Document Document Title
US09643663B2 Air guiding device, vehicle and method for operating an air guiding device
An air guiding device for a vehicle has a first air guiding element and a second air guiding element. A first hinge mechanism connects the first air guiding element hingedly to a rear of the vehicle, and a second hinge mechanism connects the second air guiding element hingedly to the first air guiding element.
US09643661B2 Panel joint structure
A panel joint structure including: a first panel; a second panel that forms a space between itself and the first panel; a joint portion; a seal member that seals a gap between a distal end portion of the joint flange portion and the second panel; and a first panel bead portion that is formed in a region of the joint flange portion adjacent to the joint portion in the lengthwise direction of the first panel, that projects in a direction away from the second panel, that extends from a distal end to a base end of the joint flange portion, that forms with the second panel an air vent hole communicated with the space, and that slopes in a direction away from the second panel heading toward the base end side of the joint flange portion as seen from the lengthwise direction of the first panel.
US09643660B2 Bumper assembly for an undercarriage mounted battery pack
A battery pack protection system is provided for use with an electric vehicle in which the battery pack is mounted under the car. The system utilizes a bumper that is attached to the front of the battery pack enclosure and which is configured to (i) deflect debris striking the bumper and (ii) absorb impact energy due to the debris, thereby minimizing the transference of impact energy to the battery pack and the batteries contained within the pack.
US09643653B2 Attachment of a front end of a motor vehicle to a subframe of the motor vehicle
An attachment of a front end of a motor vehicle to a subframe of the motor vehicle, includes an adjustment device arranged between the front end and the subframe, as viewed in the motor vehicle longitudinal direction, to attach the front end to the subframe. The adjustment device has a front-end-side and a subframe-side adjusting unit, and is configured such that the adjustment device can be shortened, as viewed in the motor vehicle longitudinal direction, in the event of a correspondingly high force impact caused by accident. The subframe-side adjusting unit of the adjustment device is arranged on a housing mounted to the subframe.
US09643652B2 Vehicle-body structure of automotive vehicle
A vehicle-body structure of an automotive vehicle comprises a frame which is provided at a side portion of a vehicle body to extend in a vehicle longitudinal direction, and a load absorption portion which is provided at a front face of a tip portion of the frame to protrude forward, wherein the load absorption portion includes an inclination face portion which protrudes outward, in a vehicle width direction, relative to the frame and a tip face of which extends obliquely forward and inward.
US09643648B2 Single pedal propulsion system for straight travel of work vehicle
A work vehicle is disclosed with a propulsion system that is selectively operable in a first, turning mode or a second, straight mode. The vehicle includes a first traction device, a second traction device, a first steering input, and a second steering input. In the first, turning mode, an operator is able to steer the vehicle left, right, or straight by independently operating the first and second traction devices via the first and second steering inputs. In the second, straight mode, the operator is able to steer the vehicle straight by operating both the first and second traction devices together via one of the first and second steering inputs.
US09643646B2 Steering knuckle apparatus for a vehicle
A vehicle steering knuckle includes a body part to which an axle is attached, an arm portion including one end integrally connected with an outer periphery of the body part and spreading outwardly from the body part along an extending axis, and a connecting portion configured to be connected with a vehicle component. The arm portion includes a first portion, a second portion, and a hollow portion. The first portion including a peripheral wall configured to enclose around the extending axis. The second portion including a peripheral wall including an opening partially opened around the extending axis. At a cross-section intersecting the extending axis, an end portion of the peripheral wall of the second portion on a side of the opening includes an enlarged portion which is enlarged in width as compared with side portions adjacent to the end portion.
US09643643B2 Extensible actuator control method, extensible actuator, and steering device
An extensible actuator includes a motor, a rod, a conversion unit and an electromagnetic braking system. The motor generates rotating force. The rod freely reciprocates in an axial direction. The conversion mechanism converts the rotating force of the motor into a reciprocating motion of the rod. The electromagnetic braking system brakes the reciprocating motion of the rod.
US09643640B2 Collapsible two seat perambulator
A buggy for transporting children has a frame and wheels that are rotably mounted relative to the frame to support the frame above a ground surface. A primary seat is operatively supported by the frame for supporting a first child. A secondary seat is operatively supported by the frame for supporting a second child. The buggy is convertible between an in use configuration for transporting children and a folded storage configuration, whether or not the secondary seat is attached. The secondary seat may be detachable. The secondary seat may be positioned at least partly behind and at least partly below the primary seat.
US09643637B1 Cargo bag for an insulated cooler
This shortcoming of wheeled insulated coolers is addressed in this disclosure. The cargo bag for an insulated cooler is a harness and a pack that is adapted for use with a wheeled insulated cooler. The cargo bag for an insulated cooler is attached to the wheeled insulated cooler using the harness such that the pack is attached to the wheeled insulated cooler and can be carried on the wheeled insulated cooler while the wheeled insulated cooler is transported to an event location. The cargo bag for an insulated cooler comprises a container and a plurality of straps.
US09643636B2 Apparatus for securing a walking assist device
An apparatus for securing a user's accessory or walking assist device is disclosed. The apparatus includes a base and at least one hook extending outwardly from a rear surface of the base and adapted to secure the apparatus to a support. The apparatus further includes a first gripping arm extending outwardly from a first side of the base and protruding forward of a front surface of the base and a second gripping arm extending outwardly from a second side of the base and protruding forward of the front surface of the base. The first and second gripping arms form a holding space therebetween to secure an accessory therein, thereby securing the accessory to the support 14.
US09643625B2 System and method for powered railcar doors
In one embodiment, a system includes a first door assembly operable to at least partially cover an opening of a rail car. The system also includes an actuator. A first common linkage is coupled to the actuator and is operable to reciprocally move in a longitudinal direction relative to the actuator. In particular embodiments, a first secondary linkage is coupled to the first common linkage and is coupled to an exterior surface of the first door assembly, wherein the first secondary linkage cooperates with the first common linkage to move the first door assembly between an open position and a closed position over the top hatch of the rail car.
US09643621B2 Method and apparatus for guiding inertia driving of manual transmission vehicle
An apparatus and method for guiding inertia driving of a manual transmission vehicle is provided to maximally extend a no-load driving state with an inertia driving state by blocking a power transmission path of a drive train. The apparatus includes a user selection switch operated to select a coasting mode and a display unit configured to display an entrance enabled state to an inertia driving mode to allow the entrance enabled state to be visually recognized. In addition, a controller is configured to receive an operation signal of the user selection switch and display the entrance enabled state to the inertia driving mode on the display unit to induce the inertia driving mode selection.
US09643620B2 Automatic operation vehicle control apparatus
An automatic operation vehicle control apparatus includes a contact detecting unit, an override detecting unit, and an automatic operation control unit. The contact detecting unit detects the presence of contact of a hand or hands of a driver with a steering wheel of a vehicle. The override detecting unit detects the presence of override on the steering wheel by the driver on the basis of the result of the detection by the contact detecting unit. The automatic operation control unit switches the operation mode at least including the automatic operation and the manual operation of the vehicle on the basis of the result of the detection by the override detecting unit.
US09643618B2 Sensor system for a vehicle and operating method for a sensor system in a vehicle
A sensor system for a vehicle includes: at least one sensor unit; and one evaluation and control unit transmitting a synchronization signal via a communication connection to the sensor unit. The sensor unit transmits a sensor signal representing the measured variable via the communication connection to the evaluation and control unit. The evaluation and control unit ascertains an instantaneous signal quality of the received sensor signal and transmits a piece of information about the ascertained instantaneous signal quality to the sensor unit. The sensor unit predefines a modulation amplitude for the transmission of the sensor signal as a function of the ascertained instantaneous signal quality.
US09643601B2 Driving assistance device
A driving assistance device improves the accuracy of driving assistance for parking. A traveling controller detects a line positioned on a road surface from a captured image captured by a camera. A parking frame is extracted from the detected line and acceleration suppression control of a vehicle is executed based on the extracted parking frame. At this time, the acceleration suppression control is cancelled if a crossing is detected based on the captured image.
US09643599B2 Vehicle control device, and vehicle control method
A vehicle control device includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor detects wheel speed. The controller estimates sprung mass state based on detected information in a prescribed frequency range. The controller controls a variable-damping force shock absorber to bring the estimated sprung mass state to a target sprung mass state. The controller estimates wheel rim braking/drive torque acting on a wheel. The controller determines the estimation accuracy of the sprung mass state has deteriorated when a rate of change of a stationary component extracted from components of wheel rim braking/drive torque acting on a wheel is detected to equal or exceed a prescribed value. The controller controls the variable-damping force shock absorber to a more limited extent than when the estimation accuracy has not deteriorated.
US09643598B2 Control device for vehicle drive device
A control device for a vehicle drive device includes performing neutral travel control in which disengagement/engagement elements are disengaged with the wheels rotating so the state of a speed change mechanism is controlled into a neutral state where transfer of a drive force between the input member to the engine and the output member to the wheels is not performed, and the wheels are driven by a rotary electric machine drive force; and comparing an operating state value of each of target actuators that control the state of the disengagement/engagement elements, and a determination value so torque from the speed change mechanism to the wheels because of torque transferred by each of the disengagement/engagement elements, falls within an allowable range during neutral travel control, and determines whether the torque transferred from the speed change mechanism to the wheels falls within the allowable range.
US09643596B2 Method for controlling the state of a drive train of a power train of an electric, hybrid or combustion engine vehicle
A method for controlling a state of a drive train of a power train including at least one motive power source and a set of couplers and reducers of which respective engagements define a plurality of states of the drive train, by engagement of one or a plurality of energy sources in provision of torque and by the ratio of transmission of same to wheels. States targeted from a current state are ranked in real time on the basis of the difference between the motive force available in a current state and in each target state.
US09643594B2 Hybrid car
A hybrid car includes an engine, a first motor, a first driving shaft connected to a first drive wheel, a planetary gear, a second motor, a battery, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to control the first motor and the second motor such that the hybrid car travels within a range of allowable input and output electric power of the battery. The electronic control unit is configured to set an upper limit driving force based on a balancing driving force commensurate with a dynamic frictional force between the first drive wheel and a road surface and control the engine, the first motor, and the second motor when an idling-slip of the drive wheel occurs such that a driving force equal to or less than the upper limit driving force is output to the first drive wheel.
US09643587B2 Sequence valve for a brake cylinder having an automatic parking brake
A sequencing valve for an automatic parking brake. The sequencing valve has a housing with a first port for communication with a source of a brake pipe pressure, a second port for communication with an exhaust, and a third port for communication with a brake pipe pressure input of an automatic parking brake. A valve body in the housing is moveable to either isolate the brake pipe pressure from the input to the parking brake, or couple brake pipe pressure to the input so that the parking brake may be released. A pilot is interconnected to the valve body for moving the valve body from the first position to the second position and can be driven by a charging and partial release of brake pipe pressure, charging of brake cylinder pressure, or a pneumatic signal provided by an electrical or a pneumatic control valve.
US09643584B2 Method for operating a braking system of a vehicle, and control device for a braking system of a vehicle
A method for operating a braking system includes: limiting a brake pressure buildup in a brake circuit of the braking system to a response pressure of a storage volume of the brake circuit by controlling a first wheel outlet valve of a first wheel brake cylinder of the brake circuit into an opened state at least temporarily during an increasing activation intensity of an activation of a brake actuating element connected to a master break cylinder; providing an additional reduction of a brake pressure in the brake circuit to below the response pressure during a constant activation intensity by controlling the first wheel outlet valve into a closed state; and activating a brake booster in such a way that an internal pressure present in the master brake cylinder is reduced with the aid of the activated brake booster.
US09643581B2 Electric brake system
An electric brake system includes a reservoir, a master cylinder including first and second hydraulic ports, a simulation device providing reaction force in response to foot force applied to a brake pedal, a hydraulic-pressure supply device, a hydraulic-pressure control unit, and an electronic control unit (ECU). The hydraulic-pressure supply device converts rotational force of a motor into rectilinear motion upon receiving an electric signal from the pedal displacement sensor, and moves a double-acting piston designed to perform reciprocating motion within a hydraulic cylinder. The double-acting piston moves in both directions such that the first hydraulic chamber located at one side or the second hydraulic chamber located at the other side are pressed, resulting in formation of hydraulic pressure.
US09643574B2 Apparatus and method for automated energy storage device exchange and rapid charging
An apparatus for energy storage device exchange includes a central pillar; a first carrier that is mounted on the central pillar for motion generally parallel to and around a generally vertical working axis, and that is configured to engage a lifting structure of an energy storage device; at least one motor; and a controller configured to operate with the at least one motor to: rotate the first carrier around the working axis to a removal position adjacent to the lifting structure of the energy storage device mounted on a vehicle; engage the first carrier with the lifting structure and lift the energy storage device generally along the working axis; rotate the first carrier around the working axis to a deposit position adjacent to an energy storage device receptacle; and lower the first carrier generally along the working axis to deposit the energy storage device at the energy storage device receptacle.
US09643562B1 Airbag with passive adaptive venting
Airbags and airbag assemblies are disclosed that include passive adaptive venting. The disclosed embodiments include an airbag cushion to define an inflation chamber and that include a set of vents. The set of vents is disposed through a panel of the airbag cushion. The set of vents allow egress of inflation gas from the inflation chamber and to be in an open state when a degree of compression of the airbag cushion is below a threshold level. The set of vents is configured to be in a closed state and/or obstructed by a vehicle surface of a vehicle structure when the degree of compression of the airbag cushion exceeds the threshold level.
US09643556B2 Vehicle front structure
A vehicle front structure is configured such that an absorber is provided on a front surface of a center brace that connects in a vehicle up and down direction a radiator support upper to a radiator support lower. Accordingly, when a load is input from a front side of a vehicle, a load transfer passage through the absorber, the center brace, and the radiator support upper or the radiator support lower is newly configured, thereby improving impact absorption performance.
US09643549B2 Electronic circuit comprising two static converters operating in a quasi-resonant zero-voltage switching mode and a method of operating such a circuit
A method of operating an electronic circuit including: a master converter including a master controller and a switch, a slave converter including a slave controller and a switch, designed to step up an input voltage of the electronic circuit to an output voltage, each converter operating in a quasi-resonant mode by zero-voltage switching of their respective switch, wherein: the master controller sends, when the master converter switch is turned on and when a preset phase-shift criterion is met, a control signal to the slave controller which turns off the slave converter switch, the master and slave controllers turn on the switch of their respective converter as soon as a zero voltage is detected across the terminals of the switch, wherein the electric current magnitude in the master converter switch is measured, and the preset phase-shift criterion is met when the measured magnitude reaches a preset value.
US09643541B2 Integrated center console latch opening close-out feature
A storage bin shell for a vehicle includes a main bin portion defining a storage bin having a latch opening and an integrated latch opening close-out member configured to provide a latch opening close-out. The integrated latch opening close-out member includes a hinged portion, which may be a living hinge. The hinged portion further includes a retainer for engaging a co-operating receiver defined in the main bin portion, whereby rotating or folding the hinged portion allows engaging the co-operating receiver by the retainer to define the latch opening close-out.
US09643520B2 Combined car seat cover and infant seat
The present invention relates to a combined car seat cover and infant seat, which is normally used as a seat cover for improving a riding comfort and can be transformed into an infant seat when an infant or a child is a passenger, wherein a seat fixing means for fixing a seat cover to a car seat is formed at the back of the seat cover including a seat sheet and a backrest sheet in which a cushioning material is accommodated therein, a safety belt is provided on both sides of the seat cover, a foldable shielding member is formed on the seat sheet, and the seat cover can be used as an infant seat by using the shielding member and the safety belt, and even in the case of an impact, a seat cover having this structure effectively prevents damage to the seat cover and disperses the impact by means of the safety belt and a reinforcing band, thereby preventing injuries.
US09643506B2 Portable backup charger
A portable backup charger includes a set of batteries; a charging circuit; a charge-discharge protection circuit; multiple DC-DC voltage adjusting circuits including a DC-DC 19 V-output boost circuit, a 12 V output circuit, and a DC-DC 5 V-output buck circuit; a MCU circuit; a 12 V output circuit outputting a current in the range of 100 A to 400 A; and a 150 A-250 A fuse. The set of batteries is composed of lithium iron phosphate batteries and lithium cobalt oxide batteries. The 12 V output circuit outputting a current in the range of 100 A to 400 A is directly connected to the set of batteries without interference with the charge-discharge protection circuit. The charger is convenient for carrying, and is capable of providing power for different electrical instruments including for an automobile.
US09643499B2 Electric power system
An electric power system includes a plurality of combinations of one of electric loads, which transmit/receive electric power, and one of power converters which is connected to the one of the electric loads and performs power conversion operation according to a predetermined switching synchronization signal so that electric power is transmitted/received to/from the electric load, the combinations being connected to a predetermined intermediate point so as to be parallel to each other, and a power conversion control unit which controls operations of the power converters. The power conversion control unit variably sets switching phases of the power converters depending on operating conditions of the power converters.
US09643490B2 Drive assembly with electric machine and motor vehicle having such a drive assembly
The invention elates to an electric drive assembly for a multi-axle driven motor vehicle which comprises an internal combustion engine, a multi-step transmission with an output shaft for driving a rear axle, as well as an optionally driveable front axle. The drive assembly comprises an electric machine (6), a reduction gearing (7) drivingly connected to the electric machine (6), a driveshaft (9) drivingly connected to the reduction gearing (7) and drivingly connectable to a front propeller shaft (65) for driving the front axle, and a housing 5 in which the electric machine (6) and the reduction gearing (7) are arranged. The housing (5) comprises connecting means (16) for connecting the drive assembly (2) to the multi-step transmission. The electric drive assembly is designed such that, with the electric drive assembly mounted at the multi-step transmission (56), a rear propeller shaft (57) can be connected at least indirectly to the output shaft of the multi-step transmission for driving the rear axle. Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle with such a driveline assembly.
US09643485B2 Resin fuel tank
A resin fuel tank includes a fuel tank main body (19) in which a closed space for storing fuel is formed in its interior; a built-in part (24) that is disposed within the closed space and is fixed to a wall portion of the fuel tank main body by at least two mounting portions (46); connecting portions (32, 34) of the built-in part, which are separated from the wall portion and that connect the two mounting portions (46); and deformation absorbing portions (48A, 48B) of the built-in part which are elastically deformable, are upside-down U-shaped as seen in side view and are provided between the mounting portions (46) and the connecting portions (32, 34), one ends (68A, 68B) of the deformation absorbing portions being fixed to the connecting portions, and other ends (56A, 56B) of the deformation absorbing portions being separated from the connecting portions in a height direction.
US09643484B2 Method for operating a hybrid vehicle
A method for operating a hybrid vehicle which comprises at least one internal combustion engine with a fuel tank and a filter, and an additional motor for driving the vehicle. The filter is designed to receive fuel vapors from the fuel tank in a filtering mode and to discharge the fuel vapors to the internal combustion engine in a flushing mode. In the method, a current operating point of the internal combustion engine is detected and the flushing mode of the filter is activated according to the current operating point and an operating time of the vehicle.
US09643481B2 Multi-mode powersplit hybrid transmission
A family of hybrid electric transmissions operate in at least three modes based on selective engagement of shift elements. In a low mode, torque in a mechanical power flow path is multiplied for better low speed performance. At higher vehicle speeds, the transmission shifts into a high mode to improve efficiency. Some embodiments include a reverse mode. In other embodiments, a series mode may be used in reverse. The shift elements may include friction clutches, positive engagement clutches, and controllable one way clutches.
US09643479B1 Box cover of pickup truck
A box cover of a pickup truck, includes at least two panels and at least one rotating shaft mechanism. The rotating shaft mechanism is connected with two adjacent panels, and the rotating shaft mechanism includes a base and two connecting units. The base includes a base portion having a hollow structure inside and two rotating shaft portions respectively disposed on two sides of the base portion. The base portion and one of the rotating shaft portion form a rotating space. The rotating space is isolated from the interior of the base portion. The connecting unit includes a fixing portion fixedly connecting with the panels and a rotary portion rotatably inserted into the rotating space. It is capable of avoiding water falling into the rotating space of the rotating shaft mechanism from seeping into the interior of the base portion of the rotating shaft mechanism. The structure is simple and waterproof.
US09643462B2 Ball mount for measuring tongue weight of a trailer
A ball mount for measuring tongue weight of a trailer is disclosed. The ball mount can include a ball portion having a hitch ball configured to couple with a tongue of a trailer. The ball mount can also include a hitch portion for interfacing with a hitch receiver associated with a vehicle. In addition, the ball mount can include a load measurement device associated with the ball portion to determine a magnitude of a downward force on the hitch ball. The load measurement device can include a reservoir having a fluid and a piston disposed therein, and a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the reservoir. The hitch ball can be configured to exert a force on the piston, thereby affecting a pressure of the fluid in response to the downward force on the hitch ball.
US09643459B2 Wheel drive having a rotary union
A wheel hub drive with a planetary transmission includes a wheel hub rotatably mounted on a fixed component and at least one fluid-carrying passage. The fixed component is configured to receive a tire with a gaseous filling. The at least one fluid-carrying passage extends indirectly as far as the tire through the fixed component in order to regulate the gas pressure in the tire. An annular rotary union defines at least a portion of the at least one fluid-carrying passage and is configured to connect the fixed component fluidically to the tire. The annular rotary union is arranged axially between the fixed component and the rotatably mounted wheel hub.
US09643452B2 Adhesive composition and pneumatic tire using same
Provided is an adhesive composition that provides excellent adhesion between a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer in which an elastomer component is dispersed in the thermoplastic resin and a tire by a combination of general-purpose materials, without using any special polymer. The adhesive composition comprises 100 parts by weight of a base polymer and 20 to 50 parts by weight of a resol-type phenolic resin-based resin crosslinking agent, wherein 100 parts by weight of the base polymer comprises 80 to 99 parts by weight of a thermoplastic elastomer and 1 to 20 parts by weight of a halogenated rubber. The resol-type phenolic resin-based resin crosslinking agent is preferably an alkylphenol-formaldehyde resin. Examples of the thermoplastic elastomer can include styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, and examples of the halogenated rubber can include chloroprene rubber and chlorosulfonated polyethylene.
US09643448B2 Moistening system for envelopes that reduces clogging caused by contaminants
A moistening system that significantly reduces the problems caused by contaminants in the moistening fluid is provided. The catch basin of a moistening system is provided with a filter that reduces the amount of contaminants contained in the recycled moistening fluid. Additionally, the moistening fluid is buffered with an acid that acts to dissolve the paper filler and other soluble debris that may be introduced into the moistening fluid, thereby significantly decreasing any blinding of components of the moistening system that would otherwise reduce the flow rate of the moistening fluid through the system. These ensure that sufficient moistening fluid is applied to the envelope flaps, which results in consistent and complete sealing of the envelope flaps.
US09643447B2 Plant producing writing instrument and method of growing a plant
The present disclosure provides instruments, kits and methods for growing a plant. In some embodiments, a plant producing writing instrument is provided. Such writing instrument may include a housing having a writing end and an opposing non-writing end. In addition, a capsule with one or more seeds may be disposed at the non-writing end of the housing. The capsule may be degradable after placement in a moist soil to release the one or more seeds.
US09643435B2 Printer
A plate spring is disposed at an outer lateral face of each of a pair of supporting members which a separation mechanism includes. In separation ejection, when an opening and closing cover is closed while pressing parts of an opening and closing cover is in contact with plate springs of the separation mechanism, the separation mechanism is fixed at the separation ejection position and the nip roller of the separation mechanism is biased toward the platen roller because of the effect of the plate springs. Since the plate springs can be pressed by the pressing parts of the opening and closing cover, a component to press the plate springs can be eliminated.
US09643427B2 Ink-jet printer and method for operating an ink-jet printer
The invention is focusing on an inkjet printer as well as on a method for operating an inkjet printer, in which for at least one color at least two inks of the of the same color, but of varying color intensity are used, namely one ink of a lighter color intensity Jh and an ink of a darker color intensity Jd, where preferably to following applies: Jd=2x*Jh, with x for example being 2, 3 or 4. Then 2x is in these case 22=4, or 23=8, or 24=16; whereat several ink drops are printed on one pixel on top of one another in quick succession, namely 0 . . . (2x−1) ink drops so that with the darker ink 2x brightness levels can be accomplished, and with the lighter ink likewise 2x brightness levels, what from altogether 2x*2x=22x different brightness levels are resulting; and where the individual drops unite together during their flight or do not come loose from each other, resulting in only one single color drop per pixel on the printing substrate.
US09643423B2 Liquid container with optically transparent area and liquid ejection apparatus including liquid container with visual recognition portion
There is provided a liquid container including a casing that has a side wall surrounding a container portion configured to contain a liquid; a projecting portion that is provided inside of the container portion to be protruded from a fourth wall corresponding to a bottom of the container portion; and a supply port that is provided in the casing to communicate with outside of the casing through an outer area outside of an overlapping area which overlaps the projecting portion in the container portion in a planar view of the fourth wall and discharge the liquid from the container portion. At least part of a second wall provided to face the projecting portion across a first liquid reservoir has optical transparency.
US09643417B2 Method for forming silicone-based cured film on ink discharge surface of nozzle plate for inkjet printer, and nozzle plate
A nozzle plate which exhibits excellent ink repellency and excellent durability to wiping, even when used with an ink that adheres readily to the nozzle plate is provided. A method for forming a silicone-based cured film on the ink discharge surface of a nozzle plate for an inkjet printer, the method comprising: (1) a step of preparing a condensation-type silicone composition containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of bismuth compounds and cyclic amidine compounds, (2) a step of applying this condensation-type silicone composition to the ink discharge surface of the nozzle plate to form a coating film, and (3) a step of heating and curing this coating film.
US09643411B2 Position deviation order detection method, image position deviation correction method, streak unevenness correction table creation method, and streak unevenness correction method
A position deviation order detection method according to the invention calculates a difference between input image data of an original image used for printing an image using an inkjet printer and output image data acquired by reading the image using a scanner for each pixel, and compares the calculated difference with a first threshold value to extract pixels for which the difference is equal to or larger than the first threshold value, and detects the size of a position deviation of the image by the number of pixels of a closed pixel group among the extracted pixels.
US09643408B1 Joint quantization of drop probability functions in multi-size drop inkjet printers
Methods and systems for sequentially quantizing probability density functions for inkjet printing. In an example embodiment, an operation can be implemented to quantize probability density functions associated with larger drops among a plurality of drops provided by an inkjet printer. Non-quantized probability functions associated with remaining ink drops are then modified utilizing an error incurred at each quantization during quantization of the probability density functions associated with the larger drops. Quantizing the probability density functions and modifying the non-quantized probability functions continue until all drop size probability functions associated with the plurality of drops are quantized.
US09643406B2 Printhead leak determination
In some examples, a system includes a printhead including a printer fluid nozzle, an air valve in fluid communication with a channel of the nozzle to: (1) create back pressure in the channel when the air valve is closed and printer fluid is ejected through the nozzle and (2) release back pressure in the channel when the air valve is open, an ejector to eject printer fluid through the nozzle to form a meniscus of printer fluid in the channel when the air valve is closed, a pressure sensor to measure pressure within the channel, and an indicator in electrical communication with the pressure sensor. The indicator can, for example, indicate whether there is an air leak in the channel by determining whether the pressure in the channel is within a predetermined pressure range after a predetermined idle time following the formation of the meniscus in the nozzle.
US09643401B2 Credential production device transfer ribbon accumulator
A credential production device includes a printing device, a laminating device, a transfer ribbon accumulator, a processing assembly, and a frame. The printing device is configured to print an image to the transfer ribbon. The laminating device is configured to transfer printed images from the transfer ribbon to a substrate. The transfer ribbon accumulator adjusts a length of a portion of a ribbon path, along which the transfer ribbon is routed, in response to different transfer ribbon feed rates. The processing assembly supports the transfer ribbon, at least a portion of the printing device or a portion of the laminating device, and at least a first portion of the transfer ribbon accumulator. The frame supports the second portion of the transfer ribbon accumulator. The processing assembly and the frame are configured to move relative to each other between first and second positions.
US09643400B2 Treatment of release layer
There is provided a method for treating a hydrophobic release layer of an intermediate transfer member for use in a printing process in which a negatively charged aqueous inkjet ink including a polymeric resin and a colorant is jetted onto said layer, the claimed method comprising contacting the release layer, prior to jetting the ink, with an aqueous solution or dispersion of a positively charged polymeric chemical agent reducing the tendency of a jetted ink droplet to bead up on the intermediate transfer member. Other embodiments, such as hydrophobic release layers having such chemical agents disposed thereupon and printed ink images comprising the same, are also described.
US09643398B1 Variable data and direct marking of print media with high viscosity materials
An improved apparatus and method for printing directly onto Infra-Red (IR) transparent material (print media) such as Mylar using a method that is capable of using medium to high viscosity materials such as those needed for printed electronics. The proposed method would be able to print with variable data/imaging. A proposed method uses an IR receptor of which a print media is placed or passed over. Prior to irradiation the print media is coated with a sub-micron layer of dampening solution such as silicone oil that is then selectively evaporated off via a laser imaging device which passes IR energy thorough the dampening solution, print media and onto the receptor to evaporate dampening solution in areas that will be inked.
US09643397B2 Variable data lithography system for applying multi-component images and systems therefor
A reimageable layer of an imaging member is provided with a dampening fluid layer. The reimageable layer has specific properties such as composition, surface profile, and so on so as to be well suited for receipt and carrying the dampening fluid layer. An optical patterning subsystem such as a scanned modulated laser patterns the dampening fluid layer. Ink having a first set of properties such as color, composition, etc., is applied at an inking subsystem such that it selectively resides in voids formed by the patterning subsystem in the dampening fluid layer to thereby form an inked latent image. The inked latent image is then transferred to a substrate, and the reimageable surface cleaned. The process is repeated for a second ink having properties different than the first. Each ink image may successively be applied to the substrate, or a composite image may be formed then applied to the substrate.
US09643394B2 Oblique angle micromachining of fluidic structures
An extrusion device has a stack of at least two layers, the stack including an outlet, an inlet for a first material, and a feed channel for the first material arranged to fluidically connect to the inlet for the first material, the feed channel having a sloped end. A method of manufacturing an extrusion device includes forming an outlet, an inlet for a first material and a feed channel for the first material having a sloped end in a stack of layers, aligning the stack of layers to fluidically connect the feed channel for the first material with the inlet for the first material and to fluidically connect the inlet for the first material with the outlet, and bonding the layers together.
US09643384B2 Display device
Disclosed is display device including a display panel; a window disposed on the display panel; and an adhesive layer positioned between the display panel and the window, wherein the adhesive layer includes a polymer resin and a woven fiber.
US09643382B2 Fiber reinforced structural element
A fiber reinforced structural element comprising a thermoplastic fiber reinforced member, a non-thermoplastic fiber reinforced member, and a multi-layer woven tie layer. The thermoplastic fiber reinforced member contains at least one layer of thermoplastic fibers and the non-thermoplastic fiber reinforced member contains at least one layer of non-thermoplastic fibers. The multi-layer woven tie layer contains at least a first woven ply and a second woven ply, where the woven plies are integrated through combined portions formed by interlacing warps or wefts of adjacent woven plies. The multi-layer woven tie layer is oriented such that the upper surface of the multi-layer woven tie layer which is predominately thermoplastic fibers is adjacent the thermoplastic fiber reinforced member and the lower surface of the multi-layer woven tie layer which is predominately non-thermoplastic fibers is adjacent the non-thermoplastic fiber reinforced member.
US09643380B2 Carbon fibre reinforced composite material and production method thereof
A carbon fiber reinforced composite material including at least two carbon fiber fabrics and a thermoplastic resin, wherein each of the at least two carbon fiber fabrics is formed of an opened yarn obtained by opening a carbon fiber bundle, and the thermoplastic resin is impregnated with the at least two carbon fiber fabrics in a solidified state such that the carbon fiber reinforced composite material is formed integrally as a whole. Also disclosed is a method for producing the carbon fiber reinforced composite material.
US09643378B2 Composite panel for green building system
Composite panel for building construction comprises a first layer of honeycomb structure, and a load-bearing layer attached to the first layer of honeycomb structure contiguously or at distance for carrying external load of the composite panel in a lateral direction of the honeycomb structure.
US09643377B2 Floor plank with foam core
The floor member has a closed-cell foam core that constitutes approximately 50% of the overall thickness of the floor member. All constituents of the floor member, including a design layer, wear layer and resilient foam plastic underlayer, are highly water resistant and essentially water repellant. The closed-cell foam core is relatively lightweight and the floor member is also relatively lightweight compared to equally dimensioned floor planks formed exclusively of solid laminated plastic materials or wood-based laminated materials. The floor member has edge connecting means for convenient floating floor installation without the need to adhere the floor member to a floor base. The floor member is also easy to handle to permit a do-it-yourselfer to install a floor covering with the floor member.
US09643373B1 Proximity heating cell assembly for use in a high-pressure cubic press
In an embodiment, a cell assembly for use in a high-pressure cubic press may include at least one can assembly containing a diamond volume. The at least one can assembly may include an end surface in proximity to the diamond volume. The cell assembly may include at least one heating element including a major surface generally opposing and positioned adjacent to the end surface of the at least one can assembly. The at least one heating element may be positioned and configured to heat the diamond volume. The cell assembly may include at least one pressure transmitting medium extending about the at least one can assembly, and a gasket medium that defines a receiving space configured to receive the at least one can assembly, the one or more heating elements, and the at least one pressure transmitting medium.
US09643366B2 Method and device for producing a lens wafer
A method and a device for producing a lens wafer which has a plurality of microlenses, as well as microlenses produced from the lens wafer.
US09643358B2 Multinozzle deposition system for direct write applications
A multinozzle deposition system for direct write applications comprises a body including a first network of microchannels embedded therein, where the first network of microchannels extends from a parent microchannel through a series of furcations to a plurality of branching microchannels. The series consists of k generations with furcation number m where the kth generation includes mk branching microchannels. A first end of the body includes a single inlet to the parent microchannel and a second end of the body includes mk outlets from the branching microchannels, where k is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and m is an integer greater than or equal to 2. The body comprises a material having a sufficient rigidity to sustain a pressure in the microchannels of about 690 kPa or greater without distortion.
US09643355B2 Dental sensor holder and method of holding a dental sensor
A dental sensor holder including a loop of material and an adjustable bond. The adjustable bond portion is located on the inside of the loop which may selectively be engaged to join adjacent portions of the loop into a functional bitewing.
US09643352B2 Batch mixer with plunger
A batch mixer is equipped with a plunger for pushing material from the batch mixer. The batch mixer includes a mixer tank structured to accommodate material. The mixer further includes a mixer head comprising at least one blade structured to blend the material within the mixer tank. The mixer further includes a plunger mechanism structured to push the blended material directly from the mixer tank.
US09643351B2 Injection molding machines and methods for accounting for changes in material properties during injection molding runs
A method and a machine account for changes in material properties of molten plastic material during an injection run. A change in a control signal is calculated by a controller during the injection molding run. If the change in the control signal indicates a change in material flowability, the controller alters a target injection pressure to ensure that molten plastic material completely fills and packs a mold cavity to prevent part flaws such as short shots or flashing.
US09643347B2 Heat-resistant laminated conveyer belt
A heat-resistant laminated conveyer belt includes a fluororesin-coated core and a reinforcement layer which is formed on the core through an adhesive layer. The core is obtained by impregnating an aramid fiber woven fabric in a fluororesin dispersion and drying and sintering the fabric. The reinforcement layer is obtained by impregnating an aramid fiber woven fabric to which stretch properties are applied in a fluororesin dispersion and drying and sintering the fabric. The aramid fiber woven fabric of the core is a woven fabric by a plain-weave seamless loom or a circular loom. The aramid fiber woven fabric of the core includes an S-twist weft yarn and a Z-twist weft yarn which are alternatively arranged.
US09643341B2 Mold comprising shells and at least one slide
A mold includes a first shell and a second shell that are suitable, in the closed position, for imparting a shape to a part that is to be molded in the mold, a main axis being perpendicular to the main plane in which the first shell and the second shell extend. The mold further includes a slide that is situated between the first shell and the second shell and that is in contact with the first shell and the second shell when the mold is in the closed position, and that is to come into contact with the molded part, the slide presenting a first face that constitutes its interface with the first shell, the first face presenting a primary direction along which the slide is suitable for sliding along the first face when the mold is in the open position.
US09643337B2 Block splitter assembly and method of producing wall blocks
The invention provides a block splitter assembly comprising first lower and second upper opposed splitter blade assemblies. The splitter blade assemblies have a splitting blade and two or more first forming blades. One forming blade is disposed to the right of and one forming blade is disposed to the left of the first splitting blade. The forming blades have forming edges. The splitting blade has a splitting edge that is straight, and the splitting blade has a greater maximum vertical dimension than the maximum vertical dimension of the forming blades. The splitting edge of the first splitting blade is opposed to the splitting edge of the second splitting blade.
US09643334B2 Method for making super-hard constructions
A method of making a construction comprising a polycrystalline super-hard structure joined to a side surface of an elongate substrate. The method includes: providing a vessel configured for an ultra-high pressure, high temperature furnace, the vessel having an elongate cavity for containing a pre-sinter assembly and defining a longitudinal axis, the cavity having opposite ends connected by a cavity wall. The pre-sinter assembly comprises the substrate, an aggregation comprising a plurality of super-hard grains arranged over at least a part of the side surface of the substrate, and a spacer structure configured for spacing the substrate apart from the cavity wall. The spacer structure comprises material having a Young's modulus of at least 300 GPa. The method further includes inserting the pre-sinter assembly into the cavity, the substrate being substantially longitudinally aligned and the spacer structure arranged between the side surface of the substrate and the cavity wall; applying a force to the pre-sinter assembly and heating it to a temperature, the force being sufficient to generate a pressure within the vessel for sintering the aggregation at the temperature, and providing the construction.
US09643332B2 Apparatus and method for cutting products
Apparatus for cutting products, comprising: a base; a cutting head rotatably fitted to the base; an impeller adapted for rotating concentrically within the cutting head to urge products fed into the cutting head towards the circumference of the cutting head by means of centrifugal force; an impeller drive mechanism for driving the rotation of the impeller at an impeller rotational speed setting the centrifugal force; and a cutting head drive mechanism for driving the rotation of the cutting head at a cutting head rotational speed which is greater than the impeller rotational speed.
US09643331B2 Adjusting structure for curtain cutting machine
An adjusting structure for a curtain cutting machine, wherein the curtain cutting machine is adapted to cut a curtain which contains a first rail, a second rail, and a plurality of curtain blinds. The curtain cutting machine contains: an elongated base and an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism contains: a fixing plate including a first orifice and a second orifice; at least one slidable rod being forced to slide in a first sliding travel; a driving unit for driving the at least one slidable rod to slide in a second sliding travel; a first cutting unit corresponding to the second orifice; a second cutting unit driven by the at least one slidable rod to slide; and a third cutting unit including a holder and a third cutter. The holder is coupled with the first orifice, and the third cutter is disposed on the at least one slidable rod.
US09643321B2 Robot capable of dancing with musical tempo
A dancing robot includes a play unit, a processor, and a memory. The play unit plays music. The processor analyzes a musical tempo of the music. The memory stores a relationship between different musical tempos and movement patterns of the robot. The robot can move its head, body, and arms in certain movement patterns in time to the music, and if a human face is recognized through a camera of the robot, the robot can be controlled to give the appearance of dancing with the person who has the recognized face.
US09643317B2 Robot system controlling method, program, recording medium, robot system, and diagnosis apparatus
A method of controlling a robot system including an articulated robot and a control device is provided. The articulated robot includes links connected by joints, motors configured to drive the joints respectively, and detection devices configured to detect rotation amounts of the joints respectively. The control device controls the motors. The method includes the steps of, by the control device, recording movement information of the joints based on outputs of the detection devices; when detecting an abnormality in the operation of the articulated robot, determining presence or absence of a failure in the articulated robot based on the movement information recorded in at least a period from before detection of the abnormality until detection of the abnormality; and specifying a failure portion of the articulated robot if it is determined that there is a failure in the articulated robot in the step of determining.
US09643315B2 Device and method for programming a handling apparatus
A device for programming an handling apparatus, an industrial robot in particular, having an operating unit situated on an arm of the handling apparatus, which is able to be moved by an operator for programming motion sequences together with the arm to different positions, especially processing positions, having input devices on the operating unit for detecting at least positions of the arm, preferably in the form of input keys, the operating unit being connected to a control device for the handling apparatus; and data transmitted via input devices of the operating unit to the control device being displayed to the operator via a monitoring unit. The input devices are additionally used for controlling and operating display menus and input menus stored in the control device, the display menus and the input menus being displayed on the monitoring unit.
US09643303B2 Jig for supplying semi-circular member
A protruding portion is formed on a rear side of a side plate, namely a side surface forming guide passage. The protruding portion is intended to prevent a thrust metal from being put to the guide passage with the left and right ends being in the wrong position. Accordingly, a height of the protruding portion is smaller than a depth of the oil ditch of the thrust metal, the width of the protruding portion is smaller than the width of the oil ditch. Also, regarding to the formation position of the protruding portion, when the thrust metal is truly set to guide passage, the center of the protruding portion approximately accords with the center of the oil ditch of the thrust metal.
US09643300B2 Impact tool
An impact driver or impact tool includes a motor, a motor housing that houses the motor, a grip housing integrally provided with the motor housing, a hammer case is disposed frontward of the motor housing, a spindle rotated by the motor, a hammer housed inside the hammer case and configured to be rotated by the spindle, and an anvil housed inside the hammer case which anvil is configured to be impacted by the hammer. In this impact driver, a length from a rear end of the motor housing to a front end of the anvil (i.e., the front-rear length of a main body) is less than 128 mm.
US09643288B2 Heat exchange reactor using thin plate provided with flow path therein and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed are a heat exchange reactor and a method of manufacturing the same, and a method of manufacturing a heat exchange reactor includes: preparing lateral plates provided with a plurality of slits formed in parallel in a longitudinal direction; disposing two lateral plates to be spaced apart from each other while facing each other in a vertical direction; forming a plurality of flow path channels by inserting flow path partition plates into one or more slits of the two lateral plates in a horizontal direction; forming a plurality of flow path channels by inserting printed circuit heat exchange plates, which autonomously include one or more heat exchange flow paths therein, into one or more slits of the two lateral plates in a horizontal direction; and bonding the lateral plates, the flow path partition plates, and the printed circuit heat exchange plates.
US09643282B2 Micro end mill and method of manufacturing same
A micro end mill includes a shank made of a first material and a cutting tip made of a second, different material that is bonded to the shank. The first material can be, for example, carbide or high speed steel (HSS), and the second material can be, for example, cubic boron nitride (CBN), polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN), ceramic or polycrystalline diamond (PCD). The micro end mill is manufactured by producing a billet made of Superhard material using laser radiation, bonding the billet to a shank of the end mill, and removing material from the billet using laser radiation to produce a cutting tip made of the Superhard material. The laser radiation may comprise a laser beam encased in a water jet or a laser beam with a non-Gaussian intensity profile.
US09643272B2 Encapsulation process enabling hotbar soldering without direct PCB support
A method for connecting or terminating wires to a printed circuit is disclosed. The method includes applying layers, such as a first layer and a second layer, to the printed circuit. The first layer is applied over several active components on the printed circuit, and provides a sealant against ingress of contaminants in the active components. The second layer is a rigid layer applied over the first layer. When the printed circuit is placed in a fixture, a metallic element, such as a thermode or hot bar, presses against the wires to hold the wires against several terminals on the printed circuit. The metallic element is heated to melt solder between the wires and the terminals. The second layer is configured to resist compressive forces from the metallic element and the fixture, such that the printed circuit and the active components are not damaged during the connection process.
US09643269B2 Method of producing injection-molding die for worm wheel, and method of producing worm wheel
A worm wheel is provided in which a step is not formed near a tooth face meshing with a worm, and noise does not easily occur during power transmission.A worm wheel 1 includes a circular arc-shaped tooth section 5 that is a portion meshing with a worm 101 and configuring a circular tube worm gear, and a helical tooth section 4 that is connected to one end side of the circular arc-shaped tooth section 5. An angle of torsion at an arbitrary reference point 14 in a tooth depth direction of a tooth 3 on a boundary 7 between the circular arc-shaped tooth section 5 and the helical tooth section 4 is equal to an angle of torsion at a second reference point 15 corresponding to the first reference point 14 in the tooth depth direction of the tooth 3 in a diameter portion P0 of a throat of the circular arc-shaped section 5. As a result, a step is not formed on a tooth face on the boundary 7 between the circular arc-shaped tooth section 5 and the helical tooth section 4. A tooth face of the circular arc-shaped tooth section 5 and a tooth face of the helical tooth section 4 are smoothly connected.
US09643264B2 Coupling mechanism for cutting tool
A rotary cutting tool includes a cutter of generally cylindrical shape disposed about a central longitudinal axis. The cutter has a first end having an active fluted portion and an opposite second end, the second end having a male threaded portion disposed thereabout. The cutting tool further includes a shank of generally cylindrical shape disposed about the central longitudinal axis, the shank having a recessed female threaded portion formed in a first end. The male threaded portion includes a number of threads disposed at a first pitch and the female threaded portion includes a number of threads disposed at a second pitch different than the first pitch. The cutter and the shank are selectively coupled via threaded engagement of the male threaded portion and the female threaded portion.
US09643254B2 Anionic reagent element complexes, their variations, and their uses
A novel class of reagents, useful for synthesis of elemental nanoparticles, includes at least one element, formally in oxidation state zero in complex with a hydride molecule. The reagents can optionally include an additional ligand incorporated into the complex. Elemental nanoparticles are synthesized by adding solvent to the reagent, optionally with a free ligand and/or a monoatomic cation.
US09643248B2 Impact pad, tundish and apparatus including the impact pad, and method of using same
A tundish impact pad, a tundish containing the same, and a method of using and assembly containing the impact pad and tundish are provided. The tundish impact pad features a base having a base surface with a conical impact surface area establishing an apex, a sidewall, and a top wall extending inwardly relative to the sidewall to terminate at an inner edge establishing a mouth opening spaced above and centered relative to the apex. The top wall includes a lip sloping radially inwardly and downwardly towards the conical impact surface.
US09643244B2 Layer-by layer construction with bulk metallic glasses
Described herein is a method of selectively depositing molten bulk metallic glass (BMG). In one embodiment, a continuous stream or discrete droplets of molten BMG is deposited to selected positions. The deposition can be repeated as needed layer by layer. One or more layers of non-BMG can be used as needed.
US09643238B2 Manufacturing method of metal shell formed body for spark plug, manufacturing method of metal shell for spark plug, and spark plug manufacturing method
There is provided a method of manufacturing a metal shell formed body by cold forging for a metal shell of a spark plug. In the manufacturing method, a semi-finished formed body is first provided with a second inner step without the formation of an annular front end portion. After the semi-finished formed body is inserted from its front end side into a die, a punch is pushed into the semi-finished formed body from its rear end side. By pushing the punch, an annular front-facing surface of the punch is pushed onto the second inner step so as to press a front end portion of the formed body against an annular front end portion forming part of the die. By such a forming step, the metal shell formed body is obtained in which the annular front end portion is formed by extrusion.
US09643236B2 Thread rolling die and method of making same
A thread rolling die includes a thread rolling region comprising a working surface including a thread form. The thread rolling region of the thread rolling die comprises a sintered cemented carbide material having a hardness in the range of 78 HRA to 89 HRA. In certain embodiments, the thread rolling die may further include at least one non-cemented carbide piece metallurgically bonded to the thread rolling region in an area of the thread rolling region that does not prevent a workpiece from contacting the working surface, and wherein the non-cemented carbide piece comprises at least one of a metallic region and a metal matrix composite region. Methods of forming a thread rolling die as embodied herein are also disclosed.
US09643222B2 Ultrasonic apparatus, and associated holding device, for cleaning component surfaces
An ultrasonic apparatus for cleaning component surfaces (40) by means of a transporting liquid in which ultrasonic waves can be transported, the apparatus including an inlet (6) mounted on a body for filling the transporting liquid into the body, an ultrasonic oscillator (3) in the body for producing ultrasonic waves, a feed in the body for guiding the transporting liquid from the inlet (6) directly to the ultrasonic oscillator (3), so that the ultrasonic waves can be introduced into the transporting liquid and the liquid can be transported, an outlet (7) connected to the feed for discharging the transporting liquid which transports the ultrasonic waves from the body, so that a directed cleaning jet is produced. In addition, a holding device for such an ultrasonic apparatus is provided.
US09643215B2 Substrate cleaning apparatus
A substrate cleaning apparatus is provided. The substrate cleaning apparatus includes a plurality of transfer rollers for transferring a substrate; a liquid chemical feeder supplying a liquid chemical to a first surface of the substrate; wherein the liquid chemical feeder comprises a first housing and a first cleaning roller rotatably installed within the housing and having an upper portion configured to contact with the substrate.
US09643204B2 Flameless candle with integrated fountain
A decorative display apparatus comprising a flameless candle with an integrated fountain is disclosed. The flameless candle with integrated fountain is designed to be a stand-alone device. The flameless candle with integrated fountain includes a translucent candle body containing a water reservoir to which an optional scent may be added, an optional sealed transparent cover, a power source which may be a battery, USB or DC supply from an AC converter, a pump and an integrated water and light diffuser. The flameless candle with integrated fountain may be operated in either candle-only mode or candle and fountain mode. The device may also be operated on a timer.
US09643198B2 Sprayer with sudsing attachment
A handheld car washing implement that includes a handle defining a channel for receiving a flow of water, the handle including a nozzle in communication with the channel, wherein the handle further includes a plurality of teeth, extending radially outward from the nozzle; a sprayer, defining a second channel having a first and a second end, wherein the second end terminates in a second nozzle and the first end is dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the nozzle of the handle such that the flow of water is directed into the second channel, wherein the sprayer further includes a plurality of tabs, spaced to engage at least one of the tabs and a canister in communication with the second channel via a port, and configured to store and deliver a detergent to the second channel when water is flowing through the second channel.
US09643195B2 Handheld soap dispensing scrubbing shower sprayer
A handheld shower sprayer includes a spray head having a sprayer array and a turbine coupled to a brush, the spray head in communication with a first water line and second water line. The first water line directs the water supply around the turbine, while the second water line drives the turbine with the water supply before it exits the sprayer array. A diverter valve between the second water line and a soap reservoir allows a user to select the second water line and open the diverter valve, diverting some of the water supply against the soap reservoir, and urging the soap into the spray head while the brush moves.
US09643190B2 Safety shredder with bin-full device and time delay
A mechanical bin-full device for a paper shredder with a pressing plate, a contact switch, and a touching part. The pressing plate is installed at an outside portion of the shredder mechanical parts under the lower housing. One end of the pressing plate is pivots on the lower housing and the other end is free. The contact switch is fixed on the lower housing and a contact point is provided on the contact switch. The touching part is provided on the pressing plate, away from the mechanical parts. The lower housing has a through-hole under the contact point of the contact switch enabling the touching part to contact the contact point. The waste paper drives the pressing plate to turn around the joint between it and the lower housing, making the touching part touch the contact point of the contact switch and making the shredder power off.
US09643186B1 Breath analysis system, device and method employing nanoparticle-based sensor
According to one aspect of the invention, the apparatus comprises a fluid collecting device configured to receive a sample of breath; a conditioning device coupled to the fluid collecting device and configured to receive the sample of breath and condition the sample with respect to at least one of temperature, flow rate, pressure, humidity, and concentration; and a sensing device coupled to the conditioning device and configured to receive the conditioned sample, wherein the sensing device includes a nanoparticle-based sensor and further whereby the analyte interacts with the sensing device to cause a change that is sensed by the sensing device and wherein the change comprises information useful in characterizing the analyte. Preferably, the apparatus is hand-held and characterizing the analyte is useful for health monitoring.
US09643172B2 Metal loaded catalyst and preparation method thereof
A metal loaded catalyst comprises a support and main active metal components and optional auxiliary active metal components, wherein the main active metal components are elementary substances and obtained by ionizing radiation reducing precursors of main active metal components. The catalyst can be widely used in the catalytic reactions of petrochemistry industry with high activity and selectivity. The catalyst can be used directly without being reduced preliminarily by hydrogen.
US09643168B2 Metal entrapped compounds
The present invention provides a composite comprising at least one hydrophobic organic compound and a matrix of at least one metal; wherein said at least one hydrophobic compound is entrapped within said matrix, compositions comprising at least one composite and methods of its preparation.
US09643165B2 Doped-carbon composites, synthesizing methods and applications of the same
A method of synthesizing a doped carbon composite includes preparing a solution having a carbon source material and a heteroatom containing additive, evaporating the solution to yield a plurality of powders, and subjecting the plurality of powders to a heat treatment for a duration of time effective to produce the doped carbon composite.
US09643163B2 Heterogeneous catalyst for transesterification and method of preparing same
A transesterification catalyst that is heterogeneous and a method for preparing said transesterification catalyst are provided. The catalyst can be used in a variety of transesterification reactor configurations including CSTR (continuous stirred tank reactors), ebullated (or ebullating) beds or any other fluidized bed reactors, and PFR (plug flow, fixed bed reactors). The catalyst can be used for manufacturing commercial grade biodiesel, biolubricants and glycerin.
US09643162B2 Activated base metal catalysts
Nitro-compounds are hydrogenated with an activated Ni catalyst whose Ni/Al alloy also contained one or more elements from the list of Cu, Ag and Au prior to activation. In combination with the Group IB elements mentioned above, this catalyst can also be doped with other elements via their addition to the Ni/Al alloy prior to activation and/or they can be adsorbed onto the surface of the catalyst either during or after the activation of the alloy. The suitable doping elements for the alloy prior to activation in combination with the group IB elements mentioned above are one or more of the elements from the list of Mg, Ti, Ce, Cr, V, Mo, W, Mn, Re, Fe, Co, Tr, Ru, Rh, Pd, Pt and Bi. The suitable doping elements that may be adsorbed onto the surface of the catalyst that was previously doped in the alloy prior to activation with the group IB elements mentioned above are one or more elements from the list Mg, Ca, Ba, Ti, Ce, V, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Re, Fe, Ru, Co, Rh, Ir, Pd, Pt, Ni, Cu, Ag, Au and Bi.
US09643143B2 Method and apparatus for variation of flow to erode solid chemistry
A method and apparatus for obtaining a product chemistry from a product and a fluid is provided. A product is housed within a dispenser. A fluid is introduced through a manifold diffuse member having a plurality of ports. A cover is positioned adjacent the manifold diffuse member and includes a plurality of ports. The cover is able to be adjusted, for example, by rotating the cover, to align and un-align the manifold diffuse ports and the cover ports. This adjustment controls the flow characteristics of the fluid through the manifold diffuse member and cover to control the characteristics of the fluid in contact with the product. The adjustment of the cover to control the flow will provide a generally consistent concentration and erosion rate based upon known relationships between a characteristic of the fluid and the flow of the fluid in relation to the product.
US09643141B2 Shakeable container with agitator
A hand-held shake-able container that includes an agitator connected to a straw that is used for the mixing of powder and liquid, or differing viscosity liquids.
US09643137B2 Venturi device and method
An improved venturi device and method for facilitating the mixture of fluid substances, such as wine and air. The device may be combined with a dispensing valve to further promote functionality. The improved venturi device is especially effective in drawing a second fluid into the primary flow of a first fluid, and when combined with a dispensing valve it obviates the need for a venturi independent from a valve to accomplish mixing at low flows and low liquid head pressure.
US09643134B1 Proportionate automated blending system for aqueous mixtures
A proportionate automated blending system for aqueous mixtures has a plurality of liquid additive control modules which each provide a desired amount of additive to a dedicated mixing injector to blend each additive with water to provide a precise mixture of additive and water. The system has the capability, in between blending cycles, of purging the components of the additive control modules with air and water to displace any residue additive which may remain in the control module. The system is controlled by a controller which controls an actuated control valve to achieve the desired flow rate of liquid additive to acquire the desired proportion of liquid additive to water.
US09643131B2 Hydrophilic porous polytetrafluoroethylene membrane (I)
Disclosed are hydrophilic porous PTFE membranes comprising PTFE and an amphiphilic copolymer, for example, a copolymer of the formula: wherein m and n are as described herein. Also disclosed are a method of preparing hydrophilic porous PTFE membranes and a method of filtering fluids through such membranes.
US09643128B2 Thin film composite membrane derived from tetra-functional acyl halide monomer
A method for making a composite polyamide membrane including a porous support and a thin film polyamide layer, wherein the method includes the step of applying a polyfunctional amine monomer and a tetraacyl acyl halide monomer represented by Formula (I) to a surface of the porous support and interfacially polymerizing the monomers to form a thin film polyamide layer; wherein A is selected from: oxygen (—O—); carbon (—C—); silicon (—Si—); each of which may be unsubstituted or substituted, e.g. with alkyl groups of 1-4 carbon atoms; or a carbonyl group (—C(O)—), X is the same or different and is selected from a halogen, and Y is selected from halogen and hydroxide.
US09643125B2 Emissions reduction for CO2 capture
Systems and processes for reducing carbon capture emissions are described. The process involves introducing a radical species into a decarbonized combustion gas. The radical species react with residual amines or unwanted compounds in the decarbonized combustion gas, thus reducing the concentration of residual amines or unwanted compounds in the exhaust gas. The system includes a carbon capture absorber with non-thermal plasma generator configured to provide radical species reducing the concentration of residual amines or unwanted compounds in the exhaust combustion gas.
US09643121B2 Rotary adsorbent dryers for compressed gas
A rotary adsorbent dryer is provided which includes a stationary outer housing having spaced stationary end walls, and a rotor mounted for rotation within the outer housing. A plurality of compressed gas passages pass through the end walls to provide compressed gas flow to or from a respective substantially open end of the rotor. A drive arrangement is provided which is cooperable with an outer circumferential region of the rotor so that it is not necessary to provide a drive shaft which extends axially through desiccant material within the rotor.
US09643113B2 Drain cover
A drain cover includes a base portion including an outer rim and defining a collection area. The drain cover also includes a central portion coupled to the base portion and extending upward from the base portion, wherein the collection area tapers from the central portion toward the outer rim, and wherein the collection area is vertically lower adjacent the central portion relative to an outer periphery of the collection area.
US09643108B2 Sedimentation device for separating a material mix and method for removing sediment from a sedimentation device
A sedimentation device for separating a material mix, preferably plastic flakes, including a sedimentation basin configured to receive the material mix and a liquid, for example water; an inlet configured to introduce the material mix and/or the liquid into the sedimentation basin; an outlet configured to remove sediment from the sedimentation basin; at least one stilling plate within the sedimentation basin configured as an ultrasonic oscillating element. The invention moreover relates to a method for removing sediment from a sedimentation device.
US09643107B2 Method and system to separate solids from liquids
A system to separate solids from liquids is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the system includes a series of alternating baffles disposed along a length of a tank, where the series of alternating baffles define a vertical tortuous flow path of the fluid from a first end of the tank to a second end of the tank to cause solids to settle out of the fluid. The alternating baffles each have a sloped planar surface disposed between a lower horizontal planar surface and an upper horizontal planar surface to cause at least one eddy in a vertical plane as the fluid flows through the tank. The system may also include a series of tanks in fluid communication with the at least one tank and secured side by side, where the solids progressively settle out from the fluid in stages as the fluid passes from one tank to another in series.
US09643100B2 Magnetic toy apparatuses and methods
A magnetic toy apparatus and method, an embodiment including a plurality of bodies, at least one of which is rod-shaped, the bodies each having voids adjacent to its corners or ends, a plurality of magnets each disposed in one of the voids so as to be freely rotatable to facilitate connecting the bodies to each other by magnetic force.
US09643092B2 Apparatus and method for simulated gameplay based on a geospatial position
A device includes circuitry configured to receive, from a position sensor, a geospatial position of the device. The circuitry is configured to receive, from a memory, image data corresponding to one or more golf courses, wherein the image data is received when the circuitry determines that the geospatial position of the device corresponds to a current golf course, of the at least one golf courses. The circuitry is configured to control a display such that the image data corresponding to the current golf course is output on the display. The circuitry is configured to receive a simulated shot input representing a simulated golf stroke taken at the geospatial location of the device. The circuitry is configured to calculate a simulated shot trajectory based on the simulated shot input. The circuitry is configured to control the display to output a result of the simulated golf stroke.
US09643086B2 Speed-dependent suggested driving lines
In a video game or simulator, suggested speed indicators are computed along a suggested driving line on a path (e.g., a race track) and displayed in a simple, progressive, and user-friendly format. The displayed speed indicators are based on a racer's current speed and target speeds attributed to individual locations along the suggested driving line on the path. The speed indicators provide a dynamic indication of where and how the player should slow down or speed up relative to their current speed as their racer travels along the path. The speed indicators are displayed (e.g., using color to represent different magnitudes of suggested acceleration and deceleration) along the suggested driving line in front of the racer so that the player can anticipate braking and acceleration actions as the path and the racer's speed change.
US09643079B2 Modified chess game with additional game pieces
A chess-like game having pieces and rules similar to conventional chess but which includes a new piece having powers and limitations not present in conventional chess pieces.
US09643064B2 Golf club head or other ball striking device having impact-influencing body features
A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a face with a striking surface configured for striking a ball, a channel extending across a portion of the sole, wherein the channel is recessed from adjacent surfaces of the sole and/or a void defined on the sole of the body. The channel has width defined in a front to rear direction and a depth of recession from the adjacent surfaces of the sole at a vertical plane passing through the face center, wherein a ratio of the width to the depth is approximately 3.5:1 to 4.5:1.
US09643062B1 Golf ball incorporating at least three adjacent ionomeric and/or HNP-based layers having multiple related property gradients there between
Golf ball having at least three layers comprising an ionomeric and/or HNP composition, wherein for each two adjacent layers there is a relationship between a ratio of the volumes of the two adjacent layers and a ratio of the percent (%) neutralizations of those two layers such that the volumes and % neutralizations of all layers are interrelated and interdependent to produce unique and desirable playing characteristics. In one embodiment, a golf ball of the invention has T layers, wherein T≧3 and each of the T layers has a different volume “V” and comprises an ionomeric and/or HNP composition having a different % neutralization “N”. Furthermore, each inner layer n of the T layers (n
US09643058B2 Dual cured castable hybrid polyurethane/polyurea system for use in golf balls
Compositions for golf balls that include polyurethane and polyurea linkages and that are crosslinked in the soft segments of the polymer backbone. In particular, the compositions of the invention, which are based on a polyurethane and/or polyurea prepolymers, have improved crosslink density from the crosslinking between the soft, unsaturated segments of the polymer backbone. The curative blend includes at least one isocyanate-reactive component and a free radical initiator.
US09643048B1 Resistance breathing device
A resistance breathing device includes a face mask having a perimeter and an aperture extending therethrough, and being adapted to overlay a user's mouth and nose such that the perimeter forms an air-tight seal with the user's face. An insert is disposed within the aperture of the face mask and has an inlet aperture extending therethrough. An adjustment slide is positioned adjacent the insert, has an inlet aperture extending therethrough, and is movable between a first position in which a first portion of the inlet aperture overlaps the inlet aperture of the insert and a second position in which a larger second portion of the inlet aperture overlaps the inlet aperture of the insert. An adjustment wheel is attached to the insert and is movable rotatably between first and second positions to cause the adjustment slide to move between its first and second positions.
US09643041B2 Apparatus system and method for providing adjustable cranks in an exercise device
A crank-driven exercise device (100). The crank-driven exercise device (100) includes a frame (102), a spindle (202) rotatably connected to the frame (102), a crank arm (104) connected to the spindle (202), and a user input (208) connected to the crank arm (104) configured to receive a force from a user. In some embodiments, the crank arm (104) includes a proximal section (204) and a distal section (206). The proximal section (204) may be connected to the spindle (202) at a spindle interface (302), the distal section (206) may be rotatably connected to the user input (208) at a user input interface (306), and the distal section (206) may be selectively fastenable and selectively rotatable relative to the proximal section (204) at a crank interface (304).
US09643040B1 Modular endurance conditioning tank system and method
A modular endurance conditioning tank system for multi-activity strength and endurance training, over a plurality of surfaces and terrain, that reduces the risk of athlete injury. The modular endurance conditioning tank assembly is useful for manually-maneuvering a steel chassis/frame assembly while applying varying amounts of weights and resistance for athletic strength and endurance conditioning. The modular endurance conditioning tank assembly may include a steel chassis/frame assembly, at least one wheeled continuous-track system, at least one steel shaft, a T-shaped handle, at least one hand-hold receiver, a barbell-weight plate receptacle, and a complementary strap, harness, and alternatively user-worn apparel. The steel chassis/frame assembly may have at least one wheeled continuous-track system and the at least one wheeled continuous-track system may further have a left-track assembly, a right-track assembly, and a double wheel disc brake system. Further, the double wheel disc brake system may include a resistance adjusting knob.
US09643030B2 High-intensity focused ultrasound thermal ablation apparatus having integrated temperature estimation and elastography for thermal lesion determination and the method thereof
The invention disclosed a high-intensity focused ultrasound thermal ablation apparatus having integrated temperature estimation and elastography for thermal lesion determination and the method thereof, using the different power to burn by the same focused ultrasound transducer, and then using the apparatus to measure the temperature and elasticity estimating by the relevant analysis method.
US09643025B2 Multi-primary transformer charging circuits for implantable medical devices
An implantable medical device includes a low-power circuit and a multi-cell power source. The cells of the power source are coupled to a transformer in a parallel configuration. The transformer includes multiple secondary windings and each of the windings is coupled to a capacitor that stores energy for delivery of a therapy to a patient. In accordance with embodiments of this disclosure, the low power circuit is configured to control simultaneous delivery of energy from each of the cells to a plurality of capacitors through the transformer.
US09643021B2 Electrical feedthrough assembly
A device includes a hermetically sealed case with electronic circuitry housed within. One surface of the hermetically sealed case includes a metallic plate and a co-fired ceramic electrical feedthrough with a number of vias. The co-fired ceramic electrical feedthrough is hermetically joined to the metallic plate and a hybrid circuit is connected to the feedthrough.
US09643014B2 System and method for pacing parameter optimization using heart sounds
A medical device system and associated method predict a patient response to a cardiac therapy. The system includes for delivering cardiac pacing pulses to a patient's heart coupled to a cardiac sensing module and a cardiac pacing module for generating cardiac pacing pulses and controlling delivery of the pacing pulses at multiple pace parameter settings. An acoustical sensor obtains heart sound signals. A processor is enabled to receive the heart sound signals, derive a plurality of heart sound signal parameters from the heart sound signals, and determine a trend of each of the plurality of heart sound signal parameters with respect to the plurality of pace parameter settings. An external display is configured to present the trend of at least one heart sound parameter with respect to the plurality of pace parameter settings.
US09643013B2 Apparatus and methods of adjusting atrioventricular pacing delay intervals in a rate adaptive pacemaker
Provided herewith are methods and apparatus for optimizing an atrioventricular (AV) pacing delay interval. One manner described involves dynamically programming an AV interval in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device having a rate-adaptive AV (RAAV) feature in such a way that not less than a minimum AV interval is maintained. That is, the AV interval is not allowed to be reduced so much that the P-wave is truncated by the QRS complex. In this form of the invention, the AV interval is reduced by one millisecond per one bpm increase in heart rate (and vice versa for reducing heart rate) but maintained at a value calculated from the end of the P-wave (PWend) and the beginning of the QRS complex (QRSbeg) or delivery of a ventricular pacing stimulus or to the end of the end of the QRS complex (QRSend).
US09643011B2 Implantable neurostimulator-implemented method for managing tachyarrhythmic risk during sleep through vagus nerve stimulation
A patient suffering from congestive heart failure is at increased risk of cardiac arrhythmogenesis during sleep, particularly if experiencing central sleep apnea as a co-morbidity. Low intensity peripheral neurostimulation therapies that target imbalance of the autonomic nervous system have been shown to improve clinical outcomes. Thus, bi-directional autonomic regulation therapy is delivered to the cervical vagus nerve at an intensity that is insufficient to elicit pathological or acute physiological side effects and without the requirement of an enabling physiological feature or triggering physiological marker. The patient's physiology is monitored to identify periods of sleep. In one embodiment, upon sensing a condition indicative of tachyarrhythmia following a period of bradycardia, as naturally occurs during sleep, an enhanced “boost” dose of bi-directional neural stimulation intended to “break” the tachyarrhythmic condition is delivered. In a further embodiment, the boost dose is delivered upon sensing a physiological pattern indicative of Cheyne-Stokes respiration.
US09643000B2 Automated ultrasound mediated delivery
Bubble presence within a region is monitored to determine if a predetermined condition is met such as whether the presence is of sufficient magnitude, the bubbles being subject to energizing (240). In some embodiments, the energizing only occurs when time- wise preceded by the determination (S508, S510). The determining can include measuring a grayscale value (104), or assessing the energy carried by a frequency component of the echo signal, in the region in real time. The energizing may occur region-by-region, automatically and without need for user intervention, in a treatment pass (S428) over the regions. The regions (232) in the pass might be subject to respective instances of the energizing without intervening monitoring, or, in another embodiment, to both the determining and the responsive energizing. The determining can be subject to, automatically and without need for user intervention, interruption (S408) and concurrent switching to a next region.
US09642992B2 Stretch valve balloon catheter and methods for producing and using same
A method for manufacturing a safety catheter includes a flexible, multi-lumen shaft having a drain lumen draining fluid adjacent a distal tip of the shaft out a proximal drain end of the shaft and an inflation lumen. A hollow balloon portion has an inflation port fluidically connecting the inflation lumen to the balloon interior to inflate the balloon outwardly larger than a diameter of the shaft. The drain lumen is fluidically connected to the balloon interior by a drainage port. A hollow stretch valve in the drain lumen prevents fluid from passing through the drainage port in a steady state and permits fluid to pass therethrough in a stretched state when the shaft is stretched. Distal of a proximal end of the stretch valve, the shaft has a stretching extent that is relatively more stretchable than at least a portion of the shaft that is proximal of the stretching extent.
US09642985B2 Medical catheter with deflection pull ring and distal tip attachment apparatus
A medical catheter includes a deflectable and compressible catheter shaft; a pull ring near a distal end of the catheter shaft; a distal tip that includes a tip element and a mounting shaft; and an attachment apparatus for securely attaching the distal tip to the catheter shaft, the attachment apparatus including a compression ring which compresses the catheter shaft and the mounting shaft together. The compression ring can be located around the catheter shaft to compress the catheter shaft against an outer surface of the mounting shaft, or within the catheter shaft to compress the catheter shaft outwardly against an inner surface of the mounting shaft. The catheter can be a non-irrigated ablation catheter, with the tip element being a tip electrode, and it can be an irrigated ablation catheter, with the distal tip including a fluid manifold.
US09642984B2 Sheath device for inserting a catheter
In a sheath device for inserting a catheter into a patient's body, comprising a first sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein when used as intended the distal end of the first sheath is provided for arrangement in the patient's body and the proximal end of the first sheath is provided for arrangement outside the patient's body, and wherein the first sheath comprises a tubular section and a sheath housing, which is disposed at the proximal end of the section and comprises a receiving channel for a catheter, according to the invention the tubular section is detachably held in a clamping element of the sheath housing in a non-positive manner so as to be able to easily shorten the tubular section.
US09642982B2 Modular catheter assembly
A modular catheter assembly includes a holder, having a proximal end and a distal end. An electrode sheath carrier is mounted on the distal end of the holder. A shape-imparting element carrier is removably mountable to an end of the holder and is accessible externally of the holder with at least the shape-imparting element carrier being replaceably mounted to the holder.
US09642981B2 Systems and methods of preparing a controlled mixture for hyperthermal treatment
An apparatus for preparing a mixture suitable for a hyperthermal inhalational treatment of an upper portion of respiratory tract is disclosed. The apparatus includes a vertical wall defining an interior compartment, wherein a mixture of mist and vapors of an inhalant is formed. A preferably added module for a hyperthermal inhalational treatment combined with administration of pharmaceuticals and/or saline is disclosed as well.
US09642979B2 Fluted heater wire
A heater wire for removing condensation from a respiratory gas conduit is provided. The heater wire includes at least one groove disposed thereon. The heater wire is positioned in a respiratory gas conduit. The groove may wick up water from a condensation region within the respiratory gas conduit and transport the wicked up water from the condensation region to a re-evaporation region. The wicked up water may be evaporated by a hot surface of the wire.
US09642978B2 Mask system
Mask system includes frame, cushion, cushion clip, swivel elbow, headgear and/or headgear clips configured for use in a clinical or hospital environment. One or more components of the mask system configured to promote single patient use, for example, by providing an age indicator and/or preventing disassembly and/or cleaning.
US09642961B2 Renal failure therapy machines and methods including convective and diffusive clearance
A renal failure therapy machine includes a blood cleaning filter, a sorbent device configured to regenerate used therapy fluid from the blood cleaning filter, a therapy fluid pump configured to pump regenerated therapy fluid from the sorbent device back to the blood cleaning filter, and a flow restrictor in fluid communication with the blood cleaning filter, the therapy fluid pump and the sorbent device, the flow restrictor configured to cause regenerated therapy fluid pumped by the therapy fluid pump from the sorbent device to the blood cleaning filter to be pressurized so that a first amount of the regenerated therapy fluid performs convective clearance and a second amount of the regenerated therapy fluid performs diffusive clearance.
US09642957B2 Diastolic recoil method and device for treatment of cardiac pathologies
The present invention provides methods and direct cardiac contact device to improve the diastole phase and the systolic phase of a heart and includes a biocompatible film pneumatic locked to the heart to aid in heart compression and relaxation.
US09642950B2 Apparatus for topical negative pressure therapy
Apparatus and a method for the provision of topical negative pressure therapy to a wound site are described, the apparatus comprising: vacuum generating means for generating a negative pressure at said wound site said vacuum generating means being operably connected to a dressing at said wound site by aspiration conduit means; pressure sensing conduit means in fluid communication with said aspiration conduit means at a junction adjacent said dressing; first pressure sensing means between said junction and said vacuum generating means; second pressure sensing means operably associated with said pressure sensing conduit means; diagnostic means in communication with said first and second pressure sensing means; and control means in communication with said diagnostic means for controlling pressure in said aspiration and said pressure sensing conduit means.
US09642940B2 3-dimensional parylene scaffold cage
Thin parylene C membranes having smooth front sides and ultrathin regions (e.g., 0.01 μm to 5 μm thick) interspersed with thicker regions are disclosed. The back sides of the membranes can be rough compared with the smooth front sides. The membranes can be used in vitro to grow monolayers of cells in a laboratory or in vivo as surgically implantable growth layers, such as to replace the Bruch's membrane in the eye. The application further provides an implantable cage-like apparatus for culturing cells comprising the parylene membrane.
US09642939B2 Macroporous and highly resorbable apatitic calcium-phosphate cement
The present invention is directed to a novel cement powder comprising an organic component consisting of one or more biocompatible and bioresorbable polymers and an inorganic component consisting of one or more calcium phosphate compounds. The invention also relates to the apatitic CPC resulting from the mixing of said cement powder with a liquid phase and setting.
US09642934B2 Bone regeneration material kit, paste-like bone regeneration material, bone regeneration material, and bone bonding material
The present invention aims to provide a bone regeneration material kit, a paste-like bone regeneration material, a bone regeneration material, and a bone bonding material, which contain particles including a bioabsorbable polymer; and can fill a bone defect or damage and secure the mechanical strength of the bone in the short term and can promote regeneration of the patient's own bone in the long term. In addition, they can exhibit anti-washout properties after filling even when they are in contact with water such as blood or biological fluids. The present invention relates to a bone regeneration material kit comprising: a particle comprising a calcium salt and having an inositol phosphate or salt thereof adsorbed on the surface; a particle comprising a bioabsorbable polymer; and an aqueous medium.
US09642929B2 Carboxylmethyl cellulose foam for hemostasis and wound treatment, and method for preparing same
The present invention relates to a highly liquid absorbent and hardly water-soluble carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) foam, which absorbs body fluid or water, expands in volume when absorbing liquid, does not gelate, and maintains shape. The hardly water-soluble CMC foam prepared according to the preparation method of the present invention has remarkably superior liquid absorption property, shows large volume expansibility when absorbing liquid, does not gelate, and maintains shape. Therefore, a remarkably improved ability is shown when used as a hemostatic agent and a wound dressing. In addition, when the CMC foam is treated with a CMC powder dispersing liquid, the surface characteristics change, thereby preventing adhesion with the skin and improving liquid retention capability. Thus, it is possible to control the liquid absorption property thereof to meet the desired purpose.
US09642927B2 Unscented and low scented malodor control compositions and methods thereof
Unscented and low scented malodor control compositions are provided. The malodor control compositions are suitable for a variety of applications, including use on plastic films or in fabric and air freshening products.
US09642921B2 Cancer combination therapy and recombinant vectors
This disclosure relates to a combination therapy of chemotherapeutics and/or radiosensitizing agents with a replication competent viral vectors for treating cell proliferative disorders and chemotherapeutic treatments. The disclosure further relates to the use of such replication competent viral vectors for delivery and expression of a heterologous nucleic acid in normal and diseased tissues and methods and compositions that facilitate such delivery and expression to tissues in vivo and in vitro. The disclosure further relates to replication competent retroviral vectors for these uses and in conjunction with methods and compositions that facilitate in vivo therapeutics.
US09642916B2 Porphyrin modified telodendrimers
The present invention provides amphiphilic telodendrimers that aggregate to form nanocarriers characterized by a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic exterior. The nanocarrier core may include amphiphilic functionality such as cholic acid or cholic acid derivatives, and the exterior may include branched or linear poly(ethylene glycol) segments. Nanocarrier cargo such as hydrophobic drugs and other materials may be sequester in the core via non-covalent means or may be covalently bound to the telodendrimer building blocks. Telodendrimer structure may be tailored to alter loading properties, interactions with materials such as biological membranes, and other characteristics.
US09642911B2 Pharmaceutical dosage forms comprising valganciclovir hydrochloride
The present invention provides novel solid pharmaceutical dosage forms for oral administration, after being constituted in water. The solid dosage forms comprise a therapeutically effective amount of valganciclovir hydrochloride and a non-hygroscopic organic acid present in an amount sufficient to stabilize the valganciclovir hydrochloride in a predetermined amount of water. The present invention also provides novel liquid pharmaceutical dosage forms for oral administration after constituting the solid pharmaceutical dosage form with water. A non-hygroscopic bulking agent may optionally be included in the above dosage form. These novel pharmaceutical dosage forms are useful in the treatment or control of viruses such as herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus. The present invention also provides a method for treating these diseases employing the solid and liquid pharmaceutical dosage forms and a method for preparing these pharmaceutical dosage forms.
US09642906B2 Generation of HPV-specific T-cells
Embodiments of the disclosure concern methods and compositions for immunotherapy for human papillomavirus infection and diseases associated therewith. In specific embodiments, methods concern production of immune cells that target one or more antigens of HPV16 and/or HPV18, including methods with stimulation steps that employ IL-7 and IL-15, but not IL-6 and/or IL-12. Other specific embodiments utilize stimulations in the presence of certain cells, such as costimulatory cells and certain antigen presenting cells.
US09642905B2 Vaccine to protect a ruminant against pneumonia caused by mannheimia haemolytica
The present invention pertains to a vaccine for administration to the upper respiratory tract of a ruminant to protect said ruminant against pneumonia caused by Mannheimia haemolytica, the vaccine comprising in combination live attenuated Mannheimia haemolytica bacteria, live attenuated parainfluenza-3 virus and live attenuated bovine respiratory syncytial virus, wherein the vaccine is for administration to the upper respiratory tract of the ruminant via intranasal atomization of the vaccine.
US09642903B2 Antigen specific multi epitope-based anti-infective vaccines
Provided are peptide vaccines including the signal peptide domain of selected target antigens of intracellular pathogens. The peptide vaccines of the invention contain multiple class II and class I-restricted epitopes and are recognized and presented by the majority of the vaccinated human population. Further provided, in particular, are anti tuberculosis vaccines. Also further provided are compositions including the vaccines as well as their use to treat or prevent infection.
US09642900B2 CTL inducer composition
The present invention provides a CTL inducer composition which comprises one or more peptides selected from the group consisting of the peptides of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 27 in the Sequence Listing, and can be used for the treatment or prevention of cancer or a hepatitis C virus-related disease in two or more patient groups selected from the group consisting of an HLA-A2 positive patient group, an HLA-A24 positive patient group, an HLA-A26 positive patient group, and an HLA-A3 supertype positive patient group.
US09642898B2 Use of serine protease inhibitors in the treatment of neutropenia
The invention relates to therapeutic compounds which are inhibitors of serine proteases, to pharmaceutical compositions thereof and to their use in the treatment of the human or animal body. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for the treatment of neutropenia comprising the administration to a subject in need thereof of a therapeutically effective amount of a serine protease inhibitor. The invention also comprises prevention of apoptosis of myeloid cells (1) during and after transfection of bone marrow cells performed for gene therapy, (2) during blood stem cell mobilization performed for reconstitution of hematopoiesis and (3) during infusion of cells of the myeloid lineage for reconstitution of hematopoiesis for gene therapy or for treatment of neutropenia by infusion of neutrophils.
US09642895B2 Peptides for enhancing transdermal delivery
Skin penetration enhancers comprising peptides are disclosed. Compositions comprising the skin penetration enhancers are also provided. The compositions further comprise an active agent, such as a pharmaceutically active agent, a vaccine, a cosmetic agent, and a. nutritional supplement. Methods of transdermal ly delivering a pharmaceutically active agent, a vaccine, a cosmetic agent, or a nutritional supplement are also provided.
US09642892B2 Platelet-derived growth factor compositions and methods for the treatment of tendinopathies
Provided herein are compositions and methods for the treatment of tendinopathies, such as tenosynovitis, tendinosis or tendinitis, including Achilles tendinopathy, patellar tendinopathy, lateral epicondylitis or “tennis elbow,” medial epicondylitis or “golfer's elbow,” plantar fasciitis, and rotator cuff tendinopathy, and in particular to methods for the treatment of tendinopathies by administering compositions comprising platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF).
US09642889B2 Macrocyclic inhibitors of Flaviviridae viruses
Provided are compounds of Formula I: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof. The compounds, compositions, and methods provided are useful for the treatment of virus infections, particularly hepatitis C infections.
US09642881B2 Human-derived bacteria that induce proliferation or accumulation of regulatory T cells
Species of human-derived bacteria belonging to the Clostridia class have been shown to induce accumulation of regulatory T cells (Treg cells) in the colon and suppress immune functions. Pharmaceutical compositions containing these bacteria can be used to prevent and treat immune-mediated diseases such as autoimmune diseases.
US09642872B2 Treatment of B-cell lymphoma with microRNA
The invention relates to microRNA-34a and related microRNAs for use in the treatment of B-cell lymphoma. Likewise it relates to microRNA-34a for use in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of B-cell lymphoma, and for a method of treatment of B-cell lymphoma comprising administering microRNA-34a. These claims are based on the observation that microRNA-34a shows strong anti-proliferative effects when overexpressed in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (gDLBCL) cell lines, or when delivered intratumorally or systemically in xenograft models of DLBCL.
US09642868B2 Topical agents for the treatment of sensory discomfort in the nasal cavity
The present discovery pertains generally to the field of therapeutic compounds. More specifically the present discovery pertains to certain di-alkyl-phosphinoyl-alkanes as described herein, DIPA-1-8 and DIPA-1-9, and 2-6 and 2-7 that are collectively referred to herein as “DAPA compounds”, that are useful in the treatment of disorders (e.g., diseases) including: sensory discomfort (e.g., caused by inflammation, irritation, itch, or pain) in the nasal cavity. The applicant has found that localized delivery of DAPA compounds with a swab to the Kiesselbach's area of the human nose will relieve the discomforts of rhinitis and other nasal cavity discomforts.
US09642859B2 Use of capsazepine and analogs thereof to treat cancer
Disclosed are methods and compositions for treating cancer, particularly for reducing cancerous cell growth, for example, in solid tumors. Disclosed methods and compositions include capsazepine (CPZ) or an analog of CPZ. Compositions comprising CPZ or an analog of CPZ may be useful for simultaneously treating cancer and alleviating pain by blocking TRPV1 channels.
US09642858B2 Use of resazurin, or analogs thereof, for antibacterial therapy
A method for treating infection by bacteria in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of resazurin or a resazurin analog, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof, wherein the bacteria is selected from at least one of Francisella sp. or Neisseria sp.
US09642856B2 Treatment for pancreatic cancer
The invention is related to a method of treating a subject with pancreatic cancer with administration of a compound represented by Structural Formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US09642853B2 Stable pharmaceutical composition containing folates
The administration of leucovorin as well as other active, reduced folates is useful as an antidote to drugs which act as folic acid antagonists and in combination chemotherapy with 5-FU. The most often used calcium salts of the folates have a low solubility in water and form almost insoluble degradation products. Therefore, aqueous solutions are unstable and precipitates result. Precipitates in injectable products present an unacceptable safety risk to patients. Stable high strength pharmaceutical aqueous compositions are formed containing calcium salts, magnesium or zinc salts of the reduced folates leucovorin, (6R,S)-tetrahydrofolic acid, (6S)-tetrahydrofolic acid, 5,10-methylene-(6R,S)-tetrahydrofolate, 5,10-methylene-(6R)-tetrahydrofolate, 5-methyl-(6R,S)-tetrahydrofolate or 5-methyl-(6S)-tetrahydrofolate and one or more of the compounds sodium gluconate, potassium gluconate, glycerophosphate disodium salt or glycerophosphate dipotassium salt.
US09642848B2 Sublingual naloxone spray
The invention provides storage stable sublingual formulations containing naloxone, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a derivative thereof. The invention further provides methods for treating opioid dependence, opioid overdose, and congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis by administering the sublingual formulations of the present invention to a patient in need thereof.
US09642844B2 Sublingual fentanyl spray
The present invention is directed to sublingual formulations containing fentanyl, a pharmaceutically acceptable sale thereof, or derivative thereof, suitable for administration to a patient, and methods for treatment with the formulations.
US09642841B1 Snoring treatment
The present invention features compositions and methods for treatment of snoring. We describe compositions comprising an antihistamine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and one or more dietary supplements or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compositions can be administered to a subject suffering from snoring.
US09642829B2 Antifungal compound and uses thereof
Disclosed herein is a novel antifungal compound, derivatives that are used to treat fungal infections. In a specific embodiment, the compound is a small molecule. In a specific embodiment, the compound described herein inhibits yeast to hypha transition under robust hyphal inducing conditions at lower concentration of the molecule. Also disclosed is a composition comprising the antifungal compound. In a specific embodiment, the composition is a pharmaceutical composition. Also disclosed is a method of treating and/or preventing fungal infection using the disclosed compound. The disclosed compound exhibits antifungal activity against wide range of fungal species at slightly higher concentrations. Antifungal compound disclosed herein is used as anti-biofilm agent against fungal infections.
US09642828B2 Parenteral dosage form of amiodarone
The present invention relates to a stable, sterile, ready to administer parenteral dosage form of amiodarone or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt. Particularly, the present invention provides a stable, sterile, ready to administer parenteral dosage form of amiodarone comprising an aqueous solution comprising amiodarone or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt, an acid, and a polyol, wherein the pH of the solution is in the range of about 2.0 to 4.0, wherein the solution is filled in a plastic container and wherein the solution is free of a solubilizer.
US09642812B2 Dosator apparatus for filling a capsule with dry powder
The invention relates to a dosator which comprises a tapered elongate cavity; a stationary plunger disposed within the cavity; a removable mesh screen disposed between the stationary plunger and the bottom of the dosator; a dosator chamber defined between the mesh screen and the bottom of the dosator for receiving powder from a powder source and holding the powder until it is expelled into the capsule; at least one vacuum pump operably linked to the dosator and capable of drawing dry powder into the dosator chamber from a powder source, compacting the powder into a slug of powder having a predetermined bulk density; and at least one source of positive pressure operably linked to the dosator and capable of providing positive pressure to expel the powder slug from the dosator and methods of filling capsules.
US09642807B2 Method for producing starch granules, and orally disinitegrating tablet
A method for producing starch granules suitable as an excipient for an orally disintegrating tablet. Fluidized bed granulation is performed by spraying a starch paste in small amounts while a β-starch is being fluidized using an air-fluidized bed. Subsequently, fluidized bed drying is performed at a temperature equal to or higher than the gelatinization temperature of the β-starch. This yields starch granules having a high degree of gelatinization in comparison with the amount of α-starch adhered to the β-starch by the spraying of the starch paste. These starch granules alone impart satisfactory oral disintegratability and breaking strength to the tablet. Accordingly, when used as an excipient during tableting of orally disintegrating tablets, other auxiliary excipients such as saccharides or crystalline cellulose need not be added.
US09642805B2 Aptamer-loaded, biocompatible nanoconstructs for nuclear-targeted cancer therapy
Disclosed herein is a nanoconstruct comprising an aptamer and a gold nanostar. The nanoconstruct can be used in a method of inducing changes to a nuclear phenotype of a cell comprising transporting the nanoconstruct to a nucleus of a cell, and releasing the aptamer from a surface of the gold nanostar into the nucleus of the cell to afford deformations or invaginations in the nuclear membrane, thereby inducing changes to the nuclear phenotype. The method can be used to treat certain hyperproliferative disorders such as cancer.
US09642804B2 Cationic lipids with various head groups for oligonucleotide delivery
The instant invention provides for novel cationic lipids that can be used in combination with other lipid components such as cholesterol and PEG-lipids to form lipid nanoparticles with siRNA, to facilitate the cellular uptake and endosomal escape, and to knockdown target mRNA both in vitro and in vivo.
US09642802B2 Lipid bilayer carrier for drugs or imaging agents
Disclosed are carriers for drugs and/or MR imaging agents having a lipid bilayer shell comprising a phospholipid having two terminal alkyl chains, one being a short chain having a chain length of at most seven carbon atoms, the other being a long chain having a chain length of at least fifteen carbon atoms. The mixed long/short chain phospholipids serve to tune the release properties of the carrier. Preferred phospholipids are phosphatidylcholines.
US09642796B2 Pharmaceutical dosage form for oral administration of a bcl 2 family inhibitor
The invention relates to a pharmaceutical dosage form which comprises a solid dispersion product comprising N-(4-(4-((2-(4-chlorophenyl)-5,5-dimethyl-1-cyclohex-1-en-1-yl)methyl)piperazin-1-yl)benzoyl)-4-(((1R)-3-(morpholin-4-yl)-1-((phenylsulfanyl)methyl)propyl)amino)-3-((trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl)benzenesulfonamide or a salt, hydrate or solvate thereof, at least one pharmaceutically acceptable polymer, and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable solubilizer. The invention is further directed to processes for preparing the pharmaceutical dosage form and to use of the dosage form for treating proliferative disorders.
US09642789B2 Methods for generating new hair follicles, treating baldness, and hair removal
The present invention provides methods of treating baldness in a subject and generating new hair follicles, comprising epidermal disruption and administration of a compound that promotes a differentiation of an uncommitted epidermal cell into a hair follicle cell. The present invention also provides methods for hair removal and inducing hair pigmentation.
US09642786B2 Use of a combination of at least one polyunsaturated fatty acid and at least one carotenoid, for improving the quality of the nails
The invention relates to the oral cosmetic use of a combination of active agents comprising at least one polyunsaturated fatty acid and at least one carotenoid, for improving the quality of the nails. More particularly, the present invention relates to the oral cosmetic use of such a combination for improving the solidity of the nails and for reducing and/or preventing their splitting.
US09642780B2 Detection and removal of carious dentin tissue
The present invention relates to a kit of parts for detection and removal of carious dentin tissue comprising: (i) one or more compounds being a hydrazine derivative, and (ii) means for chemical treatment of carious dentin tissue. Further, the invention concerns a preparation containing an active, caries-dissolving two-component liquid in the form of a first active, caries-dissolving component and a second component which reduces the aggressiveness of the active component to mucous membranes, a viscosity increasing substance and one or more compounds being a hydrazine derivative. The hydrazine derivative labels carious dentin tissue selectively and substantially irreversibly in the presence of healthy dentin tissue, which is useful in the context of caries removal.
US09642779B2 Closed loop systems and methods for optimal enteral feeding and a personalized nutrition plan
There is provided a computer-implemented method for calculating a gastric emptying rate from a stomach lumen into a small intestine of a patient, comprising: using at least one processor for executing the following during an enteral tube feeding of a stomach of the patient by a feeding mechanism: analyzing outputs of at least one stomach sensor located within the stomach for detecting a stop feeding condition; pausing the enteral tube feeding in response to a detection of the stop feeding condition; after a predefined period of time, restarting the enteral tube feeding until the stop condition is redetected by an analysis of said outputs; calculating a gastric emptying rate based on an amount of feeding content delivered during a period between the restarting and the redetection; and instructing the feeding mechanism to adapt a feeding rate of the enteral tube feeding according to the gastric emptying rate.
US09642778B1 Feeding tube holder
A feeding tube holder is provided. The feeding tube holder is attached to a squeeze clamp for attachment to a crib or chair. The holder and squeeze clamp interface is adjustable for a plurality of position changes. Feeding tubes have fastening elements to provide attachment of any type of feeding tube.
US09642773B2 Overlay for medication card
An overlay is provided for a medication card of the type having a plurality of pharmaceutical products arranged in at least one row. The overlay includes a planar body having a front surface, and a plurality of openings formed in the planar body, with locations of the plurality of openings substantially corresponding to locations of the plurality of products of the medication card. The overlay further includes instructions provided on the front surface of the body for ingesting the plurality of products of the medication card.
US09642772B2 Medical container
The present invention provides a medical container: that is configured of an upper member and a lower member; that can be molded by injection molding; that has an excellent dimensional accuracy; and in addition to these, that is capable of effectively preventing the trouble that a molten resin for joining the upper member and the lower member enters the container. The present invention is a bottomed tubular medical container 1 made of a resin and continuously configured of a neck 12, a shoulder 14, and a body 16. The medical container 1 includes an upper member 2 and a lower member 4 each having a structure obtained by vertically dividing the medical container 1, a circular recess is formed at a circular lower end face of the upper member 2 along a shape of the lower end face, and in the lower member 4, a circular projection is formed at a circular upper end face of the lower member 4 along a shape of the upper end face, the circular projection of the lower member 4 is interference-fitted to the circular recess of the upper member 2, further, a fitting portion between the circular projection and the circular recess is sealed with a molten resin 6 from an outer circumferential side of the medical container 1, and the upper member 2 and the lower member 4 are fixed with the molten resin 6.
US09642769B2 Head massager
A head massager including a housing, a power source, at least one driving wheel, at least one massage head assembly and at least one push component. The power source is fixed in an inner side of the housing, the at least one driving wheel is driven to rotate around a first rotation axis by the power source, and the at least one massage head assembly is located below the at least one driving wheel. The massage head assembly is driven to rotate around the center of the spherical hinge by the at least one push component arranged aslant, which simulates human hands' grasping and kneading operation and improves the massaging comfort degree.
US09642762B2 Method and device for operating a mobile operating table
A device for controlling an operating table is disclosed. The device has a controller that controls a traction drive device that moves the operating table. The device also has at least one control element disposed on the controller. The traction drive device moves the operating table from a stopped state to a first speed based on a first actuation of the at least one control element. The traction drive device increases the operating table speed from the first speed to a second speed based on the first actuation of the at least one control element being interrupted for a first time period that is shorter than a first interruption time period and based on a double actuation of the at least one control element.
US09642756B2 Foldable wheelchair frame including a self locking device
A foldable wheelchair frame includes two side frame components, respectively a left and a right side frame components, each mounting front and rear wheels. The side frame components being connected together for relative folding movement between an erected position and a folded position by a foldable link extending between the two side frame components. The foldable link includes at least one central strut disposed between the two side frame components and connected to each side frame component by at least two connecting arms. First left and a second left connecting arms are connected to the left side frame component, and first right and second right connecting arms are connected to the right side frame component. Each of the connecting arms being pivotally connected at one end to one of the side frames and at one other end to the central strut such that the side frame components move closer to each other and said central strut moves along a longitudinal direction when the wheelchair frame moves from its erected position to its folded position. The central strut has at least one locking element that defines at least one left abutment (26a), respectively one right abutment, against which abuts a left locking pin (27a), respectively a right locking pin, protruding from the lower or upper face of one of the first left and the second left, respectively the first right and the second right, connecting arms in a vertical direction, when the wheelchair is in its erected position.
US09642754B2 Absorbent article having acquisition layer
An absorbent article includes a liquid permeable top sheet, a liquid impermeable back sheet, an absorbent core being arranged between the top sheet and the back sheet, and an acquisition and distribution layer (ADL) of a nonwoven material being arranged between the top sheet and the absorbent core. The nonwoven material has a basis weight of 20-40 g/m2, 3-20 through holes per cm2, the holes having a diameter in CD and MD of 1-3 mm, and at least 70% by weight of the nonwoven ADL includes fibers having a fiber diameter of 12-22 μm.
US09642743B2 Methods for improving contact lens comfort
Dry eye treatment apparatus and methods are described herein which generally comprise a patch or strip affixed to the skin of the upper and/or lower eyelids to deliver heat or other forms of energy, pressure, drugs, moisture, etc. (alone or in combination) to the one or more meibomian glands contained within the underlying skin. The treatment strip or strips include one or more strips configured to adhere to an underlying region of skin in proximity to one or both eyes of a subject such that the one or more strips allow for the subject to blink naturally without restriction from the one or more patches. Moreover, the one or more strips may be configured to emit energy to the underlying region of skin and where the one or more strips are shaped to follow a location of one or more meibomian glands contained within the underlying region of skin.
US09642738B2 Ostomy bag with a compacted sheath
There is provided a disposable ostomy bag assembly (1) comprising a bag (3) for receiving bodily waste materials; a compactable sheath (2) for closing and sealing the bag (3) after use; and a flange (4) for securing the assembly to the body of a patent and provided with an orifice to enable bodily waste to be received by the bag (3). The ostomy assembly (1) solves the problem of escaping malodor and bodily waste when the patient detaches the ostomy bag from the body (face plate (5)). The compactable sheath (2) can be stretched to acquire a cylindrical sheath (2) extending from the flange (4), whereby the sheath (2) may be closed in order to seal the contents of the bag (3). Closing the sheath (2) may simply be done by tying a knot (6).
US09642737B2 Portable level sensor
A portable level sensor for a flexible bag for collecting a fluid and/or a solid, and a system and method for sensing the content level of a flexible bag using the portable level sensor. The sensor comprises a flexible resistor element with an electrical resistance that changes in dependence upon its degree of flexing, means for attaching the resistor element to an outside surface of the flexible bag and means for periodically polling the electrical resistance of the resistor element and transmitting to a receiver a signal which varies in dependence on the said electrical resistance.
US09642734B2 Anchors with biodegradable constraints
An implant includes a collapsible anchor to be deployed within a lumen and a protrusion coupled to the anchor. The protrusion, in a constrained state, extends a distance from an exterior surface of the anchor and, in an unconstrained state, extends further from the exterior surface of the anchor. Also included is a biodegradable constraint, such as a biodegradable tube or suture, configured to maintain the protrusion in the constrained state until the constraint releases. The implant may include additional biodegradable constraints, each constraint configured to maintain the protrusion in a different constrained state and to degrade over a different predetermined period after the implant has been deployed within the lumen. The protrusion may include a bi-directional barb or an open loop. The protrusion may be configured to penetrate a wall of the lumen and to allow tissue to grow about the protrusion. The implant may also include an unsupported, thin-walled sleeve coupled to the anchor and configured to extend into the lumen upon deployment of the collapsible anchor.
US09642730B2 Processes for making crush recoverable polymer scaffolds
Methods for making scaffolds for delivery via a balloon catheter are described. The scaffold, after being deployed by the balloon, provides a crush recovery of about 90% after the diameter of the scaffold has been pinched or crushed by 50%. The scaffold structure has patterns that include an asymmetric or symmetric closed cell, and links connecting such closed cells.
US09642721B2 Implants with self-deploying anchors
A spinal implant having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, and opposing anterior and posterior portions. At least one of the top surface and bottom surface has a roughened surface topography, without sharp teeth that risk damage to bone structures, adapted to grip bone through friction generated when the implant is placed between two vertebrae and to inhibit migration of the implant. At least one of the top surface and the bottom surface also includes at least one self-deploying anchor having an expulsion tab and a bone-engaging tip that causes the implant to resist expulsion once the expulsion tab is deployed.
US09642718B2 Intervertebral disc prosthesis
This prosthesis (1) includes two plates and an intermediate damping core (4) placed between both of these plates, this core (4) comprising a first shell (6) and a flexible element placed between this first shell (6) and a part for receiving the core. The first shell (6) and the first receiving part include means (18, 26) for guiding their mutual movement for bringing them closer or moving them away from each other. According to the invention, the receiving part includes a cavity intended to snugly receive the flexible element. The cavity being delimited by a first peripheral wall and by a bottom wall. The first peripheral wall having an external peripheral face; and the first shell (6) has a second peripheral wall forming an internal face. The internal face, when the first shell (6) and the receiving part are in their assembling condition, coming into close proximity to said external peripheral face and being able to slide along the latter.
US09642715B2 In-situ formed intervertebral fusion device and method
An orthopedic device for implanting between adjacent vertebrae comprising: an arcuate balloon and a hardenable material within said balloon.In some embodiments, the balloon has a footprint that substantially corresponds to a perimeter of a vertebral endplate. An inflatable device is inserted through a cannula into an intervertebral space and oriented so that, upon expansion, a natural angle between vertebrae will be at least partially restored. At least one component selected from the group consisting of a load-bearing component and an osteobiologic component is directed into the inflatable device through a fluid communication means.
US09642714B2 In-situ formed intervertebral fusion device and method
An orthopedic device for implanting between adjacent vertebrae comprising: an arcuate balloon and a hardenable material within said balloon.In some embodiments, the balloon has a footprint that substantially corresponds to a perimeter of a vertebral endplate. An inflatable device is inserted through a cannula into an intervertebral space and oriented so that, upon expansion, a natural angle between vertebrae will be at least partially restored. At least one component selected from the group consisting of a load-bearing component and an osteobiologic component is directed into the inflatable device through a fluid communication means.
US09642707B2 Tool with a pincher useful for implanting an inflatable penile cylinder
A tool for implanting an inflatable penile prosthetic cylinder includes a pincher and a plunger coupled to a handle of the tool and movable relative to the pincher. The pincher has a spine portion that is movably coupled to a distal end portion of the handle and a first jaw movably coupled to a second jaw along the spine portion of the pincher. The first jaw has a first plunger edge that is spaced a gap distance away from a second plunger edge of the second jaw. The plunger is tapered having a first width at a distal end that is not greater than the gap distance and a second width that is larger than the first width. The second width measured proximal of the distal end of the plunger.
US09642706B2 Apparatus and method for heart valve repair
A device for transcatheter gathering of tissue of a heart valve leaflet may include an elongated tube extending in a longitudinal direction and having an open distal end, a tissue securing component disposed at the distal end of the elongated tube, and a capture tool movable in the elongated tube between a retracted position and an extended position. The elongated tube may have an inner surface and a lumen extending therethrough. The tissue securing component may include a clip having a roller and a support element. The roller may be rotatable relative to the support element. The capture tool may be operable to capture tissue of the heart valve leaflet and to draw the captured tissue into the tissue securing component. The tissue securing component may be adapted to be applied to the captured tissue to hold the captured tissue in a gathered configuration.
US09642702B2 System and method for assembling a folded percutaneous valve
The invention provides a multi-component (modular) percutaneous valve device that includes a valve module having valve leaflets and a valve frame. The valve frame includes one or more, for example two, ring members and a plurality of masts. Also provided is a valve frame having specially designed pivot points at the connection between masts and first and second ring members to assist folding the valve module and minimizing delivery diameter. The valve frame may also include wire guides to facilitate combining the valve module with a support module. The masts or a ring of the valve frame may also include locking members, such as shafts for closing the valve module and securing the valve module to the support module. The support module includes corresponding locking members, such as spears that align with the shafts on the valve module for assembly and locking the valve module to the support module.
US09642681B2 Dental plaster and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed are a dental plaster and a method for manufacturing the same. The dental plaster includes a gypsum body. The gypsum body has a horseshoe shaped upper body which matches with a predetermined teeth shape.
US09642672B2 Ferrofluidic lock
A surgical instrument includes a housing and an elongated shaft extending distally therefrom. The elongated shaft includes a proximal portion, a distal portion and a flexible portion supported therebetween. The flexible portion permits pivotal movement of the distal portion of the elongated shaft and an end effector supported thereon. A locking mechanism is operatively associated with the flexible portion of the elongated shaft to selectively impede pivotal motion of the distal portion. The locking mechanism includes a fluid chamber defined within the flexible portion in which a variable viscosity fluid disposed. The variable viscosity fluid is responsive to the application of an electromagnetic field to exhibit increased rigidity in the presence of the electromagnetic field and reduced rigidity in the absence of the electromagnetic field. An electrical coil is arranged such that the electromagnetic field may be selectively induced by the delivery of electrical energy from a power source.
US09642664B2 Instrument for bending a bone fixation device
System, including apparatus and methods, for bending a bone fixation device, such as a bone plate during a surgical procedure. In some embodiments, the system may include an instrument having (a) a clamp with jaws and (b) a graspable handle portion that is manipulable while a bone plate is located between the jaws to bend the bone plate by application of pressure with the jaws at alternating positions along the bone plate. The clamp may allow the bone plate to be reoriented from an orientation for in-plane bending to an orientation for out-of-plane bending, and vice versa, while the bone plate remains between the jaws.
US09642663B2 Bone tamp and methods of use
A system comprises an inflatable bone tamp including a plurality of linearly aligned expandable bodies. The system further comprises an elongated tubular shaft extending through the plurality of linearly aligned expandable bodies. The elongated tubular shaft includes a shaft wall and an interior partition structure. The system further comprises a plurality of channels extending through the shaft, each of the channels formed by a segment of the shaft wall and the interior partition structure and each of the channels in communication with the respective one of the plurality of expandable bodies via openings in the shaft. Each of the expandable bodies is independently inflatable.
US09642653B2 Spinous process fixation device and systems
A minimally invasive spinous process fixation system includes dual rigid spinous clamps, each configured to articulate axially along a cylindrical shaft, and together configured to enclose and clamp around the adjacent or superior spinous process by means of opposing and swiveling spherical contact heads with spiked spinous contact faces. The spinous clamps are lockable when desired compression is achieved. A pedicle clamp has right and left clamp bodies for enveloping pre-existing pedicle rods. Each of the right and left clamp bodies includes upper and lower rigid metal plates supporting medial and lateral swivel cups. The upper and lower medial swivel cups engage and clamp about a connecting rod extending from the spinous clamp, and the upper and lower lateral swivel cups engage and clamp about one of the pedicle rods. A channel through the upper and lower metal plates accepts a locking screw to simultaneously tighten and fix the swivel cups in place about the connecting rod and the pedicle rod. A cross-connection between the right and left clamp bodies fixes the right and left clamp bodies together at a selected position.
US09642652B2 Variable angle bone plate with semi-constrained articulating screw
In some embodiments, a cervical plate may include an elongate plate which bridges, during use, substantially adjacent vertebrae by anchoring the plate to the vertebrae. The cervical plate may include a plurality of openings extending through the elongate plate. The cervical plate may include plurality of bone fasteners. The bone fasteners may include a head and a shaft. The shaft may be positionable, during use, in the opening such that the shaft engages, during use, at least one of the vertebrae such that the bone fasteners couple the elongate plate to the vertebrae. The cervical plate may include a securing mechanism. The securing mechanism may, when activated, inhibit removal of at least one of the bone fasteners and inhibit movement of at least the shaft of the bone fastener in a lateral direction, while allowing movement of at least the shaft of the bone fastener along a substantially sagittal plane.
US09642645B2 Tissue cutting devices and methods
A medical device may include an elongate member including a proximal end and a distal end. The medical device may also include a rotatable member at the distal end of the elongate member. The rotatable member may be rotatably coupled to the distal end of the elongate member. The rotatable member may include a longitudinal axis, and may be configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis. The rotatable member may also include a gripping element configured to engage a layer of tissue. The gripping element may be configured to selectively couple at least a portion of the layer of tissue to a surface of the rotatable member, to restrict relative movement between the portion of the layer of tissue and the surface of the rotatable member, during rotation of the rotatable member.
US09642640B2 Lithotripter with improved sterilization time
An apparatus and method are presented for a lithotripter comprising a handle, a driver resource contained within the handle, a probe housed within the handle, an extension which may be the probe, a shielding insert, or a removable passageway which extends through a central lumen of the driver resource and protects the central lumen from surgical debris when in use and as a result reduces time required to perform sterilization. Sealing means may be provided to connect the probe into the handle, including a ferrule, collet, split collet, screw connection, O-rings, or a combination thereof to further limit debris entering the central lumen of the handle. It is contemplated that the device of the present invention is capable of achieving a four minute flash cycle validation.
US09642639B2 Clot retrieval device for removing clot from a blood vessel
A clot retrieval device (9501) for removing clot from a blood vessel comprises an inner elongate body (9503) and an outer elongate body (9504) at least partially overlying the inner elongate body (9503). The device also comprises an elongate member or shaft (9502) having a proximal end which extends exterior of a patient so that a user can retrieve the stent-basket device and captured clot by retracting the shaft (9502). The outer elongate body (9504) and the inner elongate body (9503) are connected to the distal end of the shaft (9502) and are expandable relative to the shaft (9502) from a collapsed delivery configuration to an expanded deployed configuration. The outer elongate body (9504) is expandable relative to the inner elongate body (9503) to a radial extent which is greater than the radial extent of the inner body (9503) in the deployed configuration.
US09642637B1 Stone retriever for flexible endoscopes having small diameter working channels
A medical retrieval device and method used in endoscopic procedures to retrieve stones has a shaft comprising a sheath with a lumen and a drive wire slidably disposed within the lumen for operating a stone entrapping mechanism on the distal end of the retrieval device. The shaft, sheath and drive wire each have proximal, intermediate and distal portions, and each of the corresponding portions are in generally similar locations along the longitudinal length of the device. The stone entrapping mechanism is constructed of a plurality of flexible elements that are outwardly disposed to form an entrapment space and having an open and closed configuration. Configuration of the flexible elements and the entrapment space vary within the stone entrapment mechanism.
US09642631B2 Intervertebral prosthesis endplate having double dome and surgical tools for implanting same
An endplate for an intervertebral prosthesis includes a generally planar base plate, a first elevated region, or dome, within the base plate periphery, and a second elevated region, or dome, within the boundary of the first elevated region. The antero-posterior and side-to-side (medial-lateral) dimensions of the first elevated region are made to be unequal in order to provide resistance to torsional stresses, and the laterally opposite sidewalls of the first elevated region are defined by arcs that terminate in sagittal planes of the endplate, and are symmetrical with respect to a coronal plane of the endplate. A bone rasp and a groove cutter for use in implanting the prosthesis are also provided.
US09642629B2 System and method for forming a curved tunnel in bone
A drill system for forming a curved tunnel in a bone includes a drill bit guidance device. The drill bit guidance device includes an elongated stationary outer tube extending along a first axis and an elongated inner tube. The elongated inner tube is configured to slidably move within the elongated stationary outer tube along the first axis and to exit from a distal end of the elongated outer tube. The elongated inner tube has a partially slotted distal end portion including a plurality of semi-cross-sectional slots extending perpendicular to the first axis. Each slot is configured to collapse inward in the slot direction when exiting the distal end of the elongated outer tube, thereby curving the distal end portion of the elongated inner tube.
US09642627B2 Self-centering clip and jaw
An apparatus for applying surgical clips to tissue includes a handle assembly having a trigger and a shaft extending therefrom. The shaft includes at least one surgical clip therein. Each clip includes a pair of legs connected by a crossbar. Each of the pair of legs has an inwardly and an outwardly facing surface, the outwardly facing surface having a raised profile protruding therefrom and extending longitudinally therealong. A jaw assembly is disposed at a distal end of the shaft and includes first and second opposed jaws moveable between a spaced apart and an approximated position. Each jaw defines a recess extending longitudinally along opposing inner surfaces thereof. Each recess defines a longitudinally extending groove having a profile substantially complementary to the raised profile of the legs of the clips. The legs of each clip are positionable at least partially within respective grooves of the recesses of the jaws.
US09642620B2 Surgical cutting and stapling instruments with articulatable end effectors
Surgical instruments and end effectors therefor are disclosed. In various implementations, the surgical instrument includes an elongated shaft assembly that defines a longitudinal tool axis. An elongated channel of an end effector is movably coupled to the elongated shaft assembly for selective pivotal travel about a pivot axis that is transverse to the longitudinal tool axis upon application of articulation motions thereto. The elongated channel may be configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge. An anvil assembly is pivotally coupled to the elongated channel for selective pivotal travel relative thereto between open and closed positions about the pivot axis upon application of closing and opening motions thereto. In some implementations, the anvil assembly comprises a two part assembly.
US09642618B1 Devices and methods for surgical suturing
An apparatus and a method for surgical suturing with thread management. An apparatus for tissue suturing comprising a cartridge having a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end, the suturing needle capable of rotating about an axis; a pusher assembly comprising a cartridge holder having a needle rotation drive capable of releasably engaging the cartridge and rotating the suturing needle about the axis; and an actuator capable of releasably engaging the needle rotation drive to rotate the needle rotation drive. A method for suturing tissue comprising placing a suturing device having a cartridge containing a suturing needle to span separated tissue segments; activating an actuator to cause rotational movement of the suturing needle through the separated tissue segments; and deactivating the actuator to stop an advancing movement of the suturing needle to cause a suturing material to be pulled through the separated tissue segments forming a stitch.
US09642615B2 Suture locking device and methods
A suture locking device includes a suture locking assembly, a suture cutting member, and an actuator assembly. The actuator assembly includes a first actuator operable longitudinally to lock the suture with the suture locking assembly, and a second actuator operable laterally to concurrently cut the suture with the suture cutting member and disconnect the suture locking assembly from the suture locking device.
US09642609B2 Bunion repair using suture-button construct
A method for bunion repair using a suture anchor-button construct. The suture anchor-button construct includes a suture anchor, a button, and a suture strand attached through the suture anchor and passing through holes in the button. A first diameter hole is drilled through the first metatarsal and a second, smaller diameter hole is drilled through the second metatarsal. The suture anchor of the construct is passed through the hole in the first metatarsal and into the hole in the second metatarsal, and the suture anchor is screwed into the second metatarsal. The first metatarsal and the second metatarsal are pushed together to correct the intermetatarsal angular deformity. The button of the construct is then advanced against the medial surface of the first metatarsal, and the button is secured in place by tying the suture ends together.
US09642605B2 Vascular closure device suture tension limiting and indication mechanism
Disclosed is an apparatus and system that includes an elongated body, a vascular closure device that can occlude a hole in a vessel wall coupled to a distal end of the elongated body, a sleeve assembly and a biasing member arranged to elastically deform coupled between the elongated body and the sleeve assembly, where the elongated body is longitudinally displaceable with respect to the sleeve assembly, wherein the biasing member exerts a force on the elongated body approximately proportional to a longitudinal displacement between the elongated body and the sleeve assembly and where the biasing member is arranged deform a discernible amount when a conforming force sufficient to occlude the hole is applied to the elongated body through the biasing member and the sleeve assembly.
US09642601B2 Ultrasound system and method for providing panoramic image
Provided are an ultrasound system and method that can provide improved storage efficiency of a storage unit by storing only some of a plurality of ultrasound images needed to produce a panoramic image in the storage unit. The ultrasound system includes: an ultrasound data acquisition unit for sequentially acquiring ultrasound data corresponding to a living body; a processor for producing a plurality of ultrasound images by using the ultrasound data, setting a region of interest (ROI) on each of the ultrasound images, performing motion estimation between the plurality of ultrasound images to estimate motion of the ROI, and extracting ultrasound images needed for forming a panoramic image from the ultrasound images based on the estimated motion; and a storage unit for storing the extracted ultrasound images.
US09642596B2 Ultrasound imaging apparatus
Even when electroacoustic conversion elements with high nonlinearity are employed, a nonlinear imaging is carried out with extracting more nonlinear components. An ultrasonic wave beam is transmitted twice from the transmitter to an identical position on the imaging target, and the signal processor performs computation on the reception signals obtained in every transmission performed twice, thereby extracting a nonlinear component included in the reception signals. In one transmission out of the transmission performed twice, the transmitter delivers the transmission signal to all of multiple electroacoustic conversion elements for driving the electroacoustic conversion elements, and in the other transmission, the transmission signal is delivered selectively only to a part of the multiple electroacoustic conversion elements for driving the electroacoustic conversion elements.
US09642593B2 System and method for non-invasive determination of human body fat
Provided is a non-invasive system and method of determining human body fat based on image processing. The method includes receiving at least one ultrasound scan image of at least a portion of a skin layer as disposed above one or more additional tissue layers, the skin layer defining a horizontal axis and the image provided by a plurality of pixels. The method continues by horizontally blurring the pixels of the image and thresholding the pixels of the image to provide a binary image having a plurality of elements of different sizes. The method continues with morphing the structural elements of the binary image to remove small elements and connect large elements. With this resulting image, the method distinguishes a body fat layer from the remaining elements and determines the body fat layer thickness. An associated system is also disclosed.
US09642589B2 Systems and methods for guided selection of acquisition parameters for medical imaging
Systems and methods are provided that receive a clinical identifier, an acquisition condition target, and one or more patient characteristics. The systems and methods further generate a scan attribute based on the clinical identifier. The scan attribute corresponding to characteristics of a resultant medical image. The systems and methods determine select scan settings from a plurality of scan settings based on the scan attribute and the one or more patient characteristics, and calculate candidate acquisition conditions associated with the select scan settings. Further, the systems and methods identify one of the select scan settings as a scan prescription based on a relation between the candidate acquisition conditions and the acquisition condition target.
US09642583B2 Disposable sheath for dental direct imaging digital device
The present invention provides a sheath for a disposable dental direct imaging digital device. The sheath for a disposable dental direct imaging digital device includes a bag structure that is made up of an elastic material, and is also made up of a positioning device that is placed in an opening of the bag structure. A direct imaging digital device may be inserted into the sheath. A first housing segment that is in connection with the opening exists on one end of the bag structure. The other end of the first housing segment is in connection with a second housing segment. A tapered channel is formed from the opening of the first housing segment towards the second housing segment. A positioning device may close or shrink the opening, so as to prevent the direct imaging digital device from sliding out of the sheath. The direct imaging digital device may be inserted into the first housing segment, and then may be inserted into the second housing segment. Accordingly, the direct imaging digital device may be encapsulated and positioned by the second housing segment. In accordance with the present invention, the time of insertion the direct imaging digital device into the sheath may be shortened, and ease of use of the sheath with the direct imaging digital device may be enhanced. Moreover, the sheath of the present invention may be suitable for a direct imaging digital device of any size.
US09642582B2 Shield for patient positioning in extra-oral imaging
A patient positioning apparatus for an extra-oral imaging system includes a mount for revolving an x-ray source and an imaging sensor panel about a patient's head and a substantially transparent shield suspended from the mount. The shield has a chin support coupled to the shield and comprises a chin rest and a bite element and a forehead support coupled to the shield and comprises a head rest.
US09642573B2 Practitioner device for facilitating testing and treatment of auditory disorders
A practitioner device for facilitating at least one of testing and treatment of at least one auditory disorder is disclosed. The practitioner device includes a user interface configured for receiving an input from a practitioner. Further, the practitioner device includes a communication interface configured for communicating information between the practitioner device and at least one of a mobile device and another practitioner device over at least one of a wired communication channel and a wireless communication channel, wherein the information is based on the input, wherein the information corresponds to at least one of at least one auditory test and at least one auditory treatment procedure, wherein the mobile device facilitates at least one of testing of at least one auditory disorder and treatment of at least one auditory disorder.
US09642563B2 Glucose monitoring device in a protective smartphone case
A smartphone protective cover that houses a glucose monitor, test strips, lancets, a lancet striker, a power source, and a biohazard debris receptacle is presented. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the protective covering is configured to include a smartphone adapted glucose monitor and also to accept a smartphone. In the preferred embodiment, the smartphone is removably placed into the protective covering with the glucose monitor connecting to a data receptacle on the smartphone. The protective further includes a lancet storage compartment adjacent to a lancet striker having a tension control member and striker release button, a test strip storage compartment, and a biohazard debris receptacle. The lancet storage compartment and test strip storage compartment can be re-fillable or disposable. A battery is also located in the cover and is electrically connected to the glucose for monitor, thus enabling the monitor to be powered independently of the phone. A method of use is also provided.
US09642560B2 Method and device for determining the orientation of a co-ordinate system of an anatomical object in a global co-ordinate system
A data processing method for determining the relative orientation of an object coordinate system of an anatomical object in a global co-ordinate system, comprising the steps of: acquiring a reference direction dataset representing a first reference direction of a line between a first anatomical landmark of a reference object and a second anatomical landmark of the reference object, and a second reference direction of a line between a third anatomical landmark of the reference object and a fourth anatomical landmark of the reference object, wherein the first and second reference directions are given in a reference coordinate system and the reference object corresponds to the anatomical object; acquiring an object direction dataset representing a first object direction of a line between the first anatomical landmark of the anatomical object and the second anatomical landmark of the anatomical object, and a second object direction of a line between the third anatomical landmark of the anatomical object and the fourth anatomical landmark of the anatomical object, wherein the first and second object directions are given in the global co-ordinate system and the landmarks of the anatomical object correspond to the landmarks of the reference object; calculating the orientation of the reference co-ordinate system relative to the global co-ordinate system which results in the best match between each of the reference directions and the respectively corresponding object direction; and—using the orientation of the reference co-ordinate system in the global co-ordinate system as the relative orientation of the object co-ordinate system.
US09642557B2 Apparatus and method for breathing pattern determination using a non-contact microphone
A method is provided for analyzing respiration of a subject (20). Using a non-contact microphone (22), a raw signal indicative of air-flow sounds of the respiration is generated. The raw signal is analyzed to determine a first set of one or more parameters of the respiration. An algorithm is applied to the first set of one or more parameters of the respiration. An algorithm is applied to the first set of parameters to derive a second set of one or more estimated parameters of the respiration that are not generally directly measurable in the raw signal. Other embodiments are also described.
US09642551B2 Evaluating Atrio-Ventricular conduction in a heart
Atrial-Ventricular (A-V) condition in a heart is evaluated. Signal data sensed from the heart during an atrial stimulation of the heart is received. An Atrium-Hision (A-H) interval corresponding to an extra-stimulus event during the atrial stimulation of the heart is computed using the sensed signal data. Furthermore, a difference between the A-H interval corresponding to the extra-stimulus event and an A-H interval corresponding to a preceding extra-stimulus event is determined. Moreover, a presence of an A-H jump is automatically determined based on the determined difference.
US09642549B2 Integrate and fire pulse train automation for QRS detection
Various examples are provided for automation of QRS detection. In one example, among others, a system includes an integrate and fire (IF) sampler that can generate an IF pulse train from an analog input signal, and decision logic circuitry that can determine whether a QRS complex waveform is present in a pulse segment of the IF pulse train. In another example, a method includes generating an integrate and fire (IF) pulse train from an analog input signal, identifying a pulse segment of the IF pulse train, and determining whether a QRS waveform is present in the pulse segment based at least in part upon attributes associated with the pulse segment.
US09642548B2 Electrode pad for use on living organism
An electrode pad for use on a living organism can measure an electrocardiographic signal without being hindered by body-motion noise. The electrode pad is attached to the skin of the living organism, detects an electrical signal, and supplies the electrical signal to an electrocardiograph. The electrode pad for use on a living organism is characterized by the provision of a mesh-like electrode that extends along the skin, a conductive gel sheet that is layered on top of the electrode and extends along the surface of the skin, and a soft protective sheet that covers the layered electrode and conductive gel sheet.
US09642547B2 ECG rhythm advisory method
A method of automatically determining which type of treatment is most appropriate for a cardiac arrest victim, the method comprising transforming one or more time domain electrocardiogram (ECG) signals into a frequency domain representation comprising a plurality of discrete frequency bands, combining the discrete frequency bands into a plurality of analysis bands, wherein there are fewer analysis bands than discrete frequency bands, determining the content of the analysis bands, and determining the type of treatment based on the content of the analysis bands.
US09642545B2 Neural probe with optical stimulation capability
A neural probe is disclosed for optically stimulating or silencing neurons and recording electrical responses to the stimulus. Using patterning techniques, an integral optical waveguide may be fabricated on the probe for transmitting neuron-affecting light from a light source to a probe tip. The probe tip may include one or more electrodes to receive electrical responses from stimulated neurons for recording or further processing. According to various embodiments, the disclosed neural probes may utilize multiple light sources simultaneously, switch between multiple light sources, or utilize a single light source to stimulate or silence multiple neuron locations simultaneously via multiple probe tips or via multiple light-emitting sites located along the length of the probe. Neural probes are thereby provided that have sufficient spatial resolution to accurately target, stimulate, and record the reaction of neurons, or as few as a single neuron, utilizing a slim, compact structure.
US09642543B2 Systems and methods for model-based non-contact physiological data acquisition
System and method for non-contact acquisition of current physiological data representing a subject. A first electromagnetic wave representing current physiological status of a first subject is modified by a second electromagnetic wave representing current physiological status of a second subject in proximity to the first subject. A parameter of the first electromagnetic wave representing a first physiological status of a first subject is measured with electronic circuitry to extract a parameter of the second electromagnetic wave. Historical physiological data associated with the second subject is acquired. The current physiological data representing current physiological status of the second subject is then derived based on historical physiological data of the second subject and a comparison between the first and second parameters.
US09642542B2 Method and apparatus for measuring and displaying blood pressure
A blood pressure measurement device measures blood pressure and a blood pressure change affecting factor of a patient. The device includes a memory, a tolerance determination section, and a display unit. The tolerance determination section includes a rest/unrest condition determination section and a blood pressure tolerance determination section. The tolerance determination section determines whether the blood pressure of the patient is tolerant to the blood pressure change affecting factor. The display unit of the device displays the measured blood pressure, the measured blood pressure change affecting factor, and a tolerance determination of the patient.
US09642540B2 Blood pressure measurement device
A blood pressure measurement device includes a measurement air bladder for being wrapped around a body part to be measured, a compression member that compresses the measurement air bladder from the outside of the measurement air bladder against the body part to be measured; an inflation member for inflating the measurement air bladder, a deflation member for deflating the measurement air bladder, a blood pressure determination unit that determines a blood pressure during the inflation by the inflation member or during the deflation by the deflation member, and a control unit that causes the compression member to apply a pressure that is higher than or equal to an atmospheric pressure to the measurement air bladder when an internal pressure of the measurement air bladder reaches or falls below a certain pressure due to the deflation by the deflation member.
US09642536B2 Mental state analysis using heart rate collection based on video imagery
Video of one or more people is obtained and analyzed. Heart rate information is determined from the video and the heart rate information is used in mental state analysis. The heart rate information and resulting mental state analysis are correlated to stimuli, such as digital media which is consumed or with which a person interacts. The heart rate information is used to infer mental states. The mental state analysis, based on the heart rate information, can be used to optimize digital media or modify a digital game.
US09642528B2 Hand-held medical-data capture-device having detection of body core temperature by a microprocessor from a digital infrared sensor having only digital readout ports and having variation amplification and having interoperation with electronic medical record systems
In one implementation, an apparatus estimates body core temperature from an infrared measurement of an external source point using a cubic relationship between the body core temperature and the measurement of an external source point is described, estimates temperature from a digital infrared sensor and determines vital signs from a solid-state image transducer, or determines vital signs from a solid-state image transducer and estimates body core temperature from an infrared measurement of an external source point using a cubic relationship between the body core temperature and the measurement of an external source point; after which the estimated and/or determined information is transmitted to an external database.
US09642525B2 Ophthalmic lens with retinal vascularization monitoring system
The present invention relates to an ophthalmic device with a retinal vascularization monitoring system and associated methods. In some embodiments, the ophthalmic device can be a contact lens with a retinal vascularization monitoring system that can be used to monitor temporal changes of a pulsating vessel forming part of the retinal vascularization. Further, the retinal vascularization monitoring system may include elements for delivering a signal, including an audible and/or visual message, to the user that can be useful for identifying abnormal conditions such as a cardiac failure without delay. The audible and/or visual messages can be signals communicated to the user using one or both of the ophthalmic device and a wireless device in communication with the ophthalmic device.
US09642515B2 Solid state continuous white light source
A solid state illumination system is provided as a replacement for conventional arc light, metal halide and Xenon white-light sources for applications in microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and endoscopy. The solid state illumination system generates high quality white light output from LED light sources. The white light output is continuous in the visible spectrum from 380 nm to 650 nm and is suitable for imaging all the most common fluorophores and fluorescent proteins. In embodiments, an LED light pipe engine is used to generate a portion of the spectral content of the white light output.
US09642512B2 Switching valve unit and endoscope apparatus
A suction button unit for changeover between a suction source and a suction opening includes a piston chamber extending axially. A suction port hole is formed at a lower end of the piston chamber, for connection with the suction opening. An exhaust port hole is formed in a chamber inner wall of the piston chamber, for connection with the suction source. A piston rod is received in the piston chamber, has a first piston end protruding upwards, for shifting from a first position to a second position upon depression. The exhaust port hole is externally opened in case the piston rod is in the first position, but caused to communicate with the suction port hole in case the piston rod is in the second position. A tilting device tilts the piston rod relative to an axial direction of the piston chamber while the piston rod is in the first position.
US09642508B1 Debris-collecting apparatus and method of collecting debris
Debris-collecting systems and bagging apparatus for debris-collecting systems are provided. One bagging apparatus includes a primary bag and a dust skirt configured to wrap around the primary bag. At least an inner face of the dust skirt has an electrical charge. One debris-collecting apparatus includes an input portion, a bagging portion, and a draft inducer for drawing the air and debris through the input portion and to the bagging portion. The bagging portion has a hood, a primary bag removably positioned lowerly adjacent the hood, a dust skirt configured to wrap around the primary bag, and a bagging passage for directing air and debris to the hood from the input portion. The hood has a helical configuration extending from the bagging passage toward the primary bag. At least an inner face of the dust skirt is electrically charged. A frame having at least one wheel facilitates transportation.
US09642507B2 Platform for vacuum cleaner
A platform for receiving an upright vacuum cleaner having has a base, a suction hose, a hose connector, and a vacuum hose. The suction hose is in fluid communication with the suction box opening. The hose connector is in fluid communication with the suction hose. The vacuum hose is in fluid connection with the hose connector. A vacuum having a vacuum head may be positioned in the recessed portion of the base with the vacuum head in fluid communication with the suction box.
US09642502B2 Dual air chamber foam pumps, refill units and dispensers
Exemplary two chamber foam pumps, refill units and dispensers utilizing the same are disclosed herein. An exemplary refill unit includes an inverted container having a neck located at the bottom of the container and a foam pump secured neck. The foam pump includes a first air pump chamber, a liquid pump chamber and a second air pump chamber. In addition, the pump includes a piston. The piston has a hollow central portion. A first air inlet aperture is located through a wall of the piston between the first air pump chamber and the hollow central portion. A liquid inlet aperture is located below the first air inlet aperture and between the liquid pump chamber and the hollow central portion. A second air inlet aperture is located through the wall the piston located below the liquid inlet aperture and between the second air pump chamber and the hollow central portion.
US09642501B2 Soap dispenser with authentication check of the refill
A dispenser for dispensing a product, the dispenser comprising a base unit (2) into which a refill (1) containing the product is removably insertable in a fixed position. The refill has a taggant ink (12) on part of its external surface. The base has a light source (13) to illuminate the ink. The light source has a first wavelength and the ink is arranged to cause the ink to emit light at a second different wavelength. A sensor (14) receives light emitted by the ink upon illumination by the light source. A control circuit receives signal indicative of the wavelength of the detected light from the sensor, compares it with stored data, and prevents operation of a dispensing mechanism unless the refill is authentic.
US09642495B2 Whisk
A whisk includes a handle, a shaft and flexible wires. The handle has a cavity with a spiral internal track to engage and rotate the shaft with up and down motion of the handle. A collar is slidably mounted with a friction fit on the shaft. The flexible wires are coupled to the collar and to the second end of the shaft. Movement of the collar on the shaft changes the shape of the flexible wires. At the second end of the shaft, the flexible wires extend downwardly and then radially outwardly to lie in a plane and finally are bent toward the slidably mounted collar. A foot is rotatably mounted on the second end of the shaft and includes a bearing surface. The bearing surface extends from the second end of the shaft and beyond the defined plane within a clearance of coincidence with the defined plane.
US09642491B2 Self-making bread method, bread machine and bread ingredient box thereof
The self-making bread method includes: weighing a certain amount of ingredients according to a bread recipe and placing them in a bread ingredient box; putting the bread ingredient box into the corresponding containing region of the top portion of the bread machine; using the jagged ring of the bottom portion of said containing region to open the thin film of the bottom portion of the bread ingredient box, so the ingredients will fall into the mixing container in the bread machine; controlling the water delivering mechanism inside the bread machine to deliver a certain amount of water into said mixing container; starting the mixing device inside the bread machine, which mixes the ingredients into an appropriate dough; turning off the mixing device; energizing the electric heating tube in the bread machine, to bake the dough inside the mixing container into bread.
US09642490B2 Food defrosting tray
A food defrosting tray includes a tray body on which a frozen food is adapted to be placed. The tray body is made of metal and includes a plurality of heat transfer pieces spaced in parallel. The food defrosting tray further includes two conjunction members which engage with first and second ends of the heat transfer pieces respectively. Each conjunction member includes a plurality of sheaths made of a pliable but strong material. Two adjacent sheaths are connected to each other through a collapsible portion so that the tray body and the conjunction members are collapsible and can be rolled up for better contact with a food material and preferable defrosting capability. Moreover, the foldable tray body allows the food defrosting tray to be rolled up easily for effective storage.
US09642488B2 Beverage producing machine with a jug
A beverage producing system includes a beverage producing machine and a jug. The machine is provided with a steam nozzle and the jug is provided with a steam duct having a steam inlet end configured to connect to the steam nozzle to establish a connection between the steam nozzle and the steam duct. The steam nozzle is housed in a recess having an entry aperture, a bottom wall and an upper ceiling. The steam nozzle is arranged at the bottom wall of the recess and is oriented towards the upper ceiling. The steam inlet end projects from the jug, where the connection between the steam nozzle and the steam duct is configured to be established by introducing the steam inlet end in the recess and by lowering the jug until a fluid connection is established between the steam nozzle and the steam inlet end of the steam duct.
US09642476B1 Apparatus for and method of securing, displaying and dispensing herbal products including monitoring quantity and category of herbal products dispensed, and the persons who respectively dispensed and received each respective product
An apparatus at a dispensary where herbal products are sold to a consumer who has authorization to use the herbal products. The present invention fulfills in an innovative way four requirements for such a dispensary: (a) a safe to store all herbal products in a secure manner; (b) a user friendly display where different variations and quantities of herbal products are securely displayed with advisory information on each displayed product; (c) a series of electronic scales inside locked compartments to accurately weigh the amount of herbal products contained in the apparatus; and (d) an accurate inventory control system connected to a computer that uses data points received from the scales housed in the interior of the apparatus and gives real-time inventory measurements.
US09642473B2 Baby rocking bed with multiple functions
A baby rocking bed includes a pivot unit, a lower frame connected with the pivot unit, a connecting unit connected with the lower frame, and an upper frame connected with the pivot unit and the connecting unit. Thus, when the movable member of the connecting unit is moved upward on the elbow pipe of the connecting unit, the upper frame is disposed at an inclined state so that the rocking bed is disposed at an inclined state to facilitate the user feeding the baby safely, and when the movable member is moved downward on the elbow pipe, the upper frame is disposed at a horizontal state so that the rocking bed is directly lowered and returned to the original position, without disturbing the sleeping baby.
US09642464B2 Nosemount seating system
A bleacher seating system provides a seatback locking and release mechanism to allow for rapid simultaneous repositioning of the seat backs in each row of seating. The system includes a plurality of seats arranged in a row and coupled to a forward edge portion of a deck via seat mounting brackets in the form of parallel plates each defining a gap therebetween. Each of the seats includes a seat portion and a back portion that is pivotable between an upright use position and a collapsed storage position. An elongate actuator bar is rotatably supported in respective bores formed in the plates, and seatback brackets are positioned in the gaps for pivotably coupling the back portions to respective seat mounting brackets. Release members extend from the elongate actuator bar and are disposed in the gaps for selective engagement with pivot-lock elements of the seatback brackets.
US09642460B2 Self-closing slide rail assembly and self-closing mechanism thereof
A self-closing slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, and a self-closing mechanism. The second rail is longitudinally displaceable relative to the first rail. The self-closing mechanism includes a housing, an elastic member, and a movable member. The housing is mounted on the first rail. The movable member is movable within the housing in response to the elastic energy released by the elastic member. The second rail is retracted relative to the first rail by the movable member upon engagement therewith when moving from an extended position toward a retracted position.
US09642455B1 Overbed caddy cart
The over bed caddy is a transportable table that is adapted for use with a person. The over bed caddy is adapted for use with a person in a reclined or upright position. The over bed caddy provides one or more horizontal surfaces for use by the person in the reclined position on a reclining surface. The over bed caddy is adjustable in height. The over bed caddy is mounted on a rolling frame. The over bed caddy provides lighting and electric power for use at the one or more horizontal surfaces. The over bed caddy comprises a tray assembly, a personal storage unit, a telescopic stanchion, and an H assembly. The H assembly is attached to the telescopic stanchion, which is attached to the tray assembly. The personal storage unit is adapted to receive domestic items and devices.
US09642451B2 Folding table
Provided is a folding table for which a work of installing leg units on a tabletop is simplified, and squeaking and rattling are prevented even when the tabletop is used for a long period of time, so that the tabletop can be rotated smoothly. A protruding portion that protrudes in a horizontal direction is integrally formed on a bracket. By providing, on an upper portion of the leg units, a fitting hole into which the protruding portion fits and fitting the protruding portion into the fitting hole while crimping a distal end of the protruding portion in the horizontal direction, the bracket is connected to the leg units, and the tabletop is rotated using the protruding portion as a rotating shaft.
US09642448B2 Cosmetic product applicator
An applicator for cosmetic products, typically mascara, comprising a brush made up of fibers trapped between two twisted arms extending in an axial direction and defining turns is characterized in that at least one of said turns is a turn that is not circular. More particularly, these turns describe noncircular ellipses. Such an applicator can be obtained by radial crushing of a standard type brush.
US09642438B2 Cosmetic container
Disclosed is a cosmetic container. The cosmetic container includes: a main body, in which a liquid material is stored; a rod insertion container inserted into the main body and provided with one or more liquid inflow holes, through which the liquid material stored in the main body flows in; a forcibly inserting means for drawing out a brush to the outside; a brush supporting means including a brush support piece mounted with a brush; an elastic member, and a cap. According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a cosmetic liquid from being hardened inside a container by securing a sealing structure of the cosmetic container. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to stably keep a cosmetic container, thereby extending a lifespan of a product. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to enable a user to more conveniently and easily wear nail polish compared to an existing method in using a cosmetic container.
US09642435B2 Shave-caddy
This invention is a dual cavity unit constructed in one of two different sizes to snugly store either a can of shaving cream or a can of shaving gel together with a manual shaving razor. Said invention is constructed primarily of neoprene or any other malleable material which has some amount of elasticity and is resistant to water, but not impervious. It is important to the invention that the material is resistant to the effects of water because it is intended to be used near water and in wet environments. It is also important that the material not be impervious to the effects of water in order to have planned obsolescence and generate repeat sales in the future. Further, the main advantage of this invention is the soft, pliable, and/or padded material used to construct it. The first cavity is a cylindrical tube which is open at the top and closed at the bottom and is constructed in one of two different sizes to snugly hold either a traditional can of shaving cream or a narrower can typically used to contain shaving gel. The second cavity is a “loop” which is open at the top, and can be either open or closed at the bottom, and is attached to the side of the first cavity using stitching, adhesive, or any other durable method of attachment of the two components.
US09642428B2 Hybrid frame sleeve case
A sleeve case is for a portable electronic device (e.g., laptop computer or electronic tablet device) and includes neoprene or fabric panels attached to an elastic polymer frame, such as ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). The elastic polymer frame extends around a perimeter of the sleeve to provide cushioning or padding for side edges of the sleeve. A magnetic or other latching mechanism is used to secure an opening on one side of the sleeve.
US09642414B2 Footwear
The present invention relates to footwear and in particular, but not necessarily restricted thereto, relates to footwear for those with diabetes and, in particular, with ulcers of the sole. The present invention seeks to address some of the problems encountered by prior art limb compression devices and methods. In particular the present invention seeks to provide a boot which can stimulate blood flow. A further object to the invention is to provide a boot with a sole which is adaptable to conform with various shapes and conditions of human feet. The present invention also seeks to provide a new type of footwear that has a therapeutic benefit for diabetic patients with circulatory problems in their foot, and also enables the technique of “off loading” the foot to assist in the healing of any wounds present. The present invention relates to a method for aiding arterial and venous flow from the limb of an ambulatory patient comprising the step of applying pressure to one or more areas of the soft tissue of an underside portion of the foot.
US09642400B1 Manual transfer vest
A manual transfer vest which aids in compensating for fatigue, pain, loss of strength, mobility, and energy in the daily life of patients and/or individuals/caregivers assisting them. It comprises soft, lightweight, and preferably washable material that enwraps the patient's torso, and also has at least seven non-adjustable hand-grip lift components with sturdy and durable construction and attachment. In some preferred embodiments, nine hand-grip lift components are used, with six hand-grip lift components preferably situated bilaterally on the vest front, and three hand-grip lift components situated on the vest back. For vest durability during repeated patient lifting, reinforcement lining stitching is secured adjacent to or near at least one end of all hand-grips lift components. Interior adjustment ties, padded neck and armhole openings, mesh fabric, and a collar may also contribute to patient comfort. Overall, the manual transfer vest promotes safety in preventing injuries, thereby reducing medical costs.
US09642398B1 Wearable connector for an electronic textile
A wearable connector for an electronic textile includes a shell having an upper ring and a lower ring configured to capture the electronic textile therebetween. The shell provides an interior channel at least partially defined by the upper and lower ring. A conductive interface member is received in the interior channel of the shell and is electrically connected to the shell. The conductive interface member has a compressible interface configured to be electrically connected to a conductor of the electronic textile. The conductive interface member is compressed against the conductor by at least one of the upper ring and the lower ring when the lower ring is coupled to the upper ring.
US09642389B2 Composition comprising oil palm phenolics for use in providing neuroprotective effects and cognitive-enhancement
The present invention relates to a composition comprising oil palm phenolics for use in providing neuroprotective effects and improving cognitive and motor functions abilities.
US09642379B2 Machine and method for making and dispensing ice creams
A machine for making and dispensing ice creams, comprises in combination: a container designed to contain a basic mixture for converting it into ice cream; a mixer and a refrigeration system, operatively associated with said container respectively for mixing said basic mixture and for cooling said basic mixture in such a way as to convert it, in the container, into ice cream; a control and operating unit, operatively associated with said refrigeration system for controlling activation and deactivation of said refrigeration system and for regulating its cooling thermal power at least between a first, production thermal power and a second, preservation thermal power which is lower than said first, production thermal power, said control and operating unit being designed to allow said refrigeration system to be activated at the second, preservation power when said container is substantially empty.
US09642375B2 Composition and method to prepare an edible food product
A method to prepare donuts, wherein the method prepares a first batch of donut dough, allows that first batch of donut dough to age for at least 24 hours to prepare fermented dough, prepares a second batch of donut dough, mixes 5 pounds of the fermented dough with a gallon of the second batch of donut dough, cuts donuts from the fermented dough/second batch of donut dough mixture, and fries the donuts.
US09642369B2 Phosphorus functional antimicrobial coatings for metal surfaces
The invention relates to quaternary ammonium multi-dentate mono-, bis-, tris- and tetrakis-phosphonate compounds, processes for preparing quaternary ammonium multi-dentate mono-, bis-, tris- and tetrakis-phosphonate compounds, antimicrobial coating compositions comprising quaternary ammonium multi-dentate mono-, bis-, tris- and tetrakis-phosphonate compounds and method of treating a surface with said compositions to provide a durable, antimicrobial-treated surface.
US09642361B2 Method for changing the development pattern, increasing the growth and the accumulation of starch, changing the structure of starch and increasing the resistance to water stress in plants
The invention relates to a method for changing the development pattern, increasing the growth and starch accumulation, changing the structure of starch and increasing the resistance to water stress in plants. The method involves culturing plants in an atmosphere containing volatile elements emitted by a microorganism, without there being any physical contact between the microorganism and the plant. The method is based on the discovery that the volatile elements emitted by Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria, yeasts and microscopic fungi stimulate an increase in the growth of plants in general, with an increase in the height, the number of leaves and/or the number of branches of the plant, as well as an increase in the accumulated starch and structural change of this biopolymer, and modification of the development pattern, with an increase in floral buds. An increased resistance to water stress can also be observed, in addition to an increase in starch in leaves separated from whole plants.
US09642353B2 Desiccated biologics and methods of preparing the same
The present invention provides compositions comprising desiccated biologics comprising a cell, protein, virus, nucleic acid, carbohydrate, or lipid, or any combination thereof, along with at least one membrane penetrable sugar, and at least one membrane impenetrable sugar, wherein the moisture content is from 5% to 95%, and to methods of preparing the same, and to methods of treating animals using the same.
US09642352B2 Method of preparing embryos or blastocysts for cryopreservation
An automated system and method of preparing oocytes, embryos, or blastocysts for cryopreservation. The method entails delivering two or more solutions into a container holding oocytes, embryos, or blastocysts, and controlling the flow of the solutions to gradually change the concentration of cryoprotectants and dehydrating agents in the container to minimize shock to the oocytes, embryos or blastocysts.
US09642339B2 Animal treat delivery system
An animal treat delivery system is configured to hold a treat and dispense the treat to an animal. The animal treat delivery system includes a rounded top portion joined to an expansionary central portion. A truncated lower portion is joined to the expansionary central portion. A rope channel is bored into the top portion. A treat compartment is bored into the truncated lower portion and the expansionary central portion. The rounded top portion is configured to swing in air such that maneuvering the treat compartment enables obtaining the treat by the animal.
US09642330B2 Lettuce variety 41-132 RZ
The present invention relates to a Lactuca sativa seed designated 41-132 RZ, which may exhibit a combination of traits including resistance against downy mildew (Bremia lactucae Regel) races B1:1 to B1:28, CA-I, CA-IIA, CA-IIB, CA-III, CA-IV, CA-V, CA-VI, CA-VII, CA-VIII, and strains E138, and BGAU1, currant lettuce aphid (Nasonovia ribisnigri) biotype Nr:0, corky root rot (Sphingomonas suberifaciens), as well as broad base leaves, and slow bolting. The present invention also relates to a Lactuca sativa plant produced by growing the 41-132 RZ seed. The invention further relates to methods for producing the lettuce cultivar, represented by lettuce variety 41-132 RZ.
US09642327B1 Maize inbred PH2TCY
A novel maize variety designated PH2TCY and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant comprise crossing maize variety PH2TCY with another maize plant are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH2TCY through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby are provided. Hybrid maize seed, plants or plant parts are produced by crossing the variety PH2TCY or a locus conversion of PH2TCY with another maize variety.
US09642326B1 Maize inbred PH2FRV
A novel maize variety designated PH2FRV and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant comprise crossing maize variety PH2FRV with another maize plant are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH2FRV through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby are provided. Hybrid maize seed, plants or plant parts are produced by crossing the variety PH2FRV or a locus conversion of PH2FRV with another maize variety.
US09642325B1 Maize inbred PH2DPY
A novel maize variety designated PH2DPY and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant comprise crossing maize variety PH2DPY with another maize plant are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH2DPY through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby are provided. Hybrid maize seed, plants or plant parts are produced by crossing the variety PH2DPY or a locus conversion of PH2DPY with another maize variety.
US09642322B1 Maize inbred PH25KM
A novel maize variety designated PH25KM and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant comprise crossing maize variety PH25KM with another maize plant are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH25KM through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby are provided. Hybrid maize seed, plants or plant parts are produced by crossing the variety PH25KM or a locus conversion of PH25KM with another maize variety.
US09642321B2 Soybean cultivar AR1210856
The present invention is in the field of soybean variety AR1210856 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety AR1210856 and its progeny, and methods of making AR1210856.
US09642302B2 Rotary trimmer apparatus and related rotary head assembly
An apparatus and method are provided for removing a retained member from a rotary head assembly configured for attachment to a rotary power source. The rotary head assembly can be configured to permit quick and easy trimmer line insertion in order to resume operation of the apparatus as well as simple and efficient trimmer line removal when changing trimmer line.
US09642299B2 Granular fertilizer dispenser apparatus
An apparatus for dispensing a granular fertilizer onto a surface. The apparatus comprises a housing, one or more wheels, a handle, and an auger. The housing has a first end, a second end, an enclosed tubular bore, a first opening facing generally upward, a second opening facing generally downward, and a weephole facing generally downward. The one or more wheels are connected to the housing for supporting the housing with respect to the surface. The handle is configured to be grasped by a user to cause movement of the housing relative to the surface. The auger is housed within the enclosed tubular bore. Rotation of the auger transports the granular fertilizer along the enclosed tubular bore of the housing from the first opening to the second opening to control an amount of the granular fertilizer that is dispensed from the second opening onto the surface.
US09648783B1 Enhanced heat dissipation module having multi-layer heat isolation
An enhanced heat dissipation module having multi-layer heat isolation, made of copper, aluminum, iron, or a combination thereof, includes a protection box, used to receive an electric circuit board. On protection box is provided with at least a notch corresponding to high heat generating electronic components on the electric circuit board. A heat dissipater is provided with a large heat dissipation area disposed opposite to protection box, and it includes at least a fix seat disposed in protrusion on the heat dissipater. The fix seat extends into the notch of the protection box, to contact fully surface of the high heat generating electronic components. An elastic contact plate, disposed in front of the fix seat, to press against surface of the high heat generating electronic components. A plurality of heat conduction tubes are pressed onto the heat dissipater, with one end connected to the fix seat.
US09648781B2 Temperature equalization apparatus jetting fluid for thermal conduction used in electrical equipment
The present invention discloses an external thermal conduction interface structure of electrical equipment wherein a fluid jetting device is utilized to jet a thermal conductive fluid for exchanging heat with the external thermal conduction interface structure of electrical equipment via the thermal energy of the jetted thermal conductive fluid, the heat exchange means includes the external thermal conduction interface structure of electrical equipment having relative high temperature being cooled by a fluid have relative lower temperature, and external thermal conduction interface structure of electrical equipment having relative lower temperature being heated by a fluid having relative higher temperature.
US09648780B2 Manufacturing fixtures for small form factor desktop computer
One automated process for evenly applying a thin layer within a device housing includes applying a vacuum hold from a curved surface applicator to the thin layer, pressing the thin layer against the device housing with the applicator, wherein said pressing includes applying pressure from the center of the applicator first and then radially expanding said pressure, and pressing the cylindrical outer housing against an outer region of the thin layer to effect a hard pressed application at the outer surface thereof.
US09648776B2 Electronic module, electronic system and method of manufacturing the same
An electronic module is provided, comprising an electronic chip arranged in the electronic module; at least two contact terminals electrically connected to the electronic chip each extending out of a package of the electronic module, wherein at least one of the at least two contact terminals is a signal contact terminal comprising a distal signal contact area, and at least another one of the at least two contact terminals is a power contact terminal comprising a distal power contact area; wherein the distal power contact area is adapted to be electrically connected to a power circuit external to the electronic module, wherein the external power circuit is oriented in a first plane; and wherein the distal signal contact area is adapted to be electrically connected to a signal circuit external to the electronic module, wherein the external signal circuit is oriented in a second plane extending perpendicular to the first plane.
US09648775B2 Tool-less storage device adaptor tray with spring mechanism
A storage device tray has a form factor designed to support a larger storage device, and is configured to secure a small storage device, thereby acting as an adapter between storage device sizes. The storage device tray includes a clip configured with pegs that may couple to screw hole sin the storage device. The clip also exerts a force against the storage device to secure that storage device. At least one advantage of this approach is that a storage device can be coupled to a storage device tray without using screws.
US09648774B2 Frequency converter and spring element therefor
A frequency converter (10a, 10b, 10c) includes a housing (30), a circuit board (12a) arranged in the housing, and a coupling arrangement (20) arranged externally on the housing (30) for galvanically coupling the circuit board (12a) to an adjacently arranged second frequency converter (10b, 10c), wherein the coupling arrangement (20) either comprises a base portion (22) and a coupling member (26) movable with respect to the base portion (22) along a defined movement path, or is formed as a rigid busbar which is designed for simultaneous attachment to the frequency converter and the second frequency converter, and the coupling arrangement (22) is galvanically coupled to the circuit board (12a). The coupling arrangement (22) is connected to the circuit board (12a) by a spring element (40), wherein this spring element (40) has a fastening portion (44) on the circuit board side and a fastening portion (42) on the coupling arrangement side. The fastening portions are interconnected by a resilient spring portion (46).
US09648745B2 Systems and methods for mounting the printed wiring assembly to the header assembly of a pressure sensor
Systems and method for mounting the printed wiring assembly to the header assembly of a pressure sensor are provided. In at least one embodiment, the pressure sensor comprises: a header assembly; a printed wiring assembly having a pressure sensor mounted thereon; and, at least one substantially cylindrical member that mechanically couples the printed wiring assembly to the header assembly. The substantially cylindrical member has a substantially hollow core, a substantially circular first end attached to the header assembly, a substantially circular second end opposite the substantially circular first end, and at least one side extending from the substantially circular first end to the substantially circular second end of the cylindrical member. Furthermore, the substantially circular second end or the at least one side or both are attached to the printed wiring assembly.
US09648739B2 Electronic component mounting structure and printed wiring board
An electronic component mounting structure includes a first land, a second land making a pair with the first land, an electronic component having a chip shape and including a first electrode connected to the first land and a second electrode connected to the second land, a first wiring pattern connected to the first land, and a second wiring pattern connected to the second land and including a first partial pattern overlapping a portion of a body of the electronic component in planar view, the portion being not covered with the pair of electrodes, a second partial pattern formed integral with the first partial pattern and overlapping the first electrode of the electronic component in planar view, and a third partial pattern formed integral with the second partial pattern and parallel to the first wiring pattern.
US09648736B2 Circuit board, particularly for a power-electronic module, comprising an electrically-conductive substrate
The invention relates to a circuit board, particularly for a power-electronic module, comprising an electrically-conductive substrate which consists, at least partially and preferably entirely, of aluminium and/or an aluminium alloy. On at least one surface of the electrically-conductive substrate, at least one conductor surface is arranged in the form of an electrically-conductive layer applied preferably using a printing method and more preferably using a screen-printing method, said conductor surface being in direct electrical contact with the electrically-conductive substrate.
US09648733B2 Method of forming a substrate core structure using microvia laser drilling and conductive layer pre-patterning and substrate core structure formed according to the method
A method of fabricating a substrate core structure comprises: providing first and second patterned conductive layers defining openings therein on each side of a starting insulating layer; providing a first and a second supplemental insulating layers onto respective ones of a first and a second patterned conductive layer; laser drilling a set of via openings extending through at least some of the conductive layer openings of the first and second patterned conductive layers; filling the set of via openings with a conductive material to provide a set of conductive vias; and providing a first and a second supplemental patterned conductive layer onto respective ones of the first and the second supplemental insulating layers, the set of conductive vias contacting the first supplemental patterned conductive layer at one side thereof, and the second supplemental patterned conductive layer at another side thereof.
US09648727B2 Fault detection optimized electronic circuit and method
Fault detection optimized electronic circuit includes a circuit substrate on which components of the electronic circuit are respectively disposed. Each of the components has a component body which includes at least a first and second contacts. A component trace formed of conductive material is disposed on a first exterior surface of each component body facing the substrate. The component trace is electrically insulated from the first and second contact. Each of the components contains a network consisting of at least two capacitors connected in series between the first and second contact. A test point is formed of conductive material disposed on a second exterior surface of each body. The test point is electrically isolated from the first and second contacts and electrically connected to at least the component trace.
US09648726B2 Suspension board assembly sheet with circuits and manufacturing method of the same
A plurality of suspension boards are integrally supported by a support frame. A plurality of inspection substrates are provided to correspond to the plurality of suspension boards. In each suspension board, lines are formed on a conductive support substrate with a base insulating layer sandwiched therebetween. The support substrate and the line are electrically connected by a via in the base insulating layer. In each inspection substrate, a conductor layer is formed on a conductive support substrate with a base insulating layer sandwiched therebetween. The support substrate and the conductor layer are electrically connected by a via in the base insulating layer.
US09648722B2 PCB embedded power module
A printed circuit board assembly comprises a printed circuit board having at least one conductive layer supported by a substrate layer, and at least one power semiconductor device, wherein the at least one power semiconductor device is at least partly embedded in the substrate layer.
US09648718B2 Plasma emission device, and electromagnetic wave generator used therein
A plasma emission device in an embodiment includes: an electromagnetic wave generator; a waveguide transmitting an electromagnetic wave emitted from the electromagnetic wave generator, an antenna receiving the electromagnetic wave transmitted through the waveguide; an electromagnetic wave focuser which is irradiated with the electromagnetic wave from the antenna; and an electrodeless bulb disposed in the electromagnetic wave focuser. A light-emitting material filled in the electrodeless bulb is excited by the electromagnetic wave focused by the electromagnetic wave focuser to perform plasma emission. The electromagnetic wave generator includes a cathode part and an anode part. A maximum output efficiency of the electromagnetic wave to be generated with an input power of 700 W or less is 70% or more.
US09648717B2 Hybrid generators and methods of using them
Certain embodiments described herein are directed to generators that can be used to sustain a plasma in a driven mode and in an oscillation mode and optionally in a hybrid mode. In some embodiments, the generator is configured to switch between the two modes during operation. In certain instances, the plasma may be ignited when the generator is in a driven mode and may be used to analyze samples when the generator is in an oscillation mode or driven mode or hybrid mode.
US09648709B2 Fault detection device for streetlamp lighting system and method of operating the same
Various embodiments may relate to a fault detection device for streetlamp lighting system. The streetlamp lighting system includes multiple load groups which are powered by a power cable. The fault detection device includes a master detection control unit and load detection control units configured for respective load groups, wherein the master detection control unit determines, according to a first fault feedback signal provided by respective load detection control unit, whether the load group corresponding to the load detection control unit is failed, while the streetlamp lighting system is in a first state, and the master detection control unit determines, according to a physical quantity detected on the power cable, whether the power cable is failed, while the streetlamp lighting system is in a second state. In addition, various embodiments further relate to a method of controlling the fault detection device.
US09648705B2 Intelligent lamp head assemblies, light sources including intelligent lamp head assemblies, and methods of operating the same
A lamp head assembly is provided. The lamp head assembly includes a plurality of arrays of light producing elements; a driver circuit configured to provide energy to each of the plurality of arrays; and a microprocessor for controlling operation of the driver circuit.
US09648704B2 Two-level LED security light with motion sensor
A two-level LED security light with a motion sensor. At night, the LED is turned on for a low level illumination. When the motion sensor detects any intrusion, the LED is switched from the low level illumination to a high level illumination for a short duration time. After the short duration time, the LED security light returns to the low level illumination for saving energy. The LED security light includes a power supply unit, a light sensing control unit, a motion sensing unit, a loading and power control unit, and a lighting-emitting unit. The lighting-emitting unit includes one or a plurality of LEDs which may be turned-on or turned-off according to the sensing results from the light sensing control unit. When the motion sensing unit detects an intrusion, the illumination of the LED security light can be immediately turned on to the high level to scare away the intruder.
US09648697B1 Brightness monitoring for LED failures and daylighting target adjusting
A system monitors operational status of a lighting element. A lighting fixture processor instructs a lighting element to illuminate at a predetermined time, receives sensed light level information from the light sensing element, and transmits a wireless message including information representing the sensed light level. A room controller can control some or all of these steps. A daylighting arrangement includes a room controller that instructs the lighting fixtures of a lighting group to illuminate their lighting elements at a predetermined time of day. Sensed light level information is obtained and wirelessly transmitted to the room controller, which determines an initial daylighting target for the lighting fixture group based on an average of the sensed light level information. The room controller instructs the lighting fixtures to illuminate their respective lighting elements in accordance with the initial daylighting target.
US09648696B2 Recalibration of a tunable lamp system
Some embodiments include a method of operating a tunable light module. The method can include driving a lamp in the tunable light module, having lamps of at least two colors, to produce a colored light according to the color mixing plan that corresponds to a correlated color temperature (CCT); measuring a light characteristic of the lamp using a light sensor; detecting a degradation level by comparing the measured light characteristic against an expected light characteristic; and adjusting a current level for driving the lamp at the CCT by referencing the color mixing plan and an alternative coefficient corresponding to the degradation level.
US09648672B2 Multiple display-units LED light device has special light effects
The Multiple Display-units LED light device has special light effects which means the more than one of display-unit can be assembly into one viewing product install within the base by certain strength or assembly means which has the prong means or other unlimited power source mans to supply the electric signal to the said LEDs to make the eye-catching light effects. The display unit may have the build-in input-end or separated input-end to allow to match the said receptacle means of the base. The base with LED related circuit, prong means and other control means, IC means may disposed into the base or incorporated with sealed-unit to make the light beam to be seen by viewer though the viewing area for dedicated art, word, signal, data, design, motion liquid, 3 dimensional, geometric design, art, digital data, liquid crystal screen, LCD and colored image with color change LEDs for illumination.
US09648668B2 Induction hob
An induction hob (100) includes a solid plate (105), and a plurality of electrically activatable coil members (1101-1108) arranged underneath the plate. The define corresponding cooking zones (1151-1158) of the induction hob, and a control unit (135) is configured to select power levels for the cooking zones. Upon selection of first (P1) and second (P6) power levels for non-adjacent first (1151) and second (1156) cooking zones, respectively, the control unit is configured to automatically select for each intermediate cooking zone (1152-1155) between the first and second cooking zones a corresponding power level (P2-P5) obtained by interpolation of the first and second power levels with a predefined interpolating function.
US09648664B2 Communication terminal
A communication terminal, in particular an eCall terminal. The terminal comprises a communication unit and an interface for communication of the terminal with communication networks. The terminal comprises a determination unit for determining in which communication network the terminal is located. The terminal comprises a database in which communication network related data for a number of different communication networks are stored and in which said communication network related data are linked to paging channels of the respective communications networks. The terminal further comprises a scanning unit for scanning paging channels and an evaluation unit for evaluating information received via a paging channel. In addition the present invention relates to a method of scanning paging channel and to a method for activation of a communication terminal.
US09648654B2 Acoustic pairing
One example discloses an acoustic pairing device, comprising: an acoustic processor configured to receive a first acoustic signal and a second acoustic signal; a signal comparison module configured to identify a propagation delay or amplitude difference between the first and second acoustic signals; and a pairing module configured to output a pairing signal if the propagation delay or amplitude difference is between a first value and a second value. Another example discloses a method for acoustic pairing between a first device and a second device, executed by a computer programmed with non-transient executable instructions, comprising: receiving a propagation delay or amplitude difference between a first acoustic signal and a second acoustic signal; pairing the first and second devices if the propagation delay or amplitude difference is between a first value and a second value.
US09648650B2 Pairing of devices through separate networks
A method for pairing a multimedia receiver connected to an IP network with at least one mobile equipment connected to a mobile network using a communication protocol different from the IP network. A unique identifier of the mobile equipment is introduced into an application on the multimedia receiver. The latter transmits, to the mobile equipment, a message comprising a pairing request and a command for acquiring a unique public address of the multimedia receiver, said mobile equipment being identified by an address associated to the unique identifier. The mobile equipment receives the message and transmits a response message to the multimedia receiver identified by the unique public address, said response message comprising unique identifier. The multimedia receiver verifies the unique identifier in the response message by comparing it with the unique identifier introduced into the application. If the verification is successful, the mobile equipment pairs with the multimedia receiver.
US09648647B2 Base station and communication control method
In one aspect of the present invention, a base station includes a reception unit configured to receive a call request or a paging response according to circuit switching from a mobile station; a packet switched communication state determination unit configured to determine a state of packet switched communication of the mobile station, when the call request or the paging response is received from the mobile station; and a circuit switching communication processing unit configured to establish a circuit switched bearer using a radio parameter for circuit switched communication, when no packet switched communication is performed in the mobile station.
US09648642B2 Integrated circuit for random access method and apparatus
Integrated circuitry for use in a mobile radio station includes a receiver that receives control information and a data processor coupled to the receiver. The data processor provides a number of different sequences that are derived from a base sequence. The different derived sequences are respectively associated with different amounts of data or reception qualities, have different cyclic shifts, and are arranged in an increasing order of the cyclic shifts. The data processor randomly selects a sequence from a subset of the derived sequences. The subset of derived sequences depends on the control information.
US09648641B2 Data transmission method, base station, and terminal
A data transmission method is provided. The method includes obtaining configuration information, wherein the configuration information indicates transmission resources of a random access preamble and payload data corresponding to the random access preamble, transmitting the random access preamble and the payload data at the transmission resources, modulating the payload data using a modulation scheme supporting asynchronous transmission, and receiving feedback information, wherein the feedback information comprises an indication which indicates whether the payload data is successfully received. Various examples of the present disclosure also describe a method for receiving data with space multiplexing which is applied to a base station side, and further describe a terminal and a base station. Employing the examples of the present disclosure, transmission efficiency of long duty cycle and sporadic small data packets of a large number of devices in the Internet of Things in future communication systems can be improved.
US09648638B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting device-to-device related information in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for establishing a device-to-device (D2D) connection in a wireless communication system is provided. A first mobile device may transmit an identity of a network node to a second mobile device. In this case, the first mobile device and the network node are connected by a first connection, and the first mobile device and the second mobile device are connected by a second connection. Or, a base station may transmit information on a D2D connection between mobile devices which are connected to the base station, to a neighboring network node. The information on the D2D connection includes at least one of information on the mobile devices, and a D2D mode.
US09648637B2 Method for transmitting and receiving uplink signal, user equipment, and base station
A method and a base station for transmitting downlink data to a user equipment configured with a plurality of serving cells; and a method and a user equipment configured with a plurality of serving cells for receiving downlink data are discussed. The method for transmitting downlink data according to an embodiment includes transmitting a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) carrying a downlink grant through a scheduling cell; and transmitting a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) carrying the downlink data through a scheduled cell. A primary cell (PCell) group is configured with a PCell and zero or more secondary cells (SCells), and an SCell group is configured with one or more SCells. The scheduled cell belongs to the PCell group when the scheduling cell belongs to the PCell group, and the scheduled cell belongs to the SCell group when the scheduled cell belongs to the SCell group.
US09648630B2 Antenna array calibration using traffic signals
A calibration method for a base station removes distortion in traffic signals incurred in transmit paths of the base station. The transmit paths are coupled to an antenna array for transmitting the traffic signals in a wireless network. The method includes conditioning a traffic signal to reduce a correlation with another traffic signal before the traffic signals enter the transmit paths. For each of the traffic signals, an impairment estimation is performed based on the traffic signals captured before entering the transmit paths and the traffic signals captured before entering the antenna array. An approximate inverse of the impairment estimation is applied to each of the traffic signals before the traffic signals enter the transmit paths.
US09648617B2 Hardware-trusted orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) access to a shared common public radio interface (CPRI)
An Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) data communication system has an access subsystem that exchanges user data with an access network. The OFDM system has a trusted subsystem that exchanges user data with a trusted network. The trusted subsystem also encodes trust challenge data with a physically-embedded key and transfers the encoded trust challenge data for remote hardware trust validation. The access subsystem allocates OFDM resource blocks to the trusted subsystem and schedules its user data in the remaining OFDM resource blocks. The trusted subsystem schedules its user data in the allocated OFDM resource blocks and determines a Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) sequence for the user data based on the OFDM scheduling. The access subsystem exchanges its user data with the trusted subsystem. The trusted subsystem exchanges the user data with a CPRI communication system based on the CPRI sequence.
US09648615B2 Location measurement optimized off-channel scanning and grouping of access points
A plurality of time slots are allocated during which a location procedure is performed for one or more target wireless devices. Select ones of a plurality of wireless access points at different positions are assigned to each time slot such that multiple wireless access points assigned to a given time slot are sufficiently separated. In addition, wireless access points are assigned to a corresponding one of a plurality of groups for each time slot such that wireless access points assigned to a group tune to a channel used by a wireless access point in the group that transmits one or more frames that are intended to provoke one or more response frames from the one or more wireless devices.
US09648613B2 Method and apparatus for gaining access in wireless LAN system
A method for gaining access according to one embodiment of the present invention in which a station (STA) gains access to a medium in wireless communication system comprises the steps of: sensing a carrier wave for a medium so as to transmit a set frame; and, if the medium is busy, executing a random back-off procedure, wherein the starting point of the random back-off procedure is indicated by a second parameter randomly selected from within a range in accordance with a first parameter.
US09648601B2 Communication method, base station and user equipment using a set of legacy or aggressive CQI table and legacy or aggressive MCS table
The present disclosure provides a communication method, base station and user equipment for configuring a parameter table in a wireless communication system including a base station and a user equipment, the communication method comprising: defining at both the base station and the user equipment a parameter table which includes whole entries of a legacy parameter table and extended entries; and transmitting from the base station to the user equipment a bitmap indication which indicates a sub-table selected from the parameter table, wherein the number of the entries in the sub-table is the same as in the legacy parameter table.
US09648593B2 Control signal aggregation in a multi-carrier WCDMA system
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for transmitting data to a remote node via each of two or more transmitted carrier signals, wherein a distinct outbound packet data traffic channel is mapped to each transmitted carrier signal. In an exemplary method, aggregated control channel data is formed by combining control channel data corresponding to each of two or more received carrier signals, simultaneously transmitting traffic channel data to the remote node on each of the two or more outbound packet data traffic channels, and transmitting the aggregated control channel data using one or more physical control channels mapped to a first one of the transmitted carrier signals. In particular, these methods and apparatus may be applied to a multi-carrier High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) system.
US09648592B2 Fine-grain and backward-compliant resource allocation
There is provided fine-grain and backward-compliant resource allocation, comprising allocating, to a control channel, one of a first plurality of bandwidths being standardized for a first radio access standard, and allocating, to a data channel, one of a second plurality of bandwidths being standardized for a second radio access standard, the second bandwidths plurality exceeding the first bandwidths plurality in terms of at least one of granularity and range. The thus disclosed resource allocation may exemplarily be applied on a downlink.
US09648574B2 Receiving device, receiving method, and radio communication system
A receiving device includes a first processing unit configured to execute a first demodulation process on a second signal transmitted in a second radio area different from a first radio area in which a first signal as a desired signal is transmitted; a first estimation unit configured to execute a first estimation process of estimating a channel for the second radio area based on an execution result of the first demodulation process; and a second processing unit configured to execute a cancellation process of cancelling a component from a received signal based on the estimated channel, the component being attributed to the second signal transmitted in the second radio area, wherein the receiving device executes a second demodulation process on the desired signal based on an execution result of the cancellation process.
US09648562B2 Transceiver front-end circuit for a cellular radio that employs components for reducing power consumption
A transceiver front-end circuit for a cellular radio architecture for a vehicle, where the transceiver circuit employs components for reducing power consumption. The transceiver circuit includes a receiver module having a delta-sigma modulator that converts analog receive signals to a representative digital signal in an interleaving process, where the delta-sigma modulator includes a combiner, a low noise amplifier (LNA), an LC filter and a quantizer circuit. The LC filter is a multi-order filter and the quantizer circuit is an interleaving quantizer circuit that interleaves multiple groups of bits from the filter. The order of the LC filter is selectively reduced in situations where a full dynamic range of the cellular radio is not required and a bit resolution of the quantizer circuit is reduced so as to reduce the power requirements of the cellular radio.
US09648559B2 Systems and methods for differentiated fast initial link setup
System and method embodiments are provided for differentiated fast initial link setup. The embodiments enable improved performance of initial link setup by stations in a wireless local area network during the association process and mitigate the negative effect of bursty association on existing associated users. In an embodiment, a method in a wirelessly enabled network component for differentiated fast initial link setup in a wireless local area network, includes determining categories of station types for initial link setup; determining initial link setup conditions for each station type, wherein the initial link setup conditions specify a priority of associating for each station type; and broadcasting initial link setup conditions to a plurality of stations, wherein the stations determine whether to associate with the wirelessly enabled network component immediately or after a time duration according to the station types and initial link setup conditions.
US09648556B2 Coordination of channel scanning among multiple radios
Examples herein disclose preventing multiple radios from simultaneously scanning a same channel. The examples identify a first scan time associated with the multiple radios and determine a second scan time based on the first scan time. The examples prevent the multiple radios from simultaneously scanning the same channel through a coordination of channel scanning of each of the multiple radios based on the second scan time.
US09648553B2 Cell measurement method, user equipment and base station
The present invention provides a cell measurement method, a user equipment, and a base station. A cell measurement method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes receiving, by a user equipment, a neighbor cell list of a serving cell of a base station, wherein the neighbor cell list corresponds to a frequency, is sent by the base station, and includes a list of all neighboring cells at the frequency and information indicating whether each neighboring cell in the list of all neighboring cells can be measured by at least one of a first type of user equipment and a second type of user equipment at the frequency corresponding to the neighbor cell list. The cell measurement method also includes performing, by the user equipment, cell measurement according to the neighbor cell list.
US09648552B2 Wireless network scanning strategies
A device may use positioning information to increase the efficiency a wireless local area network (WLAN) scanning process. To determine the presence of WLANs within range, a device may determine its own location. For example, the device may determine its own location using a satellite-based navigation system. The device may then determine a wireless scanning strategy based on the determined location. The determination may be further based on connection parameters, such as, channel information, network capabilities, and/or other connection parameters.
US09648549B2 Methods, access point and wireless device for providing neighbor report information from an access point to a wireless device
Systems, methods, and devices for wireless communication are provided. In an embodiment, a method of wireless communication includes receiving, at an access point, a probe request, generating a probe response to conditionally include neighbor report information based on the probe request; and transmitting the probe response to a wireless device.
US09648540B2 Node device and data relaying method
A node device includes: a communication unit to transmit a data frame containing frequency information and receive the data frame; a storage unit to store a table in which frame identification information and the frequency information are associated; and a control unit to: determine whether a destination of the received data frame is its own node device; determine whether the frame identification information of the received data frame is registered in the table; determine whether the number of transmission times is less than or equal to the number of transmission times corresponding to the frame identification information registered in the table; update the frequency information corresponding to the frame identification information registered in the table with the frequency information of the received data frame; and increase the number of transmission times, wherein the communication unit transmits the data frame for which the number of transmission times is increased.
US09648539B1 Base station selection in ultra dense network handover scenarios
For an ultra dense network (UDN) having small cells of highly overlapped coverages, a user equipment (UE) selects in a handover process a preferred base station (BS) from candidate BSs for minimizing occurrence of handover events. The UE computes finite differences consisting of a first-, a second-, and one or more higher-order differences, according to received signal strength (RSS) values obtained for each candidate BS. A preference level, which is a total number of finite differences having consecutive order numbers, including the first-order difference, and being positive or non-negative, is computed for each candidate BS. One or more favorable candidate BSs from the candidate BSs are identified such that the group of such favorable candidate BSs has the same preference level that is maximum among all the preference levels computed for the candidate BSs. The preferred BS is selected from the group of such favorable candidate BSs.
US09648530B2 Method for WiFi connectivity loss anticipation
A method for anticipating the loss of connectivity between a mobile device and a wireless short-range access point among a plurality of such wireless access points, this method comprising the following steps: —collecting a plurality of paths corresponding to the mobile device movements within the coverage areas of the access points to which the mobile device was successively associated without loss of connectivity, each path comprising a root access point at which a connectivity is originated and a dead-end access point at which the connectivity is lost; —detecting the current access point to which the mobile device is currently associated; —identifying the paths comprising the current access point; —computing the risks of losing the connectivity when following each of the identified paths from the current access point to the root access point or to the dead-end access point of each of the identified paths.
US09648529B1 Systems and methods for avoiding packet loss during a handover
Systems and methods are described for avoiding packet loss during a handover. A handover request may be received at a control element of a first communication network. It may be determined that the handover request comprises a first type of handover request. A gateway node of the first communication network may be instructed to buffer packets for the wireless device based on the determination that the handover request comprises a first type of handover request. And the gateway node may be instructed to stop buffering the packets for the wireless device based on an execution of the requested handover.
US09648527B2 Method and apparatus for selecting a cell of a communications network
A cell for communication with a user equipment within a mobile communications network in which the network comprises a plurality of cells, is selected by identifying (201) cells having the required signal strength for communication with a user equipment; grouping (203) the identified cells according to maximum transmit power level a user equipment may use when communicating within that cell, p-Max, each group being allocated a priority level such that the group having the lowest p-Max is allocated the highest priority level through to the group having the highest p-Max allocated the lowest priority level; and selecting (205) one of the grouped cells for communication with the user equipment from the group of cells having the highest priority level.
US09648520B2 Method for processing data associated with handover in a wireless network
A method of processing data associated with mobility of a user equipment (UE) in a wireless network is described. A mobility management entity (MME) starts an activation procedure for a default bearer for a packet data network (PDN) connection associated with a local Internet protocol access (LIPA). If a base station rejects an establishment of the default bearer for the PDN connection associated with the LIPA due to a triggered handover, the MME transmits a PDN connection reject message including a cause value, and releasing a network resource allocated for the activation procedure.
US09648517B2 Architecture and methods for traffic management by tunneling in hierarchical cellular networks
A hierarchical cellular network system having a core and comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein at least one node comprises a relay; and wherein at least one relay includes: a tunneling sub-system; a backhauling link subsystem interfacing between the tunneling subsystem and a node which is closer to the core than the relay; and a base station subsystem, interfacing between the tunneling subsystem and a mobile station or a node which is further from the core than the relay, wherein the tunneling subsystem is operative to perform the following, on data arriving from a base station subsystem belonging to another node from among the plurality of nodes: collecting the data; and encapsulating the results to be sent in an individual session into packets and sending the packets to the Backhauling Link Subsystem.
US09648512B2 Apparatuses and methods for measurement reporting in a wireless communications system
A mobile communications device with a wireless module and a controller module is provided. The wireless module performs wireless transceiving to and from a first cellular station of a first service network and a second cellular station of a second service network, wherein the first service network is a long term evolution (LTE) network and the second service network is a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network. The controller module receives a measurement request message from the first cellular station via the wireless module, performs a measurement on the second cellular station in response to the measurement request message and reports the measurement result to the first service network via the wireless module, wherein the second cellular station is previously not requested or configured by the first service network to be measured.
US09648504B2 Using subarrays of a beamformer for transmissions in a forward link
Methods, systems, and devices are described for transmitting across a broad azimuth using an antenna array. In one example, a method is described that includes forming two subarrays from an antenna array. Beamforming weights are selected for each subarray to cause the radiation patterns to be complementary over a range of the azimuth of a cell. The beamforming weights may be selected according to a recursive relation based on the number of antenna elements in each subarray. Information may be encoded, scrambled, and mapped to modulation symbols. A Space Frequency Block Code (SFBC) such as an Alamouti Code may then be used to form two signals to be transmitted over the two subarrays.
US09648489B2 System and method for restricting mobility in wireless networks
This invention provides a method, system and apparatus for controlling mobility on a wireless network, which includes retrieving a network mobility preference, the network mobility preference indicating a level of mobility service for the mobile station, the level of mobility service indicating the extent to which the mobile station can handoff among base stations of the wireless network, and establishing a level of mobility service for the mobile station based on the retrieved network mobility preference. The method and apparatus may further include determining the level of mobility service for the mobile station to be fully or partially restricted based on the mobility preference.
US09648464B1 Efficient zone based client count forecasting
An efficient process is provided that exploits features in historical and current client location data to forecast client counts of different zones up to several hours ahead. These features may be obtained from correlations of client counts of multiple zones in a recent and long period of time. These features may also be combined using techniques that choose the best performing method for a particular dataset and a particular lookahead time. This process provides better forecast/prediction on the zone-based client count data, and is very useful in customer analytics which can now show the future predicted value. This can help the analytics customers to plan their operations based on the location analytics.
US09648450B2 Assistance techniques
Assistance techniques that give customers more knowledge and more freedom to seek out employees or other help providers. In an example method, a mobile device of a customer sends a request for assistance to a host computer, receives a location of help provider from the host computer, and displays the location on a map. The customer may then seek out the help provider.
US09648442B2 System and method for processing MEID data
A system, method, computer readable medium, and computer program for processing wireless communication device identification numbers such as MEID numbers 10 in any standard representation (such as decimal or hexadecimal) and converting the wireless communication device identification number 140 to all commonly used forms and representations. This capability ensures older systems and wireless networks are compatible with the latest standards in wireless communication device identification numbers. Additionally, the system can validate the wireless communication device identification numbers 70 and verify/calculate any check digits 100.
US09648441B2 Smart online services presence in a cellular network
A method and system for providing on-line services to a user from a services provider over a wireless cellular network. The cellular network is located between the user and the services provider, and a distributed computer system such as the Internet is located between the services provider and the cellular network for transmitting data between the services provide and the cellular network. In one embodiment, the services provider transmits software and operating characteristics over the distributed computer system to the cellular network, and the cellular network installs this software on one or more nodes of the network. When a user connects to the cellular network for services from the service provider, the network operates the software on the one or more nodes in accordance with the operating characteristics, to provide one or more services from this one or more nodes to the user from the service provider.
US09648420B2 Rectifier circuit for monitoring dc offset of a single-supply audio power amplifier
An audio power amplifier arrangement includes an audio power amplification integrated circuit having two loudspeaker outputs. A rectifier circuit includes a first diode having a cathode connected to one of the two loudspeaker outputs and an anode connected to a rectifier output node. A second diode has an anode connected to the one loudspeaker output. A first resistor has a first end connected to a cathode of the second diode and a second end connected to the rectifier output node. A capacitor has a first end connected to the rectifier output node and a second end connected to electrical ground. A second resistor has a first end connected to the rectifier output node and a second end connected to electrical ground.
US09648416B2 Interactive vehicle synthesizer
A method of operating an audio entertainment system in a vehicle includes detecting an operating parameter of the vehicle. A sensor signal corresponding to the detected operating parameter is transmitted. Music that is audibly produced within the vehicle is musically modified dependent upon the sensor signal.
US09648412B2 Speakers and headphones related to vibrations in an audio system, and methods for operating same
A speaker assembly includes a support structure and a tactile vibrator coupled to the support structure. The tactile vibrator includes a plurality of rigid members coupled to a plurality of suspension members. Each rigid member of the plurality of rigid members has at least one magnetic member coupled thereto for generating tactile vibrations during operation of the speaker assembly. A headphone includes the speaker assembly. A method of operating a speaker assembly includes driving a tactile vibrator having a plurality of magnetic members coupled to a plurality of rigid members and a plurality of suspension members to cause tactile vibrations in the speaker assembly.
US09648401B2 Data center network and method for deploying the data center network
A data center network and a method for deploying the data center network. The data center network includes one core switch group, m cyclic arrayed waveguide grating (CAWG) groups, and m edge switch groups, where the core switch group includes k core switches; each CAWG group includes 2*Y N*N CAWGs, where the 2*Y CAWGs include Y uplink CAWGs and Y downlink CAWGs, the Y uplink CAWGs are connected to each core switch in the core switch group separately using an optical uplink, and the Y downlink CAWGs are connected to each core switch in the core switch group separately using an optical downlink; and each edge switch of an edge switch group is connected to an uplink CAWG and a downlink CAWG in a corresponding CAWG group separately. The present invention can reduce the number of optical fibers in a data center network.
US09648400B2 Consumption meter with remote program update
The invention relates to a system of consumption meters (2) arranged in a communication network, where program data of the consumption meters can be updated via the communication network. A data collector (3) is arranged for updating the program data of a group of consumption meters over the network. This is performed by establishing a dedicated update session to each consumption meter of the group of consumption meters, and transmitting addressed update program segments to consumption meters in session. During the update session with a given consumption meter, any other consumption meter which is within communication range (8) will, if it receives the update segment, store it even though the segment is addressed to another meter. In an update session of a next meter, only segments not already stored from a previous session to another consumption meter are transmitted to the next meter.
US09648398B2 Virtual channel declarative script binding
A method consistent with certain implementations involves receiving a triggerable declarative object (TDO) at a digital television receiver device that carries out a programmed script upon execution; the programmed script including a parameter discovery function that determines an operational parameter of the television receiver device and further includes a programmed function; initiating the execution of the TDO in order to initiate execution of the script on a processor of the television receiver device; running the script on the processor of the television receiver device in order to discover the operational parameter and in order to carry out the programmed function; and where the programmed function is conditional upon the discovered operational parameter of the television receiver. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US09648395B1 Systems and methods for transitioning between multiple video portions produced based on multiple encodings
Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can identify a beginning portion and a remaining portion of a video to be encoded. A first constant quality variable bit rate encoding process can be applied to the beginning portion, based on a first set of encoding parameters, to produce an encoded beginning portion. A second constant quality variable bit rate encoding process can be applied to the remaining portion, based on a second set of encoding parameters, to produce an encoded remaining portion. The encoded beginning portion can be provided for video playback. The encoded remaining portion can be provided, when requested, for video playback subsequent to the encoded beginning portion.
US09648392B2 Transmission of video signals
An apparatus, method, and system are described for transmitting a television program signal. A portion of a local frequency spectrum may be determined to be free, or relatively unused. A user selection of a television program or broadcast programming channel may be received from a program lineup in an electronic programming guide. The selected program may be selected from a gateway, translated, and transmitted over the portion of the frequency spectrum determined to be free. The translation may include converting a signal from the gateway into a National Television Systems Committee (NTSC) signal or a mobile TV signal.
US09648390B2 Dynamic adjustment of electronic program guide displays based on view preferences for minimizing navigation in VOD program selection
Items of video content offered for viewing on a video-on-demand (VOD) platform of a digital TV service provider are each assigned a respective title and hierarchical address corresponding to hierarchically-arranged categories and subcategories within which the title for the video content is to be categorized. The title is listed in a location of an electronic program guide (EPG) using the same categories and subcategories as its hierarchical address. Any TV subscriber can access the EPG and navigate through its categories and subcategories to find a title for viewing on the TV. The EPG dynamically adjust its display listings of each level of categories, subcategories, and titles in order to minimize the number of remote control keypresses needed for a viewer to navigate to a title of interest. In one basic form, the EPG display is reordered by listing more frequently visited categories or subcategories first, and other less frequently visited categories or subcategories lower on the listing or out-of-sight on another page of the display.
US09648383B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving a measurement report frame in a wireless local area network system
A method of transmitting and receiving a measurement report frame in a wireless local area network (WLAN) is disclosed. A method of transmitting a measurement report frame form a first station to a second station in a regulatory domain where a licensed device and an unlicensed device are permitted to operate together in a wireless local area network (WLAN) comprising: receiving, at the first station, a measurement request frame from the second station; and transmitting, to the second station, the measurement report frame including a Primary Service Signal Map field indicating which TV channels are occupied by a primary service signal, wherein the primary service signal is a signal that requires protection by regulation.
US09648377B2 Program guide system with video-on-demand browsing
An interactive television program guide system is provided in which a viewer may direct a television to simultaneously display a selected television program and a program guide display. A viewer may use the program guide display to browse available video-on-demand (VOD) while continuing to view a previously selected program in the background. The viewer may browse through video-on-demand programs on the program guide display using a variety of keys on a remote control unit. The viewer may direct the program guide to order a given video-on-demand program, and set a desired broadcast time for that program.
US09648363B2 Enhanced user experience for miracast devices
A method is implementable in a source device that is operable to provide, via a wireless channel, a video stream to a sink device for display by the sink device. The method includes receiving compressed video data corresponding to one or more video frames of the video stream, and generating a current packet of a plurality of packets. The plurality of packets collectively includes the compressed video data. The current packet includes a current portion of the compressed video data and recovery information indicative of at least one of (i) an arrangement of an earlier portion of the compressed video data, or (ii) content of the earlier portion of the compressed video data, wherein the earlier portion of the compressed video data is data included in an earlier packet of the plurality of packets. The method also includes causing the current packet to be transmitted to the sink device.
US09648361B2 Apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals, apparatus for receiving broadcast signals, method for transmitting broadcast signals and method for receiving broadcast signals
The present invention provides a method of transmitting broadcast signals, the method including encoding service data, building at least one signal frame by mapping the encoded service data, modulating data in the built at least one signal frame by an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing, OFDM, scheme and transmitting the broadcast signals having the modulated data.
US09648358B2 Systems and methods for interactive program guides with personal video recording features
Methods and systems that provide enhanced personal video recorder (“PVR”) and interactive television program guide (“IPG”) functionality are provided. An interactive television application may be used to display a list of PVR recordings, schedule recordings to a PVR, configure recordings, view a list of scheduled recordings, configure recording settings, or select delete priority settings for recordings. The application may integrate pay-per-view and PVR functionality. The application may send user notifications for changes that are to be made to the recording content of a PVR. Live programming may be buffered by the application using straight buffers that are created for each new program. Parallel buffers for concurrent programs may be implemented using multiple tuners. Straight buffers may be used in managing or controlling the flow of programming. Television content may be automatically paused when a user is engaged in using the application. Multiple IPGs for different users of a PVR may be implemented.
US09648357B2 Method and device for providing a video stream for an object of interest
A method and device for ranking video feeds provide a user with the best feed depending on what the user wishes to see. The method includes obtaining one or more video feeds and ranking the video feeds. The ranking is based, at least in part, upon input from a viewer indicating an object of interest. The ranking can consider things such as video stream resolution and signal strength.
US09648356B2 Apparatus and methods for encoding, decoding and representing high dynamic range images
A data structure defining a high dynamic range image comprises a tone map having a reduced dynamic range and HDR information. The high dynamic range image can be reconstructed from the tone map and the HDR information. The data structure can be backwards compatible with legacy hardware or software viewers. The data structure may comprise a JFIF file having the tone map encoded as a JPEG image with the HDR information in an application extension or comment field of the JFIF file, or a MPEG file having the tone map encoded as a MPEG image with the HDR information in a video or audio channel of the MPEG file. Apparatus and methods for encoding or decoding the data structure may apply pre- or post correction to compensate for lossy encoding of the high dynamic range information.
US09648349B2 Video encoding method and apparatus using transformation unit of variable tree structure, and video decoding method and apparatus
A video decoding method for performing video decoding, in which a maximum split level of a transformation unit is determined based on maximum split information for an intra mode when information about the prediction mode indicates that a coding unit is predicted according to the intra mode. Accordingly, the information about the prediction mode indicates that the coding unit is predicted according to the intra mode, rather than according to any prediction modes.
US09648348B2 Multi-layer video file format designs
A computing device generates a file that comprises a track box that contains metadata for a track in the file. Media data for the track comprises a sequence of samples. Each of the samples is a video access unit of multi-layer video data. As part of generating the file, the computing device generates, in the file, an additional box that documents all of the samples containing at least one Intra Random Access Point (IRAP) picture.
US09648347B1 Disparity postprocessing and interpolation for motion estimation and motion correction
A method of generating new views for a multi-view display system includes receiving a block-based disparity estimate between left image data and right image data for a frame of image data at a processor, upscaling the block-based disparity estimate to a pixel-based disparity for each pixel in the image date, performing motion vector based disparity interpolation and image interpolation simultaneously to produce left and right side interpolated data, and generating at least one new view using left and right side interpolated data.
US09648333B2 High level syntax for HEVC extensions
A video coding device may identify a network abstraction layer (NAL) unit. The video coding device may determine whether the NAL unit includes an active parameter set for a current layer. When the NAL unit includes the active parameter set for the current layer, the video coding device may set an NAL unit header layer identifier associated with the NAL unit to at least one of: zero, a value indicative of the current layer, or a value indicative of a reference layer of the current layer. The NAL unit may be a picture parameter set (PPS) NAL unit. The NAL unit may be a sequence parameter set (SPS) NAL unit.
US09648331B2 Method and apparatus for coefficient scan based on partition mode of prediction unit
Provided are a method and an apparatus for coefficient scan on the base of a partition mode of a prediction unit. The method comprises the steps of: determining a scan method on the basis of a partition mode of a prediction unit; and encoding the information about the scan method, wherein the scan method is determined, on the basis of RDO (Rate Distortion optimization), from among the extracted candidate scan methods which have been extracted with consideration of the shapes of the partitions of the partition mode.
US09648330B2 Inter-color component residual prediction
A device for decoding video data includes a memory configured to store video data, and at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to: determine luma residual samples for a block of video data, determine predictive chroma residual samples for the block of video data, scale the luma residual samples with a scale factor to produce scaled luma residual samples, and determine updated chroma residual samples based on the predictive chroma residual samples and the scaled luma residual samples.
US09648324B2 Image coding method of encoding components of a motion vector and arranging the encoded components in a bitstream
An image coding method includes coding a motion vector difference indicating a difference between the motion vector and a predicted motion vector, wherein the coding includes: coding a first portion that is a part of a first component which is one of a horizontal component and a vertical component of the motion vector difference; coding a second portion that is a part of a second component which is different from the first component and is the other one of the horizontal component and the vertical component; coding a third portion that is a part of the first component and is different from the first portion; coding a fourth portion that is a part of the second component and is different from the second portion; and generating a code string which includes the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, and the fourth portion in the stated order.
US09648323B2 Image coding method and image coding apparatus
An image coding method includes: selecting a first picture from plural pictures; setting a first temporal motion vector prediction flag which is associated with the first picture and is a temporal motion vector prediction flag indicating whether or not temporal motion vector prediction is to be used, to indicate that the temporal motion vector prediction is not to be used, and coding the first temporal motion vector prediction flag; coding the first picture without using the temporal motion vector prediction; and coding a second picture which follows the first picture in coding order, with referring to a motion vector of a picture preceding the first picture in coding order being prohibited.
US09648320B2 Methods and systems for processing content
Methods and system for processing data are disclosed. One method can comprise receiving content data in a first format and context description data relating to a portion of the content data. The method may further comprise converting the portion of the content data to an intermediate format, and converting the portion of the content data from the intermediate format to a second format based at least in part upon the context description data.
US09648318B2 Performing residual prediction in video coding
In general, techniques are described for performing residual prediction in video coding. As one example, a device configured to code scalable or multi-view video data may comprise one or more processors configured to perform the techniques. The processors may determine a difference picture, for a current picture, based on a first reference picture in a same layer or view as the current picture and a decoded picture in a different layer or view as the current picture. The decoded picture may be in a same access unit as the first reference picture. The processors may perform bi-prediction based on the difference picture to code at least a portion of the current picture.
US09648313B1 Aviation display system and method
An aviation display system includes an input source configured to provide a left eye input channel including a first band and an input source configured to provide a right eye input channel having a second band different from the first band. A processor is coupled with the input sources and with a non-transitory processor readable medium storing processor executable code, which causes the processor to receive data indicative of the left eye and right eye input channels from the input sources and to generate a left eye output channel and a right eye output channel. A display is configured to receive the left and right eye output channels from the processor and to provide an image indicative of the left eye output channel to a left eye of a user, and an image indicative of the right eye output channel to a right eye of the user.
US09648312B2 Display device in which multiple images are displayed using four neighboring pixels, display panel and electronic apparatus using same
A display device including a display part including a pixel of a first series having a first horizontal pixel width and a pixel of a second series having a second horizontal pixel width smaller than the first horizontal pixel width, the pixels of the first series and the pixels of the second series being arrayed alternately in each of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, and a light beam control part that controls a light beam from the display part or a light beam toward the display part.
US09648302B2 RGB-D imaging system and method using ultrasonic depth sensing
An RGB-D imaging system having an ultrasonic array for generating images that include depth data, and methods for manufacturing and using same. The RGB-D imaging system includes an ultrasonic sensor array positioned on a housing that includes an ultrasonic emitter and a plurality of ultrasonic sensors. The RGB-D imaging system also includes an RGB camera assembly positioned on the housing in a parallel plane with, and operably connected to, the ultrasonic sensor. The RGB-D imaging system thereby provides/enables improved imaging in a wide variety of lighting conditions compared to conventional systems.
US09648300B2 Calibration of multi-camera devices using reflections thereof
The technology disclosed can provide capabilities such as calibrating an imaging device based on images taken by device cameras of reflections of the device itself. Implementations exploit device components that are easily recognizable in the images, such as one or more light-emitting devices (LEDs) or other light sources to eliminate the need for specialized calibration hardware and can be accomplished, instead, with hardware readily available to a user of the device—the device itself and a reflecting surface, such as a computer screen. The user may hold the device near the screen under varying orientations and capture a series of images of the reflection with the device's cameras. These images are analyzed to determine camera parameters based on the known positions of the light sources. If the positions of the light sources themselves are subject to errors requiring calibration, they may be solved for as unknowns in the analysis.
US09648298B2 Multi-view signal codec
A higher compression rate or better rate/distortion ratio is achieved by adopting or predicting second coding parameters used for encoding a second view of the multi-view signal from first coding parameters used in encoding a first view of the multi-view signal. The redundancies between views of a multi-view signal were found to be not restricted to the views themselves, such as the video information thereof. Rather, the coding parameters in parallely encoding these views show similarities which may be exploited in order to further improve the coding rate.
US09648293B2 Color model look-up table generation
The conversion of RAW data captured by a camera can have artifacts in smoothness of various hues for varying chroma. To optimize smoothness and color accuracy, transform coefficients defining conversion of a standard color model to a target color model are determined. The RAW data is converted to data in a standard color model and the data in the standard color model is converted to data in the target color model using the transform coefficients. The process is repeated for various lightness levels and combined into a look up table to efficiently convert RAW data to data in the target color model for various lightness levels.
US09648276B2 Transmission management apparatus, transmission system, transmission management method and recording medium
A transmission management apparatus for managing a session performing transmission/reception of content data via a relay apparatus includes a service information management unit configured to manage service management information in which service identification information identifying service content provided to each of a plurality of transmission terminals, and service content corresponding to the service identification information are stored preliminarily; a service identification information acquisition unit configured to acquire service identification information of each of the transmission terminals participating in the session; a service content determination unit configured to determine the service content of the session, based on the service identification information acquired by the service identification information acquisition unit and the service management information; and a session control unit configured to report session information based on the service content of the session determined by the service content determination unit to the relay apparatus.
US09648265B2 Imaging systems and methods for mitigating pixel data quantization error
An image sensor may have an array of pixels and readout circuitry. The array may include image pixels that generate signals in response to image light and reference pixels that generate signals in response to electrical noise. The readout circuitry may obtain first pixel values from the image pixels and may obtain second pixel values from the reference pixels. The readout circuitry may generate an extended precision pixel value based on the second pixel values that have an extended bit width relative to the each of the second pixel values. The readout circuitry may generate multiple dithered correction values by adding randomized sequences of least significant bits to the extended precision pixel value. The readout circuitry may mitigate visible quantization error and noise such as row-correlated and column-correlated noise in the final image by subtracting the dithered correction values from corresponding first pixel values.
US09648260B2 Solid-state image taking device with uniform noise distribution
A solid-state image taking device including a pixel section and a scan driving section wherein on each pixel column included in the pixel area determined in advance to serve as a pixel column having the unit pixels laid out in the scan direction, the opto-electric conversion section and the electric-charge holding section are laid out alternately and repeatedly, and on each of the pixel columns in the pixel area determined in advance, two the electric-charge holding sections of two adjacent ones of the unit pixels are laid out disproportionately toward one side of the scan direction with respect to the optical-path limiting section or the opto-electric conversion section.
US09648258B2 Solid-state image pickup device and control method thereof
An image sensor controls the gain of a pixel signal on a pixel-by-pixel basis and extends a dynamic range while maintaining a S/N ratio at a favorable level. A column unit in an image sensor is independently detects a level of each pixel signal and independently sets a gain for level of the signal. A photoelectric converting region unit has pixels arranged two-dimensionally with a vertical signal line for each pixel column to output each pixel signal. The column unit is on an output side of the vertical signal line. The column unit for each pixel column has a pixel signal level detecting circuit, a programmable gain control, a sample and hold (S/H) circuit. Gain correction is performed according to a result of a detected level of the pixel signal.
US09648257B2 Efficient method for reading an imaging device using correlated double sampling
A method for reading an imaging device intended for capturing images in a detector including a large number of photosensitive points called pixels organized into a matrix. The pixels of the same column are linked to a column conductor enabling the successive reading of the photosignals acquired by the pixels of the column, the method consisting for each of the pixels in carrying out a correlated double sampling read phase, the read phase comprising an operation of resetting the pixel followed by two read operations, the first without the photosignal, and the second with the photosignal. Three steps are concatenated in succession for the pixels of the same column: 1. a first of the operations of reading the pixel of a first row, 2. one of the operations of reading a second row, 3. a second of the operations of reading the pixel of the first row.
US09648251B2 Method for generating an HDR image of a scene based on a tradeoff between brightness distribution and motion
The present invention relates in general to a method of high dynamic range (HDR) digital imaging and determining and setting exposure parameters for detection of image data by an imaging device, such as a digital camera, to produce a high dynamic range (HDR) image of a scene. The method includes setting an exposure (Ei+1) for a next frame (fi+1) as a function of the current exposure (Ei), of a first brightness distribution (Hfulli) of colors of pixels of the current frame (fi) and of a second brightness distribution (Hmotioni) of colors of those pixels weighted by the motion of those pixels, such that motion is evaluated for those pixels in comparison with a previous frame (fi), capturing the next frame (fi+1) under the set exposure (Ei+1) and merging the next frame (fi+1) with at least the current frame (fi) into an HDR image.
US09648250B2 Image pickup apparatus and method of controlling the same
A mechanism which makes it possible to obtain high-quality images in continuous photographing by reducing the influence of flicker while suppressing reduction of frame speed. An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup device and an exposure unit configured to perform exposure of the image pickup device in response to a photographing instruction. An AE sensor detects peak timing of flicker. A camera CPU switches between peak synchronous exposure in which exposure operation is performed by making the same synchronous with the peak timing of flicker and normal exposure in which exposure operation is performed without making the same synchronous with the peak timing of flicker. The camera CPU corrects a photographed image obtained by the normal exposure. The camera CPU switches between the peak synchronous exposure and the normal exposure, based on the detected peak timing of flicker.
US09648249B2 Image capturing apparatus, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
An image capturing apparatus comprises an image capturing unit, a calculation unit configured to calculate light amount variation characteristics of light from an object, a photometric value determination unit configured to determine a photometry value used for determination of an exposure condition based on the light amount variation characteristics calculated by the calculation unit, and an exposure condition determination unit configured to determine an exposure condition when performing exposure of the image capturing unit at a timing set based on the light amount variation characteristics calculated by the calculation unit, based on the photometry value determined by the photometric value determination unit.
US09648243B2 Image capturing apparatus and control method thereof
An image capturing apparatus comprises a display unit connected to an apparatus through a movable portion so that a direction of a display surface is changeable; a detection unit configured to detect a rotation position of the display unit; and a display control unit configured to perform a change in a direction of information displayed on the display surface based on comparison between the detected rotation position and a threshold, wherein the display control unit sets such that a first threshold serving as a threshold of the rotation position in a mode in which a handwritten input to the display surface is allowed is made different from a second threshold serving as a threshold of the rotation position in another mode.
US09648237B2 Portable device and manipulation method for triggering different functions with a manipulation input
A portable device and a manipulation method are disclosed. The portable device includes a camera unit, a first sensor and a control module. The camera unit has a plurality of functional modes. The functional modes include a photo-capturing mode and a video-recording mode. The first sensor is disposed on the portable device and configured for sensing a manipulation input. The manipulation input has a manipulation pattern and duration information of the manipulation pattern. The control module is coupled with the camera unit and the first sensor. The control module is configured for selecting one of the functional modes corresponding to the manipulation pattern and the duration information sensed by the first sensor, and triggering the camera unit into the selected functional mode.
US09648233B2 System, device, and vehicle for recording panoramic images
The present invention relates to a system, a device, and vehicle for recording panoramic images. According to the present invention, panoramic images can be obtained using a plurality of optical cameras and light directing elements which are arranged based on a parabola. This allows a compact device to be obtained while ensuring that each camera records a partial image as if it were at substantially the same focus point as the other cameras. By arranging the plurality of cameras and light directing elements such that the respective focus points are slightly offset relative to each other, a slight overlap between adjacent field of views can be obtained to improve stitching of the partial images to from the panoramic image.
US09648228B2 Image pickup device and image pickup method
An image pickup apparatus performs at least one exposure adjusting operation on the image captured by the camera. While the display is displaying the image which the camera is capturing, the touch panel has a first region with a width, in a peripheral portion of the display, and a second region which is disposed at an inner side of the first region in the display. While the display is displaying the image which the camera is capturing, when the touch panel detects a touch in the second region, at least an exposure adjusting operation starts to be performed. After the exposure adjusting operation has started, and while the display is displaying the image which the camera is capturing, when the touch panel detects a touch in the first region, any operation relating to the exposure adjusting operation is not performed, and the started exposure adjusting operation is maintained.
US09648223B2 Laser beam scanning assisted autofocus
An apparatus with autofocus includes a scanning laser projector to provide autofocus assist. The scanning laser projector may project visible or nonvisible light in contrasting patterns to provide passive autofocus assist. The scanning laser projector may include a time-of-flight determination circuit to measure distances to provide active autofocus assist. Passive and active autofocus assist are combined to provide hybrid autofocus assist.
US09648222B2 Image capturing apparatus that controls supply of amperage when reading out pixel signals and method for controlling the same
An image capturing apparatus including a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions for each of a plurality of microlenses, the image capturing apparatus comprising: a readout unit configured to be driven using a first driving method in which a signal is read out from part of the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions, and a second driving method in which a signal is read out from a greater number of the photoelectric conversion portions than in the first driving method; and a supply unit configured to, in a case where a signal is read out using the first driving method, supply an amperage that is smaller than that in a case where a signal is read out using the second driving method, to the readout unit.
US09648220B2 Imaging apparatus, imaging apparatus body and image sound output method
A digital camera includes an optical system including a focus lens, a zoom lens and a diaphragm, an HDMI output terminal configured to output sound collected by a microphone unit and a picture imaged by a CCD image sensor to an external recorder, and a controller. The controller controls switching between a moving image priority mode and a still image priority mode in which the optical system is driven at a higher speed than a speed in a moving image priority mode. In addition, the controller allows change to a moving image imaging mode by an operation unit when detecting that output to the external recorder is possible in the HDMI output terminal.
US09648215B2 Communication device and control method thereof
A communication device capable of preventing a failure in light emission control caused due to communication with a lighting device such as the master and the slave. The communication device is capable of connecting to an image pickup device and transmits a lighting instruction from the image pickup device to a lighting device through a communication unit capable of performing bidirectional communication. It is determined whether or not the lighting device is ready for lighting. The lighting device is prevented from transmitting information to the communication unit when the lighting device is ready for lighting.
US09648213B2 Image sensor, image capturing apparatus, and control method of image capturing apparatus
An image sensor comprises: a pixel array having image forming pixels and phase-difference detecting pixels; and an outputting unit configured to add correction processing information, and position information of the phase-difference detecting pixels to image data obtained from the pixel array and to output the image data.
US09648201B2 Image reading apparatus with judgment unit to judge data of a predetermined format for transfer and with executing unit to convert image data before the data of a predetermined format is judged for transfer, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium
Disclosed is an image reading apparatus including: a reading unit configured to optically read an original and to output image data; an image conversion unit configured to convert the image data into data having a predetermined format; a storing unit configured to store the data having the predetermined format; a transfer unit configured to transfer the data to a designated destination; a judgment unit configured to judge whether the data can be transferred to the designated destination; and an executing unit configured to instruct the image reading apparatus to execute a process for reading the original and for converting the image data to store the data in the storing unit regardless of whether the judgment unit judges that the data can be transmitted, and to instruct the image reading apparatus to transfer the data after the judgment unit judges that the data can be transmitted.
US09648199B2 Geographic-based signal detection
The disclosure relates generally to geographic-based signal detection. One claim recites an apparatus comprising: an input for receiving a signal from a cell phone; an electronic processor for determining, based at least in part on the signal, whether the cell phone is physically located in a predetermined home area; and upon a condition of not being in the predetermined home area, communicating a machine-readable code detector to the cell phone for use as its primary machine-readable code detector to detect machine-readable code while outside of its predetermined home area. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided as well.
US09648198B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that embed additional information in an image having a plurality of pixels and image information
An image processing apparatus for embedding additional information in an image having a plurality of pixels and image information. A generating unit generates (a) the additional information to be embedded and (b) a bookbinding type of a medium containing the image. A holding unit holds a plurality of quantization conditions for embedding the additional information, including a quantization threshold. A selection unit segments the image into a plurality of embedding regions, and selects a condition to use in quantization based on the image information. A quantization condition control unit controls at least one of the plurality of quantization conditions for a predetermined region of the image based on the bookbinding type generated. An error diffusion processing unit distributes an error to peripheral pixels of a target pixel. A separating unit separates the embedded additional information from the image.
US09648194B2 Document reading device and image forming apparatus including same
A document reading device including an image reader. The image reader includes a first reader to read a first image from a first face of a document fed by a document feeder and a second reader to read a second face of the document. An operation mode is switchable between a normal operation mode in which the image reader is in an operation enabled state and an energy-saving mode in which the image reader is in an operation stop state. In a return from the energy saving mode to the normal operation mode, the image reader performs a start-up operation including a first initial operation for returning the first reader to the normal operation mode and then performs a second initial operation for returning the second reader to the normal operation mode.
US09648191B2 Job processing apparatus, method for controlling job processing apparatus, and storage medium
A method for controlling a job processing apparatus includes determining, when an instruction is issued to input a job by a voice that is input via a voice receiving unit, whether there is another job being executed. If the determining determines that the other job is being executed, an inquiry is made of a user about whether to interrupt the other job to execute the input job or to execute the input job without interrupting the other job.
US09648190B2 Image forming apparatus that performs user authentication by wireless communication, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus capable of returning from the power saving state and performing user authentication by one action of holding an authentication card over a card reader even when the apparatus is in the power saving state. The apparatus performs short-distance wireless communication with an external device. A controller performs control processing including at least authentication processing. When short-distance wireless communication with the device is started, a short-distance wireless communication section delivers a return-starting interrupt, to the controller, receives authentication data from the device to thereby store the authentication data during returning of the apparatus. The controller performs authentication processing based on the stored authentication data after returning of the apparatus from the power saving state, and notifies the device of an authentication processing result by a different channel.
US09648185B2 Image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus includes: a first unit including a supporter and a first image reader; and a second unit. The second unit includes: a pressing member that presses a reading object onto the supporter; a contact member that contacts a conveyed sheet; a sheet holder opposed to the contact member; a second image reader disposed on an opposite side of the contact member from the sheet holder; and a cover spaced apart from the contact member at a second position. When the second unit is located at the closed position, movement of the cover to the second position is limited by the first unit, and the cover is located at a position opposed to the first unit and different from a position of the pressing member. When the second unit is located at an open position, the limitation of the movement is canceled.
US09648182B2 Image forming device, and method of managing data
An image forming device executes a plurality of applications, and includes a scan controlling unit configured to instruct an image reading unit to read image data, and store the image data in an image data storage unit according to a request from the application; a display data generating unit configured to generate a display data of the image data stored in the image data storage unit, and store the display data in a display image data storage unit according to the request from the application, the display image data storage unit being inaccessible from the application; a display controlling unit configured to display the display data in a display unit according to the request from the application; and a deleting unit configured to delete the display data from the display data storage unit in response to a termination notice of use of the display data from the application.
US09648173B2 Method and system to provide network status information to a device
Network status information is provided to a mobile device. The data usage of the mobile device is tracked. A data usage criterion is determined from an account for the mobile device. The account information is stored on at least one server. The data usage is compared with the data usage criterion. Based on the comparison, it is determined whether the data usage meets the data usage criterion. Upon determining that the data usage meets the data usage criterion, a notification message is sent to the mobile device in real time through an information element field within an existing message in a bearer channel of the wireless packet data communication network. The notification message may instruct the mobile device to prevent generation and/or transmission of automatic network access requests while allowing user-initiated network access requests.
US09648168B2 Method and apparatus for optimizing response time to events in queue
A system for optimizing response time to events or representations thereof waiting in a queue has a first server having access to the queue; a software application running on the first server; and a second server accessible from the first server, the second server containing rules governing the optimization. In a preferred embodiment, the software application at least periodically accesses the queue and parses certain ones of events or tokens in the queue and compares the parsed results against rules accessed from the second server in order to determine a measure of disposal time for each parsed event wherein if the determined measure is sufficiently low for one or more of the parsed events, those one or more events are modified to a reflect a higher priority state than originally assigned enabling faster treatment of those events resulting in relief from those events to the queue system load.
US09648158B2 Echo path change detector
An echo path monitoring system for controlling an adaptive filter configured to estimate an echo of a far-end signal comprised in a microphone signal, the system comprising a comparison generator configured to compare the microphone signal with the estimated echo to obtain a first comparison and compare an error signal, which represents a difference between the microphone signal and the estimated echo, with the estimated echo to obtain a second comparison, and a controller configured to combine the first and second comparisons to form a parameter indicative of a state of the microphone signal and, in dependence on said parameter, control an operating mode of the adaptive filter.
US09648155B2 Mobile terminal, onboard device, control method, and control program
A mobile terminal that performs communication with an onboard device includes: a communication control unit configured to control reception of information instructing to switch a sound source which is transmitted from the onboard device, the information including information indicating an application program which is executed in the terminal serving as the sound source, and transmission of a sound, played by an application program operating in a foreground of the terminal, to the onboard device; a switching unit configured to switch an application program having been in operation in a foreground until immediately before, to a background, on the basis of the received information instructing to switch a sound source, and to switch an application program having been in operation in a background until immediately before, to a foreground; and a sound control unit configured to stop playing a sound of the application program having been in operation in a foreground until immediately before, and to start playing a sound of the application program having been in operation in a background until immediately before, subsequently to the stop.
US09648151B2 Location of a fuel cell on a mobile device
A mobile device having: a keyboard; a printed circuit board having at least one contact responsive to the keyboard; and a fuel cell assembly having: a fuel cell located between the keyboard and the printed circuit board, the fuel cell having a membrane and at least one aperture corresponding with the at least one contact; a tank adapted to store a fuel for the fuel cell; and piping connecting the tank with the fuel cell, where the fuel cell ventilates through the keyboard. Alternatively, the fuel cell acts as the printed circuit board and at least one contact for the keyboard is printed onto the fuel cell.
US09648146B2 Information processing system
An information processing system includes a first server that performs processes in accordance with first operations included in a system of operations for the first server, a second server that performs processes in accordance with second operations included in a system of operations for the second server different from the system of operations for the first server, and a terminal apparatus that requires the first and second servers to perform the processes. The terminal apparatus includes a first requiring portion that requires the first server to perform a process in accordance with at least one of the first operations designated by a user and a converter that converts the at least one first operation into a command set and stores the command set in a storage, the command set including at least one command, which is a part of the process and is performed by the first and second servers.
US09648141B2 Token delegation for third-party authorization in computer networking
In one embodiment, first content is served by an application server to a client computer through an Internet service provider network. The first content includes a link to second content on a third-party server. A token request is sent from the third-party server to the application server in response to selection of the link by the client computer. A token is provided to the third-party server by the application server in response to the token request. The token is configured to authorize data flow at a bandwidth for the second content by the Internet service provider network to the client computer. The data flow is authorized based on an agreement for the bandwidth between an operator of the application server and an operator of the Internet service provider network.
US09648137B1 Upgrading a descriptor engine for a network interface card
Examples of techniques for upgrading a descriptor engine for a network interface card (NIC) are disclosed. An example method may include: quiescing a transmit stream to the NIC; stopping a descriptor engine from providing new receive descriptors to the NIC; creating a copy in a memory of any receive descriptors already available to the NIC prior to the stopping the descriptor engine; setting a controller to redirect inbound traffic to the memory; logging a current configuration, state, and receive pointers of the descriptor engine; updating the descriptor engine; restoring a transmit configuration and a transmit state of the descriptor engine; and enabling a transmit stream of a data router such that transmit packets are created by the descriptor engine for transmission by the NIC.
US09648136B2 Smart packaging for mobile applications
A method of distributing content to an application from a server is disclosed. The method includes detecting in a file to be sent to the application from the server that the application is directed to request one or more resources to be downloaded to the application. A network latency associated with the downloading of the one or more resources is determined. A subset of the one or more resources is selectively packaged based at least in part on the network latency. The selectively packaged subset of the one or more resources is sent to the application.
US09648133B2 Optimizing traffic load in a communications network
Each application executing on an application server uses an extended version of the Berkeley Packet Filter (BPF) language to define an application-specific rule set. The application server also includes a Just-In-Time compiler to compile the BPF rule set. The compiled rule set is downloaded to a Packet Forwarding Entity (PFE) in the network, and used to control how the PFE steers data packets generated by the application through a communications network.
US09648129B2 Image filtering based on social context
In particular embodiments, a computing device determines a social context of each of one or more images to provide for display to a user. The computing device determines a relevance of each of the social contexts to the user. The computing device provides for display to the user one or more of the images based at least in part on the relevance of the social context of each image to the user.
US09648128B2 Dynamic ad hoc cloud based memory management for mobile devices
Mechanisms are provided for generating a dynamically generated ad hoc cloud storage system of mobile devices. A mobile device transmits a request to dynamically generate an ad hoc cloud storage system, to other devices within a local vicinity of the mobile device. Responses are received from the other devices within the local vicinity of the mobile device indicating that a corresponding device is available to participate in the dynamically generated ad hoc cloud storage system. The dynamically generated ad hoc cloud storage system is generated using memory resources of the other devices corresponding to the responses. The mobile device captures recording data and distributes the recording data to the other devices for storage in memory resources of the other devices.
US09648125B2 Systems and methods for caching content with notification-based invalidation
Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for content delivery on the Internet. In certain non-limiting embodiments, a caching model is provided that can support caching for indefinite time periods, potentially with infinite or relatively long time-to-live values, yet provide prompt updates when the underlying origin content changes. In one approach, an origin server can annotate its responses to content requests with tokens, e.g., placing them in an appended HTTP header or otherwise. The tokens can drive the process of caching, and can be used as handles for later invalidating the responses within caching proxy servers delivering the content. Tokens may be used to represent a variety of kinds of dependencies expressed in the response, including without limitation data, data ranges, or logic that was a basis for the construction of the response.
US09648124B2 Processing hybrid data using a single web client
According to an aspect, techniques for processing hybrid data include receiving a web request and translating the web request into a translated native request. The translated native request and a native request are sent to a server via a single web client. A response is received from the server via the single web client. It is determined whether the response corresponds to the translated native request or to the native request.
US09648119B2 Methods and devices for exchanging data
The present invention relates to the exchange of data between a server and a receiving device. The exchange method comprises receiving, at the receiving device, a push message comprising pushed data from the server; storing received pushed data in a cache memory of the receiving device, the stored data being identified as being of push type; transmitting, from the receiving device to the server, a request for data comprising information about pushed data stored in the cache memory of the receiving device; and receiving, from the server, at the receiving device, a response to said request comprising requested data.
US09648109B2 Image processing apparatus, shared address book display control method for the same, recording medium
An image processing apparatus includes a communicator portion that communicates with a portable terminal apparatus having an address book, a contact data obtaining portion that obtains contacts from the address book, the contacts including contact names and addresses, a registration portion that registers the contacts to a shared address book along with user identification information indicating the log-in user, a display, and a display controller that makes the display show the contacts at least by the contact name, the contacts being registered in the shared address book, that judges whether or not the shared address book contains contacts with different contact names but with identical addresses, and that, if it contains contacts with different contact names but with identical addresses, makes the display show any of the contacts by the contact name, the any contact having the user identification information indicating the log-in user.
US09648097B2 Cloud-to-device messaging for application activation and reporting
A computer-implemented method and system for updating application data for a first instance of an application via C2DM is disclosed. An application server may receive a request from the first client computing device for updated application data via a network connection. The updated application data may correspond to a second instance of the application at a second client computing device. In response to determining the second instance of the application at the second client computing device supports push notifications, the system and method may generate a C2DM message including a user ID corresponding to the first client computing device and the request for updated application data. A server may then send the C2DM message to the second client computing device, wherein the C2DM message causes the second instance to wake up and generate the updated application data. The updated application data may be returned to the first client computing device.
US09648093B2 Application service provider delivery system
In one embodiment, a display engine and one or more data files are determined. They are then sent to a website provider's network. The display engine and data are used to provide ASP functionality without contacting the ASP network for every user request. So even if the ASP network is not available, the ASP functionality provided by the display engine and data is always accessible to the website provider. For example, the website provider's network may provide the ASP functionality by displaying data in one or more data files at a user's display device. This is performed without relying on the availability of the ASP network.
US09648089B2 Context-aware hypothesis-driven aggregation of crowd-sourced evidence for a subscription-based service
A method and system for providing an answer to a subscription-based query service. The method includes acquiring context information and evidence information from one or more electronic devices based on a query. One or more belief values are assigned based on the evidence information and the context information. The belief values are aggregated for determining a score for competing hypotheses using a probabilistic model. Sufficiency of hypotheses is determined based on statistical significance for potential answer information to the query.
US09648087B2 Allocating distributed storage and task execution resources
A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module obtaining a plurality of data access requests and a request to execute a distributed computing function that includes a plurality of partial tasks. The method continues with the DS processing module allocating execution of the plurality of partial tasks to a set of distributed storage and task execution (DSTE) units in accordance with a desired executing efficiency and allocating processing of the plurality of data access requests in accordance with a desired data access efficiency. The method continues with the DS processing module establishing the desired executing efficiency and the desired data access efficiency to obtain a desired utilization of the set of DSTE units.
US09648080B2 Selection of page templates for presenting digital magazine content based on characteristics of additional page templates
A digital magazine server displays content to a user based on a page template specifying sizing and positioning of content items. The page template is selected from a set of candidate page templates, which is determined based on characteristics of page templates and characteristics of other page templates used to present content to the user. Different characteristics of a page template are weighted based on the page template's position in a series of additional page templates used to present content and characteristics of the additional page templates. Weights associated with different characteristics of a page template are combined to determine a template score for the page template, and the template score is used to determine if the page template is a candidate page template.
US09648075B1 Systems and methods for providing an event map
Provided are systems and methods for generating an event map of events located near a user's location. The event map may include embedded media, such as audio, video, images, and the like for events located within a specific geographic area, such as geographic radius around a user's location, and a specific timeframe. Each event may be displayed at a position on the event map that corresponds to the location of the event, and the embedded media for the event may be displayed at an event's position. Additionally, the event map may include data for each event, such as date and time of the event and links to event-related resources.
US09648048B2 Message handling in an IP multimedia subsystem
A method of handling a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) communication at a SIP application server within an IP Multimedia Subsystem, the method including handling a message received from a Serving Call/State Control Function node based upon a header of the message containing the URI of the served user. The SIP message is handled according to one of an originating case based upon a P-Asserted Identity contained in the SIP message or a terminating case using a Request-Uniform Resource Identifier (R-URI) of the SIP message, the appropriate case being identified in said header.
US09648045B2 Systems and methods involving aspects of hardware virtualization such as hypervisor, detection and interception of code or instruction execution including API calls, and/or other features
Systems, methods, computer readable media and articles of manufacture consistent with innovations herein are directed to computer virtualization, computer security and/or memory access. According to some illustrative implementations, innovations herein may utilize and/or involve a separation kernel hypervisor which may include the use of a guest operating system virtual machine protection domain, a virtualization assistance layer, and/or a instruction execution detection/interception mechanism (which may be proximate in temporal and/or spatial locality to malicious code, but isolated from it). The instruction execution detection/interception mechanism may perform processing, inter alia, for detection and/or notification of, and actions upon by a monitoring guest, code execution by a monitored guest involving predetermined physical memory locations, such as API calls. Such actions may include interception of API calls within the monitored guest and simulation thereof by the monitoring guest or another authorized guest.
US09648033B2 System for detecting the presence of rogue domain name service providers through passive monitoring
A method, system, computer program product embodied in a computer readable storage medium, and computer system are disclosed for identifying a rogue domain name service (DNS) server. Embodiments include passively monitoring traffic on a target network; and identifying a DNS resolution response in the traffic on the network. The DNS resolution response includes a mapping of a domain to an internet protocol (IP) address. The DNS resolution response is compared with a preconfigured list of known mappings of domains to IP addresses. Based on the results of the comparison, it can be determined whether the DNS resolution response is correct. In cases where the DNS resolution response is incorrect, the provider of the DNS resolution response is a rogue DNS server.
US09648015B1 Systems and methods for facilitating secure authentication using a biometric-enabled transitory password authentication device
Secure authentication may be facilitated using a biometric-enabled transitory password authentication device. Exemplary implementations may facilitate secure payments and/or authentication via an application running on a user computing platform (e.g., a mobile device) simultaneously coordinating with both a server and the authentication device, which may act in some respects as an external hardware token. Exemplary implementations may rely on combining three parameters to establish a three-factor based approach to authentication in a fraud-free manner for digital wallets, third-party software, and/or other purposes. The three-factor based approach to authentication may require something the user possesses (e.g., the authentication device), something the user is (e.g., a biometric identifier such as a fingerprint), and something the user knows (e.g., an image or numeric based pin used to unlock the authentication device). The authentication device may include a time-based one-time password (TOTP) generator made accessible by a fingerprint matching algorithm.
US09648007B1 Token-based storage service
A token-based storage service may comprise a repository of key-value data. In response to a request to store a data item, the storage service may generate a token comprising a namespace and a unique identifier. The token may be used as a key to store and retrieve the data item from the repository. Requests to access the data may be validated based on ownership information stored with the data item and information indicative of the origin of the request for access. In response to a request to store a new version of the data item, a new token may be generated.
US09648002B2 Location-based user disambiguation
Embodiments are directed to validating the identity of a user. In one scenario, a computer system determines that a login account has been created for a user, where the creation includes generation of a first identifier for the user based on a user's determined location at the time of account creation. The computer system next receives a login attempt from the user that includes a second, different identifier and one or more login credentials. The computer system then determines the location from which the login attempt was received and, using the second identifier and the determined login location, identifies the user account corresponding to the user. The computer system further authenticates the user upon determining that the second identifier and login location match the first identifier.
US09647996B2 Low power device with encryption
A server is in communication with a low power device. The server has a handshake key (Kh) with a key exchange that provides for a communication session between a mobile device and the low power device. The mobile device does not have the (Kh). A user mobile device is in communication with the server and uses a cipher to provide a secured communication between the mobile device and the low power device.
US09647995B2 System and method of decoupling and exposing computing device originated location information
A system and method is provided to determine location information of a portable computing device and, in particular, to a secure and scalable system and method of decoupling and exposing handset originated location information to third parties. The system includes a location platform to determine location information of a remote user, and an encryption service configured to secure the location information of the remote user and send the secure location information to a content provider.
US09647989B2 System and method of data interception and conversion in a proxy
An intercepting proxy server processes traffic between an enterprise user and a cloud application which provides Software as a Service (SaaS). The intercepting proxy server provides interception of real data elements in communications from the enterprise to the cloud and replacing them with obfuscating information by encrypting individual real data elements without disturbing the validity of the application protocol. To the processing cloud application real data are only visible as encrypted tokens. Tokens included in results returned from the cloud, are intercepted by the intercepting proxy server, and replaced with the corresponding sensitive real data. In this way, the enterprise is able to enjoy the benefits of the cloud application, while protecting the privacy of real data.
US09647977B2 Secure electronic mail system
An e-mail system is disclosed that overcomes many deficiencies of, but is backward compatible with, existing e-mail systems. Embodiments of the system may include various features, including but not limited to: (1) secure transfer of e-mail messages, without the need for users to replace existing e-mail clients or to change e-mail addresses; (2) tracking of all actions performed in connection with an e-mail transmission; (3) the ability for a recipient to view information about an e-mail message, optionally including information about how other addressees have responded to it, before deciding whether to retrieve the e-mail message; (4) the aggregation of entire e-mail conversations into a single threaded view; (5) the ability to include both private and public messages in a single e-mail communication; (6) sender control over downstream actions performed in connection with an e-mail message; (7) flexible control over cryptographic methods used to encrypt emails messages for storage.
US09647975B1 Systems and methods for identifying spam messages using subject information
Systems and methods for identifying a spam email message. A system can include a rules database configured to store a plurality of ratio determination rules, a vectors database configured to store a plurality of known vectors, a message processing tool configured to receive an email message, a gram building tool configured to build a k-skip-n-gram set of word combinations according he ratio determination rules, a vector building tool configured to receive the k-skip-n-gram set of word combinations, and build a vector for each k-skip-n-gram word combination, and a spam identification tool configured to determine a spam presence threshold based on the cosine similarity for each k-skip-n-gram word combination and the plurality of known vectors for the particular email message subject field subject category, and determine that the email message contains spam when the spam presence threshold is exceeded.
US09647974B2 Method and apparatus for event notification
A method (300) and apparatus are disclosed for event notification. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a presence services system (PSS) (102) can have a controller (104) that manages operations of a communications interface (110). The controller can be programmed to monitor (302) presence information of a plurality of communication devices of an end user operating in a communications system, and receive (316) a request from a calendar reminder system (CRS) for access to the presence information. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US09647970B2 Sorting electronic mail
Emails are received and parsed for a set of dates. A set of words surrounding the set of dates are identified and contextual information is correlated with the set of dates based on the set of words. It is then determined whether the dates are promotional expiration dates based on the contextual information. The emails that have promotional dates are placed in a list having a chronological order that is based on the promotional expiration dates. The current calendar date is checked and emails are excluded from the list in response to the current calendar date being chronologically after the promotional expiration date. The list is then displayed based on the exclusion of the email.
US09647969B2 Email as a transport mechanism for activity stream posting
A method, system and computer program product for utilizing email as a transport mechanism for activity stream posting. The method, program system, and computer product may include receiving an email, with content, at a target email system of a target from a source email system of a source. Content that is to be posted to an activity stream is extracted from the email content. The extracted content is posted to the activity stream. The method, program system, and computer product may further include examining the email at the target to identify whether the email includes content that is to be posted to the activity stream, or the target email system may deliver the email to a designated email address mailbox assigned to emails containing content to be sent to the activity stream. A notification of the email may be provided or the mailbox may be checked for email.
US09647955B2 Systems, methods, and devices for dynamic resource monitoring and allocation in a cluster system
In an embodiment, the systems, methods, and devices disclosed herein comprise a computer resource monitoring and allocation system. In an embodiment, the resource monitoring and allocation system can be configured to allocate computer resources that are available on various nodes of a cluster to specific jobs and/or sub-jobs and/or tasks and/or processes.
US09647954B2 Method and system for optimizing a network by independently scaling control segments and data flow
A server array controller that includes a Data Flow Segment (DFS) and at least one Control Segment (CS). The DFS includes the hardware-optimized portion of the controller, while the CS includes the software-optimized portions. The DFS performs most of the repetitive chores including statistics gathering and per-packet policy enforcement (e.g. packet switching). The DFS also performs tasks such as that of a router, a switch, or a routing switch. The CS determines the translation to be performed on each flow of packets, and thus performs high-level control functions and per-flow policy enforcement. Network address translation (NAT) is performed by the combined operation of the CS and DFS. The CS and DFS may be incorporated into one or more separate blocks. The CS and DFS are independently scalable. Additionally, the functionality of either the DFS or the CS may be separately implemented in software and/or hardware.
US09647953B2 Credit-based flow control in lossless Ethernet networks
In one embodiment, a system includes a hardware processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor or media access control (MAC) functionality of a network port. The logic is configured to negotiate a credit aging duration during initialization of a link between a receiving endpoint and a sending endpoint, the receiving and sending endpoints being connected in a network fabric. The link includes at least one virtual link. The logic is also configured to receive an amount of available flow credits from the receiving endpoint and transmit one or more packets to the receiving endpoint. The amount of available flow credits are used to determine a capacity to process packets at the receiving endpoint. The exchange of flow credits is performed on a per virtual link basis. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are presented according to more embodiments.
US09647951B2 Media stream rate reconstruction system and method
In a media delivery system over an Internet Protocol (IP) network, a device for network jitter reduction and rate reconstruction using a means for receiving streams with jitter, buffering the streams, and playing out/streaming each stream at an original rate of respective streams.
US09647950B2 System and method of site traffic control
Systems and methods of site traffic control are disclosed. In some example embodiments, a first request for an online service to perform an operation is received from a first user on a first client device, and at least one overload condition for the online service is detected, or otherwise determined, with the overload condition(s) corresponding to a first request time of the first request. A first token and a first return time parameter for the first user are determined based on the determination of the overload condition, and the first token is stored in association with the first return time parameter. The first token and the first return time parameter are transmitted to the first client device.
US09647946B2 Controlling data access and rate in a network
Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for controlling data access and rate in a network. An enforcement application can detect a request for a data session and determine how and when the requested data session is to be established. The enforcement application can consider various data, input obtained at the user device, and/or other considerations including subscriber data and network data. Based upon these data, the enforcement application can determine network congestion, available resources, available bandwidth, an allocation rate of congestion credits (“credits”) for the user, a flow rate of the credits from an account to a credit pool, and a usage rate of the credits from the credit pool. The enforcement application can be configured to enforce the usage rate against a data session and to issue one or more commands to control the data session.
US09647943B2 Method for providing tiered load balancing for a hosted voice-over internet protocol (VoIP) private branch exchange (PBX)
A system and method is provided for two-tiered load balancing on a hosted voice-over Internet protocol (VoIP) private branch exchange (PBX). The system includes a plurality of client devices, at least one device load balancer, and at least one call load balancer. The device load balancer identifies a device group to which each client device belongs; and a cluster of computing resources for processing calls for the device group. The cluster is assigned to the device group based on prescribed conditions. In response to a communications request, call load balancers in communication with the device load balancers dynamically determine if predefined conditions are currently being met within an identified cluster of computing resources. If the predefined conditions are currently being met, then the communications request for a primary client device associated with the request is established via one of a plurality of server nodes within the cluster of computing resources.
US09647929B2 Opaque profile identifiers for path computation element protocol
Methods and systems are disclosed for enabling centralized path definition and policy with distributed path setup, and centralized path setup control with distributed path utilization constraints. In one example, a path computation client (PCC) requests, utilizing opaque PCE profile identifiers, path computation from a path computation element (PCE). The PCE profile identifier corresponds to path computation constraints, stored local to PCE, and are unknown to the PCC. Advantageously, the PCE profile identifiers allow the PCC to initiate path computation requests based on information local the PCC while leveraging centralized computation by the PCE. In another example, a PCE requests, utilizing opaque PCC profile identifiers, that a PCC initiate a path. The PCC profile identifier corresponds to path usage constraints, stored local to PCC, and are unknown to the PCE. Advantageously, the PCC identifiers allow the PCE to marshal path initiation while leveraging distributed resources to enforce compliance with usage parameters.
US09647928B2 OSPF point-to-multipoint over broadcast or NBMA mode
A network device identifies an Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) link between the network device and a layer 2 network as one of a point-to-multipoint over broadcast interface or a point-to-multipoint over non-broadcast multi access (NBMA) interface, and performs database synchronization and neighbor discovery and maintenance using one of a broadcast model or a NBMA model. The network device also generates a link-state advertisement for the network device, where the link-state advertisement includes a separate link description for each point-to-point link within the layer 2 network; and sends the link-state advertisement to each fully adjacent neighbor in the layer 2 network.
US09647927B2 Computer-implemented K-shortest path finding method
A computer-implemented method includes a principal process including performing a computational procedure in which the or each vertex preceding a particular vertex receives a notification that a computational procedure has been completed for the preceding vertex; and calculates new path lengths for the particular vertex by adding the length value attributed to the edge from the preceding vertex to the particular vertex to each of the recorded k shortest path lengths from the first vertex to the preceding vertex. A record of the k shortest path lengths calculated for the particular vertex is maintained. After the new path lengths have been calculated for the or each of the preceding vertices, a notification that the computational procedure has been completed for the particular vertex is issued. The computational procedure is performed with the source vertex as the first vertex and each vertex on a path from the source vertex to the destination vertex as the particular vertex.
US09647925B2 System and method for data path validation and verification
A method for operating a source node includes receiving a data path validation request command requesting validation of a path associated with a traffic flow identified in the data path validation request command, and determining a first hop sequence in accordance with the path being validated, wherein the first hop sequence is identical to a second hop sequence associated with a non-validation request packet associated with the path being validated. The method also includes generating, by the source node, a validation request packet in accordance with the data path validation request command, the validation request packet comprises route information associated with the first hop sequence, an alert flag set to a specified value, and a path validation header specifying processing performed by nodes receiving the validation request packet, and transmitting, by the source node, the validation request packet in accordance with the route information.
US09647910B2 Management server and control method of the management server for managing a service system virtually built using connected components
Methods and apparatuses for managing a service system virtually built are provided. A management server assigns identifiers that are unique to a service system to components used to build the service system, and records connections of the components and the time of building the service system. When detecting a change in the connections of the components, the management server records the changed connection and the time of the change, collects monitoring information and monitoring times from a data center, and records the monitoring information associated with the monitoring times. When receiving information designating a time from a terminal, the management server identifies and outputs the configuration of the service system and the monitoring information at the designated time based on the identifiers of the components associated with the designated time.
US09647908B2 Method, apparatus and system for determining software performance
A method, apparatus and system for determining software performance. After the software is published, performance parameters of operation systems of running the software and performance parameters of run software are acquired from various user terminals. The performance parameters of the operation system of running the software and the performance parameters of the run software is processed to acquire a performance parameter processing result according to a preset method for processing a performance parameter. Performance of the software is determined according to the performance parameter processing result.
US09647906B2 Cloud based drive monitoring solution
A cloud-based remote monitoring system and method monitor an industrial facility. The industrial facility includes one or more industrial devices. A cloud agent located at the industrial facility is configured to, by at least one processor, collect data indicative of a past and/or a present state of the industrial devices according a manifest specific to the industrial facility. The cloud agent is further configured to send the collected data to a remote cloud platform according to the manifest dynamically reconfigure the cloud agent without interrupting the collecting and the sending. The cloud platform processes the sent data to facilitate remote monitoring of the industrial devices.
US09647904B2 Customer-directed networking limits in distributed systems
Methods and apparatus for supporting customer-directed networking limits in distributed systems are disclosed. A client request is received via a programmatic interface, indicating a particular lower resource usage limit to be imposed on at least one category of network traffic at a particular instance of a network-accessible service. Resource usage metrics for one or more categories of network traffic at the particular instance are obtained. In response to a determination that resource usage at the particular instance has reached a threshold level, one or more responsive actions are initiated.
US09647901B2 Configuring a content delivery network (CDN)
In a content delivery network (CDN a method includes: receiving a request for a CDN service of a particular type, wherein a CDN service of said particular type defines a fixed number of configurable layers of request processing, sequentially from a first layer to a last layer; and processing said request, starting at said first layer, said processing being based on a modifiable runtime environment, said processing continuing conditionally through each of said layers in turn until either said request is terminated by one of said layers or said last layer processes said request. A layer may cause some of the processing of a request to be handled by another service. The CDN service may be selected from: delivery services, collector services, reducer services, rendezvous services, configuration services, and control services.
US09647898B2 Method for providing media content using multi-channel navigator and route sequences
An electronic device displays a first row of graphical representations, each corresponding to a context element of a route sequence map of a first user. The route sequence map includes context elements organized in a hierarchical structure, each context element having one or more property values specifying an action to be performed by the server or a link to one or more child context elements in the hierarchical structure. In response to a selection of a first graphical representation from the first row, a first message having at least a first identifier (ID) of the first graphical representation is transmitted to the server. A second message is received from the server in response to the first message, the second message including data identifying a second row of context elements of the route sequence map. The second row is displayed as a child row to the first row.
US09647893B2 Method for identifying logical loops in ethernet networks
A method and system for identifying logical loops in an Ethernet network may determine a number of nodes N and a number of links L between nodes. A number of rings R, including a number of major rings and a number of sub-rings for the Ethernet network may be determined. Specific formulas for the values for L, R, and N may be evaluated to determine when the Ethernet network includes logical loops.
US09647887B2 Mobile computing device and wearable computing device having automatic access mode control
A system can include a mobile computing device and a wearable computing device. The wearable computing device can include a sensor that outputs an indication that the wearable computing device is not being worn. Responsive to receiving the indication that the wearable computing device is being not being worn, one or both of the devices can be operable to change an access mode of computing environment provided by the respective device from an increased access mode to a reduced access mode.
US09647886B2 Update appliance communication settings to compensate for temperature fluctuations
Systems and methods for updating appliance communication settings to compensate for temperature fluctuations are provided. In particular, an appliance that includes one or more data communication components that provide wireless communication functionality can monitor one or more characteristics describing data communication failures experienced by the one or more data communication components. When the monitored characteristics indicate that the appliance is experiencing an increased rate of communication failure, the appliance can log the temperature conditions at the data communication components. Periodically, the appliance can analyze the logged temperatures to identify one or more temperature ranges associated with increased communication failure. The appliance can then update one or more communication settings associated with such temperature ranges so as to compensate for anticipated temperature fluctuations.
US09647878B2 Announcement method, device and system
An announcement method, apparatus and system are provided. The method includes: an announcement node configuring sending ports of the announcement node in a first region and a second region, wherein, the first region and the second region apply different network protection switching technologies; the announcement node acquiring a protection switching request sent from the first region; and the announcement node sending the protection switching request to the second region through the sending port corresponding to the second region, wherein, a post-switching link state of the first region is contained in the protection switching request, and under a situation that the post-switching link state of the first region is inconsistent with a current link state of the second region, the second region needs to perform protection switching and otherwise does not need to perform the protection switching.
US09647875B1 Bloom filters with variable hash
In a method of performing discovery, at least a plurality of identifiers associated with a plurality of respective communication devices is processed, using a first hash function, to generate a first bit string. The first bit string is indicative of whether each of the plurality of identifiers is included in a group. An indication that a new hash function should be used is detected, and, in response to detecting the indication that a new hash function should be used, at least the plurality of identifiers is processed, using a second hash function different than the first hash function, to generate a second bit string. The second bit string is indicative of whether each of the plurality of identifiers is included in the group.
US09647872B2 Dynamic identification of other users to an online user
Informing a user of a large scale network dynamically of other network users includes determining dynamically an online context of the user. Other users presently within the online context of the user are identified and trait information is stored that is related essentially only to the user or to the other users in a users store associated with the online context. The user is informed dynamically of the other users based on the stored trait information, such as, for example, an age or other demographic identifier, or information indicative of an expertise, interest, preference, user type and/or other quality of the user or of the other individual.
US09647866B2 RF transmitter, integrated circuit device, wireless communication unit and method therefor
A radio frequency (RF) transmitter has at least one digital signal processing module and at least one power amplifier module. The digital signal processing module includes at least one digital pre-distortion component arranged to receive at least one complex input signal, perform two-dimensional non-uniform mapping of the complex input signal to a first, in-phase, digital pre-distortion control word and a further, quadrature, digital pre-distortion control word, and output the in-phase and quadrature pre-distortion digital control words. The power amplifier module includes a first, in-phase, array of switch-mode power cells and at least one further, quadrature, array of switch-mode power cells. The two-dimensional non-uniform mapping has a pre-distortion profile at least partly based on an input/output relationship for the power amplifier module arranged to generate an analog RF signal based at least partly on the in-phase and quadrature digital pre-distortion control words.
US09647863B2 Techniques to manage dwell times for pilot rotation
Techniques to manage dwell times for pilot rotation are described. An apparatus may comprise a memory configured to store a data structure with a set of modulation and coding schemes (MCS) available to an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system, each MCS having an associated pilot dwell time. The apparatus may further comprise a processor circuit coupled to the memory, the processor circuit configured to identify a MCS to communicate a packet using multiple subcarriers of the OFDM system, and retrieve a pilot dwell time associated with the MCS from the memory, the pilot dwell time to indicate when to shift a pilot tone between subcarriers of the multiple subcarriers during communication of the packet. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09647861B1 Multiple antenna transmission of pulsed data communication messages with phase or time dithering for reduction of static interference nulls
A system and method for reducing the duration of destructive interference received at a location from two transmitting antennas where either a time varying phase shift or time varying delay or both are introduced into the signal paths of one or both of the two antennas.
US09647857B2 Digital transmitter
An equalizer provided in a digital transmitter compensates for attenuation in a signal channel to a digital receiver. The equalizer generates signal levels as a logical function of bit history to emphasize transition signal levels relative to repeated signal levels. The preferred equalizer includes an FIR transition filter using a look-up table. Parallel circuits including FIR filters and digital-to-analog converters provide a high speed equalizer with lower speed circuitry. The equalizer is particularly suited to in-cabinet and local area network transmissions where feedback circuitry facilitates adaptive training of the equalizer.
US09647856B2 Transmission apparatus and transmission method
A receiver receives, using a plurality of antennas, a multiplexed signal that includes (i) a first OFDM modulation signal with a subcarrier carrying a symbol including multiplex information and a subcarrier carrying a pilot symbol and a subcarrier carrying a data symbol and (ii) a second OFDM modulation signal with a subcarrier carrying a symbol including multiplex information and a subcarrier carrying the pilot symbol and a subcarrier carrying the data symbol. A decoder uses the symbol including multiplex information and decodes the data symbol.
US09647855B2 Mobile phone payment with disabling feature
A method and system for payments for mobile phone payments with a disabling feature is disclosed. The method includes activating a mobile phone containing contactless payment systems, and having a timeout feature disable the contactless payment systems after a set period of time.
US09647851B2 Ingress noise inhibiting network interface device and method for cable television networks
Ingress noise from subscriber equipment is mitigated or prevented from reaching a cable television (CATV) network. All upstream signals including ingress noise are initially transmitted to the CATV network whenever their instantaneous power exceeds a threshold which typically distinguishes ingress noise from a valid upstream signal. Whenever the instantaneous power is below the threshold, ingress noise is blocked from reaching the CATV network. A gas tube surge protection device is included to resist component destruction and malfunction arising from lightning strikes and other high voltage, high current surges.
US09647848B2 Application charging method, device, and system
The present invention discloses an application charging method. The method includes receiving, by a CTF device, a charging rule of an application from a PCRF device, wherein the charging rule of the application carries an application identifier and charging rule parameters of the application, executing the charging rule of the application, and detecting, according to an application identifier, a flow of the application transmitted on one or more bearers, sending, by the CTF device according to charging rule parameters of the application, a charging session establishment request to a charging system and establishing a charging session of the application, collecting charging information about the detected flow of the application, and sending the collected charging information about the flow of the application to the charging system by using the charging session of the application.
US09647844B2 Governed placement of data analytic results
Metadata respectively associated with one or more input data sets processed by one or more analytic applications is obtained. The metadata for each data set is indicative of at least one of trust and veracity associated with the data set. The one or more analytic applications generate analytic results based on the one or more input data sets. A governed placement is determined for at least the analytic results based on at least a portion of the obtained metadata.
US09647842B2 Dual-party session key derivation
A session key is negotiated to secure a user session executed in a host computer. An electronic hardware security module (HSM) located in the host computer generates a first session key. A smart card generates a second session key that matches the first session key. An encrypted copy of the second session key is communicated to an electronic host application module installed in the host computer. The electronic host application module decrypts the encrypted session key to obtain a copy of the session key such that the first and second session keys possessed by the smart card, the host application module and the HSM match one another.
US09647836B2 Secure storage for shared documents
Embodiments are directed towards managing data storage for secure storage of shared documents. A user or an application may provide data destined for encryption and a public key. Instruction set information that references at least a seed file that may be installed on the network computer may be generated. An encryption key based on the instruction set information may be generated. Header information that includes the instruction set may be generated. And, the header information may be encrypted using the public key. A secure bundle that includes the public key, the encrypted header information, and the encrypted data may be generated and provided to the user that provided the data and the public key or the application that provided the data and the public key. Decrypting the data included in the secure bundle the above actions are generally performed in reverse.
US09647830B2 Wireless communication apparatus, integrated circuit and wireless communication method
A wireless communication apparatus has an analog control loop circuitry to generate an analog control signal which adjusts a phase of a voltage-controlled oscillation signal, an integrator to integrate the analog control signal, a phase adjuster to adjust a phase of the voltage-controlled oscillation signal, a digital control loop circuitry, in a first mode, to match a frequency of the voltage-controlled oscillation signal to a frequency of the received signal based on an output signal of the phase adjuster, and in a second mode, to generate a digital control signal which is opposite in phase to the analog control signal and has a frequency, a voltage-controlled oscillator to generate the voltage-controlled oscillation signal based on the analog and digital control signals, and a signal switch to supply the analog control signal to the integrator in the first mode and to the voltage-controlled oscillator in the second mode.
US09647827B1 Precision clock enabled time-interleaved data conversion
An apparatus comprises a photonic oscillator circuit configured to generate optical signals that are separated by a uniform delay; radio frequency (RF) generating circuitry configured to receive the optical signals and produce a series of reference clock signals having a same clock signal frequency, wherein each reference clock signal in the series includes a uniform delay from a previous clock signal in the series; and a plurality of analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuits, wherein an ADC circuit includes a signal input to directly receive an RF input signal that is continuous in time and amplitude, and a clock input to receive a reference clock signal of the repeating series of reference clock signals, wherein the ADC circuits are configured to sample a RF input signal at the frequency of the reference clock signal with the uniform delay to sample interleaved digital values representing the RF signal.
US09647825B2 Circuit and method for creating additional data transitions
When a data path includes CMOS circuitry, such circuitry may introduce jitter into the data signal. Embodiments are described in which additional data transitions are made to occur, and these additional data transitions may change the characteristics of the data frequency content transferred to the power supply so that such noise may be better filtered. This may have an effect of reducing jitter in the data signal. In one embodiment, a second data signal is generated to be a version of a first data signal with every second bit inverted. Second CMOS circuitry receives the second data signal in parallel to first CMOS circuitry receiving the first data signal. The first CMOS circuitry and the second CMOS circuitry are connected to a same power supply.
US09647823B2 Enhanced scheduling procedure for full duplex access point
Methods, systems, and devices are described for wireless communication at an access point (AP). A scheduling procedure for using a full duplex wireless local area network (WLAN) AP with legacy station (STA) compatibility (e.g., half duplex) may be implemented. For example, a system may include a full duplex AP and have half duplex STAs with two antennas each. The scheduling procedure may involve dynamic grouping of STAs into half duplex sets, for example, based at least in part on location information of the STAs. The STAs may be grouped such that the AP is able to transmit to one of the half duplex sets while concurrently receiving from another of the half-duplex sets. The AP may employ beamforming, via the STAs, to reduce interference between full duplex in-band communications.
US09647816B2 Wireless local area network communications with varying subcarrier spacings
An operation method of station in wireless local area network is provided. The operation method includes generating a legacy preamble, generating a high efficiency (HE) preamble including at least one HE-signal (HE-SIG) field, a HE-short training field (HE-STF), and at least one HE-long training field (HE-LTF), and generating a HE physical layer convergence procedure protocol data unit (HE-PPDU) including the legacy preamble and the HE preamble. Therefore, performance of WLAN can be enhanced.
US09647815B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting uplink control information in multi-carrier wireless communication system
A method and apparatus are provided for transmitting Uplink Control Information (UCI) on a data channel in a multi-carrier wireless communication system. The method includes channel-coding a UCI with reference to a number of UCI bits available; dividing the channel coded UCI bits into a number of Physical Uplink Shared Channels (PUSCHs); and transmitting the UCI multiplexed with data on the individual PUSCHs.
US09647813B2 Communication apparatus and communication method
Disclosed is a transmission apparatus capable of properly performing cross carrier scheduling in ePDCCHs. In this apparatus, when communication is performed using a plurality of component carriers (CCs), configuration section 102 configures a first search space as a candidate to which control information for a first CC is assigned and a second search space as a candidate to which control information for a second CC other than the first CC among the plurality of CCs is assigned, within a same allocation unit group among a plurality of allocation unit groups included in a data-assignable region within the first CC, and transmission section 106 transmits control information mapped to the first search space and control information mapped to the second search space.
US09647812B2 Method and apparatus for receiving data in wireless communication system supporting cooperative transmission
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. A method for receiving data by a user equipment (UE) in a cooperative multi-point (CoMP) wireless communication system includes receiving information indicating a transmission base station (BS) that actually transmits data among a plurality of BSs that participate in CoMP, receiving information about zero-power channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS) of each of the plural BSs, and assuming that data is not mapped to a resource element of zero-power CSI-RS corresponding to the transmission BS and receiving the data through a physical downlink control channel (PDSCH).
US09647800B2 Fulcrum network codes
Fulcrum network codes, which are a network coding framework, achieve three objectives: (i) to reduce the overhead per coded packet to almost 1 bit per source packet; (ii) to operate the network using only low field size operations at intermediate nodes, dramatically reducing complexity in the network; and (iii) to deliver an end-to-end performance that is close to that of a high field size network coding system for high-end receivers while simultaneously catering to low-end ones that can only decode in a lower field size. Sources may encode using a high field size expansion to increase the number of dimensions seen by the network using a linear mapping. Receivers can tradeoff computational effort with network delay, decoding in the high field size, the low field size, or a combination thereof.
US09647792B2 Spectral temporal connector for full-mesh networking
A spectral-temporal connector interconnects a large number of nodes in a full-mesh structure. Each node connects to the spectral-temporal connector through a dual link. Signals occupying multiple spectral bands carried by a link from a node are de-multiplexed into separate spectral bands individually directed to different connector modules. Each connector module has a set temporal rotators and a set of spectral multiplexers. A temporal rotator cyclically distributes segments of each signal at each inlet of the rotator to each outlet of the rotator. Each spectral multiplexer combines signals occupying different spectral bands at outlets of the set of temporal rotators onto a respective output link. Several arrangements for time-aligning all the nodes to the connector modules are disclosed.
US09647791B2 Wavelength configuration method and apparatus for multi-wavelength passive optical network, and multi-wavelength passive optical network system
The present application provides a wavelength configuration method for a multi-wavelength passive optical network, which includes: scanning, by an ONU, a downstream receiving wavelength, and receiving, downstream wavelength information of each downstream wavelength channel that is broadcast by an OLT separately through each downstream wavelength channel of a multi-wavelength PON system; establishing, by the ONU, a downstream receiving wavelength mapping table, where an entry of the downstream receiving wavelength mapping table includes downstream receiving wavelength information, drive current information of a downstream optical receiver and receiving optical physical parameter information of the ONU; selecting, by the ONU, one downstream wavelength from the downstream wavelength information broadcast by the OLT, and setting, according to the drive current information of the downstream optical receiver recorded in a related entry of the downstream receiving wavelength mapping table, an operating wavelength of the downstream optical receiver to the selected downstream wavelength.
US09647782B2 Frame synchronization for data transmission over an optical network
We disclose an interface device configured to inter-convert CPRI data frames and Optical Transport Units (OTUs). The interface device acquires frame synchronization by temporarily storing data in a buffer bank such that translated sync characters are placed at respective predetermined locations within the buffer bank. Each translated sync character represents, in the corresponding OTU, a respective sync character of a CPRI hyperframe. The interface device is configured to distinguish translated sync characters from payload-data words of identical value based on predetermined alignment, in the buffer bank, of data temporarily stored therein for conversion into the CPRI data format. The interface device advantageously enables multiplexing of a plurality of CPRI links and aggregation and encapsulation of the multiplexed CPRI data into a stream of OTUs for transmission to the intended destination over an Optical Transport Network.
US09647774B2 Method for transmitting and receiving data on the basis of adaptive blind interference alignment
A method and apparatus are presented for transmitting a signal in accordance with an adaptive blind interference alignment (BIA) scheme in a wireless access system. A transmitter configures a first block including desired signals and interference signals on the basis of a number of receivers within a cell and a number of reception modes of the receivers. Further, the transmitter configures a second block including either the desired signals or the interference signals, and configures alignment blocks for each of the receivers by combining the first block with the second block. The transmitter transmits the alignment blocks to the receivers in accordance with transmission symbol patterns corresponding to the alignment blocks. Symbol vectors included in the alignment blocks for each of the receivers are configured to be overlapped between the receivers.
US09647760B2 Optimized dynamic bandwidth scheduler
A method allocating timeslots for transmission of data packets and REPORT messages in a communication network including plural logical links managed by a terminal, including: implemented at each cycle by the terminal receiving at least one REPORT message from at least one logical link, the REPORT message including an updated queue length expressed in timeslots of the logical link and, upon receiving the REPORT message, updating the image queue length, based on the updated queue length; allocating to logical links having non-zero image queue length at least one timeslot in a next cycle based on a theoretical transmission time for transmitting data packets or REPORT messages and based on a fraction of overhead associated with the transmission, until all timeslots of the next cycle are allocated or all image queue lengths are zero, and incrementing the theoretical transmission time of each logical link based on its required minimum bit rate.
US09647755B1 Light augmented system and method for secure device pairing
A light augmented system for securely pairing a computing device and a peripheral device may include a light emitting device provided in the peripheral device, and a light receiving device provided in the computing device. A sensing device may be included in one of the computing device or the peripheral device, and a magnet may be included at a specific location in the other of the computing device or the peripheral device. Upon detection by the sensing device of the magnet at the specific location and confirmation that the computing device and the peripheral device are in a secure closed position, a secure pairing operation may be carried out between the peripheral device and the computing device as the light emitting device transmits a pattern of light to the computing device, the pattern of light defining a bit stream of information corresponding to a pairing code known by the peripheral device and the computing device.
US09647752B2 Antenna switch control method for analog radio over fiber systems
A central node connected to a remote network node via a fiber optic link controls an antenna switch in the remote network node by controlling the DC bias current of the laser providing an optical transmission signal from the central network node to the remote network node via the fiber optic link. The remote network node converts the received optical transmission signal to an electrical transmission signal, and detects the DC level of the electrical transmission signal. If the detected DC level satisfies a predetermined condition, the remote network node connects the antenna port of the antenna switch, and thus the antenna, to a reception signal path of the remote network node. Otherwise, the remote network node connects the antenna port of the antenna switch, and thus the antenna, to a transmission signal path of the remote network node.
US09647741B2 Physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resource mapping with transmit diversity
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to techniques for control channel resource mapping with transmit diversity. In an aspect, a method for wireless communications is provided with includes transmitting a signal associated with a downlink control channel, where the downlink control channel spans at least one group of resource elements (REs), and the group of REs indicates a first orthogonal resource to be used by a user equipment (UE). The method also includes signaling a second orthogonal resource to be used by the UE.
US09647738B2 Method and device for transmitting channel state information in wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. A method for transmitting channel state information (CSI) in a wireless communication system, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises steps of: subsampling a codebook for a four-antenna port including 16 precoding matrices; and performing feedback for the CSI on the basis of a subsampled codebook, wherein when a rank indicator (RI) is four, a subsampled codebook includes, from 16 precoding matrices, a first precoding matrix having index 0, a third precoding matrix having index 2, a ninth precoding matrix having index 8, and an eleventh precoding matrix having index 10.
US09647735B2 Hybrid digital and analog beamforming for large antenna arrays
A hybrid digital and analog beamforming device for a node operable with an antenna array is disclosed. In an example, the hybrid digital and analog beamforming device can include computer circuitry configured to: Segment antenna elements of an antenna array into at least two groups of antenna elements; map antenna ports for transmission chains to one group of the antenna elements; constrain digital precoding weights for a digital precoder for the antenna elements, where the digital precoding weight includes a digital phase and amplitude; and determine analog precoding weights for an analog precoder for the antenna elements, where the analog precoding weight includes an analog phase.
US09647726B2 Arrangement for managing wireless communication between devices
An arrangement for managing bi-directional wireless communication between a controller and a plurality of controllable-devices wherein each controllable-device is able to provide operable function specific instructions to the controller as to how it would like to be operated by the controller and wherein a proximity mechanism means provides bidirectional communications over a distance of a few centimeters between the controller and the or each controllable-device.
US09647725B1 Wireless power interface using an NFC antenna
A circuit comprises an antenna and a first port coupled to the antenna using a first reactive circuit. A first switching device is coupled across first and second input nodes of the first port, and configured to convey a signal across the first and second input nodes to a Near Field Communication (NFC) circuit in a first mode, and to isolate the NFC circuit from the antenna in a second mode. The antenna has a first resonance at a first frequency in a first mode and has a second resonance at a second frequency in a second mode. A second port is coupled to the antenna using a second reactive circuit. A rectifier has an input coupled to the second port and an output coupled to an energy storage device. A second switching device is coupled across the second port and configured to control an amount of current flowing through the rectifier by alternating between a first state and a second state at a third frequency when the circuit is in the second mode.
US09647722B2 Adaptive line equalizer for improving data communication over less than perfect power lines or transmission lines
Systems and methods for improving data communication over less than perfect power lines or transmission lines are described. The systems and methods allow for pushing out electrically any null within a frequency range of interest and/or for lossless transmission by providing impedance matching between communication devices and the transmission line. This is achieved by implementing line equalizing modules within the transceivers, at the transmitter side and/or the receiver side, or by plugging, as a stand-alone module, into an electrical outlet within a building. The line equalizing module includes multiple inductor-capacitor cells coupled in cascade where multiple switches allow for selective and concurrent connection between the inductor-capacitor cells. In another embodiment, the line equalizing module includes variable inductor-capacitor cells. The line equalizing module provides a variable propagation delay that allows for stretching electrically the transmission line. Further improvement may achieve by adjusting the operational frequency using an up-conversion or down-conversion operation.
US09647712B2 Phone holder
The present invention relates to a phone holder for holding a mobile phone. The holder includes at least one lateral support. At least one insert can be located between the lateral support and the phone. Preferably, the insert can be replaceable, and the lateral support is manufactured separately and fastenable to a common body used with holders for multiple phone types.
US09647710B2 Electronic device including communications module
An electronic device includes a strap, a coupling part disposed on one end of the strap, configured to couple the one end of the strap to another end of the strap, and a communications module embedded in the coupling part and configured to perform wireless communications.
US09647709B1 Convertible data carrier cradle for electronic mobile device
A data carrier including a SIM card may be converted into a cradle to support a mobile communications device after the SIM card is removed and inserted into the device. The card body includes first, second, and third manipulation lines extending across the card body. The card body may be manipulated about these manipulation lines to form a stand and cradle comprising a first support portion to support a rear surface of the mobile communications device, a second support portion mobile to support a side surface of the mobile communications device, and a lip portion that secures the mobile communications device within the cradle. The lip portion is shorter in length than either the first or second support portions to limit obstruction of a display for the mobile communications device when disposed within the cradle to facilitate viewing of the display.
US09647705B2 Digital self-interference residual cancellation
The present application a digital self-interference residual cancellation method that adjusts a magnitude of a sampled transmit signal based on compared magnitude and phases associated with tones. The digital self-interference residual cancellation method may follow an analog carrier cancellation stage where the digital self-interference residual cancellation is based on a determination of the channel circuit response used to control an infinite impulse response filter which can compensate using both poles and zeroes.
US09647704B2 Digital predistortion system and method based on envelope tracking and radio frequency system
Embodiments of the present disclosure a digital predistortion system and method based on envelope tracking, and a radio frequency system, so as to reduce complexity of the digital predistortion system based on envelope tracking. The system includes: a digital predistorter, a digital-to-analog converter, a frequency mixer, a power amplifier, and a power supply apparatus; where a value range of a predistortion signal that is obtained when the digital predistorter uses a first processing manner is within a first interval, and in this case, a value of a supply voltage generated by the power supply apparatus is a constant; a value range of the predistortion signal that is obtained when the digital predistorter uses a second processing manner is within a second interval, and in this case, a change of the supply voltage generated by the power supply apparatus tracks a change of an envelope signal of the predistortion signal.
US09647703B2 Multi-band device with reduced band loading
In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a first radio frequency (RF) signal path and a second RF signal path. The first RF signal path can provide a first RF signal when active and the second RF signal path can provide a second RF signal when active. The second RF signal path can include a matching network with a load impedance configured to prevent a resonance in the second RF signal path due to coupling with the first RF signal path when the first RF signal path is active.
US09647700B2 Power amplification module
A power amplification module includes a first amplification transistor that receives a first signal outputs an amplified second signal from the collector thereof; and a bias circuit that supplies a bias current to the base of the first amplification transistor. The first bias circuit includes a first transistor that is diode connected and is supplied with a bias control current; a second transistor that is diode connected, the collector thereof being connected to the emitter of the first transistor; a third transistor, the base thereof being connected to the base of the first transistor, and the bias current being output from the emitter thereof; a fourth transistor, the collector thereof being connected to the emitter of the third transistor and the base thereof being connected to the base of the second transistor; and a first capacitor between the base and the emitter of the third transistor.
US09647695B2 Memory controllers and flash memory reading methods
A method of reading multi-bit data stored in a memory cell of a flash memory includes attempting to perform hard decision (HD) decoding on output data from the flash memory, and performing soft decision (SD) decoding on the output data when the HD decoding cannot be performed. The performing of the SD decoding includes: changing a maximum number of iterations according to a threshold voltage distribution of the memory cell; and performing the SD decoding based on the changed maximum number of iterations.
US09647694B2 Diagonal anti-diagonal memory structure
A quarter product code codeword includes various R code symbols and C code symbols each including a plurality of symbols. Each symbol is loaded into a diagonal anti-diagonal structure in two unique locations. To provide for fast loading, the symbols may be shifted by one or more shift registers associated with the diagonal or anti-diagonal structure. The two locations at which each symbol is positioned are included within different diagonals or anti-diagonals making it possible to load or unload either symbol or multiple symbols in a single clock cycle. Further, by partitioning the diagonal anti-diagonal structure, multiple respective symbols or plurality of symbols may be loaded or unloaded in a single clock cycle.
US09647688B1 System and method of encoding in a serializer/deserializer
A method of encoding a data word in a physical coding sublayer before serial transmission is provided, where data words comprising data bits are received, and the data words encoded using one or more 8B/10B encodings to generate 8B/10B transmission characters. ECC check bits are then generated, and the transmission characters and ECC check bits DC balanced prior to shuffling the bits together to form an encoded word to be transmitted. A receiver may decode by implementing a decode process with error correction. In some embodiments 26 data bits from two 13-bit word are encoded into a 40-bit encoded word. Bits of two or more encoded words may be interleaved for transmission, or multiple copies of encoded words sent. An integrated circuit serializer/deserializer comprises hardware to perform encoding and/or decoding. A hardware functional verification system may also implement the disclosed encoding/decoding for interconnections between emulation chips.
US09647686B2 Parallel processing of data having data dependencies for accelerating the launch and performance of operating systems and other computing applications
Representative embodiments are disclosed for a rapid and highly parallel decompression of compressed executable and other files, such as executable files for operating systems and applications, having compressed blocks including run length encoded (“RLE”) data having data-dependent references. An exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of processors or processor cores to identify a start or end of each compressed block; to partially decompress, in parallel, a selected compressed block into independent data, dependent (RLE) data, and linked dependent (RLE) data; to sequence the independent data, dependent (RLE) data, and linked dependent (RLE) data from a plurality of partial decompressions of a plurality of compressed blocks, to obtain data specified by the dependent (RLE) data and linked dependent (RLE) data, and to insert the obtained data into a corresponding location in an uncompressed file. The representative embodiments are also applicable to other types of data processing for applications having data dependencies.
US09647680B2 Walsh encoding for peripheral sensor interface 5
A sensor may encode data using a first encoding scheme. The first encoding scheme may include encoding a data bit, included in the data, using a first chip sequence that corresponds to a first set of current levels. A second encoding scheme may be used by another sensor to encode other data. The second encoding scheme may include encoding a data bit, included in the other data, using a second chip sequence that corresponds to a second set of current levels. The first chip sequence and the second chip sequence being different chip sequences. The sensor may modulate a current, based on the first set of current levels, to provide the encoded data.
US09647667B1 Hybrid architecture for signal processing and signal processing accelerator
Systems and methods for configuring circuitry for use with a field programmable gate array (FPGA) are disclosed. The circuitry includes an array of signal processing accelerators (SPAs) and an array of network nodes. The array of SPAs is separate from a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and the array of SPAs is configured to receive input signals from the FPGA. The array of network nodes controllably route the input signals to the array of SPAs.
US09647665B2 Semiconductor device and electronic device
To provide a semiconductor device that inhibits unexpected output of a high-level signal immediately after the rise of a power supply voltage. A semiconductor device includes a first buffer circuit, a level shifter circuit, and a second buffer circuit. A first potential is supplied to the first buffer circuit, and a second potential is supplied to the level shifter circuit and the second buffer circuit; consequently, the semiconductor device returns to a normal state. The first potential is supplied to the first buffer circuit before the second potential is supplied to the level shifter circuit and the second buffer circuit, whereby the operations of the level shifter circuit and the second buffer circuit can be controlled. This inhibits unexpected output of a high-level signal to a wiring connected to the second buffer circuit.
US09647652B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first pre-stress block suitable for generating a first load signal, which corresponds to an active signal during an active mode and/or to a high voltage level during a precharge mode, in response to a stress section signal; a first delay amount reflection block suitable for reflecting a first delay amount in the first load signal in response to one or more first delay amount control signals; and a first main stress block suitable for generating a word line driving control signal, which corresponds to the active signal during the active mode and the high voltage level during the precharge mode, in response to the stress section signal and the first load signal.
US09647645B1 Low voltage to high voltage level translator that is independent of the high supply voltage
A low voltage to high voltage level translator that is independent of the high supply voltage. The translator includes first and second transistors with current terminals coupled to a first supply voltage and control terminals that are cross-coupled to one of first and second output nodes. The translator includes first and second input stages each having a first current terminal coupled to a second supply voltage, having a second current terminal coupled to one of the first and second output nodes, and having a control terminal coupled to one of first and second input nodes. The translator further includes first and second resistors, each having a first terminal coupled to the second current terminal of one of the first and second transistors and a second terminal coupled to one of the first and second output nodes. The added resistors enable wider voltage translation and avoid conventional configuration issues.
US09647637B2 Saw filter with improved stop band suppression
A filter working with surface acoustic waves comprises a piezoelectric substrate (SU), a first transducer (IDT1) arranged in the acoustic track coupled to an input, having a first mean finger period (pi) assigned to a center frequency of a pass band of the filter and a second transducer (IDT2) arranged in the acoustic track coupled to an output, having the same first mean finger period (p1), and a reflector arranged between first and second transducer having a second mean finger period (p2) assigned to a stop band frequency different from the center frequency. Further, a new type of very broad bandwidth filters with small insertion loss and high return loss and high rejection are given that use a substrate that can propagate a PSAW and comprises fan shaped transducers.
US09647633B2 Acoustic wave element, branching filter and communication module
SAW element has a substrate; an IDT having a first comb-shaped electrode and a second comb-shaped electrode located on an upper surface of the substrate; and a capacitance element located on the upper surface of the substrate. The capacitance element has a first counter electrode connected to the first comb-shaped electrode and a second counter electrode connected to the second comb-shaped electrode and facing the first counter electrode across a third gaps. The direction from the first counter electrode through the third gaps toward the second counter electrode is a reverse direction from the direction from the first comb-shaped electrode through the gaps toward the second comb-shaped electrode. If it is assumed that the gap and width of the gap are di and wi, and the gap and width of the third gap are Dj and Wj, the following formula holds: 0<Σ(Wj/Dj2)<2Σ(wi/di2).
US09647623B2 Signal processor suitable for low intermediate frequency (LIF) or zero intermediate frequency (ZIF) operation
A signal processor for a radio frequency (RF) receiver includes a plurality of distributed signal processing elements, in which a first one receives an input signal and a last one provides an output signal, and a plurality of gain elements interspersed between pairs of said plurality of distributed signal processing elements. The signal processor also includes a like plurality of peak detectors coupled to outputs of corresponding ones of said plurality of gain elements, and an automatic gain controller having inputs coupled to outputs of each of the peak detectors, and outputs coupled to each of the plurality of gain elements. The automatic gain controller independently controls each of the plurality of gain elements to form a like plurality of independent automatic gain control (AGC) loops.
US09647615B2 Broadband amplifier
Parallel capacitors (5c and 5d) of impedance matching circuits (5) which are connected to two transistors (1), respectively, have their first ends connected to a ground through via holes (5e and 5f) that are used in common, respectively. Although a conventional circuit necessitates via holes by the number equal to the number of stages multiplied by the number of cells of the transistors (1) for an LPF type impedance matching circuit (3), the present circuit can halve the number of via holes of the LPF type impedance matching circuit (5), thereby being able to downsize the circuit.
US09647614B2 Power amplifier
A power amplifier includes a class D amplification section and a load current feedback circuit. The class D amplification section includes an input section and a switching section serving as an output stage and switched depending on a signal input to the input section, and outputs current from a power source to a load via the switching section. The load current feedback circuit negatively feeds back the current flowing in the load to the input section of the class D amplification section.
US09647608B2 Wein bridge oscillator
An oscillator circuit that includes a Wien bridge oscillator circuit, a full-wave rectifier circuit, coupled to an output of the Wien bridge oscillator circuit, an integrator circuit, coupled to an output of the full-wave rectifier circuit, and a multiplier circuit. The multiplier circuit may include a first input coupled to the output of the Wien bridge oscillator circuit, and a second input, coupled to an output of the integrator, wherein the multiple signals are configured to provide dynamic gain control to the Wien bridge oscillator circuit.
US09647607B2 Roof mounted installation system
A solar power system is mounted to a solar power componentry support structure suspended above a pre-existing surface by a collective of solar collector suspension base supports. Suspended solar power system row support structure members and suspended solar power system column support structure members may for a solar component position lattice to which a matrix of individual solar power components such as solar panels can be attached. Solar module quick-fasten assemblages may serve also as solar componentry emergency releases and may include loose axis retainers and firm axis fasteners such as dual component, single point operative emergency releases and fasteners. Slide-in retainers and corner slot tabs can be included as well as frame alignment notches. Fulcrum pivot fasteners and slide wedge releases can aid in installation and release. Pre-sealed roof base supports such as semidome base supports can include a sandwiched membrane.