactive virtual care
An interactive virtual care system may include a user sensory module to acquire multi-modal user data related to user movement. A data analysis module may compare the multi-modal user data to predetermined historical user data and/or statistical norm data for users to identify an anomaly in the user movement.
US09149208B2 Device for assessing the spinal column
A device for assessing the spinal column intends to assess the lateral curvatures and deviations in the spinal column, in a standing position. It can be a non-invasive instrument that allows reproducing the position of each vertebra in the spinal column, from the first cervical vertebra to the first sacral vertebra. The device can include or consist of two parts: a first part designated as body and a second part defined as support. The first part can include or can consist of a vertical piece (that fits in the support) and several horizontal pieces. Each horizontal piece will touch the spinal crest of each vertebra in the spinal column, from the first cervical vertebra to the first sacral vertebra. The support can include or can consist of two pieces: a vertical piece, wherein the instrument's body vertical piece is fitted and a base whereon the feet of the patient under assessment are placed.
US09149204B2 Flexible passive acoustic driver for magnetic resonance elastography
A flexible passive acoustic driver for use in an acoustic driver system which applies an oscillating stress to a subject undergoing a magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) examination which includes receiving acoustic pressure waves from an active driver through a tube and imparts pressure waves to a subject of an imaging procedure. In one configuration, the passive driver includes a flexible bag that forms the walls of an acoustic cavity, and a structure filling material located inside the acoustic cavity provides support for the flexible bag. The flexible bag conforms to the shape of the subject and may be held in place by an elastic band. The passive driver can have an integrated or detachable non-active push-on compartment which is rigid or semi-flexible to improve the human-driver mechanical coupling and the driver energy efficiency of converting acoustic pressure to mechanical vibration applied to a subject.
US09149200B2 Using intracardiac electrograms to predict location of fibrosis and autonomic nerves in the heart
A method of targeting fibrosis or autonomic nerve tissue for ablation in a subject is provided. The method includes performing at least one EGM analysis of a plurality of recorded atrial EGMs for a tissue in a region suspected of having fibrosis or autonomic nerve tissue. With regard to targeting fibrosis for ablation, the method includes determining one or more correlations of at least one AF EGM characteristic to a region having fibrosis from the plurality of recorded atrial EGMs for the tissue and determining whether the tissue contains dense fibrosis that would preclude effective ablation of the analysis region of the tissue. With regard to targeting autonomic nerve for ablation, the method includes determining whether one or more significant changes in EGM characteristics with autonomic blockade exist that would indicate the need to perform ablation of the analysis region of the tissue.
US09149198B2 Multi-array monophasic potential medical device
A medical device including a catheter having a shaft with a distal portion; a first plurality of substantially hemispherical electrodes coupled to the distal portion; a second plurality of substantially hemispherical electrodes coupled to the shaft proximal of the first plurality, where the second plurality of electrodes are oriented substantially orthogonal to the first plurality of electrodes; and an additional electrode coupled to the shaft. A console may have a processor in electrical communication with the first and second plurality of electrodes and the reference electrode, the processor programmed to obtaining a monophasic action potential recording from at least one of the first and second plurality of electrodes.
US09149189B2 User or patient monitoring methods using one or more analysis tools
A method is provided for using telemetry data based on user habit information or user monitoring. One or more sensors of a monitoring device detects or measures user information selected from of at least one of, a user's activities, behaviors and habit information, and a user's health. The user information is received at a telemetry system with a database. One or more analysis tools at the telemetry system are used for the analysis. Analysis information is produced that is sent to the monitoring device.
US09149183B2 Image processing system, processing method, and storage medium
An image processing system includes: an obtaining unit configured to obtain a tomographic image of an eye to be examined; an analysis unit configured to execute analysis required to obtain information indicating a degree of curvature of a retina from the tomographic image of the eye to be examined according to an imaging mode upon capturing an image of the eye to be examined; and a display control unit configured to display three-dimensional shape data of a retinal layer generated to obtain the information on a display device.
US09149179B2 System and method for identifying eye conditions
An electronic device comprising a processor utility configured and operable for processing image data, determining whether an abnormality exists in an image of a subject's eye, and generating corresponding output data, said processor utility comprising: a first processor configured and operable for selecting in the image data an image comprising a region of interest including predetermined eye features of at least one of two eyes of the subject, the first processor further configured and operable for pre-processing the image to determine whether it is suitable for image processing and for providing an indication of the determined suitability of the image; an eye feature detection utility configured and operable for applying an image processing algorithm to a suitable image for determining one or more parameters of the eye features from a set of predetermined parameters; and an eye condition identifier utility configured and operable for processing and analyzing said one or more parameters and generating data indicative of whether an abnormality exists in the image.
US09149178B2 Surgical access assembly and method of use therefor
A surgical access assembly includes an access port and a seal anchor. The access port includes first and second rings and a sleeve extending between the first and second rings. In particular, the sleeve includes an inner surface having an attaching member. The seal anchor is adapted to be at least partially disposed in the access port. The seal anchor includes a base portion configured to detachably engage the attaching member of the access port.
US09149175B2 Apparatus and method for light control in an in-vivo imaging device
A device and method for operating an in vivo imaging device (10A) wherein the illumination produced by the device may be varied in intensity and/or duration, and/or the gain level or other parameters may be varied, according to, for example, the amount of illumination produced by the device which is reflected back to the device. In addition, a method is provided for detecting problematic pixels in an imaging device. This method may define and exclude non-functional pixels, based on for example an initial short exposure that enables a threshold saturation level to be reached only for problematic pixels. Moreover, a method is described for determining when an in vivo device enters the body, for example by calculating the progress of a dark frame, based on the light saturation threshold of the dark frame.
US09149165B2 Vacuum cleaner and vacuum cleaner system
A vacuum cleaner and vacuum cleaner system comprises a dirt separating and collecting system. The dirt separating and collecting system can include a filter module having a filter bag, wherein the inlet to the filter bag is helical and dirt entering the filter bag is visible to the user. Optionally, the filter bag filter module can be interchanged with a bagless filter module, which may include a conventional cyclone separator.
US09149158B2 Removable gripping device for a cooking vessel with an anti-return mechanism consisting of a rotating tightening arm
The device comprises an internal support upper arm and an external support lower arm, designed to work together so that, by gripping, the upper arm and the lower arm push against an internal face and an external face, respectively, of the lateral vessel wall; a tightening arm which rotates around an axis between an unlocked and a locked position in which the tightening arm pushes against the lateral wall and works with one of the two lower and upper arms to pin the lateral wall against at least one of the arms; and movement means designed to manually shifted between an open and closed position and to rotate the tightening arm when moving from an open to a closed position. In addition, provision is made of anti-return means, separate from the movement means, for blocking the rotation of the tightening arm in the opposite direction from the tightening direction when said tightening arm is in the locked position.
US09149155B2 Cooking vessel with rotary blades
The cooking vessel (50) has a bottom (56) and rotary blade driving means (32) inside a vessel wall (51), and is suitable for working on a support plate (2) of a cooking hob (1) having rotary blade driving means (32) to rotate a lower magnetic coupling member (5). The vessel includes an upper magnetic coupling member (54) connected to the blades (53) and arranged close to an upper surface of said support plate (2) when the vessel (50) is on the plate. The vessel comprises a support element (55) below said bottom (56) of the vessel (51) for resting on the support plate (2), said support element (55) having a coefficient of friction with respect to the support plate (2) low enough to allow the sliding and self-centering of the cooking vessel (50) due to the effect of said lower magnetic coupling member (5).
US09149154B1 Apparatus for transiently holding cooked food in a warm condition pending service of the food for consumption
Apparatus for holding cooked food transiently in a warm condition pending service of the food, e.g., in restaurant settings, includes a housing structure defining a food holding area, and a heating device positioned adjacent the food holding area to apply radiant warming heat directly to food in the holding area. The housing structure defines a continuous air circulation path with a first portion of the path extending over the heating device and a second portion of the path extending through the food holding area. A fan is disposed outside the food holding area to produce recirculating movement of air in the air circulation path. The combination of direct radiant heating by the heating device and recirculation of air through the food holding area is effective to maintain cooked food against degradation in edibility for a period of time substantially extended beyond the heating of the cooked food alone.
US09149147B2 Method for the preparation of a beverage by centrifugation using a container
A method for preparing a beverage from a container (1) containing beverage ingredients by centrifugation of the container in a beverage preparation device;said container (1) having: an outer wall (2) and an inner wall (3); each wall having a peripheral portion (4, 5) extending around a central axis (I) and a bottom portion (6, 7); a lid (18) covering said outer and inner walls (2, 3); and forming with said inner wall (3) an inner cavity (8) containing beverage ingredients (9), an outer collecting cavity (10) positioned between the outer and inner walls (2, 3), beverage outlets or outlet precursors (11) positioned on the peripheral portion (5) of the inner wall, wherein the method includes: supplying liquid in the inner cavity, rotating the container (1) around its central axis (I) to force liquid through beverage outlets from the inner cavity (8) to the outer cavity (10) under the effect of centrifugal pressure, maintaining an overpressure of supplied liquid in the container to enable the beverage to be drained from the outer cavity (10) out of the container.
US09149144B2 Systems and methods for deployment of curtains
A curtain system is described which includes a curtain having a plurality of rod engaging members attached thereto, a plurality of rods each having a first end, and a curtain release mechanism attached to the rod at the first end thereof. The rod engaging members each includes a stem having a first end and a second end and a yoke extending from the first end of the stem. The curtain release mechanisms have a slot formed therein and extending therethrough and also include a user operable mechanism for retention of the yoke upon insertion into the slot. The user operable mechanism is further operable for substantially simultaneous release of the yokes and therefore the curtain from the curtain release mechanisms.
US09149143B2 Apparatuses, systems and methods for locking lift cords used to lift architectural opening coverings
A locking member to be used in conjunction with a guide ring and a lift cord configured to raise of lower a covering for an architectural opening, such as a window, door or the like, is disclosed. The locking member is configured to engage the guide ring and the lift cord in such a way that the locking member has a selective rotative ability, which allows the lift cord to freely move in a first direction to raise or lower the covering, but the locking member will move or rotate about the guide ring when the lift cord is pulled in a second direction to pinch the lift cord between the locking member and the guide ring so that the lift cord is prevented from being pulled away from the covering far enough to create a loop of a certain diameter.
US09149138B2 Drinking vessel
A drinking vessel comprises a generally cylindrical container (10) for containing liquid, and a lid (20). The lid comprises a generally cylindrical inner member (21) and a generally cylindrical sealing element (30) which surrounds the inner member (21). The container 10 further comprises a rim (14) and an inner circumferential sealing surface (15). The lid (20) is fixedly insertable into the container 10 in order, when the lid (20) is inserted, to cause the sealing element (30) to lie against the sealing surface so as normally to form a seal with the sealing surface (15). The seal is deformable by suction at the rim (14) such that under the action of the suction liquid within the container (10) is caused to flow from a chamber (13) inside the container out past the rim (14).
US09149133B1 Methods for using ball mount assemblies with inelastic bands
Wall mount assemblies with partially elastic augmentation bands or inelastic bands. The augmentation bands and inelastic bands interact with seams running from one pole to another pole on a ball. The ball may be a football, basketball, or other type of ball. A football may be further connected to the wall mount assembly via a lace engagement component that engages the laces on the football. The various wall mount assemblies provide an illusion that the ball is floating near the flat surface without support. A wall mount component connected to the flat surface by a set of fasteners is out of the line-of-sight of an observer as the wall mount component is behind the ball and the connection between the ball and the wall mount component is designed to be difficult to see.
US09149128B2 Play yard with removable liner
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a play yard configured for providing an enclosed space for a child. According to various embodiments, the play yard comprises a rigid support frame and removable, flexible liner. The frame includes one or more moveable retention members configured to engage the liner in order to form a bounded play yard space. By permitting the liner to be secured to the frame via the retention members, a user is able to easily secure the liner to the frame for use and remove the liner from the frame for washing.
US09149124B1 Engineered seating system for use in medical lift chairs
Described herein is a chair for relieving pressure points from prolonged sitting. The chair comprises a plurality of armrests, the armrests comprising: an armrest frame; a foam layer coupled to an upper portion of the armrest frame; and a first gel infused foam layer coupled to an upper portion of the foam layer. The chair further comprises a seat bottom, the seat bottom comprising: a seat bottom frame; a sinuous spring base coupled to the seat bottom frame; a plurality of coil springs coupled to the sinuous spring base; and a second gel infused foam layer coupled to the coil springs. The chair further comprises a seat back, the seat back comprising: a seat back frame; elastic webbing coupled to the seat back frame; and one or more cushions coupled to the seat back frame.
US09149116B2 Drawer structure
A drawer structure (5) includes a fixing device (6) for fixing a front panel (7) to a drawer container (8) in a detachable and position-adjustable manner. The front panel (7) can be detachably connected to the fixing device (6) by means of a connection element (9) pre-mounted on the front panel (7). A first adjusting element (1) is associated with the container (8), for adjusting the position of the front panel (7) in the vertical direction (HR), and a second adjusting element (2) is associated with the container (8), for adjusting the position of the front panel (7) in the lateral direction (SR), at least the first (1) and second (2) adjusting elements engaging with the same part of the connection element (9).
US09149115B2 Bottle rack and kit for bottle-supporting assembly
A bottle rack includes a bottle-supporting assembly having an elongate portion and support bars connected to the elongate portion, with the support bars being spaced longitudinally along the elongate portion and suitable to support bottles therebetween; and a panel having support bar apertures suitable for the support bars of the bottle-supporting assembly to extend through. The bottle-supporting assembly is secured onto the panel with the support bars extending through the apertures of the panel and the support bars are suitable to support the bottles such that the bottles are substantially perpendicular to the support panel. The bottle-supporting assembly may be supplied in the form of a kit.
US09149107B2 Multiple cosmetics press-to-dispense cosmeticizing device
A cosmeticizing device that allows for loading of various cosmetic liquids for enabling non-interrupted supply of the cosmetic liquids through hand pressing. A cosmetic container body has an end forming a tubular opening receiving a valve seat for fixing a cosmeticizing component and an inner tubular bottom to which a valve disk is movably mounted for closing the bottom of the container. With a plunger bar that is rotatably coupled to the valve disk being pressed down, the valve disk is caused to slidably squeeze out the material for dispensing the liquid material to the cosmeticizing component mounted to the top end of the container body. A closure cap has an opening having an inner circumference forming a securing face and a bottom in which a scraping member is received and mounted. The cap has an interior space for receiving a cosmetic liquid.
US09149103B2 Wind-collecting nozzle mounted on outlet of hair dryer
An air dryer includes a dryer body, a wind-collecting nozzle mounted in front of the dryer body. The wind-collecting nozzle includes a wind-collecting nozzle body communicated with the dryer body, and has a plurality of air openings spacedly formed thereon. Two blowing pieces are supported by the wind-collecting nozzle body, wherein each of the blowing pieces has a blowing outlet. Moreover, a plurality of connecting rims is mounted between the blowing pieces and the wind-collecting nozzle body at the air openings respectively for rotatably connecting the blowing pieces with the wind-collecting nozzle body, so that the air dryer is capable of delivering air at a predetermined orientation through the air openings and the blowing outlets.
US09149097B1 Radiant heating umbrella
An apparatus having a radiant heater, an upwardly convex reflector, a vertically-oriented cylindrical ring shield joined to the reflector at the outside reflector diameter, an upwardly convex metal hood, and an upwardly convex cap having a cap diameter greater than the diameter of a hood opening, wherein exhaust gases emitted upwardly from the exhaust port draw cooler air through the cylindrical opening, the exhaust gases and cooler air pass upward through the hood, drawing additional cooler air through the annular space between the reflector and the hood, into a mixing chamber formed by the cap and the hood, where the cooler air and the exhaust gases mix and the mixed air and exhaust gases then pass outward through the annular space between the cap and the hood, exiting the apparatus at the outer diameter of the cap.
US09149096B2 Hand held link making device and kit
A disclosed device for creating an item consisting of a series of links includes at least two posts spaced part from each other in a first direction with each of the posts including a first arm and a second arm and an access slot.
US09149088B2 Medial rotational traction element arrangement for an article of footwear
A traction element arrangement for a sole structure of an article of footwear is described. Traction elements of a first group are associated with a lateral side of the sole structure. Traction elements of a second group are associated with a medial side of the sole structure. Traction elements of the second group include medial rotational traction elements that have a plurality of stud elements arranged in a circular grouping. Stud elements may be aligned laterally across the sole structure with traction elements of the first group. Stud elements may be aligned longitudinally across the sole structure to be arranged in different configurations along an outside medial side or an inside medial side.
US09149086B2 Article of footwear having an upper with knitted elements
An article of footwear may incorporate various elements that are at least partially formed through a knitting process, such as a circular knitting process or a flat knitting process. Examples of the elements include tongue elements, collar elements, and collar-throat elements. In some configurations, the elements include compressible areas and flange areas. The compressible areas may include foam cores or floating yarns that impart compressibility, and the flange areas may be utilized to join the components to the article of footwear.
US09149078B1 Arm socks/arm sweater/scarf systems
A tubular garment sheath system includes a first tubular garment sheath assembly having a first stretchable top piece, a first stretchable bottom piece, a first first end having at least one first pocket, and a first second end having at least one male fastener; and a first interior volume; and a second tubular garment sheath assembly having a second stretchable top piece, a second stretchable bottom piece, a second first end having at least one second pocket, a second second end having at least one female fastener; and a second interior volume. The tubular garment sheath system is structured and arranged to keep the first arm and the second arm warm during sudden temperature changes by shielding the first arm and the second arm from cold temperatures while preventing body heat from escaping from the first arm and said second arm.
US09149068B2 Wrapper having reduced ignition proclivity characteristics
Wrappers for smoking articles are disclosed having reduced ignition proclivity characteristics. The wrappers include discrete areas treated with a reduced ignition composition. In accordance with the present disclosure, the amount of burn promoting agents is controlled over the surface of the wrapper.
US09149064B2 Method of producing nanofibrillar cellulose with high absorptivity to fat and cholate
The invention provides a method for making nanofibrillar cellulose with high absorptivity to fat and cholate. According to the invention, dietary fiber material is activated by steam flash explosion and hydrolyzed sequentially by xylanase, laccase and cellulase. Nanofibrillar cellulose is obtained by subjecting the hydrolyzed fiber to high pressure homogenization. Nanofibrillar cellulose is further modified by octenyl succinic anhydride or glycidyl methacrylate to increase its ability to absorb fat and cholate. The method of the invention is safe, clean and environment-friendly. It avoids using toxic reagents, strong acids and bases in the process of preparing nanofibrillar cellulose, making it safe to be used as dietary products. The nanofibrillar cellulose made by the invented method has an oil absorption rate of 20-35 g/g, a water absorption rate of 20-30 g/g, expansivity of 40-70 mL/g, and sodium deoxycholate absorption rate of 0.01-0.2 mmoL/100 mg.
US09149058B2 Dry steam ovens
A method of cooking a food item includes supporting a food item having multiple cooking sites, providing a jet of dry steam from a steam nozzle, determining a targeted subset of the cooking sites, and dynamically moving the food item or the steam nozzle so that the jet of dry steam is directed onto the targeted subset of the cooking sites.
US09149057B2 Enhanced bioavailable iodine molecules
This invention relates to supplementation of the diets of domesticated animals (livestock and poultry) with iodine in an enhanced bioavailable manner, that is to say the iodine is more available to the animal than when using conventional sources of iodine, such as calcium iodate. The supplementary compound are alpha amino acid metal iodide complexes.
US09149055B2 Toolless cotton candy machine
A cotton candy machine includes a floss head comprised of a floss head cap, a heated filament spinning screen, a floss head base and a rotatable retaining cap, all removable from said head without tools by manually rotating said retaining cap. A floater includes a vane, a shank and a shank end. Sockets on the upper surface of the retaining cap capture the shanks of plural floaters. The floaters are relative rigid and of selective pitch to produce sugar fiber cooling air flow, and are non-porous for enhanced cleaning. The floss head is easily manually disassembled for cleaning.
US09149052B2 Methods of obtaining sterile milk and compositions thereof
The disclosure provides a simple and effective methods for sterilization of milk without degradation or loss of biologically active agents in the milk and the products produced by such methods.
US09149049B2 Genetic cluster of strains of streptococcus thermophilus having unique rheological properties for dairy fermentation
The invention relates to a genetic cluster of strains of S. thermophilus, wherein the milk fermented with said strains is highly viscous and weakly ropy. The invention also relates to a genetic cluster of strains of S. thermophilus, wherein the genome of said strains comprises a CRISPR locus having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID N° 1.
US09149044B2 Pesticidal compositions
Combinations suitable for agricultural use can include (I) a nematode-antagonistic biocontrol agent and (II) one or more agents selected, independently of each other, from any one of (A) to (H): (A) at least one fungicide; (B) at least one insecticide; (C) at least one synthetic nematicide; (D) bacterium of the genus Bacillus; (E) Harpin; (F) Isoflavones; (G) Plant growth regulators; and/or (H) Plant activators.
US09149033B2 Camouflage covering using compositions with surfaces which constitute animal metamers
A camouflage covering which has a surface coating composition which is a metamer of a natural object from an environment of an animal, such as plant life or soil, as perceived by the vision system of the animal, which is created by completing the steps of creating a mathematical model of the vision system of the animal, measuring a set of spectral characteristics from the natural object, entering the set of spectral characteristics as an input into the mathematical model, and using an output of the mathematical model to iteratively create the surface coating composition.
US09149032B2 Collapsible waterfowl decoy
The collapsible waterfowl decoy disclosed herein includes a vertical support and a horizontal support. The horizontal support includes a three-way joint which allows the horizontal support to be disposed on the vertical support through parallel ports in the three-way joint. A pin is disposed within a perpendicular port of the three-way joint. The horizontal support further includes rigid tubing that is inserted into a perpendicular port of the three-way joint. Elastic cordage is disposed around the pin and through the rigid tubing to apply elastic tension between the rigid tubing and the perpendicular port of the three-way joint.
US09149020B1 Self-regulated liquid dispenser and system for maintaining a liquid level in a container of dispensed liquid
A self regulated feeder for a footbath for animals may include a hollow container for a source of fluid, an outlet passageway to connect the hollow container with the footbath, an air return passageway to connect the hollow container to ambient air to return air to the hollow container, and a differential valve to restrict the returning air to the hollow container. The fluid may include air, and the fluid may include a liquid having a disinfect agent. The self regulated feeder may include a flush passageway to flush the footbath, and the air return passageway may be connected to a liquid trap container to prevent fluid from the footbath from reaching the hollow container.
US09149018B2 System and method for determining whether to operate a robot in conjunction with a rotary milking platform based on detection of a milking claw
In certain embodiments, a system includes a robotic arm. The robotic arm is operable to extend between the legs of a dairy livestock located in a milking stall of a rotary milking platform. The system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the robotic arm. The controller is operable to determine whether a milking claw is attached to the teats of the dairy livestock. The controller is also operable to control the robotic arm to extend between the legs of the dairy livestock based at least in part on whether the milking claw is attached.
US09149011B2 Controllable emitter
A controllable emitter of an irrigation apparatus including a drip line having pressurized fluid therein is provided. The controllable emitter includes a container coupled to the drip line, the container being formed to define an interior and including an inlet through which the pressurized fluid is receivable in the interior from the drip line and an outlet through which the pressurized fluid is exhaustible from the interior, a magnetic stopper, which is normally disposable in a first position such that the magnetic stopper prevents a flow of the pressurized fluid through the outlet and which is actively disposable in a second position such that the magnetic stopper permits the flow and a controllable actuator configured to generate a magnetic field operable to urge the magnetic stopper to move from the first position to the second position.
US09149010B2 Harvesting and grafting of trees
A tree harvester includes a body and a harvesting system coupled to the body. The tree harvester further includes a control system coupled to the body. The control system is configured to receive data from the harvesting system regarding a characteristic of a harvested tree and control operation of the harvesting system based on the data. The harvesting system is configured to remove an intermediate portion of the harvested tree below a tree crown and graft the tree crown to a tree stump.
US09149003B2 Web wrap apparatus
A web wrap apparatus is provided having a separator with a separating edge deflecting a web against a counter member to separate it. In or at the counter member, retainers are provided, which protrude the web and thus avoid that the web glides along the counter member toward its center area. Preferably the retainers are formed as teeth in a wall of an inverted V-shaped counter member.
US09149000B2 Bogie axle for a machine
An agricultural machine is disclosed. The agricultural machine includes a frame including a first axle on a first side of the frame and a second axle on a second side of the frame; and a bogie axle pivotably mounted on each of the first and second axles of the frame. Each bogie axle includes a body with a front axle disposed at a front end of the body and a rear axle disposed at a rear end of the body. A front tire is mounted on the front axle of each bogie axle and a rear tire is mounted on the rear axle of each bogie axle. The front tire is a different size than the rear tire.
US09155235B2 Tilt mechanism for a display
Embodiments provide a tilt mechanism for tilting an electronic display that includes at least two nested torsion springs to offset and/or balance the torque generated by a display acting on the tilt mechanism. In some cases a tilt mechanism includes first and second brackets pivotally coupled about a tilt axis. First and second springs are wound about a tilt axis such that the first spring is located at least partially within the second spring. The springs engage with the brackets to exert first and second torques between the first and the second brackets. In some cases such tilt mechanisms can be carried by stands, arms, carts, and the like. Methods of tilting electronic displays are also provided.
US09155231B2 Motor-drive unit having heat radiator
A compact motor-drive unit wherein each component can be stably fixed to the unit. A motor-drive unit has a plurality of substrates each having a circuit for driving a motor; semiconductor devices mounted on the respective substrates; at least one smoothing capacitor mounted on at least one of the substrates; and a heat radiator having a heat-transferring surface adjacent to the semiconductors. The smoothing capacitor is positioned within a swept area formed by moving the first substrate arranged generally parallel to a base surface, in a counter-front direction, so that the smoothing capacitor is separated from the first substrate.
US09155219B2 Blanking plate for electronics rack
A blank plate has flange portions capable of performing hinge movement around a direction of a shorter side. A blank plate has flange portions capable of performing hinge movement at positions different from the hinge positions of the flange portions, and a side of the blank plate is connected to the flange portions so as to be capable of performing hinge movement. A blank plate has flange portions capable of performing hinge movement at positions different from the hinge positions of the flange portions, and a side of the blank plate is connected to the flange portions so as to be capable of performing hinge movement. First lock mechanisms fix the blank plate and the blank plate perpendicularly to each other. Second lock mechanisms fix the blank plate and the blank plate perpendicularly to each other.
US09155218B2 Electronic apparatus and frame structure thereof
A frame structure of an electronic apparatus for containing a plurality of power supply units is disclosed. The frame structure includes a main frame, a tray, and at least one elastic element. The tray includes at least one fixing portion and is connected pivotally to the main frame to be in a first position or a second position. One end of each elastic element is fixed to the main frame, and the other end of each elastic element includes a fastening structure. When the tray is in the first position, each fixed portion is between the main frame and each elastic element. When the power supply units are placed into the main frame, each elastic element is pushed by the power supply units, and each fastening structure passes through the fixing portion and the main frame, for fixing the tray in the first position.
US09155217B2 Cable backplane system
A cable backplane system includes a backplane and a cable rack coupled to the backplane. The cable rack includes first and second trays having first and second frames. A plurality of cable connector assemblies are held by the cable rack each having a plurality of cables extending between a first cable connector and a second cable connector. The first cable connector is coupled to the first frame and the second cable connector is coupled to the second frame with the cables routed in first and second raceways of the first and second trays. Float mechanisms are connected between the first and second frames that allow limited movement between the first and second trays. The float mechanisms allow alignment of the cable connectors with corresponding openings in the backplane.
US09155216B2 Interface card module and electronic device having the same
In a support frame of an interface card module, two module locks are disposed thereon, both the support frame and the module locks having enlarged operational holes for easy operation for a user. To install the interface card module on a housing of an electronic device, the module locks are pushed and moved by the housing and withstood by the housing. The user may directly operate the module locks through the enlarged holes to disengage the module locks from the housing and to uninstall the interface card module. The interface card module further uses a card lock pivoted on the support frame for locking the interface card at the support frame.
US09155191B2 Substrate comprising inorganic material that lowers the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and reduces warpage
Some novel features pertain to a substrate that includes a first core layer, a second core layer laterally located to the first core layer in the substrate, a first inorganic core layer (e.g., glass, silicon, ceramic) laterally positioned between the first core layer and the second core layer, the first inorganic core layer configured to be vertically aligned with a die configured to be coupled to the substrate, and a dielectric layer covering the first core layer, the second core layer and the first inorganic core layer. In some implementations, the first inorganic core layer has a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), the die has a second coefficient of thermal expansion, and the first core layer has a third coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). The first CTE of the first inorganic core layer closely matches the second CTE of the die in order to reduce the likelihood of warpage.
US09155186B2 Focusing a particle beam using magnetic field flutter
An example particle accelerator may include the following: a voltage source to sweep a radio frequency (RF) voltage in a cavity to accelerate particles from a plasma column, where the cavity has a magnetic field causing particles accelerated from the plasma column to move orbitally within the cavity, and where the magnetic field has flux that bows at edges of the cavity; a regenerator to provide a magnetic field bump within the cavity to thereby change successive orbits of the particles accelerated from the plasma column so that, eventually, particles output to an extraction point, where the regenerator is located at a radius in the cavity relative to the plasma column; and ferromagnetic arrangements located in the cavity proximate to the radius, where each ferromagnetic arrangement provides a magnetic field bump, and where ferromagnetic arrangements adjacent to the regenerator are separated from the regenerator by a space.
US09155173B2 Dual-mode dimmable receptacle
An electric receptacle capable of operating in a dimmable mode and a standard mode comprises an opening for receipt of an adapter. The adapter is received by the electric receptacle and switches the electric receptacle from the standard mode to the dimmable mode. The adapter is dimensioned to fit over a standard plug and the electric receptacle is configured to receive a standard plug.
US09155171B1 Power over ethernet lighting system
A system, method, and computer program for deploying a lighting system throughout a building using power over Ethernet is provided. In exemplary embodiments, one or more LED lighting structures may be powered using Ethernet cable in a building, and may be controlled by a distributed management system throughout a communication network.
US09155152B2 Intensity control of LEDs interfacing three-way sockets
A light-emitting diode (LED) lighting fixture is configured to interface a three-way socket and provide at least two levels of output light intensity. A detection unit determines whether one or both input voltages lines of the three-way socket are active and provides a control signal to an LED controller indicating which input voltage lines are active. The LED controller is configured to provide different output current levels to an LED bank based on whether one or both input voltage lines are active. By adjusting the output current level based on which input lines are active, the LED lighting fixture provides at least two output lighting intensity levels. LED lighting fixtures according to various embodiments can therefore serve as a direct replacement for three-way incandescent bulbs.
US09155150B2 LED driver operating in different modes
A LED driver system (1) comprises a current source (4) which supplies a power supply current (i) to a parallel arrangement of a parallel switch (20) and a LED (10). The parallel switch (20) short-circuits the LED (10) when it is closed. A controller (15) generates during use: (i) a first control signal (E) to control the current source (4) to change from a regulating mode wherein the power supply (i) current is regulated to have a non-zero average level into a decaying mode wherein the power supply current (i) decays during a decay period (Td), and (ii) a second control signal (CSO) to control the parallel switch (20) to open during an open period (To) comprising a sub-period of the decay period (Td).
US09155146B2 Light source apparatus and light emitting diode package
There is provided a light source apparatus including at least one light emitting diode (LED) string including at least one light emitting diode and at least one inductance unit for generating an induced current according to a change in a current applied to the light emitting diode. A main switch controls power applied to the LED string according to an on/off switching operation A capacitor is charged with a voltage of the power applied to the LED string when the main switch is switched on, and applies the charged voltage to the LED string when the main switch is switched off.
US09155145B2 LED array member and integrated control module assembly having active circuitry
An LAM/ICM assembly comprises an integrated control module (ICM) and an LED array member (LAM). The ICM includes interconnect through which power from outside the assembly is received. In a first novel aspect, active circuitry is embedded in the ICM. In one example, the circuitry monitors LED operation, controls and supplies power to the LEDs, and communicates information into and out of the assembly. In a second novel aspect, a lighting system comprises an AC-to-DC converter and a LAM/ICM assembly. The AC-to-DC converter outputs a substantially constant current or voltage. The magnitude of the current or voltage is adjusted by a signal output from the LAM/ICM. In a third novel aspect, the ICM includes a switching DC-to-DC converter. An AC-to-DC power supply supplies a roughly regulated supply voltage. The switching converter within the LAM/ICM receives the roughly regulated voltage and supplies a regulated LED drive current to its LEDs.
US09155136B2 LED driver having compensation capacitor set
Configurations for an LED driver are disclosed. The proposed LED driver receives an input voltage, drives an LED and includes a compensation capacitor set including a first and a second capacitors connected to each other in series, wherein the first capacitor is electrically connected to the LED, the second capacitor is grounded, the compensation capacitor set provides a compensation voltage to the LED such that the LED is conductible when an instantaneous voltage value of the input voltage is lower than an LED conduction voltage.
US09155132B2 Microwave container
A microwave container includes a container body and a lid. The container body has a bottom wall, a sidewall extending upwardly from a periphery of the bottom wall and ending at a rim. The lid has a top wall, a sidewall extending downwardly from a periphery of the top wall and ending at a brim. The lid is formed with a vent opening. The flap includes a proximal portion hingedly connected to the brim of the lid by a living hinge and an outwardly extending distal portion formed with a plug, wherein the flap is movable between a free-hanging position where the flap is hanging freely from the brim of the lid and a closed position where the flap is flipped about the hinge over a side of the lid and the plug is plugged into the vent opening.
US09155128B2 Connective transmission device
A connective transmission device of the invention may include a first interface configured to connect to a first device; a second interface configured to connect to a second device; and a control module connected to the first interface and the second interface. When the first interface is connected to the first device and the second interface is connected to the second device, the control module is configured to connect the first device and the second device for data transmission or power transmission, or configured to receive a media message from the first device or the second device.
US09155120B2 Call establishment
A modem for use at a terminal, the modem comprising: a first interface arranged to connect to a communications network; a second interface arranged to connect to a host processor on the terminal; and a processing unit, the processing unit configured to: detect that a call is to be established over the communications network; in response to said detection, perform a call setup procedure; determine if the call setup procedure has been successful or has failed due to failure of a security procedure; and in response to determining that the call setup procedure has failed due to failure of a security procedure, repeat said call setup procedure without indicating failure of the call setup procedure to a user of said terminal.
US09155116B2 Method and apparatus for providing files to electronic devices
Method and apparatus for transferring a file from a sending wireless device to a receiving wireless device in a short-range wireless system. A file to be sent to the receiving wireless device is selected on the sending wireless device. The sending wireless device has a device list of receiving wireless devices. If the receiving wireless device is absent on the device list, the sending wireless device searches and identifies new devices. A device among the identified new devices is selected as the receiving wireless device. A connection is established between the sending wireless device and the receiving wireless device; and the file is sent to the receiving wireless device.
US09155115B2 Method and apparatus for generating connection identifier for device-to-device communication
A method and a device for generating a CID for D2D communication are provided. A transmitting device transmits a request for direct communication between the transmitting device and a receiving device on a resource unit of a first resource index determined based upon at least one of a device ID of the transmitting device or of the receiving device during a first period, receives information about at least one used CID being used by at least one surrounding device from the peripheral device during a second period, transmits information including at least one available CID acquired during the second period on a resource unit of a second resource index being identical to the first resource index during a third period, and determines at least one CID to be used for D2D communication between the transmitting device and the receiving device based on the transmitted information.
US09155111B2 MAC reset and reconfiguration
A method and apparatus for reconfiguring a medium access control (MAC) entity in a wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU). The method and apparatus includes the WTRU transmitting a MAC reconfiguration request, the WTRU receiving a MAC reconfiguration command including updated MAC parameter values and the WTRU reconfiguring a MAC entity based on the updated MAC parameter values in the MAC reconfiguration command.
US09155106B2 Uplink pilot and signaling transmission in wireless communication systems
Techniques to more efficiently transmit pilot and signaling on the uplink in an OFDM system. With subband multiplexing, M usable subbands in the system are partitioned into Q disjoint groups of subbands. Each subband group may be assigned to a different terminal for uplink pilot transmission. Multiple terminals may transmit simultaneously on their assigned subbands. The transmit power for the pilot may be scaled higher to attain the same total pilot energy even though S instead of M subbands are used for pilot transmission by each terminal. Pilot transmissions from the terminals are received, and a channel estimate is derived for each terminal based on the pilot received on the assigned subbands. The channel estimate comprises a response for additional subbands not included in the assigned group. Subband multiplexing may also be used for uplink signaling transmission.
US09155094B2 Method and apparatus for selecting frequency allocation in wireless communication system
A method and an apparatus select optimized Frequency Allocation (FA) in a mobile communication system that includes mobile base stations. A first control information is received from neighbor base stations. System capacities of the respective neighbor base stations are determined based on the first control information. The FA that maximizes a sum of the system capabilities of the respective neighbor base stations is selected. Therefore, the method has an advantage of securing maximum capacity by adaptively setting FA with consideration of radio environments of neighbor base stations during network entry of a new mobile base station or during an operation of a mobile base station.
US09155087B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting control information in wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for transmitting control signal via a PUCCH in a wireless communication system, and to an apparatus for the method, wherein the method comprises the following steps: joint-coding a plurality of pieces of control information to obtain a single codeword; obtaining a first modulation symbol sequence from the single codeword; obtaining, from the first modulation symbol sequence, a plurality of second modulation symbol sequences corresponding to each slot in the PUCCH; cyclically shifting the plurality of second modulation symbol sequences in a time domain to obtain a plurality of third modulation symbol sequences; performing a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) precoding process on the plurality of third modulation symbol sequences to obtain a plurality of complex symbol sequences in a frequency domain; and transmitting the plurality of complex symbol sequences via the PUCCH.
US09155085B2 Method for uplink acknowledgement/non-acknowledgement messages in a wireless communication system
A method for uplink ACK/NACK for LTE TDD. The method includes receiving a frame having multiple subframes wherein a plurality of subframes being downlink subframes and at least one subframe being an uplink subframe. One uplink subframe can contain an acknowledgment/non-acknowledgment (ACK/NACK) corresponding to at least one of the plurality of downlink subframes. To transmit ACK/NACKs, one uplink subframe for ACK/NACK is used in response to one of the plurality of downlink subframes. In addition, ACK/NACK responses can be bundled into one uplink subframe for at least two of the plurality of downlink subframes. In an embodiment, multiple ACK/NACK responses can be used in one uplink subframe that corresponds to at least two of the plurality of downlink subframes in a multiple feedback configuration. One uplink subframe for ACK/NACK responses and bundling multiple ACK/NACK responses is for a bundled feedback configuration.
US09155084B2 Methods and devices for transmitting data
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and a device for transmitting data. The method includes: a user equipment receives downlink data sent from a base station through downlink resources of a special subframe; the user equipment determines its corresponding guard period level, the guard period level corresponds to a round-trip time of the user equipment and indicates a length of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol in a guard period corresponding to the user equipment in the special subframe; the user equipment determines, according to its corresponding guard period level, a position of uplink resources corresponding to the user equipment in guard period resources of the special subframe; and the user equipment sends uplink data to the base station through the uplink resources corresponding to the user equipment in the guard period resources of the special subframe.
US09155082B2 Interference mitigation in the context of heterogeneous networks with coordinated transmission points with a common transmission point identity
Technology is discussed for extending frequency and time based approaches, such as Inter-Cell Interference Coordination (ICIC) and enhanced ICIC (eICIC), to interference mitigation for clusters within a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) of transmission points with a common transmission point identity. Multiple transmission power messages correlated to different transmission point characteristics can be configured among multiple transmission points sharing the same transmission point identity. These multiple transmission power messages can be used to coordinate transmissions from adjacent transmission points on differing frequencies. Additionally, new sets of reference signals can be configured to correlate to different transmission point characteristics. These new, correlated reference signals can be used to decouple measurements used to provide feedback to one set of transmission points from reference signals transmitted by another set of transmission points with the same transmission point identity.
US09155079B2 Communication method and device in a wireless communication system
According to the invention, a wireless device communicates with a base station by applying a first downlink-uplink (DL-UL) setting that sets a plurality of downlink subframes and a plurality of uplink subframes at different times. The wireless device communicates with the base station by using at least one auxiliary subframe when receiving a second UL-DL setting from the base station.
US09155070B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting uplink data burst in wireless connection system
In this specification, a method for transmitting an uplink data burst of a terminal in a wireless connection system comprises: a step of receiving a first message from a base station, which includes resource allocation information for competition-based uplink data burst transmission and control information for determining the number of terminals which attempt competition-based uplink data burst transmission; and a step of transmitting an uplink data burst to the base station over a resource domain allocated through the resource allocation information on the basis of the control information.
US09155060B2 System and method for geographically locating a cellular phone
According to an embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a method for geographically locating a cellular phone. The method comprises: determining an effective cell-area for each of a first cell and a second cell in a cellular network; and determining a handover area within which the cellular phone is likely to be located when control of the cellular phone is transferred from the first cell to the second cell; wherein the determination of the handover area and the effective cell-area for each of the first cell and the second cell are made based on a topological relationship between the first cell and the second cell. Further related apparatus embodiments are also disclosed.
US09155055B2 Uplink noise minimization
A method and apparatus for controlling uplink signal power in a distributed antenna system 10 having a master unit 22 and a plurality of remote units 14 and coupled with a base station 12 includes monitoring a noise condition of the distributed antenna system. The invention dynamically adjusts an uplink gain within the distributed antenna system 10 that is applied to uplink signals to a base station 12, based on the monitored noise condition. Monitoring the noise condition in the distributed antenna system 10 includes monitoring one or more remote units 14 of the plurality of remote units and determining if the remote unit is active status or mute status and then. The uplink gain is increased in response to a decrease in the number of remote units that are active status and decreased in response to an increase in the number of remote units that are active status.
US09155052B2 Assigning dynamic gain factors to coordinate distributed radio units
A way of optimizing communication by minimizing the momentary overall radiated energy under constraints in respect to coverage and maintenance of communication with the users, is provided herein. Channel parameters are estimated from downlink and/or uplink communications or from user equipment messages and desirable gain factors are derived from the minimization. The optimization is reiterated continuously to dynamically adapt the communication system to varying conditions.
US09155048B2 Mobile terminal and control method thereof
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and a method of controlling the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal according to the present invention decreases brightness of a screen during screen scrolling or during screen switching and restored the brightness of the screen to the original state when the screen scrolling or the screen switching is complete.
US09155041B2 Data reception and transmission method and apparatus for power saving in communication system using multiple carriers
The present invention relates to a multi-carrier resource utilization method and apparatus for power saving in a communication system using a multi-carrier, in which the activation of a secondary carrier for transmitting and receiving data traffic between a terminal and a base station is determined according to the QoS (Quality of Service) requirements such as a data traffic status between the terminal and the base station, a maximum sustained traffic rate, a maximum traffic burst size, or the like, and an indication message (Indication) indicating this is transferred to the terminal through a primary carrier to transmit and receive data traffic through the activated secondary carrier.
US09155038B2 Mobile network control apparatus and energy saving method
Provided are a mobile network control apparatus and energy saving method. The mobile network control apparatus for may calculate a first amount of total consumed power consumed by m base stations to provide a first cell as a coverage range, and a second amount of total consumed power consumed by n base stations to provide a second cell including the first cell as a coverage range. The mobile network control apparatus may save energy by initiating an operation of the n base stations on a high power mode, and by suspending an operation of a remaining base station excluding the n base stations if the first amount of total consumed power is greater than the second amount of total consumed power.
US09155034B1 Wireless Communication Device and method for hand-up from less-capable to more-capable communication protocol
A Wireless Communication Device (WCD) and method for hand-up from a less-capable communication protocol of a wireless access node to a more-capable communication protocol of the wireless access node are provided. The WCD in one example embodiment includes a communication transceiver configured to exchange wireless communications and receive a control signal from the wireless access node, with the control signal including a hand-up field, and a processing system coupled to the communication transceiver and configured to process the hand-up field to determine if the WCD can hand-up from the less-capable communication protocol to the more-capable communication protocol, set a hand-up state according to the hand-up field, and scan for the availability of the more-capable communication protocol if the more-capable communication protocol is indicated by the hand-up state.
US09155026B2 Systems for facilitating wireless communication and related methods
Systems for facilitating wireless communication and related methods are provided. In this regard, a representative system includes: an electronic device operative to communicate using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, the device having a Wi-Fi monitoring system operative to: monitor Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) advertising channels; receive information corresponding to a Wi-Fi-capable device via BLE Advertisement packets communicated on at least one of the BLE advertising channels; and establish communication with the Wi-Fi-capable device using the information provided by the BLE Advertisement packets.
US09155025B2 Mobile network node and mobile terminal for performing a signalling method in a mobile network
Technology for method for reducing the number of unsuccessful service change attempts of a first mobile terminal is presented. The first mobile terminal is connectable via a mobile network to a further terminal by establishing a call connection for providing a first service or by establishing a call connection for providing a second service. The first mobile terminal receives a first indication signal indicating that a service change to the second service is temporarily unavailable from a mobile network node administrating an established call connection for providing the first service. In response to receiving the first indication signal, the first mobile terminal refrains from requesting a service change to the second service until reception of a further indication signal from the mobile network node indicating that a service change is available again.
US09155023B2 Apparatus and methods for communicating system state information change to wireless devices
Apparatus and methods for communication system state information change to wireless devices in a content server network in a resource and power efficient manner are disclosed. In particular, a disclosed method for conveying system state information to a wireless device includes sending a primary message including first information configured to communicate a current system state to the wireless device, and then sending second information set usable by the wireless device to update system state information. By summarizing or abbreviating the first information, a receiving device can easily compare to past system states to determine whether further processing, such as processing of the second information, is needed, thereby affording the conservation of processing and power resources of a receiving device. Corresponding apparatus are also disclosed.
US09155022B2 Interface for access management of FEMTO cell coverage
Access to femto cell service is managed through access control list(s), or “white list(s).” Such white list(s) can be configured via a networked interface which facilitates access management to a femto cell. White list(s) includes a set of subscriber station(s) identifier numbers, codes or tokens, and can also include additional fields for femto cell access management based on desired complexity. Various interfaces and user profiles are associated with granting different levels of access to requesting UEs.
US09155014B2 Conditional access terminal initiation of delayed handover
The number of handover-related failures that occur in a communication system may be reduced by taking target access point conditions into account when declaring radio link failure and/or by delaying certain handover operations. In some aspects, criteria for radio link failure detection and access terminal-controlled mobility may take into account access point parameters related to neighboring cells that may be available as mobility targets. For example, filtering mechanisms for detecting radio link failure based on radio layer problem reports may also take into account the availability of various neighbor access points and their measured signal strengths. In addition, a handover command may be sent earlier than in conventional systems (e.g., the handover command may be sent even though the target access point is weaker than the source access point) and include an indication that instructs the access terminal to delay handover until a specified condition is met. For example, handover may be delayed until the target access point becomes stronger than the source access point.
US09155010B2 Methods and arrangements for handover
Methods and arrangements for autonomous handover are provided. In a step, a mobile terminal sends a measurement report to a first network node. In another step, the mobile terminal starts a timer for measuring a wait period. In a further step, the mobile terminal waits until the wait period has expired. In still another step, the mobile terminal measures a signal used for mobility evaluations from the first radio network node. In yet another step, the mobile terminal performs random access to the second radio network node, if appropriate. Furthermore, the first radio network node sends information about random access channel (RACH) characteristics. Moreover, the first radio network node may send the wait period to the mobile terminal. In another step, the first radio network node sends the terminal context to neighbouring radio network nodes.
US09155003B2 Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for facilitating voice call continuity in intersystem handover
Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for facilitating voice call continuity in intersystem handover. A method may include determining that a user equipment device being handed over from a packet switched network to a circuit switched network is a party to a voice call in an alerting state. The method may further include providing session state information indicating that the user equipment device is a party to a voice call in an alerting state to a network entity on the circuit switched network in response to the determination. Corresponding systems, computer program products and apparatuses are also provided.
US09155000B2 User detachment when a handover or change occurs in heterogeneous network
A method for user detachment when a handover or change occurs in a heterogeneous network is provided. The method includes: a user equipment (UE) is handed over or switched from a source network to a target network; a network element on a network side determines whether to detach the UE from the source network, and if yes, the network element on the network side detaches the UE from the source network. A system and a device for user detachment when a handover or change occurs in a heterogeneous network, and another method for user detachment when a handover or change occurs in a heterogeneous network are also provided.
US09154995B2 Apparatus and method to reduce denial of service during MME overload and shutdown conditions
A communication device configured to perform a load balancing procedure in response to a mobility management entity being overloaded and/or shut down. The base station can be configured to generate a radio resource control (RRC) Connection Reject message including a load balancing clause. The communication device can be configured to initiate a load balancing procedure based on the RRC Connection Reject message. The communication device can also be considered to initiate a load balancing procedure after a predetermined wait time has expired and/or after a predetermined number of received RRC Connection Reject messages.
US09154984B1 System and method for estimating network performance
The present disclosure is directed to techniques for estimating network performance of a mobile device. The techniques include a performance logging module and a performance analysis module. The performance logging module logs realized network performance of previously performed network operations and the operational conditions of a mobile device at the time of the performed network operations. The performance analysis module receives requests to estimate network performance, the requests including the current condition of the mobile device at the time of the request. The performance analysis module determines a network performance estimate based on the current condition of the mobile device and the operational conditions of the previously performed network operations, and the realized network performances of the previously performed network operations. It is appreciated that the proposed techniques allow applications to execute faster, as the applications can tune network operations based on the network performance estimates.
US09154976B1 Mesh wireless connectivity
A method, system, and medium are provided for connecting wireless devices to a wireless network. The system includes at least one base station and wireless devices that are part of a wireless network. The base station is configured with a database that stores metrics for each wireless device. The base station may identify one or more wireless devices that are suitable to communicate data for each of wireless devices based on the stored metrics. The identified suitable wireless devices proxy communications for other wireless devices over the wireless network. The wireless devices are part of a package delivery truck.
US09154975B2 Location-aware application based quality of service (Qos) via a broadband access gateway
A system and method supporting access to multimedia information based upon user-defined quality of service criteria is disclosed. A broadband access gateway may coordinate network behavior during the transition of an access device among communication pathways having different available capacities. Adjustments in bit rates and levels of compression may be made based upon the user-defined quality of service criteria. The user may be notified when network conditions disallow support for the desired quality of service, and may choose to override selected criteria. The user-defined quality of service criteria may be stored within the gateway and associated with a user, or may be located in the access device and accessible to the gateway.
US09154972B2 Methods and apparatus for testing electronic devices with antenna arrays
A wireless electronic device may be provided with antenna structures. The antenna structures may be formed from an antenna ground and an array of antenna resonating elements formed along its periphery. The antenna resonating elements may be formed from metal traces on a dielectric support structure that surrounds the antenna ground. The electronic device may be tested using a test system for detecting the presence of manufacturing/assembly defects. The test system may include an RF tester and a test fixture. The device under test (DUT) may be attached to the test fixture during testing. Multiple test probes arranged along the periphery of the DUT may be used to transmit and receive RF test signals for gathering scattering parameter measurements on the device under test. The scattering parameter measurements may then be compared to predetermined threshold values to determine whether the DUT contains any defects.
US09154968B2 Radio base station and a method therein
Embodiments herein relate to a method in a radio base station (12) for providing radio coverage to a user equipment (10). The radio base station (12) comprises at least two radio antenna ports; a first antenna port (AP11) associated with a first physical antenna and a second antenna port (AP12) associated with a second physical antenna. The first antenna port (AP11) is arranged to provide a radio coverage over a first area (14) and the second antenna port (AP12) is arranged to provide a radio coverage over a second area (17). The radio base station (12) broadcasts a signal with system information over the first area (14) enabling the radio base station (12) to connect to the user equipment (10). The radio base station (12) also determines that a user equipment (10) in the first area (14) is to receive or transmit data. The radio base station (12) then obtains information related to a position of the user equipment (10) in the first area (14). The radio base station (12) then sets a characteristic of the second physical antenna based on the obtained information. Thereby to the radio base station provides radio coverage to the user equipment (10) via the second port (AP12).
US09154965B2 Method and apparatus for controlling a small cell on or off procedure for coverage extension
The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for supporting or controlling a small cell on or off procedure. The method may comprise steps of receiving, by the MSC from a Source Small Cell (SSC), a Cell Off Indication message including a Cell State Change Indication parameter indicating a cell status of the SSC; transmitting, by the MSC to the SSC, an Expand Indication message indicating an expanding of the MSC when the Cell State Change Indication parameter indicates a cell off status, the Expanding Indication message including a Time to Start Expand parameter indicating when the MSC starts an expanding of its coverage and an Expand Timer parameter indicating a time period during which the expanding is performed; and starting the expanding of its coverage at a time indicated by the Time to Start Expand parameter during the time period indicated by the Expand Timer.
US09154963B2 Methods and apparatuses for flash WCDMA frequency scans
A method and apparatus of wireless communication are configured to capture, at a user equipment, one or more adjacent Universal Mobile Telecommunication System Terrestrial Radio Access Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Numbers (UARFCNs), extract a useful wide band signal from the one or more adjacent UARFCNs, perform a PSCH search on the useful wide band signal to obtain a composite PSCH signal, and reject the one or more UARFCNs where no peaks greater than a noise threshold are detected in the composite PSCH signal.
US09154961B2 Protocol for allocating upstream slots over a link in a point-to-multipoint communication system
A system for controlling a contention state for a communication link between a base station controller and customer premises equipment in point-to-multipoint communication. The contention state is controlled using a state machine, which includes a grant pending absent state in which a unicast request slot is maintained open for use by the customer premises equipment. During the grant pending absent state, the customer premises equipment sends no upstream data to the base station controller but can use the unicast request slot to request a data slot for sending upstream data to the base station controller. In the grant pending state, the customer premises equipment preferably uses piggybacking to request grant of a next data slot while sending upstream data to the base station controller.
US09154953B2 Network access via telephony services
A network provider can receive a request, via a first mobile device and a mobile wireless telephone network, for access to a wireless network secured with at least one encryption key and implemented by at least one wireless access point. In response to the request, the network provider can associate the first mobile device with a user account of a user and can provide a token to a registrar and to the first mobile device via the mobile wireless telephone network. The registrar can receive, from the first mobile device or a second mobile device associated the user via the wireless access point. After determining, based on the one or more hash values, that the first or second mobile device has possession of the token, the registrar can provide the encryption key to that mobile device.
US09154946B2 Secure coupling of hardware components
A method and a system for securing communication between at least a first and a second hardware components of a mobile device is described. The method includes establishing a first shared secret between the first and the second hardware components during an initialization of the mobile device and, following the initialization of the mobile device, using the first shared secret or a derivative thereof to secure the communication between the first and the second hardware components.
US09154943B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting a signal in a multi-node system
Provided is a method for transmitting a signal in a multi-node system including a plurality of nodes, and a base station connected to each of the plurality of nodes for controlling the nodes. The method comprises the following steps: transmitting first node-setting information to a first terminal; transmitting second node-setting information to a second terminal; transmitting a signal to the first terminal through a first node group; and transmitting a signal to the second terminal through a second node group, wherein the first node-setting information and the second node-setting information include system parameters which are set differently for each terminal, and the first node group is determined on the basis of the first node-setting information, and the second node group is determined on the basis of the second node-setting information.
US09154930B2 Apparatus and method for sharing data
Provided is a system for sharing data using a network. When a data transmission apparatus included in the data sharing system generates data, the data transmission apparatus may transmit a data generation message to a data reception apparatus. The data reception apparatus may receive the data based on the data generation message.
US09154925B2 User experience enhancements for controlling a group communication
User experience enhancements for conducting group communication sessions may include displaying visual feedback on a display to indicate a state of a group communication session. Embodiments may include establishing a group communication channel with devices in a first operating mode in response to inputs on a user interface, detecting actuation of a target-based sliding lock mechanism on a touchscreen user interface display, and while the locking mechanism is actuated, maintaining the group communication channel in a second operating mode. Other embodiments may include initiating a group communication session in response to a user input, detecting actuation of a locking mechanism by a user on a user interface, sending a request to a server for a priority floor access in response to the detected actuation of the locking mechanism, and while the locking mechanism is actuated, maintaining a group communication channel with one or more devices in a priority access mode.
US09154916B2 Presence detection based on crowd surfing signal strength
A method includes receiving wireless signals from consumer devices that are in communicable range of the merchant device. The wireless signals each include a unique identifier associated with one of the consumer devices. The method further comprises generating signal strength data that includes one signal strength value associated with the unique identifier of each of the wireless signals, storing the signal strength data in a data storage device, analyzing the signal strength data to determine how many of the consumer devices achieved various signal strength levels, determining a threshold signal strength value based on the analysis, determining a consumer device is present within a physical area when a subsequent wireless signal from a subsequent consumer device is greater than the threshold signal strength value.
US09154908B2 Computational systems and methods for locating a mobile device
Systems and methods are described relating to determining a specified time period of non-movement in a mobile device and presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on the specified time period of non-movement. Additionally, systems and methods are described relating to means for determining a specified time period of non-movement in a mobile device and means for presenting an indication of location of the mobile device at least partially based on the specified time period of non-movement.
US09154893B1 Sound sensing techniques
System for monitoring an environment, such as a vehicular environment, including at least one sound-receiving/vibration-detecting component that receives sounds from an environment in or around the vehicle, a processor coupled to the at least one sound-receiving/vibration-detecting component and that analyzes the sounds to identify non-speech sounds, and a communications device coupled to the processor that transmits a signal, data or information about analysis by the processor of the identified non-speech sounds.
US09154892B2 Hearing instrument with a balloon and a separate sound channel and air supply channel
A hearing instrument has an earpiece for inserting in an auditory canal and has an expandable balloon. In the earpiece is arranged a receiver and which earpiece enables additional connections for acoustic signals and compressed air. The earpiece contains a case, a receiver and a balloon. The case has a proximal case segment and a distal case segment. The receiver is arranged between the two case segments. The two case segments mechanically fix the receiver and are connected to one another in a sealed manner. A sound channel and an air supply channel, which are separate from each other, are formed between receiver and case, the wall of each channel being formed both by the receiver and by the case. A sound exit aperture is provided, which is connected to a receiver output aperture of the receiver and to the sound channel. The balloon is connected to the air supply channel.
US09154886B2 Capacitive transducer manufacturing method, and multi-function device
A capacitive transducer and manufacturing method thereof is provided. A multifunction device including a plurality of the capacitive transducers is also provided, where the capacitive transducers are disposed on a substrate and include at least one microphone and at least one pressure sensor or ultrasonic device.
US09154882B2 Sound generator
A sound generator, particularly a loudspeaker, configured to emit sound, comprising a rigid element (2) enclosing a plurality of air compartments (3), wherein the rigid element (2) has a back side (B) comprising apertures (4), and a front side (F) that is closed, wherein the generator is provided with at least one actuator (6), for instance one or more electromagnetic actuators and/or piezoelectric elements, configured to actuate the rigid element (2) for the generation of the sound.
US09154881B2 Digital audio processing system and method
Systems and method for audio processing are disclosed. Left and right channels of an audio data stream are combined to derive sum and difference signals. A time domain to frequency domain converter is provided for converting the sum and difference signals to the frequency domain. a first processing unit is provided for deriving a frequency domain noise signal based at least partly on the frequency domain difference signal. A second processing unit is provided for processing the frequency domain sum signal using the noise signal thereby to reduce noise artifacts in the sum signal. A frequency domain to time domain converter is provided for converting at least the processed frequency domain sum signal to the time domain.
US09154867B2 Earmuff enclosure
Embodiments relate to earmuffs with speakers, and attempt to improve speaker acoustic quality without negatively impacting sound attenuation of the earmuffs. Embodiments may comprise a speaker plate located behind a speaker unit, and typically the speaker plate comprises a recessed portion with a plurality of holes. When the speaker plate is in place behind the speaker unit, it may cause the speaker to be more accurate across a broad range of frequencies without negatively impacting sound attenuation.
US09154858B2 Probability-based regenerator site analysis
An optical network analysis tool includes a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon. The computer-readable instructions are executable by a computing device to perform operations. The operations include generating a simulated network that models an optical network. The simulated network includes regenerator candidate sites. The operations may also include conducting an analysis of the optical network. The analysis includes introducing a multiple signals transmitted between source/destination pairs and recording a number of times each of the regenerator candidate sites are selected as a regenerator site while applying each of a set of data traffic conditions in the simulated network. The operations may also include statistically analyzing the number of times each of the regenerator candidate sites is selected to generate statistically analyzed information and presenting the statistically analyzed information.
US09154854B1 Notification in a network environment
A content management resource transmits a received digital data stream in a respective network data channel to one or more subscribers. The content management resource receives an emergency notification control signal, which indicates occurrence of an emergency message. In response to receiving the emergency notification control signal, the content management resource transmits the emergency message in the digital data channel to the one or more subscribers in lieu of transmitting the received digital data stream of content in the data channel to the one or more subscriber. Thus, a subscriber can tune to a particular channel to play back selected content and be apprised, via receipt of the message over the particular channel, of a corresponding condition such as an emergency.
US09154853B1 Web identity to social media identity correlation
An identification server correlates the web browsing behavior of individuals with their use of social media systems. Based on these behaviors, web identifiers (referred to as identities or IDs) may be matched to social media identifiers; these matches being determined, stored, and output as a confidences that the web identity of the user corresponds to a social media identity. Each web identity may be associated with one or more social media identities. The identity correlations between web identities and social media identities may be used along with other alignments to provide information regarding the time-based media (e.g., advertisements) a user may have likely been exposed to, and to provide targeted advertisements.
US09154852B2 Advertising methods for advertising time slots and embedded objects
Disclosed is a process for an advertising bidding system in which advertisers can bid on advertising time slots or enhanced ads that can be inserted in either prerecorded or live television programming. A high degree of flexibility is provided by allowing embedded ads to be purchased and displayed in a very short time period. This allows TV broadcasters to increase revenues and allows advertisers to have more flexibility in advertising. Objects can be inserted in the display video broadcast using enhancements such as by using mark-up language overlay pages or by video combination techniques. The effect of these ads can be evaluated for advertising campaigns.
US09154849B2 Apparatus for providing multimedia services and method thereof
Disclosed are a transmitter and a receiver for providing multi-layered multimedia services, and a method thereof. The transmitter for providing multimedia services includes a multiple description coding unit that performs multiple description coding (MDC) with respect to at least one source to thereby output a description sequence with respect to each of the at least one source, a description multiplexing unit that multiplexes the description sequence in units of descriptions to thereby output a single multiplexing description sequence, and a transmission code block processing unit that divides and modulates the single multiplexing description sequence to thereby generate a transmission block. Therefore, it is possible to provide high-quality multimedia services while ensuring graceful performance degradation and scalability.
US09154837B2 User interface presenting an animated avatar performing a media reaction
This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling a user interface for presenting a media reaction. The techniques receive media reactions of a person to a media program, such as the person laughing at one point of a comedy show, then smiling at another point, and then departing at a third point. The techniques may present these and other media reactions in a user interface through which a user may interact.
US09154831B2 Transmission device and reception device
An external device may recognize, in the case of including a communication unit that executes communication via a communication path made up of a pair of differential transmission paths included in a transmission path, information relating to the communication unit thereof. A disk recorder transmits function information indicating that a communication unit (high-speed data line I/F 213) configured to execute communication with an external device via a communication path made up of a reserve line and an HPD line of an HDMI cable to a television receiver via a CEC line that is a control data line of the HDMI cable. The television receiver receives function information, whereby whether or not the disk recorder is an eHDMI-compatible device can be determined, and in the case of an eHDMI-compatible device, a compatible transmission format (application) can be recognized.
US09154826B2 Distributing content and service launch objects to mobile devices
Embodiments of methods, systems and apparatuses for distributing content over a communication network are disclosed. One method includes managing, by at least one content distribution server, a plurality of content, assisting in preloading at least a portion of the content to a storage element associated with a wireless device, identifying a portion of a user interface of the wireless device, and sending configuration information to the wireless device, the configuration information configured to assist the wireless device in placing, in the identified portion of the user interface, a service launch object that launches the content.
US09154824B2 System for content delivery
A system for and method of transmitting audio and visual programming content, by identifying an amount of broadcast transmission capacity available for transmitting the content to one or more users. The content is separated into at least first and second portions based on user demand for the content and/or the identified available broadcast transmission capacity. The first portion of the content is transmitted, to a receiver/STB associated with at least one of the users, using the identified broadcast transmission capacity; and the second portion of the content is transmitted to the receiver using transmission other than broadcast transmission. The content can include nonlinear content. Transmission other than broadcast transmission can include unicast transmission, which can be in response to a user request and/or an initiation by a server. The received nonlinear content can be stored at the receiver for play back at a time different from the time of transmission.
US09154820B2 Encoding apparatus, encoding method, and storage medium
Encoded data may be generated and transmitted from one computing device to another via a network. To address bandwidth use efficiency issues, an available bandwidth for the other computing device may be determined or acquired. A time at which the available bandwidth is determined/acquired may be estimated. Media data (e.g., audio, video, etc.) may be encoded for transmission. Scheduled change time, at which a setting of an encoding condition is expected to be changed, is further determined. Change timing, at which the setting of an encoding condition is to be changed, is determined on the basis of the scheduled change time and the estimated time. The setting of the encoding condition may then be changed in accordance with the available bandwidth when the change timing is reached.
US09154818B2 Method of processing non-real time service and broadcast receiver
A method of processing a non-real time (NRT) service in a broadcast receiver is disclosed where the method includes receiving signaling information including the NRT service information and access information which indicates files of a content item can be accessed by Internet, receiving File Delivery over Unidirectional Transport (FLUTE) files through a FLUTE session, wherein File Delivery Table (FDT) instance of the FLUTE session for each file belonging to the content item includes information for content location of the file, the information for content location including an Uniform Resource Locator (URL), and providing the NRT service using the files belonging to the content item, wherein the files are accessed through the Internet using the URL indicated in the information for content location of the file or accessed through a storage in the broadcast receiver.
US09154813B2 Multiple video content in a composite video stream
A request for a first video may be received from an end user device. A video size for the requested first video may be determined. An unused onscreen location to place the requested first video, within one of a plurality of composite mosaic video streams, may be determined. The unused onscreen location may correspond to a location for insertion of video content for output to an onscreen location of an output device. Information identifying the unused onscreen location may be transmitted to a content source of the requested first video. The requested first video based upon the unused onscreen location information may be received from the content source. The requested first video then may be placed with at least one second video into a composite video stream based upon the unused onscreen location, and the composite video stream may be transmitted to the end user device.
US09154811B2 Caching content
A method and apparatus for downloading content within a video-on-demand system is provided herein. During operation a Video Home Office (VHO) will cache a subset of the Video Service Office (VSO) content. When a user requests content that is not stored on the VHO, the VHO will request that content from another VHO or the VSO. In order to reduce the additional network load imposed during item forwarding while attempting to balance the total load on all the links interconnecting the VSO and VHOs, recorded traffic history metrics are used to predict their future or current traffic. A VHO or VSO is chosen for fetching the content that will result in the lowest predicted traffic on the interconnecting links.
US09154806B2 Method and apparatus for encoding/decoding images using adaptive motion vector resolution
The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for improving the encoding efficiency by adaptively changing the resolution of the motion vector in the inter prediction encoding and inter prediction decoding of a video. The apparatus includes: a block identification unit for identifying a colocated block included in a reference picture as a block located at a position equal to a position of a current block; a moving block determiner for determining if the current block is a moving block, based on a motion vector of the colocated block; a motion vector determiner for determining a motion vector of the current block according to a result of the determining of if the current block is a moving block; and a resolution converter for converting a resolution of the motion vector of the colocated block.
US09154804B2 Hint based adaptive encoding
A device for encoding video image data includes a data receiver that receives a current image frame to be compressed, the current image frame being composed of a plurality of current macroblocks. An information receiver receives metadata that includes information that identifies static areas within the received current image frame. An encoder encodes each of the plurality of current macroblocks. The encoder encodes a current macroblock that is entirely within the static areas as having no difference from a corresponding preceding macroblock in a preceding frame by using an encoded macroblock that is created without comparing the current macroblock to the corresponding preceding macroblock. The metadata may include information that identifies regular video and graphics within the received current image frame and the encoder may make different compression decisions according to the inclusion of regular video and graphics within the current macroblock.
US09154799B2 Encoding and decoding motion via image segmentation
A system and method for encoding and decoding a video image having a plurality of frames is disclosed. The method includes a previously reconstructed frame that is segmented to create an alternate reference frame used to encode a current frame. The segments of the previously reconstructed frame are assigned motion parameters, which are used to compile the alternate reference frame. The current frame is encoded and the segmentation parameters and motion parameters are transmitted in the bitstream. The segmentation parameters and motion parameters can be used by a decoder to recreate the alternate reference frame in order to decode the encoded current frame.
US09154795B2 Method and apparatus for estimating channel induced distortion
There are provided methods and apparatus for estimating channel induced distortion. A method for estimating distortion for an inter-coded image includes the step of calculating an average channel distortion for received inter-coded macroblocks in the inter-coded image as a previous average channel distortion multiplied by a scaling factor.
US09154778B2 Method and apparatus of adaptive loop filtering
A method and apparatus for processing of coded video using adaptive offset (AO) are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention divide reconstructed video data into multiple filter units and apply adaptive offset to the filter units to generate filtered video data, where boundaries of filter units correspond to boundaries of coding units and each filter unit contains at one or more coding units. Furthermore, two or more of the multiple filter units can be merged as indicated by a merge index to share filter information of the adaptive offset. A filter control flag can be used to indicate filter ON/OFF control. The luma and chroma components may also share the same filter information. In another embodiment, the filter information sharing among filter units can be applied regardless of whether the boundaries of the filter units are aligned with the boundaries of the coding units.
US09154777B2 Testing system for anti-electromagnetic interference
A testing system includes a signal emitter, a signal collection apparatus, and an analyzer. The signal emitter emits electromagnetic signals to cause electromagnetic interference in an electronic device. The signal collection apparatus collects the signals outputted by the target electronic device and includes a light emitter and an optical fiber. The analyzer is electronically connected to the signal collection apparatus. The light emitter emits light beams which reproduce the signals collected by the signal collection apparatus, and optical fiber transmits the light beams to the analyzer, the analyzer receives the light beams and reconstitutes the original electrical signals, and analyzes determines the electronic device performance while being subjected to the electromagnetic interference.
US09154772B2 Method and apparatus for converting 2D content into 3D content
A method and apparatus for converting two-dimensional (2D) contents into three-dimensional (3D) contents is disclosed. The method including: displaying a frame, the frame containing an object which will be extracted from among plural frames contained in the 2D contents; designating a boundary region of an object to be extracted on the displayed frame, in accordance with a user command through a user interface (UI) for collectively designating a region; generating a trimap based on the designated boundary region including inner and outer regions of the object to be extracted, and extracting the object based on the generated trimap. With this, a user can more conveniently and efficiently convert 2D contents into 3D contents.
US09154768B2 3D caption display method and 3D display apparatus for implementing the same
A 3D caption display method for harmoniously merging and displaying closed caption with 3D image in a 3D display apparatus, and a 3D display apparatus suitable for implementing the method. The 3D display apparatus receives a broadcast signal containing caption data, and obtains caption control commands including a 3D parameter setting command from the caption data. Afterwards, the 3D display apparatus displays a plurality of 3D caption images according to the caption control commands.
US09154764B2 Map converting method, map converting apparatus, and computer program product for map conversion
According to an embodiment, a map converting method includes calculating existing frequency of depths in a first map, the first map corresponding to at least an image area of an image and each pixel of the first map representing a depth corresponding to a pixel of the image area; and first converting the first map into a second map that represents a depth in a first range for each pixel by using the existing frequency.
US09154760B2 Apparatus for recording signals on disk recording medium
A recording apparatus of this invention detects the state of management information, which pertains to a recording address of an image signal, and which is reproduced from a disk-like recording medium having a first area for the image signal and a second area for the management information. On the basis of the detection result, management data is reproduced from the first area of the disk-like recording medium. On the basis of the management data reproduced from the first area, the management information reproduced from the second area is modified. A modify unit records the modified management information in the second area.
US09154753B2 Control apparatus, control method, driving apparatus, and electronic apparatus
A generation unit generates adjustment information to adjust a first clock indicating a timing of illumination of a laser beam to scan on a screen, based on a scanning position to be scanned by the laser beam. On the basis of the adjustment information, adjustment unit adjusts the first clock to a second clock different from the first clock. Then, in synchronization with the second clock, the laser beam is allowed to illuminate as a pixel. This may be applicable to a projection apparatus for projecting an image on the screen, for example.
US09154752B2 Image display device and image display method
A spatial maximum value filter generates a low frequency video signal in an intermittent frame by removing high frequency components from a video signal in the intermittent frame. A division signal extraction unit calculates a ratio of a signal value of a video signal in an acquired frame to a signal value of a low frequency video signal in an intermittent frame closest to the acquired frame, and generates a high frequency video signal having the calculated ratio as a signal value. A signal adjustment unit calculates a ratio of a signal value of the video signal in the intermittent frame to a signal value of a high frequency video signal in the intermittent frame, and generates an adjusted low frequency video signal having the calculated ratio as a signal value.
US09154750B2 Correction of image sensor fixed-pattern noise (FPN) due to color filter pattern
Embodiments of an apparatus including a pixel array and a color filter array optically coupled to the pixel array, the color filter array including a plurality of tiled minimal repeating units. Processing circuitry is coupled to the pixel array to correct fixed pattern noise (FPN) in an image captured by the pixel array. The processing circuitry corrects the values of pixels that are part of a correction group, and wherein the corrections comprise a combination of a color ratio correction that is based on the ratios of selected colors within the minimal repeating unit, and one or more crosstalk corrections that are based on a chief ray angle (CRA) correction and the color ratio correction.
US09154748B2 Online examination proctoring system
The system to proctor an examination includes a first camera worn by the examination taking subject and directed to capture images in subject's field of vision. A second camera is positioned to record an image of the subject's face during the examination. A microphone captures sounds within the room, which are analyzed to detect speech utterances. The computer system is programmed to store captured images from said first camera. The computer is also programmed to issue prompting events instructing the subject to look in a direction specified by the computer at event intervals not disclosed to subject in advance and to index for analysis the captured images in association with indicia corresponding to the prompting events.
US09154747B2 Stopped object detection
A video surveillance system includes: an input configured to receive indications of images each comprising a plurality of pixels; a memory; and a processing unit communicatively coupled to the input and the memory and configured to: analyze the indications of the images; compare the present image with a short-term background image stored in the memory; compare the present image with a long-term background image stored in the memory; provide an indication in response to an object in the present image being disposed in a first location in the present image, in a second location in, or absent from, the short-term background image, and in a third location in, or absent from, the long-term background image, where the first location is different from both the second location and the third location.
US09154738B2 Communication device and communication system
A technique of enabling each communication device to share an image including the same image content in real time is disclosed. In a communication system including a plurality of communication devices for performing transmission and reception of content data with each other, where an instruction to acquire an image from specific video information included in the content data being transmitted or received and store the image has been input by a user, the communication device to which the image storage instruction has been input by the user transmits the image storage instruction to the plurality of communication devices in the communication system. Thus, each of the plurality of communication devices acquires the image from the specific video information being transmitted or received and stores the image based on the image storage instruction.
US09154737B2 User-defined content magnification and multi-point video conference system, method and logic
A method, system and logic cooperate to display presentation content as a presentation content portion of an image displayed at a videoconference endpoint. The presentation content includes at least one of text and graphics. A videoconference endpoint sends an electronic request to a multi-point control unit, MCU, to increase a scale of the presentation content portion of the image displayed at the videoconference endpoint. The MCU changes an encoding of the presentation content to increase the scale of the presentation content portion of the image. The MCU then sends the enhanced presentation stream, which includes the presentation content portion having an increased scale of the image, to the videoconferencing endpoint. A purpose of changing the scale is to improve legibility of content that may be contributed at, and view by others at, a resolution superior to that received by the endpoint requesting the modification of the presentation content.
US09154732B2 Visual conditioning for augmented-reality-assisted video conferencing
An apparatus comprising a processor configured to receive a video teleconferencing image, wherein the video teleconferencing image has a background and at least one foreground, wherein the foreground has a boundary, determine the boundary of the foreground, overlay the boundary of the foreground with a drawing area, wherein the drawing area obscures the boundary, and replace the background of the image with a new background.
US09154731B2 Systems and methods for modifying an image in a video feed
Systems and method for modifying an image in a video feed are described. In some aspects, a plurality of images are received from a plurality of client computing devices. Each image within the plurality of images includes a face. The plurality of images are modified according to a baseline face position and a baseline face size. At least a portion of the modified plurality of images are provided for display to at least one of the plurality of client computing devices.
US09154726B2 Content data transmission system and content data transmission method
[Problem] In a system that transmits content data from a content replay device to a content output device, to prevent a deterioration in audio quality or video data picture quality while being able to increase the simplicity of a setting-altering operation without requiring complicated signal processing. [Solution] The present invention is provided with: the content replay device, which receives an operation clock signal transmitted from the content output device via an operation clock transmission cable, operates on the basis of the operation clock signal, and transmits content data replayed by a replay unit to the content output device via a multimedia transmission cable; and the content output device, which generates the operation clock signal transmitted to the content replay device on the basis of an output device operation clock signal, transmits the operation clock signal to the content replay device via the operation clock transmission cable, and receives, performs signal processing on, and outputs to an external device the content data transmitted from the content replay device via the multimedia transmission cable.
US09154717B2 Aerial camera system and method for correcting distortions in an aerial photograph
The invention relates to a method for correcting a distortion in an aerial photograph caused by a flight movement in the forward direction. The aerial photograph is captured by a surface sensor, the sensor lines of which sensor are exposed at different, successive exposure times, so that each individual sensor line senses a strip of terrain of the terrain flow over at the different exposure times. A relative flight altitude above the strips of terrain captured by the respective sensor line is assigned to the individual sensor lines. Furthermore, a compensation factor is separately determined for each of the individual sensor lines, wherein the factor depends on an air speed of the flying object, a focal length of the aerial camera and the relative flight altitude assigned to the respective sensor line, and corrects the distortion in the aerial photograph for the lines based on the respective compensation factor.
US09154707B2 Image correction circuit, image capture device, image correction method, and image correction program
A device includes a correction section configured to correct an image of an object captured by using a first shutter operation for starting exposure of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and a second shutter operation for ending exposure of the photoelectric conversion elements. The correction section is configured to correct the image according to a distance from an optical axis center to the photoelectric conversion elements to minimize variance in exposure duration among the photoelectric conversion elements between the first shutter operation and the second shutter operation.
US09154699B2 Method and apparatus to correct blur in all or part of a digital image by combining plurality of images
A method and apparatus for use in a digital imaging device for correcting image blur in digital images by combining plurality of images. The plurality of images that are combined include a main subject that can be selected by user input or automatically by the digital imaging device. Blur correction can be performed to make the main subject blur-free while the rest of the image is blurred. All of the image may be made blur-free or the main subject can be made blur-free at the expense of the rest of the image. Result is a blur corrected image that is recorded in a memory.
US09154696B2 Imaging device for synchronized imaging
An imaging device is equipped with an imaging section and is provided with a reception section and an imaging control section. The reception section receives a GPS signal from a GPS satellite, which includes reference time information that is used as a reference of time. The imaging control section synchronizes a timing of imaging by the imaging section with a reference time on the basis of the reference time information included in the GPS signal received by the reception section.
US09154683B2 Image sensing apparatus and method for controlling the same
The present invention provides an image sensing apparatus including an encoding unit for converting video from an image sensing unit so as to generate stream data, and store the stream data in a buffer unit, a control unit for controlling the encoding unit, in a case where, in a fixed time recording mode for recording for a fixed time in response to an instruction to start recording, a second instruction to start recording is issued before the fixed time has elapsed since a first instruction to start recording was issued, to store in the buffer unit stream data that lasts for the fixed time corresponding to the first instruction to start recording, and stream data that lasts for the fixed time corresponding to the second instruction to start recording, and a recording unit for recording each piece of stream data stored in the buffer unit on a recording medium.
US09154681B2 Image capturing apparatus and control method thereof
An image capturing apparatus comprises: a first image sensor configured to photo-electrically convert a subject image and output an image signal; a first image processing unit configured to develop a first image signal generated by the first image sensor; a second image processing unit configured to reduce a number of pixels in the first image signal and develop the image signal whose pixels have been reduced as a second image signal; a recording unit configured to record an image signal; and a display unit having a lower pixel count than the pixel count of the first image sensor, wherein in the case where an instruction to capture a still image has been made, the recording unit records the image signal developed by the first image processing unit and the display unit displays the image signal developed by the second image processing unit.
US09154680B2 Camera module for an optical touch screen
The present invention relates to a camera module which senses the position of an on object touching a touch surface of an optical touch screen. The camera module comprises one or more lenses, an optical path converting unit, and an image sensor. Each of the lenses is arranged such that the angle of view for the direction vertical to the touch surface is smaller than the angle of view in the direction horizontal to the touch surface. The optical path converting unit reflects light converging through the lenses in the direction vertical to the touch screen. The image sensor is arranged behind the lenses and in the direction horizontal to the touch surface so as to receive the light reflected by the optical path converting unit.
US09154676B1 Video camera housing for football helmet
Football helmet with video system has a rigid shell with front and back portions. An impact absorbing pad assembly and underlying comfort liner assembly are removably attached in the shell. A face guard of connected bars has a center bar connected to the front portion of the shell by one or more connectors with a nose bumper between the center bar and the shell. The nose bumper has a concave inner surface engaged flat against a convex outer surface of the front portion and a video optics housing extending forwardly of the nose bumper and containing an imager. A battery housing is connected in the shell for a battery, a circuitry housing is connected to the shell for video camera circuitry and wiring connects the imager and the battery housing to the video circuitry.
US09154673B2 Cable camera systems and methods
The present disclosure is directed to a camera transport device for movingly supporting a camera from a suspension line and various example cable camera systems. In some examples, the camera transport device includes a cart module, a motor transportation module, a pan/tilt module including a panning assembly and a tilting assembly, and at least one gear train configured to drive rotation of the panning assembly and pivot of the tilting assembly. In some further examples, the camera transport device selectively includes one of an open configuration cart or a closed configuration cart for engaging with the suspension line.
US09154635B2 Signal processing method, signal processing device, and signal processing program
Provided is a signal processing method which reduces a plurality of echoes by receiving a plurality of reception signals and subtracting a pseudo echo generated by a plurality of adaptive filters which input the reception signals from a plurality of echoes generated by the reception signals. At least one of the reception signals is delayed to generate a delayed reception signal. The reception signal and the delayed reception signal are inputted to the adaptive filters to generate a pseudo echo. The frequency of inputting the reception signal and the delayed reception signal to the adaptive filters is controlled in accordance with the sensitivity of a localization change of the reception signals.
US09154628B2 Telecommunication and multimedia management method and apparatus
A telecommunication and multimedia management apparatus and method that supports voice and other media communications and that enables users to: (i) participate in multiple conversation modes, including live phone calls, conference calls, instant voice messaging or tactical communications; (ii) review the messages of conversations in either a live mode or a time-shifted mode and to seamlessly transition back and forth between the two modes; (iii) participate in multiple conversations either concurrently or simultaneously; (iv) archive the messages of conversations for later review or processing; and (v) persistently store media either created or received on the communication devices of users. The latter feature enables users to generate or review media when either disconnected from the network or network conditions are poor and to optimize the delivery of media over the network based on network conditions and the intention of the users participating in conversations.
US09154626B2 Secret transfers in contact centers
A microprocessor executable resource monitor operable to determine that a less skilled and/or qualified resource has been assigned to service a work item or is servicing the work item, wherein a more skilled and/or qualified resource exists but is not currently available to service the work item, monitor at least one of a level of service provided by the less qualified resource to the work item and/or a customer associated with the work item and an availability of the more skilled and/or qualified resource to service the work item, and, in response to the monitoring step and while the work item is being serviced, transfer the work item to the more skilled and/or qualified resource for servicing.
US09154624B1 Call processing and subscriber registration systems and methods
The present invention relates to telecommunications, and in particular, to systems and processes for processing telephone calls and providing telephony services. In one embodiment, a call processing system, compromises a first telephony interface configured to receive a call from a caller, a storage device configured to store a greeting, and a call answering system. The call answering system is configured to play the greeting in response to receiving the call, record a voice message from the caller, determine when the caller has completed recording the voice message, after determining that the caller has completed recording the voice message, play a prompt regarding the caller becoming a subscriber to call services provided by the call processing system, receive from the caller information used to establish a call services account, and establish a call services account for the caller.
US09154619B2 Method and apparatus for monitoring telephone status
The monitor is for monitoring the status of a first client telephone, and for sending this status information via a central server to an authorized second client telephone. The central server stores a database of registered client telephones and corresponding client telephones that the client may monitor. A user of a registered client telephone monitors in real time the telephone status of registered friends, family, or co-workers that have agreed to be monitored by the user.
US09154615B1 Context profile identification and sharing
A server device may receive, from a user device, application activity data associated with the user device; determine, based on the application activity data, a location associated with the user device; store information associating the application activity data with a call identifier and the location; receive an indication that an incoming call has been received, the incoming call being placed using the call identifier; determine, based on receiving the indication, a location of a caller that placed the call; identify the application activity data based on the call identifier and the location of the caller; and output the application activity data to a callee associated with the call.
US09154609B2 Remote virtual supervision system
An apparatus and method that enables a case officer to remotely monitor probationers. The remote supervision server receives GPS data/time-date data/text/audio/video reporting periodically from the parolees and probationers and the GPS data/time-date data/text/audio/video reporting is analyzed. The remote supervision server will send an alert to the case officer if a suspicious behavior is detected. If no suspicious behavior is detected, the remote supervision server will store the analysis result and send a notification to the case officer. The case officer can then check the audio/video reporting and the analysis result later. The remote supervision server also calculates the likelihood of recidivism for each post-release supervised client, parolee or probationer and advises the officer of such risk in order of greatest risk to lowest risk.
US09154595B2 Handheld subscriber line test equipment
A handheld test device includes a keypad having keys associated with tests that can be performed on a subscriber line. The keys are arranged in rows to correspond intuitively with networking layers of the subscriber line and with an order in which to test those layers. Keys of a first row are associated with testing at a physical layer, of a second row with testing at a DSL layer, and of a third row with testing at a service layer. The test device is connected to the subscriber line at a location between CO and CPE, and powered on. In response to being powered on, without technician involvement, the test device automatically detects at least one of CO equipment and CPE on the subscriber line, and trains the test device with the detected equipment.
US09154589B1 Bandwidth-optimized cloud resource placement service
Methods and apparatus for a bandwidth-optimized cloud resource placement service are disclosed. A system includes a plurality of resources of a provider network and a resource manager. The resource manager receives a placement request comprising resource pair specifications, where each specification indicates respective capabilities of a desired first and second resource, and a network traffic rate to be supported between the first and second resources. The resource manager identifies resources that match the desired capabilities and can be linked by network paths supporting the desired traffic rates. The resource manager provides an acquisition plan for the identified resources to the client. If the client requests an implementation of the plan, the resource manager acquires the resources on behalf of the client.
US09154585B2 Data transmitting apparatus, data receiving apparatus, data transreceiving system, data transmitting method, data receiving method and data transreceiving method
A data transmitting apparatus is provided. The data transmitting apparatus includes a packet generator configured to generate a packet including a plurality of sub packets and a transmitter configured to transmit the generated packet to a data receiving apparatus. Each of the plurality of sub packets includes audio data corresponding to content among a plurality of contents.
US09154573B2 Information exchange apparatus, method and managing system applied thereto
An information exchange apparatus has a processing unit, a wireless communication unit, a storage unit, a mainframe connection port and an identification module. The wireless communication unit has a transmitter and a receiver connected to the processing unit. The storage unit is connected to the processing unit and stores a device identification (ID) code, user information and data exchange records. The mainframe connection port is connected to the processing unit for connecting to an electronic device. The identification module is connected to the processing unit, has a secure memory and stores an identification procedure. The secure memory stores the device ID code and an identification key. The identification module allows the processing unit to access data in the storage unit and exchange data in the storage unit with other information exchange apparatus when the processing unit passes the identification procedure.
US09154572B2 Changing I/O types for processing data requests
Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with processing network communications are described. One embodiment of a method includes processing data requests including changing an input/output (I/O) communications type for processing the data requests.
US09154563B2 Alerts for monitoring user status
A method of monitoring a user of a communication system includes enabling a first user to initiate monitoring of a second user, automatically monitoring status of activity by the second user on the communication system, and delivering to the first user, one or more of an indication that the second user has added or changed a profile or away message, received a new or updated profile or away message comment, visited an Internet location, engaged in communication device activity, or has generated audio or visual input.
US09154562B2 Systems, methods, and media for connecting emergency communications
Systems, methods, and media for connecting emergency communications are provided. For example, the methods can include: receiving an emergency communication at a particular public safety answering point from a caller directed to the particular public safety answering point by a location-to-service system; creating a conference on a conference system in response to the particular public safety answering point accepting the emergency communication; selecting a particular call-taker of a plurality of call-takers; sending the particular call-taker an invitation to accept the emergency communication; in response to receiving an indication that the particular call-taker has accepted the emergency communication, connecting the selected call-taker to the conference; connecting the caller to the conference; determining the location of the caller; querying the location-to-service system to identify at least one particular emergency responder of a plurality of emergency responders; and connecting at least one of the at least one particular emergency responder to the conference.
US09154558B2 System and method of device capability signaling
A method includes sending, from a first electronic device to a second electronic device, a first capability request based on a first schedule. The first electronic device is associated with a first user and the second electronic device is associated with a second user. A first relationship strength is associated with a relationship of the first user and the second user and the first schedule is based on the first relationship strength. The method also includes sending, from the first electronic device to a third electronic device, a second capability request based on a second schedule. The third electronic device is associated with a third user and a second relationship strength is associated with a relationship of the first user and the third user. The second schedule is based on the second relationship strength and the second relationship strength is different from the first relationship strength.
US09154552B2 Method and apparatus for cooperative file distribution with receiver determined quality of services
Methods and apparatus are provided for cooperative file distribution with receiver determined quality of services. A receiver obtains a file by selecting a target rate for downloading a file, identifying one or more unreliable data sources and one or more reliable data sources wherein each source contains one or more portions of the file, obtaining at least a portion of the file from the one or more unreliable data sources at a first rate, determining a throttle rate for downloading at least another portion of the file from the one or more reliable data sources, retrieving the at least another portion of the file from the one or more reliable data sources at a second rate, and adjusting the throttle rate such that an amount of data obtained from the one or more reliable data sources is minimized, and the target rate is maintained.
US09154550B1 Methods and systems for determining, controlling, and reporting network data usage at the application and feature level
An operating system (OS) of a computing device can include or operate in conjunction with a data usage service. The data usage service can determine the network data usage of applications and features of the applications and attribute the network data usage to the specific application and features of the specific application responsible for the network data usage. The data usage service can utilize the determined network data usage and policies governing network data usage to control and adapt the network data usage of the specific application or the features of the specific application.
US09154549B2 Dynamic server farms
Techniques are provided for automatically adding/removing servers to/from a server farm in response to monitored load demands. A load among a plurality of servers, resulting from traffic associated with an application hosted on the plurality of servers is balanced. The load on the plurality of servers is monitored and it is determined that the load on the plurality of servers exceeds a predetermined load threshold. In response to such a determination, one or more additional servers are automatically provisioned for use in hosting the application. The load is then balanced between the plurality of servers and the one or more additional servers.
US09154547B2 Methods for brewing coffee
One variation of a method for brewing a cup of coffee at a coffee brewing machine includes: receiving a coffee source identifier; retrieving a recipe for a brewing coffee bean based on the coffee source identifier; initiating a brew cycle; heating water in a boiler to a target temperature specified by the recipe; metering a volume of water from the boiler into a brew chamber; heating the brew chamber to maintain the volume of water near the target temperature; according to the recipe, displaying an agitation instruction at a first time during the brew cycle; according to the recipe, triggering a first alarm to cease agitation at a second time during the brew cycle; and according to the recipe, triggering a second alarm to dispense fluid from the brew chamber at a third time during the brew cycle.
US09154544B2 Device and method for supporting internet-based sensor data transmission
Provided is a method of supporting CoAP-based sensor data transmission between a sensor data collector in a sensor node relay and one or more 6LoWPAN-unsupported sensor nodes. The method includes receiving a CoAP sensor data request message from the sensor data collector, transmitting a CoAP sensor data request message to a corresponding 6LoWPAN-unsupported sensor node by analyzing the received CoAP sensor data request message, and responding to the sensor data collector by creating a CoAP sensor data response message including sensor data received from one or more of the 6LoWPAN-unsupported sensor nodes.
US09154541B2 Optimizing return traffic paths using network address translation
In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises logic for optimizing return traffic paths using network address translation (NAT). The logic is operable to receive outbound data from a source node in a source network, and to replace a source address in a source address field in the outbound data with a first address from a first address pool associated with a first connection. The logic is operable to determine that return traffic on the first connection needs to be switched over to a second connection, where a second address pool is associated with the second connection. The logic is operable to generate a mapping that associates the first address with a second address from the second address pool and, based on the mapping, to replace the first address in the source address field in the outbound data with the second address. The logic is also operable to send the outbound data to the destination node over the second connection.
US09154538B2 Methods and apparatus for electronic file use and management
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for facilitating online storage of files (e.g., audio tracks, video, etc.) for playback/access or sale/exchange by the owners of the files without violating copyrights that copyright holders have in the files. For example, by providing a playback service that does not store additional versions of an audio file when the file is transmitted to, and immediately played on, a user device without buffering, the present invention avoids violating copyright laws by not making copies of the file. Numerous other aspects are disclosed.
US09154536B2 Automatic delivery of content
Example systems and methods of content sharing via social networking are presented. In one example, availability of a first user device to provide media content over a communication network is detected. A second user device is identified via an association of the first user device with the second user device that is specified in a social network. An acceptance by the second user device to receive the media content from the first user device is determined. In response to the acceptance, transmission of the media content provided by the first user device over the communication network to the second user device is initiated.
US09154532B2 Methods and apparatus for transmitting multimedia files in a data network
A method of transmitting a multimedia file involves receiving a first message in a first protocol that requests first data associated with the multimedia file, the first data useable to establish a streaming session that transmits the multimedia file. The first message includes identifying data of a referring site. The method also involves transmitting to a requesting device the first data and optionally the identifying data of the referring site and then receiving a second message in a second protocol for the purpose of creating a streaming session associated with the multimedia file. A streaming session is then created for transmitting the multimedia file to the device. In another implementation a method is provided that involves receiving in a computing device from a referring site an identifier of first data associated with a multimedia file and identifying data of the referring site, which is useable for establishing a streaming session.
US09154528B2 Distributed media gateways
A method performed in a call manager, the method comprising receiving a registration message from a media gateway in a plurality of media gateways, wherein the registration message indicates the media processing resources available at the media gateway and the amount of media processing resources in use, sending a message to each of the other media gateways in the plurality of media gateways, wherein each of the messages indicates an amount of available media processing resources in the media gateway, and sending at least one message to the media gateway, wherein the at least one message indicates an amount of available media processing resources in each of the other media gateways in the plurality of media gateways.
US09154519B1 System and method for antivirus checking of objects from a plurality of virtual machines
Disclosed are system and method for malware detection on virtual machines. An example method comprises: forming, on a virtual machine, a queue of identifiers of objects for malware analysis; determining a method for selecting objects in the queue for malware analysis; selecting one or more objects from the queue for malware analysis; providing identifiers of the selected objects to a security virtual machine for malware analysis; checking, by the security virtual machine, whether each of the selected objects has been previously provided for malware analysis by another virtual machine; when a selected object has not been previously provided by another virtual machine, performing, by the security virtual machine, a malware analysis of the selected object; and providing, to the virtual machine, a malware analysis result for the selected object.
US09154517B2 System and method for preventing spread of malware in peer-to-peer network
Disclosed are systems, methods and computer program products for detecting and preventing spread of malware in a peer-to-peer (P2P) network. The system includes a P2P server receiving from a peer client computer a request for a metadata object and determining if the requested metadata object is associated with one of a verified clean data object, a verified malicious data, or an unverified data object. If the requested metadata object is associated with a verified clean data object, transmitting the requested metadata object to the peer client computer. If the requested metadata object is associated with an unverified data object, determining if the peer client computer has an antivirus software for testing the unverified data object for malware. If the peer client computer has an antivirus software, transmitting to the peer client computer the requested metadata object, otherwise denying client' request.
US09154513B2 Communication information analysis system
The communication information analysis system that executes the storing and the analyzing of the communication packets inexpensively without reducing the rate and reliability of the data communication network. The system of present invention comprises one or more communication terminals and a server computer. When the user terminal communicate with other communication terminals, the user terminal stores the packets to be sent and the received packets into itself as the electrical data file, at the acquisition unit, for example, time interval. The electrical data file is sent to the server computer and stored into it. The server computer analyzes the communication packets using the electrical data file stored in the server computer itself, when requested from the user.
US09154506B1 System and method for secure data generation and transmission
Systems and methods for secure generation and transmission of data over a communication network are described herein. In one example, the method comprises receiving a query from the user and retrieving raw data from a data repository based on the received query. The method further comprises generating an obfuscated query and randomizing at least one of a table and a field of the raw data to produce a randomized schema. In one example, the method further comprises pre-processing the raw data based on the received query and inserting the preprocessed data into the randomized schema. Thereafter a data payload is generated by inserting the obfuscated query and the randomized schema into a data carrier, wherein the data payload is to be transferred to at least one client device for processing.
US09154503B2 Authorization method and terminal device
Embodiments of the present invention provide an authorization method and a terminal device. A terminal device receives a right application request from a control device having no access right. The terminal device notifies a control device having an administrator right to assign a right to the control device having no access right. The terminal device receives a right assignment command from the control device having an administrator right and assigning a right to the control device having no access right.
US09154500B2 Personal digital identity device with microphone responsive to user interaction
A personal digital ID device provides a digital identifier to a service for a predetermined duration in response to user interaction. The user interaction may include a button press. The personal digital ID device may be in the form of a bracelet, a key fob, or other form factor. The service may be provided by a mobile device, in the cloud, or elsewhere.
US09154494B2 Self-signed implicit certificates
There are disclosed systems and methods for creating a self-signed implicit certificate. In one embodiment, the self-signed implicit certificate is generated and operated upon using transformations of a nature similar to the transformations used in the ECQV protocol. In such a system, a root CA or other computing device avoids having to generate an explicit self-signed certificate by instead generating a self-signed implicit certificate.
US09154480B1 Challenge-response authentication of a cryptographic device
In conjunction with a registration mode of operation, a first cryptographic device in one embodiment sends challenges to a second cryptographic device comprising a symmetric-key cryptographic module or other key-based cryptographic module that utilizes one or more secret keys. The first cryptographic device receives from the second cryptographic device responses to respective ones of the challenges, and stores information characterizing the responses. In conjunction with an authentication mode of operation, the first cryptographic device sends a selected one of the challenges to the second cryptographic device, receives from the second cryptographic device a response to the selected challenge, and authenticates the second cryptographic device utilizing the response to the selected challenge and the stored information. The first cryptographic device generates the challenges and authenticates the second cryptographic device without having knowledge of the one or more secret keys of the key-based cryptographic module of the second cryptographic device.
US09154477B2 Systems and methods for encrypting mobile device communications
Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and methods for encrypting mobile device communications. According to one example embodiment of the invention, a method for encrypting mobile device communications is provided. The method can include generating, by a first application stored on a first memory of a mobile device, a message to be communicated to an intended recipient; providing, by the first application to an authentication application stored on a second memory of the mobile device, the message; encrypting, by the authentication application, the message; providing, by the authentication application to the first application, the encrypted message; and directing, by the first application, communication of the message to the intended recipient.
US09154474B2 Communication security method and apparatus of first node and second node communicating based on full duplex communication scheme using near field
A communication security method and apparatus of a first node and a second node are provided. The first node and the second node communicate with each other based on a full duplex communication scheme using a near field. In the communication security method and apparatus, information to be transmitted may be encrypted based on received information and the encrypted information may be transmitted, in a TX node and an RX node. The communication security method and apparatus prevent an additional node from decrypting the information, and ensure transmission and reception of reliable data. In addition, the communication security method and apparatus prevent information from being decrypted in a physical layer, by periodically or aperiodically exchanging a new encryption key.
US09154439B1 Conduit-sharing apparatus, systems, and methods
An apparatus and a system, as well as a method and article, may operate to share an energy conduit, such as an antenna, between first data communicated according to a first formatting mechanism and second data communicated according to a second formatting mechanism according to a first priority assigned to the first data and a second priority assigned to the second data. The first formatting mechanism may be different from the second formatting mechanism.
US09154438B2 Port-based fairness protocol for a network element
Methods and apparatuses for providing a fairness protocol in a network element are disclosed herein. In accordance with the disclosed fairness protocol, the average bandwidth of traffic sourced from each of a plurality of ingress ports is monitored. The largest bandwidth of traffic sourced from a port within a first group of ingress ports (e.g., ingress ports of a network element) is identified and compared to the largest bandwidth of traffic sourced from a port within a second group of ingress ports (e.g., ingress ports of one or more network elements communicatively connected to the network element). In order to fairly allocate bandwidth when transmitting traffic that is sourced from the first and second groups, precedence is given to traffic flowing from the group associated with the identified port sourcing the lower bandwidth of traffic.
US09154429B2 System and method for providing differentiated services
The present invention relates to a method and arrangements for updating the mapping of traffic in the form of a set of service level aggregate flows (SLS1, SLSM) to a set of partial resources (B1, BN) for forwarding the traffic in a communications network (21). Each service level aggregate flow corresponds to a service level associated with a set of service requirements. Information regarding traffic characteristics of each service level aggregate flow and performance of the set of network resources are obtained. Based on this information, the mapping of the set of service level aggregate flows to the set of network resources is updated to achieve a more efficient utilization of the set of network resources, while fulfilling the set of service requirements.
US09154426B2 Low-latency hole punching
Described is a system for establishing a network connection between electronic devices in a network. In the described embodiments, a first electronic device is configured to determine that a relay server is being used to send packets to and receive packets from a second electronic device. In parallel with continuing to send packets to and receive packets from the second electronic device using the relay server, the first electronic device is configured to perform operations to establish a peer to peer network connection with the second electronic device. When the peer to peer network connection has been established, the first electronic device is configured to stop using the relay server to send packets to and receive packets from the second electronic device, and instead use the peer to peer network connection with the second electronic device to send packets to and receive packets from the second electronic device.
US09154418B1 Efficient packet classification in a network device
An apparatus includes a comparator engine having a comparison logic unit to compare at least a portion of a header of a data unit to a header pattern, where the header pattern corresponds to at least a portion of a header of a previously analyzed data unit, and a match indication generator to generate a match indication if the at least a portion of the header matches the header pattern; and a result generator to cause the data unit to be processed based on the previously analyzed data unit if the match indication is generated.
US09154417B2 Uninterrupted transmission of internet protocol transmissions during endpoint changes
A method and apparatus providing uninterrupted transmission of IP transmissions, during endpoint changes is disclosed. If a destination identifier in a received IP transmission matches a caller identifier of a record and a source address identifier or source identifier in the transmission do not match a caller address identifier or the caller identifier of the record, and a session identifier in the transmission matches a caller session identifier in the record, the source address identifier and the source identifier in the transmission are set as the caller address identifier and caller identifier respectively of the record. A similar procedure is followed to set the callee address identifier and callee identifier of the record using similar fields associated with the callee.
US09154413B2 High-speed CLD-based pipeline architecture
A method of processing network traffic within a computing system, comprises at a first configurable logic device (CLD), receiving an ingress network packet from an external network interface, associating the ingress network packet with a timestamp indicating the time of receipt, parsing the ingress network packet to locate a link-layer checksum value and a routing-layer checksum value, determining whether the link-layer and routing-layer checksum values are correct based on the ingress network packet contents, and transmitting the ingress network packet to a second CLD via a high-speed interconnection; and at the second CLD receiving the ingress network packet, parsing the ingress network packet to locate a source address and a destination address, determining a destination and a route for the ingress network packet based at least in part on the source and destination addresses, and transmitting the ingress network packet to the determined destination via the determined route.
US09154412B2 Multicast label distribution protocol over a remote loop-free alternative
In one embodiment, a node in a multicast label distribution protocol (mLDP) network determines a remote protecting node for a particular root node in the mLDP network. In addition, the node determines a protecting node address of the remote protecting node and a root node address of the particular root node, and establishes an mLDP label-switched path (LSP) via the remote protecting node by using the protecting node address as a root of an outer forwarding equivalent class (FEC) of a recursive FEC, and using the root node address as an inner FEC of the recursive FEC for the mLDP LSP. As such, when the remote protecting node is reached, the outer FEC is stripped and the remote protecting node continues establishing the mLDP LSP toward the particular root node.
US09154399B2 Methods and apparatus for providing session policy during a registration of a device
A method for a user agent to access a session policy in a network is provided. The method comprises the user agent sending a registration message to a first network node. The method further comprises the user agent receiving policy-related information from the first network node in a response to the registration message. The policy-related information is one of the session policy, a Uniform Resource Locator that points to the session policy, and a Policy-Contact header containing a policyContactURI for a policy document.
US09154397B2 Methods and computer program products for transaction relationships between application servers
Provided are methods and computer program products for analyzing transactions across a network and to help identify network performance issues. Methods for analyzing traffic include identifying an outbound transaction and a related transaction type, and identifying candidate inbound transactions that have the same transaction type as the transaction type of the outbound transaction. One or more transaction data parameters may be selected that correspond to the outbound or inbound transactions. Candidate transactions may be determined to be related to the outbound transaction based on one or more transaction data parameters.
US09154396B2 Passive measurement of available link bandwidth
A method of passively measuring available link bandwidth at a client device that receives media data over a network connection comprising receiving packets of a media stream at the client device, wherein one or more the of packets comprises a unique identifier indicating that one or more the packets are associated with a macro burst sorting the received packets into one or more of the macro bursts based on the unique identifiers, and determining the link bandwidth available to the client device based at least in part on the time intervals between arrival times of the packets sorted into individual macro bursts, wherein the macro bursts each comprise a plurality of packets transmitted together by a sending device to regulate the sending device's transmission rate.
US09154395B2 Method and system for optimizing a jitter buffer
A method for optimizing a jitter buffer includes receiving a first request to establish a video conference communication session with a remote endpoint. The method also includes sending a second request to a first network location for latency information for packet communications sent from a second network location. The method further includes receiving from the first network location the latency information for packet communications sent from the second network location. Additionally, the method includes setting a jitter buffer for the video conference communication session based on the latency information for packet communications sent from the second network location.
US09154375B2 Method for recording user experience or performance of a peripheral device
The present invention comprises a system, apparatus, and method for subscribing to indicia related to a user experience or a peripheral device, in an embodiment a broadband wireless modem, recording selected indicia, and forwarding them to a server on a network. The system comprises a server coupled to a plurality of user terminals through a network, to receive a set of indicia, an apparatus for controlling a baseband/broadband processor, and a program product comprising instructions to adapt a central processing unit to perform as follows. In an embodiment, connecting to a broadband/baseband processor comprising issuing commands, subscribing to receive indicia, determining a condition has occurred, recording a plurality of indicia, forwarding a set of indicia to a destination on the network. Indicia includes measurement values, state changes, event occurrences, user actions, activity and inactivity at time stamped milestones, and sequences and combinations of the above.
US09154359B2 Packet mode auto-detection in multi-mode wireless communication system, signal field transmission for the packet mode auto-detection, and gain control based on the packet mode
A method for automatically detecting a packet mode in a wireless communication system supporting a multiple transmission mode includes: acquiring at least one of data rate information, packet length information and channel bandwidth information from a transmitted frame; and determining the packet mode on the basis of the phase rotation check result of a symbol transmitted after a signal field signal and at least one of the data rate information, the packet length information and the channel bandwidth information acquired from the transmitted frame.
US09154355B2 Packet detector
There are several exemplary ways to more efficiently communicate an out-of-domain seed to a receiver—in a first technique, the seed can be indicated in the header portion or data portion of a packet. For example, the header portion of the packet could contain one or more bit fields that indicate the value of the LFSR seed used for the preamble portion of the packet. The receiver would learn the out-of-domain seed after receiving a first out-of-domain packet and decoding the header portion of that packet. After learning the out-of-domain seed, the receiver could send a packet indicating the value of the out-of-domain seed to the local master. The local master could then transmit the value of the out-of-domain seed in the header portion or data portion of a local MAP frame.
US09154353B2 Devices and methods using the hermetic transform for transmitting and receiving signals using OFDM
Systems and methods are described using a Hermetic Transform and inverse Hermetic Transform for transmitting and receiving a signal with multiple subcarriers, oversampling the received signal, and providing the resulting signals to a Hermetic Transform to provide a higher resolution output signal. An inverse Hermetic Transform is used to process data for transmission. The result is comparable to a form of OFDM that has orthogonality in a minimum norm/least-squares sense.
US09154340B2 Method of cancelling inter-subcarrier interference in distributed antenna system
Disclosed is a method of cancelling inter-subcarrier interferences in distributed antenna system. A method of cancelling interference performed in a transmitting station may include configuring a least one Alamouti pair by mapping subcarrier to each of input symbols, performing a 2N-point inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) on the at least one Alamouti pair, wherein the N is a natural number, and performing a frequency up converting on signals on which the 2N-point IFFT performed. Therefore, the inter-subcarrier interferences can be canceled efficiently.
US09154332B2 Apparatus and method provisioning synchronous locked cell transfer in a network without central control
A computing apparatus as an element of a network structure acquires and maintains cell locked data transfer amongst a number of computing apparatuses which can be full mesh interconnected by full duplex data transfer links. A predefined number of symbols transmitted as a cell is followed by a variable number of idle symbols to ensure the nominally simultaneous start of the cell transfers throughout the network. At specific positions of the cells each computing apparatus broadcasts a list of its transmission requests and receiver capabilities to all other computing apparatuses. Each of the interconnected computing apparatuses executes the same arbitration procedure based on the identical data set of transmission requests and receiver capabilities. As a result transmission paths are assigned for direct transmission and for payload forwarding. Transmission paths can be assigned per cell period individually for both directions of each link.
US09154330B2 Method and device of link aggregation and method and system for transceiving MAC frames
A method and a device of link aggregation and a method and a system for transceiving MAC frames are provided. The method includes: transmitting, by systems at two ends of a link, information of virtual local area networks (VLANs) of a port in a local end system to an opposite end system through message exchange; and determining, by the systems at the two ends of the link, the VLAN of the link respectively according to the received information of the VLAN of the port in the opposite end system and the information of the VLAN of the port in the local end system, and performing link aggregation according to the VLAN of the link. Thus, the networking flexibility is improved, the convenience of network design and network maintenance and management is improved, and the MAC frames having VLAN identifiers can be distributed to the corresponding VLAN links rapidly, accurately, and conveniently.
US09154328B2 Methods for associating an IP address to a user via an appliance
The present disclosure describes methods and systems for efficiently assigning, managing and querying virtual private network (VPN) addresses intranet IP (IIP) addresses of users, such as SSL VPN users on an enterprise network. The disclosure describes techniques and policies for assigning previously-assigned VPN addresses of a user to subsequent sessions of the user as the user logs in multiple times or roams between access points. The disclosure also describes a configurable user domain naming policy so that one can query the VPN address of a user by an easily referable host name identifying the user. The appliance and/or client agent provides techniques for applications to seamlessly and transparently communicate on the VPN using the VPN address of the user or client on the private network.
US09154315B2 System and method for monetizing switching of web service messages
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.
US09154314B2 Method and system for implementing usage monitoring control
The present disclosure provides a method for implementing usage monitoring control, comprising: a PCRF makes a usage monitoring policy for each IP-CAN session or service data flow that shares a total allowanced usage according to the obtained total allowanced usage shared by multiple users, and the PCRF sends the usage monitoring policy to a PCEF (200); the PCEF performs a usage monitoring according to the usage monitoring policy sent by the PCRF, and reports a usage to the PCRF (201); the PCRF deducts a consumed usage from the total allowanced usage shared by the multiple users after the PCRF receives the usage reported by the PCEF (202). The present disclosure also provides a system for implementing usage monitoring control. Through the solution of the present disclosure, when multiple users share a total allowanced usage, PCRF simultaneously monitors the usage on the multiple users according to the total allowanced usage, thereby avoiding conflicts in policy and charging controls.
US09154311B2 Coupling device to couple a supply power source to a communication cable
The coupling device comprises a controllable switch unit coupled to an output side of the communication cable, and having a first, a second and a third state. In the first state, a voltage of the communication cable is detected, and the setting of the controllable switch unit is changed from the first state to the second state, if the detected voltage is below a threshold level. In the second state, the communication cable is connected to a controller to check the reception of an identification signal indicating to the controller that a coupling device to couple a load to the cable is connected to the cable. If the identification signal is identified by the controller, the controllable switch unit connects the supply power source to the communication cable.
US09154309B2 Method and system for running encrypted files
A computer-implemented method for running an encrypted file and system are provided, where the method includes the following steps: receiving a file running instruction; invoking an encrypted target file according to the file running instruction, and performing memory-based decryption on the encrypted target file according to key information corresponding to the encrypted target file; and running the encrypted target file on which the memory-based decryption is performed.
US09154306B2 Privacy-preserving flexible anonymous-pseudonymous access
Systems and methods are disclosed for privacy-preserving flexible user-selected anonymous and pseudonymous access at a relying party (RP), mediated by an identity provider (IdP). Anonymous access is unlinkable to any previous or future accesses of the user at the RP. Pseudonymous access allows the user to associate the access to a pseudonym previously registered at the RP. A pseudonym system is disclosed. The pseudonym system allows a large number of different and unlinkable pseudonyms to be generated using only a small number of secrets held by the user. The pseudonym system can generate tokens capable of including rich semantics in both a fixed format and a free format. The tokens can be used in obtaining from the IdP, confirmation of access privilege and/or of selective partial disclosure of user characteristics required for access at the RPs. The pseudonym system and associated protocols also support user-enabled linkability between pseudonyms.
US09154300B2 Method and apparatus for determining joint randomness
A method and apparatus for performing Joint Randomness Not Shared by Others (JRNSO) is disclosed. In one embodiment, JRNSO is determined in Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) using a baseband signal loop back and private pilots. In another embodiment, JRNSO is determined in Time Division Duplex (TDD) using a baseband signal loop back and combinations of private pilots, private gain functions and Kalman filtering directional processing. In one example, the FDD and TDD JRSNO embodiments are performed in Single-Input-Single-Output (SISO) and Single-Input-Multiple-Output (SIMO) communications. In other examples, the FDD and TDD embodiments are performed in Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) and Multiple-Input-Single-Output (MISO) communications. JRNSO is determined by reducing MIMO and MISO communications to SISO or SIMO communications. JRNSO is also determined using determinants of MIMO channel products. Channel restrictions are removed by exploiting symmetric properties of matrix products.
US09154294B2 Resynchronization method of a received stream of groups of bits
This invention concerns a resynchronization method by a receiver of a received stream of groups of bits, comprising: detecting a synchronization loss (S10), and then iterating (S11 to S17) checks over different bits until a first bit of a group of bits is found (S14), the most probable first bit being checked first, wherein the checks are iterated in a checking order of bits different from a chronological reception order, so as to check earlier at least one of most probable first bits, different from the most probable first bit, so as to shorten average resynchronization time.
US09154285B2 Communications apparatus, system and method with error mitigation
Data communications are effected over one or more network branches to ensure appropriate receipt of data at different devices on the network. In accordance with an example embodiment, time-based communications are effected for a plurality of different network devices, at least two of which are connected to a common wired network link, with each network device being assigned to communicate during different time slots within a communication cycle. Each communication received on the common wired network link is assessed as being error-indicative or not error-indicative. In response to a received communication on the common wired network link being assessed as being error-indicative, the common wired network link is operated to corrupt data received on the branch, such as by driving the branch during a time slot in which the error-indicative communication is received, therein ensuring that other network devices disregard the data received during that time slot.
US09154283B2 Self-organizing network control for PUCCH resources
Automatically adjust the size of a Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH, of an uplink communication subframe. In a particular embodiment, the size of a semi-static region of the PUCCH is adjusted. The adjustment is based on a utilization factor of the PUCCH over a time period. The adjustment can also be based on the connection factor (connections between the wireless terminals and the cell) and/or based on the utilization factor of a PUSCH (Physical Uplink Shared Channel). The result is an efficient resource utilization on the PUCCH, and a properly dimensioned PUCCH region.
US09154279B2 Uplink coordinated multi-point
Disclosed embodiments may include an apparatus having one or more processors coupled to one or more computer-readable storage media. The one or more processors may be configured to transmit and/or receive channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource configuration information, demodulation reference signals (DM-RS), uplink sounding reference signals (SRS), and power control parameters to support uplink coordinated multi-point (CoMP) operations. Other embodiments may be disclosed.
US09154274B2 OFDM communication system with multiple OFDM symbol sizes
Techniques to use OFDM symbols of different sizes to achieve greater efficiency for OFDM systems. The system traffic may be arranged into different categories (e.g., control data, user data, and pilot data). For each category, one or more OFDM symbols of the proper sizes may be selected for use based on the expected payload size for the traffic in that category. For example, control data may be transmitted using OFDM symbols of a first size, user data may be transmitted using OFDM symbols of the first size and a second size, and pilot data may be transmitted using OFDM symbols of a third size or the first size. In one exemplary design, a small OFDM symbol is utilized for pilot and for transport channels used to send control data, and a large OFDM symbol and the small OFDM symbol are utilized for transport channels used to send user data.
US09154265B2 Fast detection/mitigation and recovery for severe EMI conditions in automotive area networks
A vehicle communication network device includes a transceiver configured to communicatively couple with a remote transceiver of another vehicle communication network device via a wired media and processing circuitry coupled to the transceiver. The device detects interference on the wired media that exceeds an interference threshold level. Upon the detection, the device enters a quiet mode during which no data is transmitted on the wired media. After exiting the quiet mode, the device enters an idle mode during which known data is transmitted on the wired media and during which the device receives known data from the remote transceiver. The device retrains its transceiver based upon the known data and after retraining the transceiver, exchanges data with the remote transceiver. The device may also buffer data for transmission, upon the detection, determine buffered data that was likely corrupted by the interference, and after retraining, retransmit the determined buffered data.
US09154260B2 Method and apparatus for reliable transmission of control information in a wireless communication network
Techniques for reliably transmitting and receiving control information in a wireless network are described. A cell may typically send control information on a control channel and associated data (e.g., system information) on a data channel in the same subframe. This subframe may have strong interference from other cells. For cross-subframe signaling, the cell may transmit the control information in a first subframe and the associated data in a second subframe. The first subframe may be a usable subframe for the cell and may have less interference from other cells. A UE may not know the location of the first subframe and may perform window-based decoding. The UE may decode the control channel in at least one subframe within a decoding window covering the first subframe to obtain the control information. The UE may then decode the data channel in the second subframe based on the control information to obtain the data.
US09154251B2 Signaling for downlink coordinated multipoint in a wireless communication system
Embodiments herein describe apparatuses, systems, and methods for signaling to support downlink coordinated multipoint (CoMP) communications with a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication network. In embodiments, the UE may be configured with a plurality of channel state information (CSI) processes (e.g., via radio resource control (RRC) signaling) to use for providing CSI feedback to an evolved Node B (eNB) to support downlink CoMP communications. The UE may be configured with a plurality of sets of CSI processes. The UE may further receive a downlink control information (DCI) message from the eNB that indicates one of the configured sets of CSI processes on which the UE is to provide CSI feedback to the UE. The UE may generate the CSI feedback for the indicated set of CSI processes, and transmit the CSI feedback to the eNB in a CSI report.
US09154250B2 Radio network node and a method therein
A method in a radio network node for communicating with a user equipment (UE) during communication between the radio network node and a radio base station in a radio communications network. The radio network node serves the UE within a cell and communicates with the radio base station and the UE over a frequency spectrum in a time division duplexing configuration. The radio network node sets up a first connection over a first part of the frequency spectrum to the radio base station, and a second connection to the UE over the first or a second part of the frequency spectrum. The second part of the frequency spectrum is solely used for communication with UEs within the cell. The radio network node then communicates simultaneously with the UE and the radio base station over respective connections in a time slot of a reference time configured by the radio communications network.
US09154247B2 Live uplink transmissions and broadcasting management system and method
A live uplink transmission and broadcasting management system and method for managing a plurality of live uplink transmissions and broadcasting events, the system comprising: (i) a publication portal for publishing transmissions of live events; (ii) a database for storing metadata, system data, broadcast data and user data; (iii) a broadcast manager adapted for receiving and processing in real-time metadata information related to a plurality of live uplink transmission events wherein each live uplink transmission event transmits in a plurality of uplink channels, wherein processed metadata information generate data elements adapted for being used in telecom and datacom real time management applications, said broadcast manager also adapted for updating the publication portal with live event information and (iv) a set of Quality of Service (QoS) management methods to coordinate the usage of Uplink transmissions based on the received metadata and their processing in the broadcast manager.
US09154245B2 Receiving device
A receiving device that receives a signal in a receiving antenna. The receiving device includes a gain controller that adjusts a gain in the receiving device in response to information related to power of the signal, and a signal detector that determines whether, within a predetermined period after the information related to the power of the signal exceeds a first threshold value, the information related to the power of the signal exceeds a second threshold value which is larger than the first threshold value. The gain controller adjusts a search range of the gain in the receiving device based on a determination result of the signal detector with respect to the information related to the power of the signal.
US09154243B2 Receiver calibration with LO signal from inactive receiver
Techniques for calibrating a receiver based on a local oscillator (LO) signal from another receiver are disclosed. In an exemplary design, an apparatus (e.g., a wireless device or an integrated circuit) includes first and second local oscillator (LO) generators. The first LO generator generates a first LO signal used by a first receiver for frequency downconversion. The second LO generator generates a second LO signal used by a second receiver for frequency downconversion in a first operating mode. The second LO signal is used to generate a test signal for the first receiver in a second operating mode. The second LO signal may be provided as the test signal or may be amplitude modulated with a modulating signal to generate the test signal. The test signal may be used to calibrate residual sideband (RSB), second order input intercept point (IIP2), receive path gain, etc.
US09154232B2 Optical reception method and optical receiver using maximal-ratio-combining method
In order to allow reception in which receive sensitivity does not depend upon polarization state in reception of a multi-level phase optical signal, in this optical reception method, a multi-level phase optical signal of a single polarization is separated into a first optical signal and a second optical signal of which polarizations are mutually orthogonal, the ratio of the power of the first optical signal to the power of the second signal is calculated, and the difference between the phase of the first optical signal and the phase of second optical signal is calculated as an amount of compensation, whereupon, on the basis of the ratio and the amount of compensation, the first optical signal and the second optical signal are combined using a maximal ratio combining method, and the amount of compensation is modified on the basis of the ratio.
US09154227B2 Port monitoring device and port monitoring method
An OCM monitors a plurality of SW ports each receiving an optical signal by switching the SW ports. The OCM includes a PD, a control circuit, and an arithmetic circuit. The PD detects an optical power level on wavelengths spaced at predetermined intervals in each of the SW ports to be monitored. The control circuit determines, in each of the SW ports, whether arithmetic processing using a waveform estimated from the optical power level is executed, depending on presence or absence of a change in the optical power level detected by the PD. The arithmetic circuit performs the arithmetic processing by using the waveform when the control circuit determines execution of the arithmetic processing.
US09154219B2 Communication for implantable medical devices
Systems and methods for communication between an implantable medical device and an external device. Data blocks are generated and transmitted between the implantable device and the external device. The data blocks include a first flag indicating whether the data block is a first data block in a message and when the data block is a subsequent data block in a multiple data block message. When the first flag indicates that the data block is a first data block in a message, the data block also contains a device ID, a command token, and message content. When the first flag indicates that the data block is a subsequent data block in a multiple data block message, the data block contains additional message content that is appended to message content from a previously received data block.
US09154213B2 Interference reduction for multiple signals
The present invention reduces the degradation in performance of one or more radio signals that are co-transmitted with a first radio signal from the same transmitting antenna in the same frequency channel and received by the same antenna due to multipath or other shared interference, where the one or more radio signals can be separated from the first radio signal. All received signals are coupled to the same adaptive array or adaptive filter to reduce multipath or other shared interference of the first radio signal, which reduces multipath and other shared interference in the other radio signals before they are separated and processed by their respective receivers, or the individual radio signals are separated before the first signal enters the adaptive array and coupled to a slave weighting network slaved to the weights of the adaptive array of the first signal to reduce interference in all the signals.
US09154209B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting feedback in a wireless communication system
Disclosed are a method and apparatus for transmitting feedback in a wireless communication system. A terminal transmits first CSI (channel state information) on a first node combination to a base station, or a terminal transmits second CSI on a second node combination to the base station. The total number of antenna ports in the first node combinations is one of two, four, or eight, and the total number of antenna ports in the second node combination is not two, four, and eight.
US09154202B2 MIMO precoding enabling spatial multiplexing, power allocation and adaptive modulation and coding
In a closed-loop wireless communication system, a codebook-based feedback mechanism is provided to enable non-unitary precoding for multi-stream transmission, where in each stream is optimized with suitable transmission power allocation and AMC. The codebook-based feedback mechanism uses a precoding codebook having a power allocation matrix which is constrained to specify that beamforming always applies full power to a predetermined beam. With this constraint, a one-bit power allocation feedback index may be used to switch between beamforming and spatial multiplexing.
US09154199B2 Beam forming and/or MIMO RF front-end
An RF front-end includes a transmit adjust module, a PA module, an antenna coupling circuit, a LNA module, and a receive adjust module. The transmit adjust module adjusts coordinates of up-converted analog signals when in a first transmit mode and adjusts coordinates of a plurality of up-converted analog signals when in a second transmit mode to produce to produce multiple adjusted up-converted signals and a plurality of adjusted up-converted signals, respectively, which are subsequently amplified by the PA module. The antenna coupling circuit provides the outbound RF signals to at least some of a plurality of antennas depending on the transmit mode and provides multiple or a plurality of inbound RF signals at least some of the plurality of antennas to the LNA module based on a receive mode. The receive adjust module adjusts coordinates of the multiple or plurality of amplified inbound RF signals based on the receive mode.
US09154198B2 Transmission mode allocation in LTE networks
The number of active antenna ports used for uplink and/or downlink MIMO transmissions to a given user are dynamically adjusted, based on user data traffic payload size per period of time, and based on RF conditions. An example method, in a radio transceiver that supports two or more MIMO transmission and reception modes, begins with evaluating channel conditions between the radio transceiver and a remote wireless device and comparing a throughput demand for the remote wireless device to a forward link capacity and/or reverse link capacity. A forward link transmission mode or a reverse link transmission mode is changed, based on the channel conditions and the throughput demand. The transmission mode is changed from a first multi-stream mode to a second multi-stream mode having fewer streams than the first multi-stream mode, despite that channel conditions for the corresponding link support the first multi-stream mode.
US09154193B2 System and method for implementing power distribution
A method for adjusting power distribution that includes establishing a connection between a base station and a plurality of remote transceivers. The method also includes establishing a plurality of wireless connections with a plurality of endpoints via one or more of the plurality of remote transceivers. The method further includes receiving a signal quality indication from each of the plurality of remote transceivers for any endpoint for which the remote transceiver is able to receive a wireless communication. The method additionally includes determining a power distribution for the plurality of remote transceivers based on the received signal quality indication from each of the remote transceivers. The method also includes transmitting a control signal to the plurality of remote transceivers. The control signal comprises the power distribution and is indicative of the amount of power each remote transceiver is to use for each endpoint when transmitting wireless communications.
US09154184B2 Synchronous frequency hopping spread spectrum communications
Methods, systems and metering devices are provided for performing synchronous communication in a frequency hopping communication system without the use of expensive clock circuitry and/or significant amounts of data traffic on the communication system.
US09154183B2 Method and apparatus for channel mapping based on frequency hopping
A method can be used for channel mapping based on frequency hopping. A working channel label of a node is computed according to the number of working channels of the node in frequency hopping mode, an identifier of the node, and a time parameter corresponding to a current superframe. A working channel is determined according to the working channel label. Data is transmitted on the working channel within the current superframe.
US09154177B2 Method for controlling transmission/reception timing of base station antenna for TDD wireless communications and base station antenna using the same
A method for controlling a transmission/reception timing of a BS antenna for TDD wireless communications is provided, in which a control signal and an RF signal are separated from a modulated signal received from a BTS, a TDD synchronization signal is monitored from the received modulated signal, a periodic RF signal is checked from downlink transmission and uplink reception RF signals, an error between the TDD synchronization signal and the periodic RF signal is calculated, and a transmission/reception switching control signal is output according to the error.
US09154175B2 Transceiver and communication apparatus transmitting and receiving data encoded by transmission code
A transceiver that transmits and receives data used in a communication system, in which the data is encoded by a transmission line code and a signal level of the transmission code changes at a predetermined transition timing in a bit-duration. The transceiver includes: a clock generator that generates an internal clock used for internal circuits; a timing generator that generates, by using the internal clock generated by the clock generator, a timing signal synchronized to a reference clock supplied externally; an encoding circuit that encodes, by using the timing signal generated by the timing generator, a transmission data which is synchronized to the reference clock to be the transmission line code; and a waveform shaping unit that performs a waveform shaping of a waveform at the predetermined transition timing of the transmission data to be based on the reference clock.
US09154173B1 Linear sampler
A frequency conversion circuit having a plurality of N signal channels, each being fed an input signal and a train of pluses having a period T and a duty cycle T/N. Each signal channel includes: a column III-V semiconductor sampler coupled the input signal and being responsive to sampling signals; and a column IV semiconductor controllable time delay for producing the train of sampling signals in response to a train of pulses produced on the column IV semiconductor, the time delay imparting a time delay to the pulses in accordance with a time delay command signal fed to the time delay. Each one of the sampling signals is produced by the time delay in each one of the channels with the period T and the duty cycle T/N with the sampling signals in one of the trains of the sampling signals being delayed with respect to the sampling signals in another one of the trains the sampling signals a time T/N.
US09154166B2 Front-end module network
A wireless communication device includes a front-end module (FEM) network coupled to a system on a chip (SOC) via an RF connection. The FEM network includes a plurality of FEMs, wherein, when activated, one or more of the plurality of FEMs is operable to: output an outbound RF signal to one or more antennas; receive an inbound RF signal from the one or more antennas; and isolate the inbound RF signal from the outbound RF signal. The SOC is operable to activate the one or more of the plurality of FEMs; convert outbound data into the outbound RF signal; and convert the inbound RF signal into inbound data.
US09154152B1 Calibration and noise reduction of analog to digital converters
Analog-to-digital-converters (ADC) are provided. The ADC contains a first capacitive digital-to-analog-converter (CDAC) and a control circuit. The CDAC, including n bit, is configured to connect a kth bit of the n bits to a first voltage reference to provide a first analog signal, convert the first analog signal into first digital code using 0th through (k−1)th bits that are less significant than the kth bit, connect the kth bit of the n bits to a second voltage reference to provide a second analog signal, and convert the second analog signal into second digital code using the 0th through (k−1)th bits that are less significant than the kth bit. The control circuit is configured to estimate a weight of the kth bit based on the first and second digital code.
US09154143B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a controlled oscillator and a control unit. The controlled oscillator includes a resonance circuit, an amplification unit, and a current adjustment unit. The resonance circuit includes one or a plurality of inductors and a first capacitive unit having a variable capacitance value. The amplification unit is connected to the resonance circuit, and outputs a local oscillation signal having an oscillation frequency corresponding to a resonance frequency of the resonance circuit. The current adjustment unit adjusts a value of a drive current to be supplied to the amplification unit. The control unit controls the capacitance value of the first capacitive unit and the current adjustment unit. When the control unit instructs the current adjustment unit to change the value of the drive current to be supplied to the amplification unit, the control unit also changes the capacitance value of the first capacitive unit.
US09154132B2 Charge distribution control for secure systems
Advantageous analog and/or digital logic cells and methods of powering circuit blocks using the same are provided. A digital logic cell can include a charge storage device, a logic block, and connections to a power supply. The charge storage device may be a capacitor. The capacitor or other charge storage device can be disconnected from the logic block and a power supply to discharge the capacitor, and then connected to the power supply, via the power supply connections, to charge the capacitor. The capacitor can be disconnected from a ground connection of the power supply while the capacitor is discharged. After being charged via the power supply, the capacitor can also be disconnected from the power supply (including ground) and connected to the logic block to power the logic block.
US09154128B2 Projected capacitive touch sensor with asymmetric bridge pattern
A capacitive touch sensitive device includes a matrix of pads patterned in a first electrically conductive material on a substrate. Horizontally adjacent pads within each even row of the matrix are electrically coupled to one another via channels to form a plurality of horizontally arranged electrodes. Insulators are positioned over respective channels. Conductive links are formed over respective insulators and are configured to electrically couple vertically adjacent pads between odd rows of the matrix to form a plurality of vertically arranged electrodes. The dimensions of the channels and the conductive links are configured such that an RC time-constant (RCtc) of each of the vertically arranged electrodes substantially matches an RCtc of each of the horizontally arranged electrodes.
US09154127B2 Touch sensor with conductive lines having portions with different widths
In one embodiment, a touch sensor includes a first mesh of conductive material. The first mesh includes a plurality of conductive lines. A first one of the conductive lines has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is wider than the second portion. The first portion defines a first portion of a first outer edge of an electrode.
US09154126B2 High voltage output driver
An output driver circuit is provided. In accordance with various example embodiments, an output driver circuit includes a high-side driver circuit having transistors coupled in anti-series between a power source and an output node, and a low-side driver circuit having transistors coupled in anti-series between the output node and ground. For each transistor, a diode is connected between the source and drain of the transistor, with the diodes of the respective high-side and low-side circuits being arranged to prevent/mitigate the flow of current in opposite directions.
US09154123B1 Body bias circuits and methods
An integrated circuit can include a plurality of drive monitoring sections, each including at least one transistor under test (TUT) having a source coupled to a first power supply node, a gate coupled to receive a start indication, and a drain coupled to a monitor node, at least one monitor capacitor coupled to the monitor node, and a timing circuit configured to generate a monitor value corresponding to a rate at which the TUT can transfer current between the monitor node and the first power supply node; and a body bias circuit configured to apply a body bias voltage to at least one body region in which at least one transistor is formed; wherein the body bias voltage is generated in response to at least a plurality of the monitor values.
US09154117B2 Pulse generation in dual supply systems
Various apparatuses and methods are disclosed. The system describes a pulse generator comprising a first stage configured to be powered by a first voltage; and a second stage configured to be powered by a second voltage different from the first voltage, wherein the second stage is further configured to generate a pulse in response to an input to the first stage comprising a trigger and feedback from the second stage.
US09154110B2 Radio frequency (RF) filter and RF transceiver using bulk acoustic wave resonator (BAWR)
A filter and a transceiver in a radio frequency (RF) band, using a bulk acoustic wave resonator (BAWR), are provided. The RF filter includes at least one low temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF) BAWR. The RF filter further includes at least one high quality factor (Q) BAWR including a high Q compared to the at least one low TCF BAWR, the at least one low TCF BAWR including a low TCF compared to the at least one high Q BAWR.
US09154096B2 Apparatus and method for controlling sound output
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for controlling sound output. The apparatus includes a sound processor configured to amplify a sound signal to a certain level to output an output signal to a speaker. An analyzer is configured to monitor whether an output level of the output signal output from the sound processor exceeds a maximum output level of the speaker between the sound processor and the speaker, and to convert the output signal into a signal of a frequency domain to analyze an energy amount for each frequency when the output level of the output signal exceeds the maximum output level of the speaker. A controller is configured to control a volume for the output signal of the corresponding frequency band when a frequency band having the energy amount exceeding the threshold value is detected from the analyzer.
US09154094B2 Efficient power amplification over large operating average power range
Embodiments of a Doherty power amplifier that maintain efficiency over a large operating average power range are disclosed. In one embodiment, the Doherty power amplifier includes reconfigurable main and auxiliary output matching networks and a fixed combining network. The reconfigurable main and auxiliary output matching networks can be reconfigured such that together the reconfigurable main output matching network, the reconfigurable auxiliary output matching network, and the fixed combining network provide proper load modulation for multiple different back-off power levels. As a result, the Doherty power amplifier maintains high efficiency over an extended back-off power level range.
US09154093B2 Liquid drop detection using backscattered light with amplifiers
A system includes a photodetector, a first amplifier, a second amplifier, and a filter. The photodetector is to detect backscattered light from liquid drops to provide a current signal. The first amplifier is to convert the current signal into a first voltage signal. The second amplifier is to amplify the first voltage signal to provide a second voltage signal, and the filter is to filter the second voltage signal to provide an output signal to indicate the presence or absence of liquid drops.
US09154091B2 OP-AMP sharing technique to remove memory effect in pipelined circuit
This document describes a new op-amp sharing technique for pipeline ADC without memory effect. The key features of this technique are: the usage of negative impedance converter and scaled replica of the op-amp input device to achieve zero error voltage, which in turns achieve low power dissipation due to the removal of the tradeoff between op-amp sharing and memory effect. With this technique much lower operation of pipeline ADC can be achieved for applications of data communications and image signal processing.
US09154090B2 Integrated start-up bias boost for dynamic error vector magnitude enhancement
Devices and methods for correcting for start-up transients in integrated power amplifiers are disclosed. A delay element is arranged to produce a delay waveform signal that is responsive to an input voltage signal. A transconductance element has an input that receives the delay waveform signal and is arranged to provide an output boost current that is based on the delay waveform signal and a gain of the transconductance element. A reference element provides an output bias current that is responsive to a static reference current and the boost current. A bias element has an input that receives the bias current and is arranged to provide a bias control output. A power amplifier is responsive to the bias control output and is arranged to provide an amplified power output.
US09154087B2 Amplifiers with configurable mutually-coupled source degeneration inductors
Amplifiers with configurable mutually-coupled source degeneration inductors are disclosed. In an exemplary design, an apparatus (e.g., a wireless device or an integrated circuit) includes a gain transistor and a plurality of inductors, which may implement an amplifier. The gain transistor receives an input signal and provides an amplified signal. The plurality of inductors are mutually coupled, are coupled to the gain transistor, and provide a programmable source degeneration inductance for the gain transistor. The inductors may have a positive coupling coefficient and may provide a larger source degeneration inductance. Alternatively, the inductors may have a negative coupling coefficient and may provide a smaller source degeneration inductance.
US09154073B2 Method for determining the rotor position of a synchronous machine operated in field-oriented manner
A method for determining the rotor position of a synchronous machine operated in field-oriented manner, which has an effective inductivity that is dependent on the rotor position, the motor current being acquired, and the motor voltage being set with the aid of a pulse-width-modulation method, a signal which is in synchrony with the pulse-width-modulation frequency being superimposed on the motor voltage value to be set, values of the motor current being acquired in synchrony with the pulse-width modulation frequency, a current component induced by the superimposed voltage signal and a residual current component, i.e., fundamental wave component, being determined, the current component induced by the superimposed voltage signal being used for determining an estimated rotor angle position, whose phase error in relation to the actual rotor angle position is reduced by means of a flux model, the residual current component being supplied to a current controller.
US09154069B2 Integrated generation control system
An integrated generation control system includes at least one integrated control module, a rectification module, a communication module, a rectifier, a permanent magnet alternator, a generator, a maintenance module, a local control unit and a battery. The integrated control module includes an automatic voltage regulator, a power system stabilizer and an extensive gate controller. The rectification module is connected to the integrated control module. The communication module is arranged between the integrated control module and the rectification module. The rectifier is connected to the integrated control module and the rectification module. The permanent magnet alternator is connected to the rectifier. The generator is connected to the integrated control module.
US09154068B2 Method for regulating a generator set
A method for regulating the output voltage of the alternator of a generator set, the generator set including a heat engine driving the alternator and the alternator including a rotor having a pole wheel. The method includes the following step: modifying the current in the pole wheel, at least during an increase in the load at the outlet of the alternator, in such a way as to bring the output voltage of the alternator to a value lower than the value before the increase in the load, the modification of the current in the pole wheel depending on the deceleration of the heat engine.
US09154062B2 Electric power tool
An electric power tool is provided with a three-phase brushless motor that drives a tool and a motor driver that drives the three-phase brushless motor with square voltage waves. The motor driver is able to set a conduction angle to a value that is equal to or more than 130 degrees but not more than 180 degrees, and especially to change the conduction angle among at least two values that are equal to or more than 130 degrees but not more than 180 degrees. In this configuration, it may be preferable that the conduction angle is set to a larger value as a load applied to the tool becomes smaller. On the other hand, it may be also preferable that the conduction angle is set to a larger value as a load applied to the tool becomes smaller.
US09154053B2 Piezoelectric actuator and lens barrel
A piezoelectric actuator includes: a plurality of first piezoelectric elements; a first member that is interposed between the plurality of first piezoelectric elements and that is driven in a first direction by the plurality of first piezoelectric elements; a second piezoelectric element that is disposed on the first member; and a second member that is disposed in contact with the second piezoelectric element and that is driven in a second direction intersecting the first direction by the second piezoelectric element.
US09154051B2 Operating state circuit for an inverter and method for setting operating states of an inverter
The invention relates to an operating state circuit for driving an inverter with half-bridges having respective switching devices, which inverter supplies an n-phase supply voltage to an n-phase electrical machine via phase connections associated with the respective half-bridges, where n≧1. The operating state circuit comprises an evaluation device, which is connected to the phase connections of the inverter and to input connections of the inverter and is designed to detect an input voltage of the inverter and phase currents at the phase connections of the inverter, and a drive device which is coupled to the evaluation device and is designed to switch the inverter from a short-circuit state to a freewheeling mode on the basis of the detected input voltage, wherein the evaluation device is designed to generate a freewheeling trigger signal and to output said signal to the drive device if the detected input voltage is lower than an adjustable freewheeling threshold value, and wherein the drive device is designed to change the respective switching devices of the half-bridges to an open state after receiving the freewheeling trigger signal only when the particular phase current detected at the associated phase connection has a zero crossing or a current direction coming from the inverter.
US09154049B2 Power conversion apparatus having a three-level converter that converts AC voltage to DC voltage having three levels
When switching control signals of self-excited semiconductor devices from OFF-control to ON-control, a control circuit controls the self-excited semiconductor device to be ON after a lapse of a turn-ON time from when a control voltage is applied to the self-excited semiconductor device. When switching the control signals of the self-excited semiconductor devices from ON-control to OFF-control, the control circuit controls the control signal of the self-excited semiconductor device to be OFF after a lapse of a turn-OFF time from when the control voltage is applied to the self-excited semiconductor device.
US09154039B2 Switching power converter with secondary-side dynamic load detection and primary-side feedback and control
A power converter includes a transformer with a primary and a secondary winding. Feedback and control is maintained on the primary-side while a separate load detection circuit detects dynamic load conditions on the secondary-side. The load detection circuit detects dynamic load conditions at the time when a load is connected to the output of the switching power converter and, in turn, generates an alert signal. A coupling circuit coupled to the load detection circuit at the secondary winding side of the transformer and to the controller at the primary winding side of the transformer transmits the alert signal to the controller. The controller regulates the output voltage based on the feedback signal generated at the primary side of the transformer while detecting and responding to the dynamic load condition based on the alert signal generated at the secondary side of the transformer.
US09154029B2 Power supply modulation method and power supply modulator
A modulation method and modulator for an envelope tracking power supply. An output of a multi-level switching regulator (202) in the envelope tracking power supply modulator is in parallel connection with an output of a linear regulator (201) via an inductor (203) and supplies power to a load. The modulation method for the envelope tracking power supply includes: generating a first control signal (209) according to the current (211) obtained from inputting a first reference level signal (206); comparing the amplitude of a second reference level signal (2061) obtained according to the first reference level signal (206) with preset amplitudes of at least three levels, and outputting a second control signal (210) according to the comparison result and the first control signal (209); the multi-level switching regulator (202) outputting a level signal of corresponding amplitude according to the second control signal (210), and loading the amplitude of the level on the inductor (203) to output an inductive current (208′); and linearly regulating the first reference level signal (206) via a linear regulator (201) to obtain a voltage output (207) to the load. The present disclosure resolves the problem of fixed rate of change of current output by the switching regulator of the envelope tracking power supply regulator and cannot adjust to different load current change rates, thus the inductive current outputted by the multi-level switching regulator can better track the load current change.
US09154024B2 Systems and methods for improved direct drive generators
Systems and methods for improved generators are described. One embodiment includes an assembly for an axial flux generator, the assembly comprising an arc-shaped rotor section that includes a rotor support configured to rotate around an axis of a generator, and an at least one rotor element for power generation that is connected to the rotor support; an arc-shaped stator section comprising a stator support and an at least one stator element for power generation connected to the stator support; wherein the rotor section and the stator section are configured to provide an axial air gap between the at least one rotor element and the at least one stator element, and wherein the at least one rotor element and the at least one stator element are positioned to be at substantially the same radial distance from the axis of the generator.
US09154019B2 Rotor hub assembly with non-magnetic resolver shielding ring
A hub assembly for an electric machine includes a rotor hub and a machine rotor. Rotation of the machine rotor generates an electromagnetic (EM) field. The hub assembly includes a resolver rotor that encodes an angular position of the machine rotor as a set of resolver signals. An EM field barrier ring between the resolver rotor and the rotor hub adds a magnetic barrier between the machine rotor and the resolver rotor to reduce noise in the resolver signals. The resolver rotor may be bonded to the EM field barrier ring. The EM field barrier ring may have an L-shaped cross section, and may be press-fitted into a pocket of the rotor hub. A vehicle includes a transmission having an input member and an electric machine having a rotor shaft connected to the input member of the transmission. The electric machine includes the hub assembly noted above.
US09154012B2 Fluid dynamic bearing device and assembly method for same
Providing a fluid dynamic bearing device, wherein the outer member comprises a member formed by a pressing process on a plate member, the radial bearing surface and at least the one of the thrust bearing surfaces of the outer member being formed by the pressing process, and wherein at least a part of the inner member, which forms the radial bearing surface and the thrust bearing surfaces of the inner member, is made of a sintered metal.
US09154008B2 Hybrid rotor bar assemblies, electric motors including hybrid rotor bar assemblies, and methods of assemblying same
Hybrid rotor bar assemblies and electric motors having hybrid rotor bar assemblies are disclosed, as are other aspects. The hybrid rotor tar assemblies have rotor bars lined with shims. The rotor bars can be copper rotor bars. In certain aspects, the shim may be about one fourth to about one eighth of a thickness of the rotor bar. Also disclosed are electric motors with shims lining the rotor bars and functioning as secondary rotor bars.
US09154006B2 Rotor for rotating electric machine
In a rotor for the dynamo, the interior circumference face of a rotor core main body makes contact in a thermally transmissible manner with a rotor axle, and the rotor axle includes a cooling medium circulation space. The rotor is provided with a cooling medium supply member, which supplies the cooling medium to the cooling medium circulation space. The cooling medium supply member is provided with a cooling medium supply path that extends in the rotor axle direction, and cooling medium supply holes that extend externally in the direction of the rotor diameter. The cooling medium supply holes are provided with supply apertures that open toward the cooling interior circumference face. The rotor axle is provided with cooling medium discharge holes that extend externally in the direction of the rotor diameter. The cooling medium discharge holes are provided with discharge apertures that open externally in the diameter direction.
US09154004B2 Rare earth sintered magnet and motor
In the rare earth sintered magnet, the ratio of R2 to the sum of R1 and R2 that are contained in crystal grain boundaries surrounding the crystal grains in the rare earth sintered magnet body is higher than the ratio of R2 to the sum of R1 and R2 in the crystal grains, and the concentration of R2 increases from the central portion of the rare earth sintered magnet body toward the surface of the rare earth sintered magnet body. In addition, the degree of unevenness in residual magnetic flux density on the surface of the rare earth sintered magnet body is smaller than 3.0%.
US09154003B2 Non-contact power transmission system, receiving apparatus and transmitting apparatus
A non-contact power transmission system comprises: a primary coil including a power supply coil and a magnetic resonance coil; and a secondary coil including a load coil, thereby transmitting an electric power from the power supply coil at a self-resonating frequency of the magnetic resonance coil, which is determined by a parasitic capacitance between wound wires of the coil and a self inductance of the coil, and taking out the electric power supplied, from the load coil of the secondary coil through magnetic coupling, with non-contact, wherein the electric power is transmitted, with non-contact, with applying magnetic coupling in coupling between the power supply coil and the magnetic resonance coil and coupling between the magnetic resonance coil and the load coil.
US09153994B2 Motion sensitive and capacitor powered handheld device
A handheld device includes an electronic instrument and a capacitive power supply for storing and delivering power to the electronic instrument. The capacitive power supply includes at least one capacitor, and an electronic circuit operable to boost a voltage from the capacitor to a higher voltage for use by the electronic instrument. The capacitive power supply can be rapidly recharged. Some configurations include an accelerometer which permits the handheld device to detect movement and perform various operations responsive to detected movement. A dual charging station is also disclosed.
US09153988B2 Full charge sensing apparatus and full charge sensing method
A full charge sensing apparatus for sensing a fully charged state of a secondary battery based on an equivalent circuit model of the secondary battery includes a measuring unit that measures a voltage and a current during charging of the secondary battery, a learning unit that performs a learning process on a plurality of parameters in the equivalent circuit model using a result of measurement of the measuring unit, and a determining unit that determines that the secondary battery is in a fully charged state in a case where, among the parameters on which the learning process has been performed by the learning unit, a parameter corresponding to a reaction resistance of the secondary battery is greater than a predetermined threshold.
US09153985B1 Portable charging device
A charging device for charging an electronic device can include a main body having a recess. First and second electrical cables can be disposed in the recess when in retracted positions, and the first and second electrical cables can extend outside of the main body when in extended positions. The charging device can have a cover that is movable between a closed position, which can cover the recess, and an open position, which can expose the recess to enable the electrical cables to move between the retracted and extended positions. The charging device can include a battery. Electrical power can be received via the second electrical cable for charging the battery. Electrical power can be output from the battery via the first electrical cable to charge an electronic device.
US09153981B2 Electric power supply adapter device for electric golf cars and electric utility vehicles
An electric power supply adapter device that plugs into a charging receptacle of an electric golf car or electric utility vehicle used to power an electronic apparatus. The main components consist of input electric connectors positioned in the housing and adapted to fit a charging receptacle of an electric golf car or electric utility vehicle, a DC converter module to convert input power from the charging receptacle of an electric golf car or electric utility vehicle into the required DC output power, and an output electric connector adapted to receive an electronic apparatus and to transmit the DC output power from the DC converter module to the electronic apparatus.
US09153971B2 Housing for accommodating an electronic circuit
A housing for receiving an electronic circuit (4) having a plurality of components (5) having a carrier plate (7) and a housing cover (8) including a circumferentially enclosing wall (9) on the carrier plate (7) and a cover part (10) on the wall (9), which cover part (10) lies opposite the carrier plate (7). A volume compensation element (11) is attached on the carrier plate (7) in an interior (12) of the housing cover (8) which is enclosed in a pressure-tight manner from an external atmosphere. The volume compensation element (11) is elastically formed providing a variable volume for compensation of pressure fluctuations in the interior (12), which variable volume occurs with a change in position of the volume compensation element (11) relative to the carrier plate (7). A gap between the volume compensation element (11) and the carrier plate (7) is connected to the external atmosphere.
US09153969B2 Power feeding device, power receiving device and wireless power feeding system
Disclosed herein is a power feeding device including a power transmitter adapted to generate a plurality of transmission signals at different frequencies including at least power to be fed; a power feeding element that is fed with transmission signals including power generated by the power transmitter; and a plurality of resonance elements that have different resonance frequencies and are provided where they can be coupled with the power feeding element by electromagnetic induction.
US09153968B2 Isolator circuit
An isolator circuit (25) for a unit of a safety system (10) includes a power control line (14) connectable to a first loop of a safety system and a power connection (16) connectable to a second loop of the safety system. A switch (26) is connected to the power control line (14), and the switch has a closed configuration and an open configuration. A controller (28) controls the configuration of the switch (26). If a voltage across the circuit (10) from the power connection (16) to the power control line (14) falls below a predetermined level, the controller (28) opens the switch (26), thereby causing a disconnection to occur in the first loop.
US09153965B2 System and method for energy storage management
A method is provided for efficiently managing energy consumption using stored energy. The method accepts input energy (e.g., from a power utility) and maintains a record of energy consumption. An energy consumption peak is predicted in response to analyzing the record of energy consumption, and the input energy is augmented with stored energy during the predicted energy consumption peaks. More explicitly, a peak shaving value is selected based on a fraction of the predicted energy consumption peak, and the stored energy is used when energy consumption exceeds the peak shaving value. In one aspect, after a determination is made to use stored energy, it is simply used while it is available. Otherwise, it is supplied based upon an analysis of a predicted value of the stored energy.
US09153961B2 Interface device between an electrical network and consumer systems
An interface device between an electrical network and energy consumer systems, including an input converter with a first winding connected on one side with a reverse blocking module and on the other with a first semiconductor chopper device, second and third windings having an end connected to output converters via first and second reverse blocking modules, and another end connected to the output converters, via a switching cell, a fourth winding having an end to be connected to the network, via a second semiconductor chopper device; and a control module for the semiconductor chopper devices. The interface device also includes a buffer capacitor having a first end connected to the output converters, and another end, to which a reference voltage is applied, isolated from the network; and a power reserve having an end to be connected to the network and another end connected to the fourth winding.
US09153960B2 Power supply equipment utilizing interchangeable tips to provide power and a data signal to electronic devices
Power supply equipment includes an adapter which converts power from a power source to DC power for powering an electronic device. The power supply equipment includes circuitry which produces a data signal for use by the electronic device to control power drawn by the electronic device. A cable extends from the adapter. The power supply equipment further includes a tip which has an input side and an output side. The input side of the tip is detachable mateable to the cable. The output side of the tip is detachably mateable to the electronic device. The tip output side has a shape and size dependent on the shape and size of a power input opening of the electronic device. The tip provides the data signal, as well as the DC power, to the electronic device. Different tips may be used to provide appropriate data signals to different electronic devices.
US09153950B2 Wire lead-in device
A wire lead-in device for leading wires into a building from the upper side of a roofing material laid on a roof structural member includes a main body having a transversely long plate-like base part that is mounted on the roofing material, an insertion hole that penetrates through the base part and through which the wires are capable of being inserted, a peripheral wall that surrounds the wires passing through the insertion hole and extending to an eaves side from right, left, and ridge sides, and extends upward from the base part, and of which lower ends are inclined upward toward the eaves side, and an inclined bottom wall that couples the inclined lower ends of the peripheral wall, and a lid member that is detachably mounted on the main body and is capable of closing an upper opening of the peripheral wall.
US09153948B2 System and method for actuation of power panel
A system includes a power panel actuation system configured to translate a power panel within a panel connection rack. The power panel actuation system includes an input shaft and a plurality of cams coupled to the input shaft, wherein the plurality of cams is configured to engage with the power panel upon rotation of the input shaft, and the plurality of cams is configured to linearly translate the power panel within the panel connection rack.
US09153947B2 Withdrawable unit for an electric switching device
A withdrawable unit system for an electric switching device, having a housing containing a access door, which gives access to all control elements of the unit and can be closed as tightly as required by international standards, such as DIN EN 60529. The withdrawable unit system optionally has a moveable unit capable of blocking and releasing the electrical switching device in and from at least three defined positions withdrawn, test and plugged-in by using a slide, a lever, and notches with dedicated notch blocking devices.
US09153942B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes forming a laser section on a portion of a substrate, the laser section including an active layer, an upper semiconductor layer on the active layer, and a mask on the upper semiconductor layer; forming a compound semiconductor layer of an indium-containing material in contact with a side of the laser section, the compound semiconductor layer having a projection immediately adjacent the laser section; and wet etching and removing the projection with an etchant containing hydrobromic acid and acetic acid, planarizing the compound semiconductor layer, and producing a (111)A surface in the upper semiconductor layer, under the mask.
US09153936B2 Power-efficient high-speed driver for a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser
An optical transmitter is disclosed. In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, an optical transmitter may comprise a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) and a VCSEL driver. The VCSEL driver may comprise an input stage configured to receive a voltage signal and a low-impedance output stage comprising an input coupled to the input stage and a low-impedance output coupled to the VCSEL and configured to provide a modulated output current to the VCSEL.
US09153929B2 Mode-locked multi-mode fiber laser pulse source
A laser utilizes a cavity design which allows the stable generation of high peak power pulses from mode-locked multi-mode fiber lasers, greatly extending the peak power limits of conventional mode-locked single-mode fiber lasers. Mode-locking may be induced by insertion of a saturable absorber into the cavity and by inserting one or more mode-filters to ensure the oscillation of the fundamental mode in the multi-mode fiber. The probability of damage of the absorber may be minimized by the insertion of an additional semiconductor optical power limiter into the cavity.
US09153911B2 Coaxial cable continuity connector
A coaxial connector for coupling an end of a coaxial cable to an equipment appliance port or terminal is disclosed. The coaxial cable has an inner conductor, a dielectric surrounding the inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the dielectric, and a jacket surrounding the outer conductor is disclosed. The coaxial cable connector comprises a body, a coupler rotatably attached to the body, and a post secured to the body. The post has a structural feature. A grounding member is disposed between the post and the coupler in the structural feature. The grounding member establishes an electrical grounding path which may be maintained between coupler and post, including, when the coupler is not tightly fastened to a terminal and without restricting rotation of coupler relative to post.
US09153901B2 Connector and wire harness
A connector includes a terminal including a connecting portion that is connected to a plate portion formed at an end of another terminal by a fitting, and an elastic member having a lower rigidity than the plate portion and the connecting portion. The connecting portion includes a bottom portion to be in contact with the plate portion and first and second side portions provided upright from both end sides of the bottom portion in a width direction orthogonal to the fitting direction so as to interpose a contact portion with the plate portion therebetween. When the terminal is fitted to the other terminal, the elastic member is interposed between the plate portion and the first and second side portions and elastically deforms and contacts with both side surfaces of the plate portion in the width direction and with the first and second side portions in the elastically deformed state.
US09153894B2 Terminal position assurance with dual primary lock reinforcement and independent secondary lock
The present teachings provide for a connector including a first body and an assurance body. The first body defines a first locking member, a cavity and a slot. The cavity accepts a terminal inserted therein to a first distance. The slot extends into the first body and intersects the cavity. The first locking member is configured to prevent withdrawal of the terminal when the terminal is inserted to the first distance. The assurance body is movable between a preset and a full set position within the slot, and includes a reinforcing member and a second locking member. The full set position, the reinforcing member limits movement of the first locking member to prevent the withdrawal of the terminal, and the second locking member extends into the cavity to prevent withdrawal of the terminal independent of the first locking member.
US09153890B2 Singulated elastomer electrical contactor for high performance interconnect systems and method for the same
A method and an electrical interconnect mechanism in which elastomeric pins are printed onto metal retainer tabs having at least one protrusion or tab extending laterally therefrom to engage a catch or recess of the laminated housing so as to locate each of the elastomeric pins and secure them within the housing. In one embodiment a champher may be employed with a catch or recess to engagely secure a second protrusion or tab extending laterally from another side of said elastomeric pin. In another embodiment the elastomeric pin may have a solid metal ring or a slide collar around the center of the pin wherein the ring has one or two tabs for engaging the recess in the housing and if preferred also the recess of a champfer.
US09153889B2 Electrical connector system connectable in a straight or right angle configuration
An electrical connector system having a male and female connector. The male connector includes a U-shaped shroud axially surrounding a male terminal having an opening generally perpendicular to the male terminal's longitudinal axis. The female connector includes a female terminal having two openings, one generally parallel with the female terminal's longitudinal axis and another generally perpendicular to that axis. The male and female terminals mate in a parallel configuration having the male terminal axis generally parallel to the female terminal axis or in a perpendicular configuration having the male terminal axis generally perpendicular to the female terminal axis. A connector body holds the female terminal. The connector body defines a locking means that releasably secures the connector body to the shroud in both the parallel and perpendicular mating configurations. The locking means may include a triangular shaped lock tab that engages a similarly shaped lock aperture.
US09153888B2 High speed flexible printed circuit connector
A high speed flexible printed circuit (FPC) connector includes a housing with ground and signal contact terminal pairs arranged in the housing in a staggered manner along a lateral direction. The housing has a cavity for receiving an FPC board therein. Each ground contact terminal has an upper arm positioned adjacent to a top wall of the cavity and a lower arm positioned adjacent to a bottom wall of the cavity. Each signal contact terminal has only a lower arm positioned adjacent to the bottom wall of the cavity. Signal contact terminals with the only lower arm provide the connector with better signal integrity. An actuator is coupled to the housing for fixing the FPC board in the cavity to establish electrical connections. The actuator has recesses corresponding to the positions of the signal pairs to provide a dielectric constant different from that of the other parts of the actuator.
US09153884B2 Connector having signal and grounding terminals with flat contact faces and arranged on two sides of a connector body
A coaxial cable connection module including a body; a first signal terminal including a first flat signal contact face; a first ground terminal including a first flat ground contact face; a second signal terminal including a second flat signal contact face; and a second ground terminal including a second flat ground contact face. The first signal contact face and the first ground contact face are arranged, on the first surface of the body, in parallel with each other with a predetermined pitch defined therebetween. The second signal contact face and the second ground contact face are arranged, on the second surface of the body opposite to the first surface, in parallel with each other with the predetermined pitch defined therebetween. The first signal contact face is located opposite to the second ground contact face. The first ground contact face is located opposite to the second signal contact face.
US09153875B2 High-frequency module
In a high-frequency module, an arrangement order of antenna terminals, transmission-side signal terminals, and reception-side signal terminals in a second direction corresponds to an arrangement order of antenna terminal electrodes, transmission-side terminal electrodes, and reception-side terminal electrodes in the second direction.
US09153870B2 Broadband mobile phone antenna with parasitic antenna and mobile phone
A broadband mobile phone antenna with a parasitic antenna and a mobile phone thereof are disclosed. The mobile phone antenna includes a main antenna and a matching circuit thereof, a first antenna switch connected with the main antenna and the matching circuit thereof. The first antenna switch is used to perform frequency band switching of the main antenna. The mobile phone antenna also includes a parasitic antenna, at least two second matching circuits, and a second antenna switch connected with the parasitic antenna and the second matching circuits. The parasitic antenna is set on one side of the main antenna. The second antenna switch is controlled by a mobile phone base band chip and is used to make the parasitic antenna switch between the second matching circuits.
US09153861B2 Using a vehicle structure as a medium for communication and power distribution
A system and method for using the skin of a vehicle as a waveguide for surface waves to support far-field signal propagation to provide communications between various electrical nodes on the vehicle and for providing power signals. A dielectric layer is formed on the skin to define the waveguide, and a coupler couples signals from the node to the waveguide and receives signals from the waveguide to be sent to the node.
US09153858B2 Portable electronic device with protection against electrostatic discharge
The present invention relates to a portable electronic device with static charge protection, which is particularly suitable for use in areas exposed to explosion hazards and not limited in its functions therein. The portable electronic device comprises a transmission module having an antenna, and a housing, accommodating the transmission module and the antenna, wherein at least part of the housing has such a frame structure of frame elements of anti-static material with areas of another material placed there in-between that the radiation of the antenna goes essentially through the areas and not through the frame elements of anti-static material.
US09153850B2 Battery pack with a heat dissipation structure
A battery pack with a heat dissipation structure comprises two battery modules, four heat dissipation elements, and four spacing sleeves that are combined by four screws. The four heat dissipation elements and the four spacing sleeves are disposed between the two battery modules. The dissipation elements are in direct contact with the respective battery modules, so that the heat of the respective battery module will be conducted to the heat dissipation plates then dissipated into the air through the heat dissipation fins of the heat dissipation plates. Between the two battery modules is formed a heat dissipation channel, which can avoid the heat accumulation due to direct contact of the two battery modules while allowing the hot air in the heat dissipation channel to be exchanged to the cool air outside the battery pack.
US09153848B2 Electronic device, battery pack, and method of computing battery pack capacity
An electronic device includes a battery capacity computing unit configured to compute a current full-charge capacity of a currently inserted battery apparatus having secondary cells. The battery capacity computing unit acquires at least information on a full-charge capacity of the battery apparatus in a brand-new state and information on the battery charge/discharge cycle count from the battery apparatus, retains a correction coefficient used when computing the current full-charge capacity of the battery apparatus, and calculates the current full-charge capacity of the battery apparatus using the information on the full-charge capacity of the battery apparatus in a brand-new state, the information on the battery charge/discharge cycle count, and the correction coefficient.
US09153839B2 Solid electrolyte battery and process for producing solid electrolyte battery
A solid electrolyte battery using a solid electrolyte capable of realizing high conductivity, and a process for producing a solid electrolyte battery are provided. The solid electrolyte battery is structured as a laminate of a positive electrode collector layer, a positive electrode active material layer, a solid electrolyte layer, a negative electrode active material layer, and a negative electrode collector layer formed in order on a substrate. The solid electrolyte layer is a thin film formed of a compound of the formula Li3 M04 (M =V, Nb, Ta, or Db).
US09153838B2 Lithium ion conductive inorganic substance
To provide a lithium ion conductive inorganic substance that makes it possible to further enhance the charge-discharge voltage of batteries and to further improve the charge-discharge properties of batteries. The lithium ion conductive inorganic substance includes a ZrO2 component from 2.6% to 52.0% by mass on an oxide basis. The lithium ion conductive inorganic substance is preferably used for lithium ion secondary batteries that have a positive electrode layer, a negative electrode layer, and a solid electrolyte layer intervening between the positive electrode layer and the negative electrode layer.
US09153836B2 Electrolytic solutions and battery
A battery capable of improving battery characteristics is provided. The battery includes a cathode, an anode and an electrolytic solution, and a separator arranged between the cathode and the anode is impregnated with the electrolytic solution. The solvent of the electrolytic solution includes a sulfone compound having a sulfonyl fluoride type structure in which a sulfonyl group and a fluorine group are bonded together, and at least one kind selected from the group consisting of a chain carbonate which includes a halogen and a cyclic carbonate which includes a halogen.
US09153834B2 Fuel cell stack assembly with pressure balanced load mechanism
A fuel cell stack assembly includes a fuel cell stack wherein a plurality of fuel cell cassettes is coupled together by a joining material. A spring strap is coupled to the fuel cell stack in a manner effective to apply a first compressive force to the fuel cell stack. A first load distribution plate is located intermediate the fuel cell stack and the spring strap. The first load distribution plate is configured to distribute the first compressive force over the fuel cell stack in a manner effective to normalize the first compressive force on the joining material. A diaphragm is configured to define a cavity and is configured to apply a second compressive force to the fuel cell stack dependent on a cavity pressure of oxidant within the cavity. The cavity pressure is dependent upon an oxidant pressure of oxidant provided to the fuel cell stack.
US09153818B2 Lithium sulfide cathode material with transition metal coating
A composition for use in a battery electrode including lithium-sulfur particles coated with a transition metal species bonded to a sulfur species. Methods and materials for preparing such a composition. Use of such a compound in a battery.
US09153817B2 Lithium ion secondary battery
Disclosed is a lithium ion secondary battery including: a positive electrode including a positive electrode active material layer comprising a positive electrode active material capable of absorbing and releasing lithium ions, and a positive electrode current collector; a negative electrode including a negative electrode active material layer comprising an alloy-formable active material, and a negative electrode current collector; a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode active material layer has an easily swellable resin having a degree of swelling with the non-aqueous electrolyte of 20% or more, and the negative electrode active material layer has a hardly swellable resin having a degree of swelling with the non-aqueous electrolyte of less than 20%.
US09153811B2 Method for joining multiple parallel tabs
Multiple cell tabs are effectively joined in a cost-effective and more consistent manner that can result in less mass and volume per interconnect. Cell tabs can be made of a material that is sufficiently thick enough to be able to carry several times the current of other tabs. The tabs are notched to engage an interconnecting member where the notching is performed in the same stage as making individual cell tab bends. Once the cell tabs are notched and bent, they are then positioned together such that the notched portions lie on the interconnecting member in a flat, side-by-side manner, all at the same height. The cell tabs are then held closely to the interconnect and laser-welded.