Document Document Title
US09687612B2 Dose setting mechanism and drug delivery device
A dose setting mechanism that prevents dispensing of a drug when an incorrect cartridge assembly is attached to the dose setting mechanism. Dispense of a drug may be allowed by preventing rotation of a spindle nut of a drug delivery device, and dispense of a drug may be prevented by not preventing rotation of the spindle nut. Preventing dispense of a drug may be accomplished by preventing rotation of the spindle when an incorrect cartridge assembly is inserted. Preventing dispense of a drug may be accomplished by preventing the spindle from applying an axial force on the cartridge when an incorrect cartridge assembly is inserted.
US09687603B2 Volume monitoring for implantable fluid delivery devices
Unexpected changes in the volume of therapeutic fluid in the reservoir of a fluid delivery device are detected based on changes in the pressure of the reservoir measured over a period of time by a pressure sensor. Additionally, an ambulatory reservoir fluid volume gauge is provided to indicate an actual volume of therapeutic fluid in a fluid delivery device reservoir. The actual volume of therapeutic fluid in the reservoir indicated by the ambulatory reservoir fluid volume gauge is determined based on changes in the pressure in the reservoir measured over a period of time by a pressure sensor.
US09687596B2 Prevention of aortic valve fusion
Materials and methods related to blood pump systems are described. These can be used in patients to, for example, monitor arterial pressure, measure blood flow, maintain left ventricular pressure within a particular range, avoid left ventricular collapse, prevent fusion of the aortic valve in a subject having a blood pump, and provide a means to wean a patient from a blood pump.
US09687595B2 Anti-clog suction tip apparatus and method
An anti-clog suction tip apparatus includes a suction tip having a suction opening and an interior defining a suction channel. An ejection wire channel extends to a wire exit opening into the suction channel that is located proximate the suction opening. An ejection wire including a ball tip at an end thereof occupies the ejection wire channel and is transitionable between a retracted configuration and an advanced configuration such that, in the retracted configuration, the ejection wire including the ball tip is retained within the ejection wire channel and does not obstruct suctioning of debris through the suction channel; and in the advanced configuration, the ball tip of the ejection wire does not extend more than three millimeters beyond the suction opening.
US09687587B2 Fenestrated bone wrap graft
The present invention relates to a fenestrated bone wrap graft and a method of preparing cortical bone in thin sheets then fully demineralizing it to give it formed flexibility and then creating fenestrations in the cortical bone in a fashion similar to, but not identical to, skin grafts.
US09687576B2 Systems and methods for disinfecting a remote control using ultraviolet light
A remote control having an ultraviolet light emitting device for disinfecting the outer surfaces of the remote control is disclosed. In particular, the remote control may include an ultraviolet transmissive housing and internal ultraviolet emitting light emitting diodes. The ultraviolet transmissive housing allows the light from the internally mounted ultraviolet emitters to pass through the remote control's housing and kill bacteria, viruses, and other micro-organisms on the outer surface of the remote control by employing methods to automate safe and effective operations of ultraviolet light.
US09687571B2 Stabilization of radiopharmaceutical compositions using ascorbic acid
Radiopharmaceutical compositions, and related methods, useful for medical imaging are provided. The radiopharmaceutical compositions include one or more radiopharmaceutical compounds, together with a stabilizer comprising ascorbic acid, wherein the pH of said composition is within the range of about 3.5-5.5.
US09687569B2 Theranostic nanoparticle and methods for making and using the nanoparticle
Nanoparticle having a poly(beta-amino ester) coating. The poly(beta-amino ester) coating includes one or more therapeutic agents that can be delivered by the particle and one or more anchoring groups that couple the polymer to the nanoparticle's core surface. In certain embodiments, the poly(beta-amino ester) includes one or more polyalkylene oxide groups. The poly(beta-amino ester) can further include a targeting agent to target the nanoparticle to a site of interest and a diagnostic agent that allows for imaging of the particle. Methods for making and using the nanoparticles are also provided.
US09687565B2 Diagnostic kit
Compounds and a method for imaging myocardial perfusion, including administering to a patient a compound linked to an imaging moiety, wherein the compound binds MC-1, and scanning the patient using diagnostic imaging. Kits including the compound or precursor compounds linked or not linked to an imaging moiety are also described.
US09687552B2 Association of poly(N-acryloylglycinamide) with at least one active principle
The present invention relates to an association of poly (N-acryloyl glycinamide) with at least one active principle and/or at least one product which is visible in medical imaging, in a physiologically acceptable aqueous medium.
US09687544B2 Veterinary vaccine
The present invention relates to novel compositions for inducing an immune response in mammals. The composition preferably comprises an antigen and a lipopolysaccharide in an oil-in-water formulation. The invention is particularly suited to vaccinate swine against mycoplasma infections.
US09687537B2 Dendritic cell vaccines for asparaginyl-β-hydroxylase expressing tumors
A vaccine containing AAH-loaded mature dendritic cells for treatment of AAH-expressing tumors in mammalian subjects. A method of producing primed dendritic cells is carried out by contacting isolated dendritic cells with an antigen such as AAH. Following the antigen-contacting step, the dendritic cells are contacted with a combination of cytokines such as GM-CSF and IFN-γ.
US09687530B2 Method of treatment of Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF)-related conditions
The present invention relates to methods of treatment of Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF)-related conditions, and in particular to methods of treatment of HIF-related conditions comprising the administration of a composition comprising transferrins.
US09687522B2 Methods of treating a subject afflicted with an autoimmune disease using predictive biomarkers of clinical response to glatiramer acetate therapy in multiple sclerosis
A method for treating a subject afflicted with an autoimmune disease with a pharmaceutical composition comprising glatiramer acetate and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, comprising the steps of administering a therapeutic amount of the pharmaceutical composition to the subject, determining whether the subject is a glatiramer acetate responder or a glatiramer acetate hypo-/non-responder by measuring the value of a biomarker selected from the group consisting of IL-10 concentration, IL-17 concentration, IL-18 concentration, TNF-α concentration, BDNF concentration, caspase-1 concentration, IL-10/IL-18 ratio and IL-10/IL-17 ratio in the blood of the subject, and comparing the measured value to a reference value for the biomarker to identify the subject as a glatiramer acetate responder or a glatiramer acetate hypo-/non-responder, and continuing the administration if the subject is identified as a glatiramer acetate responder, or modifying treatment of the subject if the subject is identified as a glatiramer acetate hypo-/non-responder.
US09687521B2 Peptides for suppressing inflammation
Provided herein are peptides that exhibit ApoE biological activity, as well as compositions and pharmaceutical formulations that include the peptides. The peptides, compositions, and methods disclosed herein have broad applications as they can be used to treat a broad spectrum of injury, diseases, disorders, and clinical indications.
US09687505B2 Sodium nitrite-containing pharmaceutical compositions
Provided herein are pharmaceutically acceptable sodium nitrite and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Also provided herein are methods for determining the total non-volatile organic carbon in a sodium nitrite-containing sample. Further provided herein are methods for producing pharmaceutically acceptable sodium nitrite. Still further provided herein are methods of treatment comprising the administration of pharmaceutically acceptable sodium nitrite.
US09687502B2 Methods and compositions for treating mammalian nerve tissue injuries
To achieve, an in vivo repair of injured mammalian nerve tissue, an effective amount of a biomembrane fusion agent is administered to the injured nerve tissue. The application of the biomembrane fusion agent may be performed by directly contacting the agent with the nerve tissue at the site of the injury. Alternatively, the biomembrane fusion agent is delivered to the site of the injury through the blood supply after administration of the biomembrane fusion agent to the patient. The administration is preferably by parenteral administration including including intravascular, intramuscular, subcutaneous, or intraperitoneal injection of an effective quantity of the biomembrane fusion agent so that an effective amount is delivered to the site of the nerve tissue injury.
US09687494B2 Iminothiadiazine dioxide compounds as BACE inhibitors, compositions, and their use
In its many embodiments, the present invention provides certain iminothiadiazine dioxide compounds, including compounds Formula (I): (I) and include stereoisomers thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of said compounds stereoisomers, wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R9, ring A, ring B, m, n, p, -L1-, L2-, and L3- is selected independently and as defined herein. The novel iminothiadiazine dioxide compounds of the invention have surprisingly been found to exhibit properties which are expected to render them advantageous as BACE inhibitors and/or for the treatment and prevention of various pathologies related to β-amyloid (Aβ) production. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more such compounds (alone and in combination with one or more other active agents), and methods for their preparation and use in treating pathologies associated with amyloid beta (Aβ) protein, including Alzheimers disease, are also disclosed.
US09687488B2 Compositions and methods for increasing neurotrophic peptides
A pharmaceutical composition is provided which includes a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient and a pharmaceutically and physically acceptable amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of Chemical Formulas I-IV as described herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Also provided are methods of increasing a level of a defined neurotrophic peptide in an organism or tissue comprising the administration of a pharmaceutically and physically acceptable amount of one or more of the compositions described above, and a method for treating a neurodegenerative disease in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition of claim 1.
US09687481B2 Toxic aldehyde related diseases and treatment
The present invention provides for the treatment, prevention, and/or reduction of a risk of a disease, disorder, or condition in which aldehyde toxicity is implicated in the pathogenesis, including ocular disorders, skin disorders, conditions associated with injurious effects from blister agents, and autoimmune, inflammatory, neurological and cardiovascular diseases by the use of a primary amine to scavenge toxic aldehydes, such as MDA and HNE.
US09687480B2 Chiral 1-(4-methylphenylmethyl)-5-oxo-{N-[(3-t-butoxycarbonyl-aminomethyl)]-piperidin-1-yl)-pyrrolidine as inhibitors of collagen induced platelet activation and adhesion
Chiral 1-(4-methylphenylmethyl)-5-oxo-{N-[(3-t-butoxycarbonyl-aminomethyl)]-piperidin-1-yl}-pyrrolidine-2-carboxamides as inhibitors of collagen induced platelet activation and adhesion. The present invention provides chiral (2S)-1-(4-methylphenylmethyl)-5-oxo-(3S)-{N-[(3-t-butoxycarbonyl aminomethyl)]-piperidin-1-yl}-pyrrolidine-2-carboxamide, and (2S)-1-(4-methylphenylmethyl)-5-oxo-(3R)-{N-[(3-t-butoxycarbonyl amino methyl)]-piperidin-1-yl}-pyrrolidine-2-carboxamide of formula 6 and 7 respectively. The present invention also relates to use of these moieties as inhibitors of collagen induced platelet adhesion and aggregation mediated through collagen receptors. The present invention provides a process for preparation of chiral carboxamides of formula 6 and 7 using the process which has advantage to avoid any racemization at the a-carboxylic center, during N-alkylation. The reagent LiHMDS is used at low temperatures to furnish methyl N-(p-methylphenylmethyl)1pyroglutamate in good chiral purity.
US09687479B2 Multisubstituted aromatic compounds as serine protease inhibitors
There are provided inter alia multisubstituted aromatic compounds useful for the inhibition of kallikrein, which compounds include substituted pyrazolyl or substituted triazolyl. There are additionally provided pharmaceutical compositions. There are additionally provided methods of treating and preventing certain diseases or disorders, which disease or disorder is amenable to treatment or prevention by the inhibition of kallikrein.
US09687478B2 Quinuclidine derivatives and medicinal compositions containing the same
Provided is an aerosol container comprising a powder inhalant comprising 3(R)-(2-hydroxy-2,2-dithien-2-ylacetoxy)-1-(3-phenoxypropyl)-1-azoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane wherein an anion X− is associated with the positive charge of the nitrogen atom and wherein X− is a pharmaceutically acceptable anion of a mono- or polyvalent acid.
US09687477B2 Modulation of sphingosine 1-phosphate metabolizing enzymes for the treatment of negative-strand RNA virus infections
The present invention relates to compounds and methods for the prevention or treatment of infections by negative strand RNA viruses, such as influenza virus and measles virus, wherein said compounds delay or inhibit viral replication by modulating the level or activity of a polypeptide involved in the synthesis or degradation of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) in a cell, tissue, or subject. The methods involve administration of one or more compounds which modulate the level of gene expression, where the gene encodes a polypeptide involved in regulating the metabolic level of S1P, or modulate the level or activity of a polypeptide involved in regulating the metabolic level of S1P, such as sphingosine kinase (SK) and S1P lyase (SPL). Exemplary methods are directed towards reducing the level of SW by reducing the level or activity of one or more SKs, increasing the level or activity of one or more SPLs, or a combination of both steps.
US09687473B2 Methods of treating Alzheimer's disease and pharmaceutical compositions thereof
The present invention describes methods of treating dementia comprising administering an effective daily dose of N-[2-(6-fluoro-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]-3-(2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropoxy)benzylamine to improve or augment the effect of an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor.
US09687472B2 Use of antioxidants as an adjuvant to immune stimulators to augment tumor immunity and prevent toxicity associated with oxidative stress
The current application teaches methods and compositions useful for the treatment of cancer through administration of an antioxidant together with an immune stimulator at concentrations sufficient to augment antitumor immunity while simultaneously preventing inhibition of T cell function as a result of tumor secreted oxidative stress. Compositions such as toll like receptor agonists in combination with antioxidants are disclosed. In further embodiments, the application teaches the use of antioxidants to prevent immunotherapy associated oxidative stress, of which, one manifestation is vascular leak syndrome. In one specific embodiment, the application teaches the use of intravenous ascorbic acid as a means of reducing IL-2 associated toxicity.
US09687468B2 Cynara scolymus extracts for the treatment of dyslipidaemia
The present invention relates to the preparation of Cynara scolymus leaf extracts, which are useful for the prevention and treatment of dyslipidaemia, in particular to increase HDL cholesterol in patients at cardiovascular risk. Said extracts are useful to normalize the lipid and carbohydrate balances and significantly increase the value of HDL cholesterol by favorably changing the LDL/HDL ratio, especially in post-infarction patients with drug-induced dyslipidaemia.
US09687467B2 Diagnosis and treatment of taxane-resistant cancers
Provided herein are methods and assays relating to the diagnosis and treatment of a taxane-resistant cancer. Such methods and assays comprise determining the level of expression of miR-135a in a biological sample from a subject having or suspected of having a taxane-resistant cancer or from a subject that was or is being treated with a taxane anti-cancer agent. Also provided herein are methods for treating such cancers by administering an inhibitor of the miR-135a pathway and a taxane to a subject in need thereof.
US09687441B1 Compositions for use with a fascia tissue treatment device to reduce cellulite
Compositions for lubricating skin during application of a fascia tissue treatment device, thereby reducing the appearance of cellulite in skin and methods of forming such compositions.
US09687438B2 Method for enhancing collagen secretion and preventing cutaneous aging using chenopodium formosanum extract
Provided is a method for enhancing collagen secretion and preventing cutaneous aging using Chenopodium formosanum extract. The Chenopodium formosanum extract includes active ingredients that are able to effectively enhance the ability of collagen secretion of dermal fibroblasts as well as prevent the glycation of collagen and resist the damage of ultraviolet light exposure. The preparation of the Chenopodium formosanum extract is environmental friendly and is able to promote the economic value of Chenopodium formosanum; thus, the present invention is suitable for applications in the development of food products, especially beverages, skin care and cosmetic products.
US09687432B2 Antimicrobial bispyridine amine compositions and uses
Antimicrobial bispyridine amine compositions that facilitate easy application on the skin, do not penetrate the skin, are compatible with typical deodorant ingredients, and do not cause adverse effects on skin and clothing. In one aspect, the present invention relates to an antimicrobial composition including an organic acid salt of a bispyridine amine where the organic acid contains from about 4 to about 30 carbon atoms. Because the organic acid salts of bispyridine amines are large molecules, they will not easily penetrate the skin, and will stay on the surface where they were applied and where they are needed to have their effect.
US09687430B2 Cosmetic kit comprising effervescent tablet and skin toner
One aspect of the present invention relates to an effervescent tablet comprising a water-soluble lubricating agent, and a carbonated water cosmetic composition enabled to be used together therewith. One aspect of the present invention relates to an effervescent tablet comprising a crystalline #-hydroxy acid and a water-soluble lubricating agent, and a cosmetic composition using a skin toner for preventing the tablet from floating and allowing the tablet to rapidly form carbon dioxide gas in the cosmetic composition so as to maximize the visual effect and also the effect of carbon dioxide, thereby showing skin whitening, brightening and moisturizing effects and improving the pores.
US09687420B2 Methods, compositions, and devices for supplying dietary fatty acid needs
Nutritional formulas comprising long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) are provided, along with methods and devices for preparing and/or administering nutritional formulas. In some embodiments, a percentage of the LC-PUFAs in the nutritional formula are in the form of monoglycerides and/or free fatty acids. In some embodiments, the nutritional formulas do not comprise added lipase. Also provided are methods for providing nutrition to a subject, methods for improving fat absorption, methods for improving cognitive ability, methods for preventing chronic lung disease, and methods for reducing the length of time a patient requires total parenteral nutrition.
US09687413B2 Compression garment inflation
A compression garment includes a plurality of inflatable bladders, a valve body, an inlet, an exhaust, and a rotary valve. The plurality of inflatable bladders is positionable around a limb of a wearer. The manifold defines a plurality of bladder ports, each bladder port in fluid communication with a respective inflatable bladder. The inlet defines an inlet port, and the exhaust defines an exhaust port. The rotary valve is in fluid communication with the inlet port, the exhaust port, and the plurality of bladder ports. Rotation of the valve in a first direction controls fluid communication between the inlet port and the plurality of bladder ports, and rotation of the valve in a second direction, opposite the first direction, controls fluid communication between the exhaust port and the plurality of bladder ports.
US09687408B2 Exercise support apparatus and exercise support method
There is provided an exercise support apparatus including a leg rod connected to a waist region and a foot region of a user and including a linear motion actuator, a waist connecting section configured to connect one end of the leg rod to the waist region, and a foot region connecting section configured to connect the other end of the leg rod to the foot region.
US09687405B2 Chiropractic adjusting instrument system and method
A portable battery power operated chiropractic adjusting instrument, manipulator or thruster for applying a selectable adjustment energy impulse to a patient through a plunger having a resilient or cushioned head with the energy impulse applied to the plunger being supplied by a solenoid. The adjusting instrument can have annunciators or indicators for preload, readiness to operate, level of energy impulse and the like. The power source can be an internal rechargeable battery or removable rechargeable battery pack.
US09687404B2 Garment system including at least one muscle or joint activity sensor and at least one actuator responsive to the sensor and related methods
Embodiments described herein relate to a garment system including at least one muscle or at least one joint activity sensor, and at least one actuator that operates responsive to sensing feedback from the at least one muscle or the at least one joint activity sensor to cause a flexible compression garment to selectively compress against or selectively relieve compression against at least one body part of a subject. Embodiments disclosed herein also relate to methods of using such garment systems.
US09687403B2 Electromechanical latch and ejector
An electromechanical latch and ejector to selectively unlatch and eject an object.
US09687400B2 Adjustable bed
An exemplary bed platform frame includes first and second support frame assemblies, each including a pair of spaced apart rails, a cross member extending between the pair of spaced apart rails, and an actuator support member coupled to the cross member. The spaced apart rails of the first support frame assembly are connected to the spaced apart rails of the second support frame assembly when the first support frame assembly is assembled with the second support frame assembly. The actuator support member of the first support frame assembly is coupled to the cross member of the second support frame assembly when the first support frame assembly is assembled with the second support frame assembly. The actuator support member of the second support frame assembly is coupled to the cross member of the first support frame assembly when the first support frame assembly is assembled with the second support frame assembly.
US09687394B2 Multi-layered absorbent article
A thin absorbent composite is provided wherein a nonwoven support sheet is hydro-entangled with a carded fiber web to provide a nonwoven substrate. The nonwoven substrate is coated with an absorbent layer comprising microfibrillated cellulose-coated superabsorbent polymer particles. A cover layer is placed above the absorbent layer to provide the absorbent composite. A process for manufacturing the absorbent composite and an absorbent article containing the absorbent composite are also provided.
US09687393B2 Laminate absorbent core for use in absorbent articles
The invention relates to absorbent cores having high amounts of superabsorbent polymer material which are immobilized by adhesive. The absorbent cores have reduced peak force when subjected to the Laminate Compression Extension Test Method and also exhibit reduced delamination upon swelling of the superabsorbent polymer material.
US09687391B2 Flexible absorbent and sealing systems for surgical devices
A system for absorbing blood and bodily fluids during surgical procedures includes an elongated, flexible element having a proximal end and a distal end, a weight secured to the distal end of the elongated, flexible element, and a plurality of absorbent elements attached to the elongated, flexible element. The absorbent elements are spaced from or connected to one another along the length of the elongated, flexible element. The absorbent elements, such as sponges or cotton balls, are adapted for soaking up blood and bodily fluids at a surgical site. A tab is secured to the proximal end of the elongated, flexible element for extracting the absorbent elements from the surgical site.
US09687388B2 Method, system, and apparatus for protecting mammalian tissue regions
Embodiments of a system and method for protecting mammalian tissue regions, the system including a removable guard cap. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09687383B2 Incremental and/or successive adjustable mandibular advancement device for preventing and treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea
The current invention relates to an adjustable mandibular advancement device with a unique combination of resilient hinging and adjustability to prevent or reduce snoring and/or obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The adjustability is described by means of two concepts of adjustability for the relative enlargement or diminution of the members of the device, incremental and successive advancement mechanisms, in either combination or separately. By use of thermoplastic materials the device can be used in the outmost variability of the human dentition.
US09687381B2 Monopedal closed chain kinetic alignment
A modular footbed comprised of a forefoot portion, a heel portion, a bridge and arch support can be fashion to place the knee in dynamic alignment with the femoral head of the femur and the ankle. Standing on one leg and repetitively extending and flexing the knee of the supporting leg, one can observe side-to-side deviations of the knee from a natural position. Various components of the modular footbed are incorporated so as to enable the knee to remain aligned throughout its range of motion.
US09687372B2 Hand unit to release a self-expanding implant
An elongate hand unit for deploying an elongate implant from the distal end of a delivery catheter. The hand unit has a distal end and a proximal end separated by a hand unit length. The hand unit may include a pull component and a push component. The pull component may include a pull grip sliding on the push component to deploy the implant. The push component may be operatively connected to the push element and include at its proximal end a push surface to receive during deployment of the implant a force that pushes on the push element shaft to resist proximal movement of the implant during deployment. The push component may provide a guide rail that defines a guide path for the pull grip, whereby proximal movement of the pull grip along the guide path deploys the implant.
US09687368B2 Biocompatible controlled release coatings for medical devices and related methods
Biocompatible coatings for medical devices are disclosed. Specifically, polymer coatings designed to control the release of bioactive agents from medical devices in vivo are disclosed wherein the solubility parameters of polymers and drugs are closely matched to control elute rate profiles. The present application also discloses providing vascular stents with controlled release coatings and related methods for making these coatings.
US09687349B2 Total knee implant
A knee prosthesis is provided for use in knee arthroplasty. In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a tibial prosthesis having a tibial baseplate with a fixed medial bearing component and a mobile lateral bearing component. In one exemplary embodiment, the lateral bearing component is secured to the lateral portion of the tibial baseplate utilizing at least one prosthetic ligament. Additionally, in one exemplary embodiment, a stop is provided to limit anterior or posterior movement of the lateral bearing component relative to the tibial baseplate. For example, the stop may be defined by cooperating shoulders formed on the lateral bearing and the tibial baseplate.
US09687347B2 Percutaneous implant
A percutaneous implant (10) comprises a bone-fixation portion (20), a spigot portion (50) for the attachment of an external prosthesis, and a pear-shaped portion (40) having a porous outer region (44) comprising a mesh of wire mesh material around a central core. The portion (40) is disposed between the spigot portion (50) and a collar (30) which has a plurality of through holes (34) adjacent to its edge. The bone-fixation portion (20) may have extending parallel thereto a plate (72) for attachment to the side of a bone.
US09687344B2 Transcatheter prosthetic heart valve delivery device with biased release features
A delivery system for percutaneously delivering and deploying a stented prosthetic heart valve. The delivery device includes a delivery sheath slidably disposed over an inner shaft, and a capture assembly. The capture assembly includes a spindle and a biasing member. The spindle is attached to the inner shaft and defines slot. The biasing member is disposed within the slot and self-transitions from a deflected condition to a normal condition. In a delivery state, the delivery sheath retains the prosthesis over the inner shaft and coupled to the spindle via the capture slot, including a portion of the prosthetic valve being engaged within the slot and the biasing member forced to the deflected condition. In a deployment state, the delivery sheath is proximally withdrawn and the biasing member self-transitions toward the normal condition to eject the prosthetic valve from the capture slot.
US09687334B2 Intestinal sleeves and associated deployment systems and methods
An intestinal implant includes a proximal anchor self-expandable from a radially compressed position to a radially expandable position for engagement with a wall of the intestinal lumen and a flexible sleeve coupled to the anchor. The sleeve is implanted with the anchor downstream from the pylorus and the sleeve extending further downstream through the intestinal lumen.
US09687333B2 Reduced profile central venous access catheter with vena cava filter and method
A central access vena cava filter catheter having a multi-lumen catheter body with plural longitudinally extending parallel lumens within the single catheter body, a vena cava filter member disposed at a distal end of the catheter body and an outer sheath concentrically disposed about the multi-lumen catheter body and the vena cava filter member. The vena cava filter member may be removably coupled to the multi-lumen catheter for temporary placement and retrieval under recommended indications.
US09687330B2 Dental measuring device for three dimensional measurement of teeth
A dental measuring device for three-dimensional measurement of a patient's teeth having projection means with a projection unit 8 to project a measuring structure onto a tooth to be examined. The device also has a camera to capture a measuring structure projected onto the tooth. According to the present invention, the projection unit has at least one UV light source, wherein the power output from the UV light source is selected or can be selected such that light-curing dental materials can be cured by the effect of the UV light, in such a way that the device can be used or is used for curing light-curing dental materials.
US09687328B2 Full flow disposable syringe tip and connector
Syringe tips for use with dental syringes, connectors for connecting syringe tips to a dental syringe, and combinations thereof are described. In one embodiment, a syringe tip has an elastic inner tube with a flexible proximal portion extending proximally beyond a shoulder of an outer tube. An elongate fluid passageway extending from an entrance at the proximal end of the inner tube's flexible proximal portion to an exit at the distal end of the inner tube. The outer tube defines at least a portion of at least one additional elongate fluid passageway. In another embodiment, a syringe tip as described above is provided in combination with a connector that includes a tubular shaped portion adapted to be received within the fluid passageway of the inner tube and wherein the distal end of the tubular shaped member includes fingers adapted to radially expand the inner tube over the tubular shaped member.
US09687315B2 Dental plier design with offsetting jaw and pad elements for assisting in removing upper and lower teeth utilizing the dental plier design
A dental pliers and method for loosening teeth from an underlying bone and gum. Pivotally connected handles which each include a user grasping portion. The first handle terminates in an arcuately extending beak exhibiting a narrowed blade edge. The second handle terminates in an opposing pad support with an ergonomic configuration substantially matching that of the patient's gum line. Upon positioning the support along a buccal location at or below the gum line, and upon aligning the beak in abutting fashion against a lingual surface of a tooth, the pad support defines a center point of rotation proximate to an edge location of the gum line and bone. The handles are subsequently rotated in an outward fashion away from the patient's gum line to separate the tooth and its roots from the patient's gum line and bone.
US09687314B2 Medical headlamp optical arrangement
A lamp having a front surface from which light is emitted and that includes a high efficiency light source assembly producing a beam having a 3 dB beamwidth of greater than 100°, and which includes a substrate, a high efficiency light source supported by the substrate; and a dome-lens that contains the high efficiency light source. Also, an optical assembly is positioned to receive light from the light emitting diode assembly and to produce a headlamp light beam emitted from the front surface of the lamp. Further, an annular light block defines an annulus and is placed about the lens, so that the lens protrudes through the annulus, thereby creating a sharp boundary for the output light beam.
US09687312B2 Detection pins to determine presence of surgical instrument and adapter on manipulator
An instrument carriage provides control of a surgical instrument coupled to the instrument carriage. The instrument carriage includes a control surface that is coupled to the surgical instrument to provide the control. A detection pin having a first proximal end that extends from the control surface is coupled to the instrument carriage. A magnet is fixed to a distal end of the detection pin. A carriage controller provides an indication that the surgical instrument is coupled to the instrument carriage when movement of the detection pin causes an output signal from a Hall effect sensor to exceed a threshold value that is stored in the carriage controller as part of a calibration procedure during the assembly of the instrument carriage. Surgical instrument removal may be indicated when detection pin movement causes the output signal to be less than an instrument removal threshold value of less than the instrument threshold value.
US09687308B2 Method and a device for computer assisted surgery
A method for computer assisted determination of values of correction parameters for positioning a medical device relative to a target structure or to a reference base. The method includes a numerical procedure that includes the steps of: i) automatic detection of the projection of a cylindrical reference means in a medical image and determination of a minimum of four characteristic landmarks within the projection of the cylindrical reference means; ii) generating a virtual geometric representation of the cylindrical reference means; iii) determining the virtual projection points representing the characteristic landmarks using a virtual geometric representation of the cylindrical reference means; and iv) iterative determination of the position and orientation of the cylindrical reference means by matching the virtual projection points of the virtual geometric representation of the cylindrical reference means with the characteristic landmarks of the projection of the cylindrical reference means.
US09687303B2 Dexterous wrists for surgical intervention
A rotatable wrist connecting a gripper tool to the distal end of a continuum robot shaft. The rotatable wrist includes a wrist hub that is non-rotatably connected to the distal end of the shaft. A wrist capstan is rotatably connected to the wrist hub and non-rotatably connected to the gripper. A flexible wire loop extends through the wrist hub and partially contacts the wrist capstan. Linear movement of the flexible wire loop through the shaft of the continuum robot causes rotation of the wrist capstan due to friction between the flexible wire loop and the wrist capstan. The wrist also supports selective detachability and control of roll, pitch and roll, pitch yaw and roll according to different embodiments.
US09687301B2 Surgical robot system and control method thereof
A control method may be applied to a surgical robot system including a slave robot having a robot arm to which a main surgical tool and an auxiliary surgical tool are coupled, and a master robot having a master manipulator to manipulate the robot arm. The control method includes acquiring data regarding a motion of the master manipulator, predicting a basic motion to be performed by an operator based on the acquired motion data and results of learning a plurality of motions constituting a surgical task, and adjusting the auxiliary surgical tool so as to correspond to the operator basic motion based on the predicted basic motion. The control method allows an operator to perform surgery more comfortably and to move or fix all required surgical tools to or at an optimized surgical position.
US09687294B2 Deployment mechanism for surgical instruments
A surgical instrument includes an end effector assembly and a deployment mechanism for deploying a proximal hub associated with an energizable member between proximal and distal positions. The deployment mechanism includes a rotatable shaft, a cord including a proximal end engaged to the rotatable shaft and a distal end engaged to the proximal hub, a biasing member positioned to bias the proximal hub towards the distal position, and a gear assembly operably coupled to the rotatable shaft. The gear assembly is configured to move the proximal hub from the distal position to the proximal position against the bias of the biasing member by rotating the rotatable shaft relative to the cord to at least partially wind-up the cord about the rotatable shaft.
US09687289B2 Contact assessment based on phase measurement
Methods and systems achieve tissue ablation, which is carried out by inserting a probe having an ablation electrode into a body of a living subject, and while the ablation electrode is in a non-contacting relationship to a target tissue, making a pre-contact determination of a phase of an electrical current passing between the ablation electrode and another electrode. The ablation electrode is placed in contact with the target tissue, and while the ablation electrode is in the contacting relationship, a dosage of energy is applied via the ablation electrode to the target tissue for ablation thereof. Iterative intra-operative determinations of the phase of the electrical current are made. When one of the intra-operative determinations satisfies a termination criterion, the energy application is terminated.
US09687287B2 Impact load-limiting surgical impactor
The present invention provides a surgical impactor that includes an impact head, an impacting portion connected to the impact head and a load-transmitting stem connecting the impacting portion to the impact head. The impact head has an impact surface that can be struck by a tool such as a mallet. The load-transmitting stem includes at least one load-limiting resistor. The load-limiting resistor is configured to lock to the impact head and unlock from the impact head when an overload force is applied to the impact surface of the impact head.
US09687286B2 Bone joining apparatus and method
Provided is a bone joining device suitable for joining a first bone piece to a second bone piece. Also provided is a method of joining a first bone piece with a second bone piece in a living mammal. The method comprises inserting the above bone joining device between the first bone piece and the second bone piece.
US09687283B2 Fixation system for orthopedic devices
A method of implanting a supplemental fixation system in, a cancellous portion of a bone to supplement fixation of an orthopedic device located in the bone. At least one fixation structure is delivered through a lumen in the orthopedic device into the cancellous portion of the bone near a distal portion of the orthopedic device. A curable, flowable biomaterial is delivered to the cancellous portion of the bone into engagement with a portion of the fixation structure near the distal portion of the orthopedic device. The fixation system is releasably secured to, the orthopedic device to supplement fixation of the orthopedic device to the cancellous portion of the bone. The orthopedic device is detachable from the fixation system to facilitate subsequent removal of the orthopedic device from the cancellous portion of the bone without removing the fixation structure or the cured biomaterial from the bone.
US09687279B2 Facet joint replacement instruments and methods
A facet joint replacement system includes an inferior implant with an inferior articular surface, a superior implant with a superior articular surface, and an optional crossbar. The inferior implant and the superior implant are each polyaxially adjustably connected to fixation elements which anchor the implants to adjacent vertebrae. The optional crossbar may be polyaxially adjustably connected to bilateral implants. The system components may be provided in kits which provide components of various sizes and shapes. A set of surgical instruments may facilitate implantation of the facet joint replacement system by providing tools for bone preparation, trialing, implant insertion, implant alignment, and lock-out of modular interconnections.
US09687273B2 Endoscopic surgical instruments and related methods
A minimally invasive surgical system includes a surgical instrument having an elongate body portion and an oversleeve, through which the elongate body portion of the surgical instrument is extendable. A valve assembly is associated with one of the oversleeve or the surgical instrument. Mating structure is associated with two or more of the oversleeve, the surgical instrument and the valve assembly, the mating structure is operable to limit or prevent relative movement between the oversleeve and the surgical instrument.
US09687272B2 Surgical access device
Various devices are provided for allowing multiple surgical instruments to be inserted through a single surgical access device at variable angles of insertion, allowing for ease of manipulation within a patient's body while maintaining insufflation. Safety shields and release mechanisms are also provided for use with various surgical access devices.
US09687267B2 Device for cutting tissue
A catheter which includes a cutting element having one or more raised elements is provided. The cutting element has a cup-shaped surface at the distal end that may be smooth and continuous except for the raised elements. The raised elements have a surface that tends to direct cut particles of material towards one or more of the axis of rotation of the cutting element, the catheter axis, or a particle collection chamber. In further aspects of the invention, a cutting element oscillates in a direction roughly parallel to the axis of rotation of the cutting element.
US09687258B2 Aiming device
An aiming device for insertion of a Kirschner-wire to treat a target bone, comprises an aiming block permitting placement of a Kirschner-wire against the target bone and a forceps connected to the aiming block, the forceps being configured to clamp to the target bone.
US09687254B2 Method and apparatus for removing material from an intervertebral disc space and preparing end plates
Instrument and method for removing material from an intervertebral disc. The instrument includes outer and inner tubular members. The outer tubular member defines a passage and a cutting window. The inner tubular member is coaxially disposed within the passage, and defines a central lumen and a cutting tip. The cutting tip forms an open mouth having a plurality of teeth. Upon assembly, the cutting tip is exposed within the cutting window combining to define a shaving head. A manual decorticating implement is coupled to the outer tubular member and defining a scraping surface. A powered handpiece is coupled to the inner tubular member, and the shaving head is inserted into an intervertebral disc and positioned such that the cutting tip contacts targeted material (e.g., nucleus, annulus and/or end plate). The handpiece is activated to rotate the cutting tip relative to the cutting window. Contacted material is sheared between an edge of the cutting window and the teeth of the cutting tip. The manual decorticating implement is used to remove intervertebral disc material from an end plate.
US09687252B2 Femoral reaming system and method of performing trial reduction
An apparatus (10) for removing bone material comprises a distal cutting instrument (12) and a proximal cutting instrument (14). The distal cutting instrument has at least one first cutting edge (30), a shoulder (20), and a shaft portion (22). The shaft portion (22) has an anti-rotation feature. The at least one first cutting edge (30) removes bone material when moved in a first direction. The proximal cutting instrument (14) is removably attached to the shaft portion (22). The proximal cutting instrument (14) has a first end portion (68) and a second end portion (66). The second end portion (66) contacts the shoulder (20) of the distal reamer (12) when the proximal reamer is mounted to the shaft portion (22). The proximal reamer (14) has at least one second cutting edge (32) and an aperture. The aperture is adapted to receive the anti-rotation feature of the shaft portion (22) of the distal reamer (12). The at least one second cutting edge (32) removes bone material when moved in a second direction.
US09687251B2 Tibial resection systems and methods for cruciate ligament retainment
Tibial resection systems and methods for use in a uni- or bi-cruciate retaining knee replacement procedure are disclosed. A tibial resection system can include a tibial block, an alignment guide, and a tibial implant template. The tibial block can be coupled to an anterior side of a tibia and longitudinally extend from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion. The alignment guide can be coupled to the proximal end portion of the tibial block and can include one or more drill guides and a drill guide adjustment mechanism. The tibial implant template can be engaged with the drill guide adjustment mechanism, such that rotational movement of the tibial implant template can adjust an axial direction of the one or more drill guides. An outer profile of the tibial implant template can be selected to substantially match an outer profile of a tibial prosthesis to be implanted.
US09687249B2 Safety connector assembly
A connector assembly includes first and second mating connectors that can be joined to make a fluid connection. The connectors are constructed to discriminate improper connectors so that no fluid tight connection can be formed with improper connectors. The connector assembly can be used with a system for compression therapy to prevent deep vein thrombosis. The first connector includes a bleed passage.
US09687243B2 Gastric retaining devices and methods
Methods, devices and systems facilitate gastric retention of a variety of therapeutic devices. devices generally include a support portion for preventing the device from passing through the pyloric valve or esophagus wherein a retaining member may optionally be included on the distal end of the positioning member for further maintaining a position of the device in the stomach. Some embodiments are deliverable into the stomach through the esophagus, either by swallowing or through a delivery tube or catheter. Some embodiments are fully reversible. Some embodiments self-expand within the stomach, while others are inflated or otherwise expanded.
US09687242B2 Occlusion device
An occlusion device (30) includes at least one self-expanding frame (42, 44) and graft material (46). Occlusion occurs by constricting the graft material (46) at a substantially central point or at an end of the device. The constriction is sized such that a guide wire (34) is able to pass therethrough. A valve mechanism (50) includes a screen (52) made from a resilient material and which includes a closable opening (54). The valve mechanism (50) allows a guide wire to pass through the occlusion device (30) while an effective physical barrier is maintained after removal of the guide wire (34).
US09687241B1 Linear anastomosis clamp and stapler
An anastomosis device includes a stapler and an anvil. The stapler includes a clamp head with opposing first and second clamp jaws and a clamp actuator and clamp lock. Staple magazines are connected to the clamp jaws for retaining a plurality of staples in an array, and drivers are provided for moving the plurality of staples in the array out of the staple magazine. An anvil includes a clamp head with opposing first and second clamp jaws, a clamp actuator and a clamp lock. Anvil portions are connected to the clamp jaws. The stapler detachably engages to the anvil, and aligns the staple magazines with the anvils. The drivers are operated to move the staples from the staple magazines into contact with the anvil portions. A method for performing anastomosis is also disclosed.
US09687239B2 Intravascular devices supporting an arteriovenous fistula
Medical devices and methods for forming an arteriovenous (AV) fistula include a stent having an arterial tubular portion and vein supporting tongue connected by a pre-shaped connector and a venous frustoconical stent having a distal end for maintaining a take-off angle for the venous portion of the AV fistula. Also disclosed is an angled balloon for assisting with the formation of the AV fistula. The medical devices disclosed herein support an AV fistula formation having a desired take off angle of about 30 degrees, or between about 15 and 45 degrees.
US09687238B2 Implant placement device
An implant placement device includes a longitudinal axis member having a lumen extending along a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal axis member such that the implant is disposed in a stretched state and an opening formed by communicating with the lumen, a stylet provided in the lumen, a sheath into which the longitudinal axis member is inserted,—an operating part operating the sheath so as to be rotatable around the longitudinal axis, and having a contact surface that is in contact with a part of the implant, which is pushed out of the opening of the longitudinal axis member by the stylet, in a rotational direction around the longitudinal axis in a state where the opening of the longitudinal axis member is located inside the sheath.
US09687231B2 Surgical stapling instrument
A surgical stapler comprising a cartridge channel and a staple cartridge body is disclosed. The staple cartridge body comprises a longitudinal channel, a plurality of staples, a plurality of staple drivers, a staple sled, and a cutting member positioned within the staple cartridge body. The cutting member comprises an engagement portion configured to be engaged with a firing member of the stapler, wherein the cutting member is configured to be slid between a first position and a second position within the longitudinal channel. The surgical stapler further comprises an anvil assembly. The anvil assembly comprises a tissue-supporting surface and a plurality of staple cavities. Each staple cavity comprises a staple cavity centerline, a first forming cup, and a second forming cup.
US09687226B2 Wound closure device including mesh barrier
A suturing device includes an elongate shaft defining a longitudinal axis, a trajectory guide translatably mounted on the elongate shaft and an introducer guard member operatively coupled to a distal portion of the elongate shaft. The introducer guard member includes at least one arm member which is movable between a first position in which the arm member is retracted, substantially in alignment with the longitudinal axis and a second position in which the at least one arm member is deployed. The introducer guard member includes an attaching member for releasably retaining a suture. The trajectory guide defines at least one bore therethrough. The bore obliquely extends through the trajectory guide and defines an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. The bore aligns with the attaching member when the introducer guard member is in the second position.
US09687219B2 Independent suture tensioning and snaring apparatus
In repairing soft tissue with a bone anchoring instrument (such as reattaching a tendon of a torn rotator cuff), the bone anchoring instrument may be used to anchor the soft tissue to a region of bone. The anchors inserted into the underlying bone may have one or more lengths of suture or wire attached thereto which may be tensioned independently of one another to affix the soft tissue to the bone by having a selector mechanism selectively engage and disengage ratcheted tensioning wheels from one another. Suture loading mechanisms may be employed for passing suture lengths into and/or through the anchors prior to deployment into the bone where such mechanisms may employ suture snares which are configured to reconfigure from an expanded shape through which suture lengths may be easily passed to a low-profile shape which secures the suture lengths within the snare.
US09687218B2 System for intra-abdominally moving an organ
A surgical tissue connector system for moving a first internal body tissue to a position away from a second internal body tissue and then holding the first internal body tissue in the position. Tissue connectors are secured to cords such that the length of cord between the tissue connectors can be easily adjusted in a laparoscopic work space.
US09687210B2 High volume rate 3D ultrasonic diagnostic imaging of the heart
A 3D ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system produces 3D cardiac images at a 3D frame rate of display which is equal to the acquisition rate of a 3D image dataset. The volumetric cardiac region being imaged is sparsely sub-sampled by separated scanning beams. Spatial locations between the beams are filled in with interpolated values or interleaved with acquired data values from other 3D scanning intervals depending upon the existence of motion in the image field. A plurality of different beam scanning patterns are used, different ones of which have different spatial locations where beams are located and beams are omitted. A sequence of different beam scanline patterns may be continuously repeated, or the patterns of the sequence synchronized with the cardiac phases such that, over a sequence of N heartbeats, the same respective phase is scanned by N different scanline patterns.
US09687209B2 Invasive device positioning assembly
The present invention presents a positioning assembly to guide an invasive device toward a tissue object of a living body under ultrasonographic visualization. The positioning assembly is a part of an apparatus that controllably introduces an invasive device into a tissue object. The positioning assembly of the present invention is configured to improve on ultrasonographic guidance and to reduce chances of contamination of the apparatus.
US09687208B2 Method and system for recognizing physiological sound
A system for recognizing physiological sound comprises a receiving module, a feature extracting module, a classifier, and a comparing module. A method for recognizing physiological sound comprises receiving a physiological sound by the receiving module; extracting at least one feature from the physiological sound by the feature extraction module; classifying the at least one feature to identify at least one category by a classifier; and comparing the at least one category with a normal physiological sound and/or an abnormal physiological sound by the comparing module for evaluating a risk of disease. The method and system for recognizing physiological sound can precisely identify the specific physiological sound and exclude the noise.
US09687200B2 Radiation treatment delivery system with translatable ring gantry
Systems, methods, and related computer program products for image-guided radiation treatment (IGRT) are described. For one preferred embodiment, an IGRT apparatus is provided comprising a ring gantry having a central opening and a radiation treatment head coupled to the ring gantry that is rotatable around the central opening in at least a 180 degree arc. For one preferred embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a gantry translation mechanism configured to translate the ring gantry in a direction of a longitudinal axis extending through the central opening. Noncoplanar radiation treatment delivery can thereby be achieved without requiring movement of the patient. For another preferred embodiment, an independently translatable 3D imaging device distinct from the ring gantry is provided for further achieving at least one of pre-treatment imaging and setup imaging of the target tissue volume without requiring movement of the patient.
US09687199B2 Medical imaging system providing disease prognosis
A medical imaging system that processes input data (imaging and/or non imaging) having high dimensionality and few samples to learn from, by using multiple ranks of machine learning modules each dealing with a separate portion of the clinical data. The outputs of the individual machine learning modules are the combined to provide a result reflective of the complete image data set.
US09687198B2 Method for data oscillator detection using frictionally damped harmonic oscillators
A system and method for time-frequency analysis in which acquired signals are modeled as frictionally damped harmonic oscillators having a friction factor that is not a free parameter are provided. The friction factor is selected as a function of the frequency value of the associated oscillator, such that an increase in both temporal and spectral resolution are provided over existing time-frequency analysis methods. The friction factor is also selected to define a spectral band, within which the given oscillator can detect data oscillations. The properly selected friction factor thereby provides the analysis over a broad spectral range that can span many orders of magnitude.
US09687187B2 Method and system for assessment of cognitive function based on mobile device usage
A system and method that enables a person to unobtrusively assess their cognitive function from mobile device usage. The method records on the mobile device the occurrence and timing of user events comprising the opening and closing of applications resident on the device, the characters inputted, touch-screen gestures made, and voice inputs used on those applications, performs the step of learning a function mapping from the mobile device recordings to measurements of cognitive function that uses a loss function to determine relevant features in the recording, identifies a set of optimal weights that produce a minimum of the loss function, creates a function mapping using the optimal weights, and performs the step of applying the learned function mapping to a new recording on the mobile device to compute new cognitive function values.
US09687185B2 Biological component-measuring unit
A biological component-measuring unit comprises a substrate detachably mountable on a medical support device; fluid channels disposed on the substrate, the fluid channels comprising a biological component-measuring channel; and an engaging mechanism configured to detachably engage with the medical support device so that the biological component-measuring unit is attached to and detached from the medical support device. The biological component-measuring channel includes: a first fluid transferring section disposed on the biological component-measuring channel and configured to be engaged with and actuated by a first fluid transfer structure disposed on the medical support device and transfer a sample fluid in one direction in cooperation with the first fluid transfer structure, when the biological component-measuring unit is mounted on the medical support device.
US09687183B2 Medical device inserters and processes of inserting and using medical devices
An apparatus for insertion of a medical device in the skin of a subject is provided, as well as methods of inserting medical devices.
US09687182B2 Medical sensor system for detecting a feature in a body
The invention relates to a medical sensor system (10) for detecting a feature (12), such as an analyte, in a human or animal body. The system (10) includes at least one sensor (14; 34) having a reservoir (18) with a cap (16) designed as a controllable organic membrane (20), wherein (for example) application of a voltage of a particular magnitude, or application of a voltage for a particular time, effects a change in the permeability of the membrane (20).
US09687177B2 Detection of sleep condition
Automated devices provide methodologies for determining sleep conditions, which may be in conjunction with treatment of sleep disordered breathing by a pressure treatment apparatus such as a continuous positive airway pressure device. Based on a measure of respiratory airflow, respiratory characteristics are extracted to detect arousal conditions, sleep stability, sleep states and/or perform sleep quality assessments. The methodologies may be implemented for data analysis by a specific purpose computer, a monitoring device that measures a respiratory airflow and/or a respiratory treatment apparatus that provides a respiratory treatment regime based on the detected conditions.
US09687171B2 Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging method
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a trigger generating unit, a blood flow image generating unit and a control unit. The trigger generating unit acquires blood flow information of an object and generates a trigger based on the blood flow information. The blood flow image generating unit acquires imaging data with using the trigger and generates blood flow image data. The control unit controls so as to repeatedly perform a probe sequence for acquiring the blood flow information and an imaging sequence for acquiring the imaging data alternately.
US09687170B2 System and method for performing magnetic resonance imaging scan operations from within a scan room
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes an imaging assembly located in a scan room and a controller coupled to the imaging assembly and located in a separate control room. A display is coupled to the controller and located in the scan room. The display is configured to display at least one graphical user interface relating to the set up of a patient and a scan for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam. An input device is also located in the scan room and is coupled to the display and the controller. The input device is configured to receive data regarding the set up of a patient and a scan for the MRI exam.
US09687167B2 Medical devices for mapping cardiac tissue
Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. A method of mapping electrical activity of a heart may comprise sensing a plurality of signals with a plurality of electrodes positioned within the heart. The method may further comprise separating the plurality of signals into a first group of signals and a second group of signals, and generating a data set that includes at least one known data point and one or more unknown data points. In some examples, the at least one known data point is generated based on the first group of signals.
US09687159B2 Systems and methods for determining physiological information by identifying fiducial points in a physiological signal
A patient monitoring system may generate a derivative signal from a physiological signal. The derivative signal may be filtered based on a pulse rate estimate associated with the physiological signal. A plurality of crossing points may be determined for the filtered derivative signal and translated to the derivative signal. A plurality of fiducial points may be determined for the derivative signal based on the plurality of crossing points. The plurality of fiducial points may be utilized to determine physiological information from the physiological signal.
US09687155B2 System, method and application for skin health visualization and quantification
The present invention is a system, method and application for skin health visualization and quantification. The present invention is operable to process an image or video showing skin of a subject to determine characteristics of the skin through a quantitative measuring of parameters. The image or video is processed and analyzed a software application executed by a system incorporating a computer processor, data storage and display unit. A camera may further be integrated system. One or more filters applied to the image or video, to identify characteristics of the skin. A result of skin health results and overall skin health is generated. The image or video, skin health results and/or overall skin health may be displayed to a user. A visualization of amplifications or attenuations of skin health may further be displayed to a user. The invention may be wholly provided in a mobile device.
US09687143B2 Ophthalmic photography device, ophthalmic photography method, and ophthalmic photography program
Disclosed is an ophthalmic photography device for capturing an eye including: a first photography optical system that captures a first image of the eye by capturing the eye by performing a first type of photography; a second photography optical system that captures a second image of the eye by capturing the eye by performing a second type of photography; a third photography optical system that captures a front image of the eye by capturing the eye using a third type of photography; and a controller for acquiring a first front image when the first image is acquired, and acquiring a second front image different from the first front image when the second image is acquired; and for detecting the amount of positional deviation between the first and second front images, and correlating the first image to the second image based on the amount of positional deviation.
US09687141B2 Laryngoscope with means to restrict re-use of blades
A medical device for carrying out internal examination, such as laryngoscopes, has a body including a transmitter and receiver, and a blade portion including a receiver and transmitter. The transmitters and receivers are used to provide an indication of whether or not a particular blade portion has already been attached to a body portion previously.
US09687133B2 Pressing spray mop
A pressing spray mop includes a mop rod, a mop head, a water tank seat, a spray mechanism installed at the water tank seat, and a water tank installed on the water tank seat. The water tank seat includes a hollow housing, and two support half casings encapsulating the spray mechanism after having been joggled and placed in the hollow housing, and forming a movement space corresponding to a water drawing member of the spray mechanism. The hollow housing includes a through connecting hole disposed correspondingly to the movement space. The mop rod includes a rod body, a penetration opening disposed on the rod body, and a pressing pin extended into the movement space via the through connecting hole. The pressing pin is driven and displaced by the mop rod in the movement space and presses the water drawing member to cause the spray mechanism to perform spraying.
US09687131B2 Self-propelled floor cleaning device comprising a consecutive vehicle, which follows a lead vehicle
A self-propelled floor cleaning device includes a manually controlled or program-controlled first cleaning vehicle, which moves across a treatment path across a surface, which is to be cleaned, including a first cleaning device for carrying out a dry cleaning step. A second cleaning vehicle, including a second cleaning device for carrying out a wet cleaning step, is coupled to the first cleaning vehicle such that the second cleaning vehicle follows the first cleaning vehicle on the treatment path thereof. The second cleaning vehicle can be connected to the first cleaning vehicle via a releasable mechanical coupling. However, it can also be in operative connection with the first cleaning vehicle via only a data transmission path.
US09687129B2 Robot cleaner
A robot cleaner includes: a suction module configured to suck dust-included air; a cyclone module configured to separate dust from the dust-included air sucked through the suction module, and having a dust discharge opening; a first air flow guide and a second air flow guide spaced apart from each other, and connecting the suction unit to the cyclone unit; a dust box detachably coupled to the dust discharge opening of the cyclone module, and provided between the first and second air flow guides; a drive module provided between the first and second air flow guides; and a dust compressor provided in the dust box, and mechanically coupled to the drive module when the dust box is mounted to the cyclone module, and formed to be rotatable bi-directionally based on a driving force from the drive module such that dust collected in the dust box is pressed to have a deceased volume.
US09687126B2 Series-operation toilet system with hydraulic seat lifting and flushing
The invention is a series-operation seat-lifting and flush system applicable to conventional residential gravity-powered flap-released water-tank toilets. The system first lifts the seat with a hydraulic cylinder and then lowers the seat and flushes the toilet by venting the hydraulic cylinder to a mechanism connected to the flush-flap. Operation of a closed-fluid-circuit floor-trigger causes water to be diverted from the existing source of water to drive the mechanism.
US09687122B2 Mini pump with compressible air inlet chamber for providing residual suck-back
Exemplary dispensers, pumps and refill units are disclosed herein. An exemplary refill unit includes a container and a foam pump. The foam pump includes a liquid pump chamber, a compressible air inlet chamber and a compressed air inlet. The volume of the compressible air inlet chamber is less than the volume of air used to make a dose of foam. A one-way air inlet valve is located proximate the compressed air inlet. A piston is included that is movable within the liquid pump chamber and has a liquid seal member and an air seal member. The liquid pump chamber includes a liquid outlet into a center portion of the piston. One or more openings extend through the piston wall and provide a passage from the compressible air chamber to the center portion of the piston. The pump further includes mix media and an outlet.
US09687120B2 Apparatus for dispensing liquid soap
A hybrid dispenser incorporating structural elements providing the ability to alternatively dispense soap or other liquid from a container either by an electric motor or manually. The hybrid dispenser includes an electric motor and a valve actuator mechanism having an elongate pivotable actuator member for operating a dispensing valve structure. A manually operable member is pivotably mounted relative to the cabinet such that the electric motor and the manually operable member selectively independently cooperate with generally opposite ends of the elongate pivotable member to cause the dispensing valve structure to dispense liquid from a container supported by the dispenser.
US09687116B1 Toothbrush holder and organizer
A device and method to organize a plurality of toothbrushes to promote sanitary toothbrush drying and storing. This device allows the user to insert a toothbrush into the holder after use. The user will align the bristles of the toothbrush so that the bristle portion of the brush is facing down and plumb relative the horizon to allow the toothbrush to air-dry. The holder can be configured with multiple receiver members to store multiple toothbrushes while preventing cross-contamination. One embodiment features a toothbrush holder affixed to a wall while a second embodiment features a freestanding toothbrush holder. This device may also incorporate a cup holder, or a loop portion with an aperture disposed therein. The base of the holder may take various shapes and sizes. The holder may be flush-mounted, or may feature a mounting offset between the mounted surface and the receiver plate to aid in securing the toothbrush.
US09687105B2 Insulated multifunctional portable beverage brewing device
A portable insulated beverage brewing device 10 for liquids and gravity fed method for brewing. A device 10, with lid 14 and vessel 12, may house insulation 52A and 52B, liner reservoir 50A and 50B, and filter 28 to brew hot or cold liquids and contain hot or cold liquids for controlled dispensing 26. A large capacity filter 28 secures inside the vessel 12 accepting brew mixtures for gravity fed brewing method.
US09687101B2 Adjustable tree collar
A tree collar includes a sleeve formed into a frusto-conical shape and having an inner facing surface, an outer facing surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, a first end and a second end. The first and second ends overlap each other to adjust a diameter of the sleeve and a length of the band at the top edge is less than a length of the band at the bottom edge. A first clasp secures a portion of the top edge of the sleeve to a different portion of the top edge of the sleeve. A second clasp secures a portion of the bottom edge of the sleeve to a different portion of the bottom edge of the sleeve.
US09687093B2 Patient warming blanket, drape, and corresponding patient warming system
A patient warming device (400), which can be configured as a patient warming blanket (207), patient warming drape (300), or surgical drape (500), includes the top layer of material and optionally a bottom layer of material. The top layer (401) can be formed by laminating non-woven fabric (301) to a film layer (100) or by needle punching fibers through the film layer (100). The film layer (100) has a thermally reflective side (404) and a thermally absorptive side (405). The patient warming device (400) can be used in a patient warming system (700) with one or more light sources (701,702) and an optional control module (704) to warm a patient during and after medical procedures.
US09687092B2 Picture frame wall hanging and leveling assembly
A picture frame wall hanging and leveling assembly is described. It contains a frame plate having a tab extending downward from the frame plate and further having two or more screw holes for screwing the frame plate to the picture frame. The assembly further contains a wall mount having a horizontal slot along the length of the base plate that receives the tab of the frame plate and walls around the slot.
US09687088B2 Deflector for display cases
Display cases may include deflectors and fans. The deflectors may alter air currents generated by fans to provide an air current to display portions of the display case. In some implementations, the altered air current may have a first portion with a velocity that is greater than a velocity of a second portion, where the first portion is closer to a display portion of the display case.
US09687086B2 Refrigerated sales furniture
A refrigerated sales furniture (2) according to the present invention comprises a furniture rear wall (6) extending substantially upright from a base (4); a goods presentation space (10) including a bottom area (12); an air suction channel (20) for sucking air from a lower front end portion of the refrigerated sales furniture (2), the air suction channel (20) having a rear air suction channel portion (26) being arranged at a position behind the bottom area (12) of the goods presentation space (10) and arranged adjacent to and substantially in parallel to the furniture rear wall (4); a fan (30) for conveying air from the air suction channel (20) through an air pressure channel (32), through an evaporator (46), through a cold air channel (48) and through a perforated goods presentation space rear wall (16) to the goods presentation space (10), the fan (30) being arranged between the air suction channel (20) and the air pressure channel (32) at a height corresponding to the height of the bottom area (12) of the goods presentation space (10); the air pressure channel (32) having a lower air pressure channel portion (34) that extends in front of and substantially in parallel to the rear air suction channel portion (26) of the air suction channel (20); the cold air channel (48) having a lower cold air channel portion (54) for conveying cold air through the lower rear wall portion (18) of the perforated goods presentation space rear wall (16) to the bottom area (12) of the goods presentation space (10), the lower rear wall portion (18) of the perforated goods presentation space rear wall (16) being positioned behind the bottom area (12) of the goods presentation space (10), the lower cold air channel portion (54) extending between the lower air pressure channel portion (34) of the air pressure channel (32) and the lower rear wall portion (18) of the perforated goods presentation space rear wall (16).
US09687085B2 Product securement and management system
A merchandising system that improves the merchandising of product by limiting the number and the frequency with which product can be removed from, for example, a merchandising shelf. The merchandising system may include a base configured to support product and a housing configured to engage the base. The housing may comprise a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a front retaining wall mounted to the base at an angle. The system may further include a spring-urged pusher movably mounted on the base. The system may further include an opening defined by the first side wall and the front retaining wall through which product may be removed.
US09687082B2 Gas communication device
A gas communication device comprises a main body, at least one gas delivery pipe and a cover. The gas delivery pipe is at least partially disposed in the main body and forms a gas outlet at one end; the cover is movably pivoted to the main body and comprises at least one sealing structure for correspondingly sealing the gas outlet, wherein the cover is movable along an axis relative to the main body and away from the gas outlet so as to break the seal of the sealing structure on the gas outlet such that the cover is rotatable relative to the main body to expose the gas outlet.
US09687080B1 Adjustable stool
An adjustable stool is transferrable between a stow position and a use position. The adjustable stool includes at least two arms that are pivotally attached to a base. The at least two arms can pivot between two positions. The adjustable stool also includes a seat platform, upon which a user sits, stands, and/or kneels when the adjustable stool is in the use position. The seat platform can engage the at least two arms when the at least two arms are in an upright or angular position relative to the base. The seat platform is selectively suspendable between the at least two arms at different heights relative to the base. The at least two arms are able to fold flat and be contained in the base when the adjustable stool is in the stow position.
US09687078B2 Portable therapeutic seat device
The disclosed invention provides a seating device for use by individuals who have recently had a surgical procedure that makes it uncomfortable or painful for the person to bear their body weight on their buttocks region. The device includes a firm back support and a cushioned bottom portion having a contoured recess thereon, thereby allowing an individual to place their body weight on the thigh area rather than directly onto the buttocks, offering comfort while sitting. The back support is connected to the bottom portion by a hinge, enabling the back support to fold down on the seat for easy and convenient portability. Overall, the present invention allows people to go about their daily routines without worry of additional discomfort when sitting down at home, at work, during vehicular transit, or other situations.
US09687074B2 Method of making mesh containers with a rail and mesh container formed therefrom
The present invention is directed to a method of forming a container comprising forming a basket portion of metal mesh material and a rail connected to the basket portion. The rail extends substantially outwardly from the outer surface of the basket portion and the rail extends continuously around the outer surface of the basket portion. In one example, the method includes forming the rail so that it does not contain or surround a free edge of the basket portion. In another example, the method includes forming the rail so that it includes an opening for containing or surrounding a free edge of the basket portion. The method may also include forming a lower rail. The present invention is also directed to a container formed by such method.
US09687071B2 Tufting tool and brush making machine
A tufting tool for tufting and fastening clusters of bristles in bristle holes in a contoured surface of or oblique holes in a brush body. The tufting tool has a tool head displaceable along the tufting axis between a receiving and a tufting position. The tool head has two guide jaws which are displaceable relative to each other during displacement of the tool head. To relatively displace the guide jaws, the tool has a reversing lever connected to the tool head and a deflecting guide for the reversing lever, arranged at an angle of deflection with respect to the tufting axis. The guide jaws are coupled together via the reversing lever in such a manner and the reversing lever is guided such that an adjustment of the tool head into the tufting position advances one guide jaw in the tufting direction and retracts the other guide jaw counter to the tufting direction.
US09687063B2 Automatic opening for a compartment in a pack
The inventive subject matter is generally directed to a pack with an automatically opening compartment. The pack has a body that defines a volume for the containment of articles, and a strap system for supporting the pack in a user's body. A section of the pack is hingeably coupled to another body portion of the pack. The hingeable section has a first condition, providing an opening to a compartment in the pack, and a second condition, closing the opening to the compartment. The hingeable section is coupled to a spring system that is (1) unloaded when the hingeable section is in the first condition and (2) relatively loaded when in the second condition, so that the compartment automatically opens when the closure system is released. The pack may include a closure system for locking the hingeable section in the closed condition.
US09687056B2 Systems, devices and methods for styling hair
An apparatus for styling hair includes a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode. An electrolyte reservoir can be disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and is configured to maintain a volume of an electrolyte between the first electrode and the second electrode. A control module is electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode. The control module is operable to bias the first electrode at a first potential and the second electrode at a second potential to create an electrical potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrical potential difference is configured to produce an electrolysis zone in the electrolyte disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrolysis zone is configured to style hair disposed in the electrolysis zone between the first electrode and the second electrode.
US09687053B2 Automatic umbrella
Provided is an automatic umbrella including an umbrella shaft which includes a grip portion for allowing a user to grip, at one end according to a longitudinal direction, a plurality of main ribs pivotably coupled with the other end of the umbrella shaft and spaced apart along a circumferential direction of the umbrella shaft, an elevating body slidably installed at the umbrella shaft according to the longitudinal direction, a plurality of sub ribs with both ends pivotably coupled with the main ribs and the elevating body, an umbrella canvas coupled with the main ribs to be supported, and an operation unit which moves the elevating body to the other end of the umbrella shaft to unfold the umbrella shaft when the umbrella shaft tilts to locate the other end to be above the one end of the umbrella shaft and moves the elevating body to the one end of the umbrella shaft to fold the umbrella shaft when the umbrella shaft tilts to locate the one end to be above the other end of the umbrella shaft.
US09687051B2 Resin slider for slide fasteners and slide fastener provided therewith
Provided is a polyamide resin slider for a slide fastener which provides both strength and durability. The slider material is a polyamide resin composition that includes an aliphatic polyamide having a melting point of 220° C. to 310° C., an aromatic polyamide having a melting point of 230° C. to 310° C., and reinforced fiber; wherein the ratio of the aromatic polyamide present in the summed mass of the aliphatic polyamide and the aromatic polyamide is greater than or equal to 10% by weight and less than or equal to 50% by weight.
US09687049B2 Zipper repair tool
The present invention describes a tool for fixing a zipper. The present invention resembles a pliers-like device and comprises a pair of pivotally connected handles that terminate in jaws. The jaws include a bifurcated end for the reception of a zipper head and a blade configured for severing a sewing thread. The handle of the tool includes an interior compartment having sunken sections formed therein for supporting sewing needles and threads used for repairing zippers and fabric items. This provides users with a convenient and quick way to fix a loose zipper, enables individuals to easily repair torn or frayed material, and prevents people from damaging the material around a zipper when trying to fix a loose example thereof.
US09687045B2 Article of footwear having an upper with inflation system
An article of footwear with a sole and an upper. The upper includes an inner layer configured to receive a foot and an outer layer with a first portion more stretchable than a second portion. A strobel board is disposed above the sole and attached to the inner layer. An inflatable bladder is disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer and attached to both a medial side and a lateral side of the strobel board. The inflatable bladder extends across a throat region of the upper and is operatively coupled with an inflation mechanism and release mechanism configured to inflate and deflate the inflatable bladder. A saddle is disposed between the inflatable bladder and the outer layer in lateral and medial quarter regions of the upper, but not extending into the throat region. The first portion of the outer layer covers the inflatable bladder at the throat region.
US09687040B2 Footwear with air permeable layer and air permeable portion in a lower peripheral area of the upper arrangement
A footwear (10) comprises an upper arrangement (20) and a sole (30), in which the upper arrangement (20) comprises an upper material (12) comprising in a lower peripheral area at least one air permeable portion (14), an air-permeable layer (16) arranged in a lower area of the upper arrangement (20) on the sole side above the sole (30), wherein the air-permeable layer (16) is water vapor permeable and has a three-dimensional structure that permits passage of air at least in the horizontal direction; and at least one water vapor permeable functional layer (18) arranged on an inner side of the upper material (12) and above the air-permeable layer (16). The at least one air permeable portion (14) enables the air permeable layer (16) to communicate with the outer surroundings such that air is exchanged between the outer surroundings and the air permeable layer (16), said air permeable portion (14) further enables the water vapor permeable functional layer (18) to communicate with the outer surroundings such that water vapor is transported from an inner side of the functional layer (18) to the outer surroundings. A water vapor permeable first protective layer (22) is arranged between the air permeable portion (14) and the functional layer (18) in at least an area of the air permeable portion (14) above the air-permeable layer (16), wherein the first protective layer (22) is adapted for protecting the functional layer (18) against particles penetrating through the air permeable portion (14).
US09687039B2 Graphical element laminate for use in forming a skate boot
A graphical element laminate for use in forming a skate boot, including a base layer, a first thermoplastic layer laminated on an outer side of the base layer, a second thermoplastic layer laminated on an outer side of the first thermoplastic layer, and a graphical element printed on at least one portion of at least one of the first thermoplastic layer outer side and the second thermoplastic layer inner side. At least a portion of the second thermoplastic layer is transparent and/or translucent such that when the laminate forms part of the skate boot at least a portion of the graphical element is visible through the second thermoplastic layer from an exterior of the skate boot.
US09687037B1 Magnetic football helmet to reduce concussion injuries
Helmets which harness magnetic forces to reduce the force of impact collisions to helmets during contact sports, thus reducing the likelihood that athletes sustain a physical injury such as a traumatic brain injury and/or a neck injury, are described. The helmets incorporate strong magnets into the shell such that a repulsive magnetic force is generated between opposing helmets, thus reducing impact forces. Each helmet includes a protective shell and at least one magnet which is arranged or configured to provide for a spatially modulated magnetic array.
US09687035B2 Impact-absorbing pad, clothing furnished with same and method for preventing femoral fractures
To provide an impact-absorbing pad fully satisfying impact absorbability for preventing femoral neck fractures, wearing comfort and breathability not to cause discomfort for all-day use, a small thickness not to impair external appearance, and flexibility in a surface direction not to cause uncomfortable feeling at the time of putting on and taking off, which are required for the impact-absorbing pad used in a hip protector, clothing furnished with the impact-absorbing pad, and a method for preventing femoral fractures. A pad main body having impact absorbability includes an impact-deflecting part having a through hole or concavity with a maximum length of 80 mm or less and an area of 600 mm2 or more and 5,000 mm2 or less, and the pad main body is disposed so as to apply the impact-deflecting part onto the greater trochanter of the femur, thereby preventing femoral fractures.
US09687027B2 Device for vaporizing liquid for inhalation
A device atomizes or vaporizes a liquid for inhalation. A housing has a proximal exit orifice that communicates with an intake orifice. A housing encompasses a reservoir containing a liquid. A wick has a first end in contact with the liquid and a second end that is exposed at an opening in the reservoir. A heater is disposed within housing in an air passage that communicates between the intake orifice and the proximal exit orifice. An actuator responds to a user of the device by placing the heater and the second end of the wick into proximity with the heater to vaporize the liquid.
US09687023B2 Moist smokeless tobacco product for oral usage having on a portion of the outer surface at least one friction reducing strip that provides texture during use
A moist smokeless tobacco product for oral use comprises a pre-portioned piece of tobacco material semi-dissolvable, a super-hydrated membrane coating comprising a soluble, non-cross-linked component and an insoluble, cross-linked component, and a texture component. The tobacco material comprises moist smokeless tobacco. The texture component reduces the slipperiness and/or increases the friction of the moist smokeless tobacco product when placed in a user's mouth.
US09687022B2 Providing heat for use inside a structure
Exemplary embodiments or implementations are disclosed of systems for providing heat for use inside a structure and control apparatus and methods relating to material drying systems. In an exemplary embodiment, a control apparatus for controlling heat and/or humidity inside a structure selects one or more heat sources from a plurality of heterogeneous heat sources. The heat sources include a heat storage reservoir and a heat pump system between which heat is selectively transferrable via a fluid of the heat storage reservoir and a refrigerant of the heat pump system. The selecting is performed based on sensor input(s). The control apparatus controls the selected heat source(s) to provide heat inside the structure.
US09687020B2 Method for preparing an aromatic composition including a compound containing two solids having organoleptic properties
A method for preparing an aromatic pulverulent composition having a melting point Tf, comprising: i) feeding at least two pulverulent elementary solids having organoleptic properties into a mixer, whose chamber has been preheated beforehand to a temperature T lower than Tf, such solids being separately fed into the mixer; ii) mixing the pulverulent elementary solids in the mixer, in the absence of any external liquid phase, at a temperature T lower than Tf, at least one of the pulverulent elementary solids being fed into the mixer at a temperature Ti, such that the mixing occurs under isothermal conditions at a temperature set at such temperature T; and iii) recovering the aromatic pulverulent composition. This method is particularly suitable for preparing a composition essentially including a vanillin and ethylvanillin compound.
US09687016B2 Fatty acid formulations and methods of use thereof
The present invention provides dietary formulations comprising polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E. The present invention further provides methods of treating various conditions, generally involving administering to an individual in need thereof an effective amount of a subject dietary formulation.
US09687005B2 Skinning installation and method for removing skin from slaughtered poultry parts
A skinning installation is adapted to remove skin from slaughtered poultry parts, e.g. from a part including the breast. A method for removing skin from slaughtered poultry parts, e.g. from the breast, uses the skinning installation. The installation includes a toothed skinning roller and an elongated shoe extending adjacent and essentially parallel to the toothed skinning roller. The shoe includes a central nose portion which is directed counter to the rotation direction of the skinning roller, having two side edges and a leading skin gripping edge, wherein the side of the nose portion facing the skinning roller comprises an arcuate surface having a curvature corresponding essentially to the curvature of the skinning roller, wherein a skin gripping gap is defined between the arcuate surface of the central nose portion and the skinning roller. The shoe further includes at least one bridging portion between the central nose portion and the end of the shoe that is fastened to the support frame, arranged downstream of the leading skin gripping edge when seen in the rotation direction of the skinning roller, wherein a bridge clearance is defined between the bridging portion and the skinning roller.
US09686999B2 Strain of Bacillus subtilis for combating plant diseases
The present invention relates to an isolated strain of Bacillus subtilis (IAB/BS/03) deposited at the DSM German Type Culture Collection under Access No DSM 24682, or a mutant of said strain, and also deposited at the Spanish type culture collection under Access number CECT 7254, the property of the company filing the patent, in which said strain and/or the mutant thereof exhibits antifungal and antibacterial activity, with a profile of action different from that of other strains of Bacillus subtilis and with much greater potency in terms of the capacity thereof to act as a field biological control agent. The invention also includes methods for preventing and treating fungal and bacterial diseases in plants using said bacterial strains or supernatants containing antibiotics or pure antibiotics obtained from said bacterial strains, in which said antibiotics are contained in a composition.
US09686998B2 Modified biological control agents and their uses
Methods for improving the ability of a population of biological agents to compete and survive in a field setting are provided. The improved, modified population of agents is able to grow, compete with other microbial strains and fungi, and provide protection for plants from pathogens. Modified biological agents and modified populations of such agents that are herbicide tolerant or resistant are selected or engineered. In this manner, the protection from disease-causing agents is enhanced. Such modified populations can be added to soils to prevent fungal pathogens and the associated diseases thereby promoting plant growth. The present invention is useful for enhancing the competitiveness of modified biological agents particularly over other microbial agents which are not herbicide resistant. Disclosed compositions include selected or engineered herbicide resistant biological agents and modified populations of biocontrol agents. These modified biological agents can be used as an inoculant or seed coating for plants and seeds.
US09686987B2 Method for inhibiting conidial germination and mycelial growth of fungi symbiotically associated with bark beetles
A method for controlling conidial germination and mycelial growth in fungi comprising contacting a fungal cell with anti-fungal small molecules in an amount effective to reduce or inhibit conidial germination and mycelial growth. A method for controlling bark beetle infestations of pine trees comprising contacting one or more fungal cells with anti-fungal small molecules in an amount effective to reduce or inhibit conidial germination and mycelial growth. The anti-fungal small molecules are 5-(p-Bromobenzylidine)-α-isopropyl-4-oxo-2-thioxo-3-thiozolidineacetic acid, 2-[5-(4-chlorobenzylidene)-4-oxo-2-thioxo-1,3-thiazolidin-3-yl]-3-methylbutanoic acid, 2-[5-(4-hydroxybenzylidene)-4-oxo-2-thioxo-1,3-thiazolidin-3-yl]pentanoic acid, [5-(4-isopropylbenzylidene)-4-oxo-2-thioxo-1,3-thiazolidin-3-yl]acetic acid or 2-[5-(2-chlorobenzylidene)-4-oxo-2-thioxo-1,3-thiazolidin-3-yl]pentanoic acid. The species of the fungal cell is selected from a group that has an obligate symbiosis with the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) and the western pine beetle (Dendroctonus brevicomis).
US09686977B2 Waterfowl decoy device
A waterfowl decoy device provides remote control to raise and lower decoys attached to a moving hub such that the decoys simulate flight. The device includes a hub and a support arm coupled to the hub. The support arm is movable relative to the hub such that a distal end of the support arm relative to the hub is selectively raised and lowered relative to a position of the hub. A decoy is coupled to the distal end of the support arm wherein raising and lowering of the distal end of the support arm imparts elevation and descent motion to the decoy. The hub is further structured to rotate the support arm imparting motion to the decoy simulating flight.
US09686976B2 Variable metered airless applicator with cartridge
The present invention relates to a variable metered amount airless applicator with cartridge. Examples of such an applicator include, for example, syringes and gun-shaped applicators. A variable amount selector is a feature of an embodiment of the applicator. The applicator can be attached to a variety of pass-through devices.
US09686972B2 Fishing float and method
An adjustable fishing float having a novel securing mechanism for attaching the float to a fishing line. In a preferred embodiment, the fishing float includes a housing formed into a spherical shape. A vertical slot is disposed on a side of the housing, extending inwardly to a central, vertical axis of the sphere. A securing mechanism may be disposed within the housing, and provides a spring biased clamp that is in operative communication with the slot, so that a fishing line may be positioned within the slot and the float may be clamped to the fishing line in a desired position. A button on the side of the housing may be used to open the clamp, in order to affix the float to the line, remove the float from the line, or to adjust the float and move it upwardly or downwardly along the fishing line.
US09686963B2 Water absorbing material
A water absorbing material that is suitable for being discarded by being flushed down a flush toilet is provided. The water absorbing material includes only an organic substance containing no nutrients.
US09686949B1 Maize hybrid X08H731
A novel maize variety designated X08H731 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are produced by crossing inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant by crossing hybrid maize variety X08H731 with another maize plant are disclosed. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08H731 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08H731, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08H731. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08H731.
US09686941B2 Wheat cultivar BZ908-418
The invention relates to the wheat cultivar designated BZ908-418. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the wheat cultivar BZ908-418. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the wheat cultivar BZ908-418 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing wheat plants by crossing the wheat cultivar BZ908-418 with itself or another wheat cultivar and plants produced by such methods.
US09686940B1 Soybean cultivar S150106
A soybean cultivar designated S150106 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S150106, to the plants of soybean cultivar S150106, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar S150106, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar S150106. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S150106. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S150106, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar S150106 with another soybean cultivar.
US09686938B1 Soybean cultivar 43284597
A soybean cultivar designated 43284597 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 43284597, to the plants of soybean cultivar 43284597, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 43284597, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 43284597. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 43284597. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 43284597, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar 43284597 with another soybean cultivar.
US09686933B1 Soybean variety 32Y13R4
Disclosed is the seed of a novel soybean variety, designated 32Y13R4, a sample of which is deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-123695. Also disclosed are plants, or parts thereof, grown from the seed of the variety, plants having the morphological and physiological characteristics of the 32Y13R4 variety, and methods of using the plant or parts thereof in a soybean breeding program.
US09686932B2 Rice cultivar 133009
A rice cultivar designated 133009 is disclosed. Seeds of rice cultivar 133009, plants of rice cultivar 133009 and methods for producing a rice plant by crossing line 133009 with itself or another rice cultivar are also disclosed. Hybrid rice seeds and plants are produced by crossing rice cultivar 133009 with another rice cultivar with a different genome.
US09686931B2 Hybrid alfalfa variety named HybriForce-3400
Disclosed is an alfalfa seed designated HybriForce-3400 and deposited as ATCC Accession Number PTA-123758. Also disclosed are plants, or parts thereof, grown from the seed of the cultivar, plants having the morphological and physiological characteristics of the HybriForce-3400 cultivar, and methods of using the plant or parts thereof in alfalfa breeding and alfalfa transformation.
US09686926B2 Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) variety Sahi Alba 914
According to the invention, there is provided a novel chia (Salvia hispanica L.) variety, designated Sahi Alba 914 which is independent of photoperiod, in contrast to its closest relatives. This allows the variety to be sown earlier, and to be grown at higher latitudes such as the United States. This invention thus relates to the seeds of chia (Salvia hispanica L.) variety Sahi Alba 914, to the plants of chia (Salvia hispanica L.) variety Sahi Alba 914, to plant parts of chia (Salvia hispanica L.) variety Sahi Alba 914, to methods for producing a chia (Salvia hispanica L.) variety by crossing the chia (Salvia hispanica L.) variety Sahi Alba 914 with another chia (Salvia hispanica L.) variety, and to methods for producing a chia (Salvia hispanica L.) variety containing in its genetic material one or more backcross conversion traits or transgenes and to the backcross conversion chia (Salvia hispanica L.) plants and plant parts produced by those methods.
US09686919B2 Method for containing a bale of compressible material without straps
A method for containing a bale of compressible material includes compressing the bale of compressible material to form a compressed bale having a plurality of grooves in at least one side thereof. The grooves are recessed from an outer surface of the compressed bale. The compressed bale is transferred to a flexible container. The container conforms to a shape of the compressed bale such that at least some portions of the flexible container take the shape of the grooves to define container portions recessed from the outer surface of the compressed bale. A containerized bale made by the method is also disclosed.
US09686914B2 Yield monitoring apparatus, systems, and methods
Apparatus, systems and methods are provided for monitoring yield while harvesting grain. Grain released from paddles on the clean grain elevator chain of a harvester contacts a flow sensor which reports the rate of grain flow through the clean grain elevator. In some embodiments a brush is mounted to the chain and disposed to clean the flow sensor surface. In other embodiments a bucket mounted to the clean grain elevator chain releases grain against the flow sensor at a rate dependent on a grain property.
US09686897B2 Rock picker and tumbler
A front end loader attachment for picking and sorting objects, including picking rocks and sorting them from soil. An embodiment of the attachment is a device comprising a rotatable drum having a longitudinal axis, a mount for reversibly mounting the attachment to the front end loader, and a rotator assembly, with the drum comprising a base and an opposing opening defined by sidewalls connected to the base, wherein the sidewalls comprises a plurality of openings and the rotator assembly is operable to rotate the drum about the longitudinal axis.
US09693495B2 Tape feeder
A tape feeder is provided for pitch-feeding a carrier tape that holds a component in a pocket of the carrier tape and supplying the component to a pickup position for a mount head. The tape feeder includes a guide section that guides the carrier tape with an upper portion of the carrier tape covered, in a vicinity of the pickup position, and a lower receiving section that is positioned below the guide section and receives the pocket of the carrier tape from a lower surface side of the pocket. The lower receiving section includes a suction section that sucks the component from below and a leaf spring member that allows the suction section to contact a bottom of pocket from the lower surface side of the pocket. The component is sucked and held from below by the suction section through a hole section formed in the bottom of the pocket.
US09693491B2 Shielding unit
A shielding unit is formed by press-fitting a small diameter portion of a shielding shell into a shielding ring around which an end portion of a shielding member is wrapped, such that the end portion of the shielding member is sandwiched by the shielding ring and the small diameter portion. By having the end portion of the shielding member be folded over to the inside of the shielding ring when press-fitting the small diameter portion of the shielding shell into the shielding ring, even if the position of an opening is unknown, it is possible to reliably position the opening inside the shielding member, unexposed to the outside, after the press-fitting. This easily allows the end portion of the shielding member to be mounted and secured to the shielding shell so as not to be exposed to the outside.
US09693479B2 Support member
An apparatus to cool an electronic module is provided herein. The apparatus includes a support member and a retaining member. The support member to receive the cooling module. The support member includes a cooling module alignment member to align the cooling module therein. The retaining member to secure the cooling module.
US09693477B1 Continuously powered server sled
Technology is provided for a server platform with a continuously powered server sled. The server platform includes a cubby chassis including partitions defining a plurality of sled positions. A power tray is located in a corresponding one of the plurality of sled positions and a server sled is positioned on and continuously powered by the power tray. The power tray includes a tray chassis having a tray sidewall and a tray bottom wall. A pair of elongate conductors extend along the tray sidewall. A tray connector is mounted on the tray bottom wall and is in electrical communication with the pair of elongate conductors. The server sled includes a sled chassis having a chassis sidewall and a chassis bottom wall. A side-plane printed circuit board is mounted to the chassis sidewall and includes a pair of conductive elements positioned for sliding contact with the elongate conductors.
US09693475B2 Display device
The present invention discloses a display device. The display device includes a display panel and a module at the back side of the display panel, the module includes a back plate and a mold frame which is provided between the back plate and the display panel, the display device further includes a magnetic device, and the display panel and the mold frame are attached to each other and detached from each other by the magnetic device. In the present invention, the display panel is fixedly attached to the mold frame of the module through a magnetic field, avoiding the problem that the display panel is unable to be detached from the module when they are fixed with a double-sided adhesive, so as to achieve the effect that the display device is frameless while facilitating subsequent maintenance.
US09693473B2 Electronic apparatus with cover panel
A cover panel made of sapphire is provided on a surface of an electronic apparatus. The cover panel includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. An operation button is positioned in a hole provided in the cover panel. A case supports the second surface of the cover panel. The case supports and covers an edge of the hole of the second surface.
US09693471B2 Display device
A display device comprises: a mold frame including a support having a quadrilateral loop shape; a display panel having edge portions of a rear surface of the display panel, the edge portions being supported by the support; and a plurality of adhesive tapes disposed between the support and the display panel. The support is disposed between the plurality of adhesive tapes and has at least one protrusion protruding toward the display panel.
US09693466B2 Wiring board and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention is to provide a wiring board which can prevent whitening. The wiring board is made of a fiber reinforced resin plate, and has a through hole and a whitening prevention portion. The whitening prevention portion is made only with matrix resin forming the fiber reinforced resin plate, and is integrally formed in the fiber reinforced resin plate. Furthermore, the whitening prevention portion is arranged around the through hole.
US09693464B2 Modularly-expandable mini-rack server system
A rack apparatus includes a frame having (i) a power and cooling area and (ii) a block chassis forming one or more information technology (IT) bays that enable insertion of IT components. A plurality of IT components are contained within a component cabinet inserted in the block chassis. When operational, enable the rack apparatus to function as one of an information handling system (IHS) and an extension of a modular, scalable/expandable rack-based IHS. A busbar physically located at a back of the block chassis within the power and cooling area and enables direct coupling to one of another busbar and a power source to supply power to the plurality of IT components from a power interface board. A block controller is contained in the block chassis and communicatively coupled to the other IT components. The block controller performs all localized, block level control for the rack apparatus.
US09693459B2 Circuit board assembly and method of manufacturing same
The circuit board assembly includes a first circuit board having a first plurality of electronic components attached to a major surface of the first circuit board. The first plurality of electronic components is electrically interconnected to a first plurality of conductive pads defined on the major surface of the first circuit board. A second circuit board has a second plurality of electronic components attached to a first major surface of the second circuit board. The second plurality of electronic components is electrically interconnected to a second plurality of conductive pads defined on a second major surface of the second circuit board. The first and second circuit board are attached by coupling the first and second plurality of conductive pads. A portion of the first plurality of electronic components on the first circuit board are disposed within a cavity defined by the second major surface of the second circuit board.
US09693458B2 Printed wiring board, method for manufacturing printed wiring board and package-on-package
A method for manufacturing a printed wiring board includes forming a resin layer on an interlayer layer such that the resin layer has first openings exposing circuits in central portion and second openings exposing circuits in peripheral portion of the interlayer layer, forming solder bumps on the circuits in the first openings, forming a plating resist over the bumps and resin layer such that the resist has openings having diameters greater than the second openings and exposing the second openings, forming a seed layer on the resist, in the openings and on the circuits through the second openings, applying electrolytic plating on the resist such that electrolytic plating fills the openings and forms a plated film on the resist and metal posts in the openings, etching the plating such that the plated film is removed and recesses are formed on end surfaces of the posts, and removing the resist.
US09693455B1 Integrated circuit packaging system with plated copper posts and method of manufacture thereof
A system and method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: a copper film; a first metal layer directly on the copper film; an insulation layer directly on and over the first metal layer, the insulation layer having a via hole through the insulation layer; a conductive via within the via hole and directly on the first metal layer; a second metal layer directly on the conductive via and the insulation layer; a copper post directly on the copper film; a solder pad over the copper post; and an interposer coupled to the copper post and the solder pad.
US09693454B2 Camera for vehicle vision system
A vehicle vision system includes at least one camera operable to capture image data, and an image processor chip operable to process image data captured by the at least one camera for detecting at least one of a vehicle and a pedestrian present in the field of view of the at least one camera. The image processor chip is surface mounted at a mounting location of a circuit board that has a plurality of solder pads established thereat that correspond to a plurality of respective solder points of the image processor chip. The plurality of solder pads include elongated solder pads having respective longitudinal axes. The mounting location includes first, second, third and fourth quadrants. The longitudinal axes of elongated solder pads disposed at the first quadrant are aligned different from the longitudinal axes of elongated solder pads disposed at the second quadrant.
US09693452B2 Apparatus comprising a conductive path and a method of forming an apparatus with a conductive path
An apparatus including a substrate; at least one conductive path extending over the substrate and including a first portion of indium tin oxide connected in electrical series to a second portion of a different conductor.
US09693451B2 Wiring board, mounting structure using same, and method of manufacturing wiring board
A wiring board (3) according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an inorganic insulating layer (11A); a first resin layer (12A) on one main surface of the inorganic insulating layer (11A); a second resin layer (13A) on another main surface of the inorganic insulating layer (11A); and a conductive layer (8) partially on one main surface of the second resin layer (13A), the one main surface being on an opposite side to the inorganic insulating layer (11A). The inorganic insulating layer (11A) includes a plurality of first inorganic insulating particles (14) which are bound to each other at a part of each of the first inorganic insulating particles and gaps (G) surrounded by the plurality of first inorganic insulating particles (14). A part of the first resin layer (12A) and a part of the second resin layer (13A) are located inside the gaps (G).
US09693449B2 Power module substrate, power module substrate with metal part, power module with metal part, method for producing power module substrate, and method for producing power module substrate with metal part
A power module substrate includes an insulating layer, a circuit layer that is formed on a first surface of the insulating layer, and a metal layer that is formed on a second surface of the insulating layer, in which a first base layer is laminated on a surface of the metal layer on the opposite side of the surface to which the insulating layer is provided, and the first base layer has: a first glass layer that is formed at the interface with the metal layer; and a first Ag layer that is laminated on the first glass layer.
US09693444B2 Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal is disclosed. A mobile terminal according to the present invention comprises a housing; PCB installed inside the housing; and a battery pack disposed at least one side of the PCB and including at least one heat conductive layer radiating heat generated from the PCB. According to the present invention, a mobile terminal is capable of radiating heat generated from PCB by disposing part of a battery pack on one side of the PCB and of increasing capacity of the battery pack by utilizing a housing for the battery pack.
US09693439B1 High brightness liquid droplet X-ray source for semiconductor metrology
Methods and systems for realizing a high brightness liquid metal droplet based x-ray source suitable for high throughput x-ray metrology are presented herein. A high power laser bombards a solid target material to generate liquid metal droplets. The laser generated liquid metal droplets are excited with a focused, high power excitation beam such as an electron or laser beam. The excitation beam is synchronized with the stream of liquid metal droplets stimulated by the high power laser to achieve a stable x-ray emission generated by the excited liquid metal droplets. In some embodiments, x-ray optics are designed to efficiently collect and focus radiation within a desired emission band onto a measurement target. Reliability is improved by shielding the excitation source and the x-ray optics from the region of interaction between the excitation beam and the liquid metal droplet anode by a localized curtain of shielding gas.
US09693436B2 Flexible displaying apparatus
A displaying apparatus includes a flexible substrate, at least one composite layer disposed on the flexible substrate, and an electronic device disposed on the composite layer. The composite layer includes a stack of an organic layer and an inorganic layer, and at least one of the inorganic layer and the organic layer includes at least one anti-static material, such as anti-static particles, an anti-static agent or an anti-static layer (e.g., transparent conductive layer/transparent conductive oxide layer, or polymeric conductive layer). The displaying apparatus of the embodiment enables the electronic device, such as the flexible electronic device, to achieve the product requirements, such as the flexibility, good resistance to water and vapor, and the ability of releasing the electrostatic charges and making the overall structure to release stresses.
US09693423B2 Metal-based particle assembly
There is provided a metal-based particle assembly comprising 30 or more metal-based particles separated from each other and disposed in two dimensions, the metal-based particles having an average particle diameter in a range of from 200 to 1600 nm, an average height in a range of from 55 to 500 nm, and an aspect ratio, as defined by a ratio of the average particle diameter to the average height, in a range of from 1 to 8, wherein the metal-based particles are disposed such that an average distance between adjacent metal-based particles may be in a range of from 1 to 150 nm. This metal-based particle assembly presents significantly intense plasmon resonance and also allows plasmon resonance to have an effect over a range extended to a significantly large distance.
US09693416B2 Method for illuminating an environment, illumination device and camera comprising an illumination device
In a method, a spectral performance of the electromagnetic radiation is chosen in such a way that an integral of the spectral performance across a wave length interval between 380 nm and 780 nm has a nominal value, an integral of the spectral performance across a wave length interval between 420 nm and 460 nm has a first value, an integral of the spectral performance across a wave length interval between 510 nm and 550 nm has a second value, and an integral of the spectral performance across a wave length interval between 580 nm and 620 nm has a third value. The ratios of these values are chosen to be within certain ranges.
US09693409B1 Textile with integrated illumination feature
The textile with integrated illumination feature is a textile that incorporates electrical components in such a manner that: 1) the textile can be illuminated; and 2) the illumination of the textile can be controlled in a programmable manner. The textile is formed with a plurality of wires that are used to provide circuit connections with a plurality of LEDs that are illuminated using a plurality of control circuits. The plurality of control circuits are controlled using a logic module. The plurality of wires are formed into the textile using a plurality of methods discussed in this disclosure. The plurality of LEDs are then connected into the plurality of wires. The plurality of controls circuits control the voltages on each of the plurality of wires. The logic module is used to control the voltage level generated by the plurality of control circuits.
US09693407B2 LED-lighting system comprising an operational data memory
The invention relates to an LED operating circuit in which a second module (2), preferably a light management module, with an additional sub-module (C), preferably a constant flow source, supplies an LED module (F) which has one or more LED sections (8). A control unit (E) of the second module (2) is embodied such that it can access a memory (4) of the second module (2) in order to read an identification of the LED-module (F) or to read the contents stored in the memory (4).
US09693387B2 Compatible communication device
A compatible communication device includes an analog front end, a baseband communication unit, a wireless radio frequency module, a power line communication front end and a control unit. The analog front end is connected to each of the baseband communication unit, the wireless radio frequency module and the power line communication front end. The baseband communication unit transmits baseband signals. The analog front end performs signal conversion between digital domain and analog domain. The control unit selects, based on the channel quality for signal transmission, one or two of the power line communication front end and the wireless radio frequency module for communication. The signal receiving or transmission is performed through a power line if the power line communication front end is selected for communication. Or, the signal receiving or transmission is performed through a wireless channel if the wireless radio frequency module is selected for communication.
US09693384B2 Method of controlling connection between nodes in digital interface
A method and a digital device for controlling a connection between a plurality of nodes through an interface are discussed. The method according to an embodiment includes receiving control information including identification information of a destination node and a connection command. During a connection state according to the connection command, the connection between the plurality of nodes is established and the plurality of nodes maintain the connection state until a disconnection command is detected. The method further includes transmitting, according to the control information, response information including identification information of a source node.
US09693383B2 DRX operation in a wireless communication system
Discontinuous reception (DRX) operation in a wireless communication system is disclosed. According to this, when the UE received configuration information for a long discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle and a short DRX cycle from a network, and receive a data unit comprising at least one DRX command Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE) from the network, the UE starts using the long DRX cycle, if the data unit comprises two or more DRX command MAC CEs.
US09693380B2 Transmitting service information to a plurality of user devices used by a single user
An information processing apparatus includes: a user determination unit that determines whether or not plural user devices are used by a single user on the basis of information transmitted from the plural user devices; a storage unit that stores information of the plural user devices determined to be used by the single user as a set of user devices; a selection unit that selects a second user device to which a service is to be provided in the case where a first user device that requests the service and the second user device are both included in the same set of user devices; and a transmitting unit that transmits service information to the first and the second user device.
US09693379B2 Direct mode communication system and communication resource scheduling method thereof
A direct mode communication system and a communication resource scheduling method thereof are provided. The direct mode communication system includes a base station and at least one client direct mode communication apparatus. The at least one client direct mode communication apparatus includes a first client direct mode communication apparatus. The first client direct mode communication apparatus contends in a communication resource contention pool to generate a communication resource contention message, and transmits the communication resource contention message to the base station. The base station decides a communication resource schedule for the at least one client direct mode communication apparatus according to the communication resource contention message.
US09693375B2 Point-to-point ad hoc voice communication
A wireless communication device establishes voice communication between a supported user and a selected remote device supporting another user via a point-to-point wireless ad hoc network link. The device selects a particular remote device, establishes an ad hoc network link with the selected remote device, and communicates voice communication signals with the selected remote device. Selection can be based upon a user interaction with the device which specifies the particular remote device. The user interaction can include interaction with a graphical representation of the particular remote device presented in a graphical user interface. The user interaction can include an audio command received via an audio interface of the device. The device can include one or more headset devices, including a pair of headset devices which can be switched between providing audio signals to a single user to supporting communication between separate users via an ad hoc network link.
US09693373B1 Media session transfer between communication networks
In a communication system, a translation server individually associates session control servers with transfer control servers. One of the session control servers receives a registration for a User Equipment (UE) over a first network. The translation server associates the UE with the session control server in the data structure. The session control server exchanges first control signaling with the UE to establish a media session over the first network. The translation server receives a session transfer request for the UE from a second network. The translation server processes the data structure to identify the transfer control server that is associated with the session control server that is associated with the UE. The translation server transfers the session transfer request to the transfer control server. The transfer control server exchanges second control signaling with the second network to transfer the media session from the first network to the second network.
US09693360B2 Methods, computer programs, network node and transceiver device
A method of a network node of a radio access network is provided for detecting interference caused by intermodulation on a receive frequency of the network node. The method comprises determining at least one frequency of a signal which potentially gives rise to an intermodulation product on the receive frequency. The method comprises transmitting a request to a transceiver device, wherein the request includes information about the determined at least one frequency and an instruction to monitor that at least one frequency. The method comprises estimating interference level at the receive frequency at one or more time instants. The method comprises receiving a measurement report from the transceiver device, wherein the measurement report includes information about signal levels on the at least one frequency at one or more time instants. The method comprises determining whether the signal on the at least one frequency is probable to cause intermodulation interference on the receive frequency based on the estimated interference level at the receive frequency and the measurement report. Corresponding method of a transceiver device, a network node and computer programs for implementing the methods are also disclosed.
US09693353B2 Base station apparatus and resource allocation method
A wireless communication terminal apparatus wherein even when a SC-FDMA signal is divided into a plurality of clusters and the plurality of clusters are then mapped to respective discontinuous frequency bands (when C-SC-FDMA is used), the improvement effect of system throughput can be maintained, while the user throughput can be improved. In the apparatus, a DFT unit (210) subjects a symbol sequence of time domain to a DFT process, thereby generating signals of frequency domain. A setting unit (211) divides the signals input from the DFT unit (210) into a plurality of clusters according to a cluster pattern that is in accordance with an MCS set, an encoding size, or the number of Ranks occurring during MIMO transmissions, which is indicated in those signals input, and then maps the plurality of clusters to the respective ones of a plurality of discontinuous frequency resources, thereby setting a constellation of the plurality of clusters in the frequency domain.
US09693344B2 Allocation of communication resources
The disclosure relates to the allocation of resources for wireless communications. An index for an uplink control resource is determined in accordance with a predefined rule. The determining takes into account an index associated with a physical downlink resource and the amount of downlink resources to be mapped on the uplink control resource.
US09693336B2 Techniques for connectionless small data transmission
Various embodiments are generally directed to techniques for connectionless small data transmission. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise a processor circuit, a configuration component for execution by the processor circuit to establish a connectionless small data transmission (CSDT) mode, and a communication component for execution by the processor circuit to send a small data preamble, receive a resource allocation message identifying an assigned resource, and send a small data item in the CSDT mode using the assigned resource. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09693334B2 Communication control method and user terminal
A communication control method according to a first aspect includes: a step A of acquiring, by a user terminal that supports a cellular communication and a WLAN communication, access point location information on a geographical location of a WLAN access point; a step B of transmitting, from the user terminal to a cellular network, the access point location information; and a step C of acquiring, by a cellular base station included in the cellular network, the access point location information.
US09693326B2 Method for providing phase synchronization to non-phase synchronized cellular base stations
The method comprising at least one phase synchronized cellular base station having at least one transmit antenna for transmitting a signal to a at least one non-phase synchronized cellular base station, where it comprises transmitting by said at least one transmit antenna of said phased-synchronized cellular base station a beacon signal to said at least one non-phase synchronized cellular base station, included as part of said transmitted signal, said beacon signal comprising two orthogonal length-8 Walsh-Hadamard sequences to be broadcasted by said at least one phase synchronized cellular base station in order to provide said phase synchronization.
US09693324B2 Method and device for reporting power headroom report
The embodiments of the present document provide a method and device for reporting a power headroom report, which relates to the field of mobile communications, and solves the problem of lacking a triggering and sending mechanism for a PHR of the dual-connectivity terminal in the related art. The method includes: a terminal triggering to report a PHR when detecting that a first cell is added in a SeNB; and the terminal reporting the PHR to a MeNB and/or the SeNB, to which the terminal belongs. The technical scheme provided in the embodiments of the present document is applicable to a long term evolution system, which implements the PHR reporting of the dual-connectivity terminal.
US09693308B2 Method and mobile communication terminal for estimating battery consumption state
A method for estimating a battery consumption state of a mobile communication terminal is provided. The method includes building a database with battery characteristic information changing according to at least one of a temperature and an aging characteristic of a battery supplying power to the mobile communication terminal, and estimating a power consumption of the mobile communication terminal and a battery drain rate based on the battery characteristic information and displaying estimated information.
US09693305B2 Communication control device, communication control method, and recording medium
There is provided a communication control device including a prefetch controller configured to allow data corresponding to a target of processing to be prefetched through a communication based on information relating to a prefetch of data when a communication for an application being executed is performed in a connection state of being connected to an external device, the target of processing being different from the application being executed.
US09693304B2 Rescheduling of a resource component of low power nodes (LPNs) in a coordination set
A method for rescheduling a resource component of low power nodes (LPNs) in a local coordination set is disclosed. The method can include a local macro node receiving from a neighboring macro node a resource map of blanked resource components and scheduled resource components for physical resources of the neighboring macro node. The local macro node can be grouped with at least one low power node (LPN) within a local coordination set. The neighboring macro node can be grouped with at least one LPN within a neighboring coordination set. The neighboring macro node can be within a neighboring coordination set different from the local coordination set. The local macro node can reschedule using the resource map, a cell-edge resource component for LPNs in the local coordination set in a same frequency-domain index and a same time-domain index as a blanked resource component of the neighboring macro node.
US09693302B2 Optical wireless access system
An OLT of a PON obtains information on discontinuous reception of a UE from a BBU of LTE, and adjusts a sleep start timing and a sleep cycle of an ONU so that a recovery waiting time in the OLT with respect to downlink data transmitted from the BBU to the UE can be minimized.
US09693294B2 Method and apparatus for selecting cell of terminal in wireless communication system
A method and an apparatus for selecting a cell of a terminal in a wireless communication system are provided. The method includes detecting, by the terminal, an end of a call, performing, when an end of the call is detected, a cell search based on a cell used during the call, the cell search being performed among at least one cell having been used before the call by the terminal and a cell used just before forming the call, and determining a cell to which the cell selection is performed, based on a result of the cell search and the cell used just before forming the call.
US09693278B2 Load balancing schemes for idle mode user equipment
A user equipment device (UE) comprises physical layer circuitry configured to transmit and receive radio frequency electrical signals with one or more nodes of a radio access network; and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to receive system information via the network, wherein the system information indicates cell specific priority and frequency priority; identify candidate cells that have a cell specific priority that is higher than a cell priority of the current serving cell, have a frequency priority that is higher than a frequency priority of a current serving frequency, and satisfy a cell suitability criterion; and determine a candidate cell from the identified candidate cells to replace the current serving cell for communicating with the network.
US09693275B2 Traffic offload via local network
For traffic offload via a local network, a MME may obtain from a HSS, subscription data including SIPTO related permissions defined on APN basis that indicate SIPTO prohibited, indicate SIPTO allowed excluding SIPTO via Local Network (SIPTO@LN), and/or indicate SIPTO allowed including SIPTO@LN. Then, the MME may obtain information about one or more local Gateways (GWs) capable of offloading selected traffic, such information indicating which of the one or more local GWs provides access to which Packet Data Networks (PDNs), with each PDN being identified by its associated APN. Finally, the MME may process PDN connections and/or PDN disconnections in order to support offloading of the selected traffic. The counterpart UE includes the appropriate means of hardware and/or software that is configured to support and perform SIPTO@LN.
US09693271B2 Adaptive cell range expansion mechanisms for LTE cells
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to devices and methods that provide adaptive CRE-based offset parameters that take into account the speed of a UE and that take into account the DL/UL traffic balance being experienced by the UE. For example, if the speed of a UE is greater than the predefined speed, the UE utilizes an adaptive CRE-based offset parameter that has a low value or is equal to zero. Similarly, if the balance of downlink/uplink traffic being experienced by a UE is mainly downlink traffic, the UE utilizes an adaptive CRE-based offset parameter that has a low value or is equal to zero. Consequently, the embodiments disclosed herein reduce the handover failure associated with CRE particularly for high speed UEs while also being able to increase downlink system capacity if the balance of the downlink and uplink traffic experienced by the UE is mostly downlink traffic.
US09693259B2 Method in a base station, a base station, computer programs and computer readable means
The invention relates to a method 20 in a base station 2 of a communication system 1 comprising a transport network 7 interconnecting the base station 2 with at least a gateway node 8. The communication system 1 further comprises one or more user equipment 3, 4 .The method 20 comprises: obtaining 21 transport network congestion information, and adjusting 22 , based on the transport network congestion information, a radio resource utilization parameter for at least one of the one or more user equipment 3, 4 , wherein the radio resource utilization parameter comprises a ratio of used radio resources in a predefined block of radio resources and the number of network congestion radio resources of the predefined block.
US09693251B2 Methods for performing parallel wireless signal measurements
Systems, methods, and apparatuses are presented for performing parallel uplink wireless signal measurements (UL measurements), in which a signal measuring apparatus determines information on UL measurements being performed or to be performed by the signal measuring apparatus over a predetermined measurement period. The signal measuring apparatus further determines a capability of the signal measuring apparatus to perform parallel UL measurements. The signal measuring apparatus may adjust a measurement requirement or a measurement resource based on a comparison of the UL measurements being performed or to be performed over the measurement period with a capability of the measuring apparatus to perform parallel measurements. The signal measuring apparatus performs the UL measurements based on the adjusted measurement requirement or adjusted measurement resource.
US09693244B2 Sensor and receiving device in sensor system
A sensor system in which it is possible to identify a sufficient number of sensors even in a situation where the data length of a packet is limited, as well as a sensor and a receiving device in the same, are provided. A sensor repeating a measurement period for performing measurement and a transmission period for performing transmission at predetermined cycles, includes: a measurement section (11) that outputs during the measurement period measurement information based on predetermined measurement; and a transmission section (12) that transmits during the transmission period, by using a single packet or a plurality of packets, source identification information for identifying a source of a packet, the measurement information, and sensor-related information for identifying the sensor and/or a measurement target equipment of this sensor.
US09693243B2 Radio communication system, radio terminal, radio network, radio communication method and program
A radio terminal, which has a function to collect and report measurement information designated by a radio network, comprises: means for receiving collection/reporting control information related to the radio terminal's execution of at least one of the collection of measurement information and the reporting of the measurement information to the radio network; and control means for executing, based on the collection/reporting control information, at least one of the collection and the reporting if execution determination information, which is related to at least one of the collection of the measurement information and the reporting of the measurement information to be executed by the local terminal, satisfies a given determination criterion.
US09693238B2 Dynamic antenna tuning for multi-band multi-carrier wireless systems
Apparatus and methods for the design and dynamic tuning of antenna circuitry for use across multiple radio frequency bands in wireless communication devices is disclosed herein. An antenna apparatus includes antenna tuning control, antenna tuning circuitry, and a set of one or more physical antennas. The antenna tuning controller includes a combination of baseband and front-end hardware and software. The antenna circuitry collectively includes antenna tuning circuitry and the set of one or more physical antennas. Based on a set of radio frequency bands and on communication channel conditions, the antenna tuning controller determines an optimal antenna tuning configuration and provides appropriate parameters to the antenna tuning circuitry. The antenna apparatus configures and optimizes the tuning of the antenna circuitry for a future time period, which can be a next time slot. The antenna tuning controller utilizes a cost/gain function to calculate the optimal antenna tuning configuration.
US09693237B2 Optimization of cellular network architecture based on device type-specific traffic dynamics
A method, a computer readable medium and an apparatus for optimizing a cellular network architecture are disclosed. For example, the method obtains network traffic data for a plurality of different endpoint device types, wherein the network traffic data comprises network traffic data for each of the plurality of different endpoint device types, and predicts a future traffic pattern for one of the plurality of different endpoint device types based on the network traffic data. The method then adjusts a parameter of the cellular network architecture in response to the future traffic pattern predicted for the one of the plurality of different endpoint device types.
US09693234B2 Proximity security tokens
Disclosed embodiments comprise one or more security methods, systems or apparatus suitable to provide additional security to personal property or financial transactions. Embodiments feature a proximity security token which is physically separate from a protected device. A communications link is provided between the proximity security token and the protected device which communications link operates over a limited range. Thus, the presence and active operation of the limited range communications link between the proximity security token and protected device indicates that the protected device has not been lost and stolen. Interruption of the communications link indicates that the protected device may have been lost or stolen causing the commencement of security actions.
US09693222B1 Sharing social media profiles using wireless identifiers of a communication device
Methods and systems for associating or accessing one or more social media profiles are disclosed herein. The system may include one or more unconnected (Wireless Enabled Devices) WEDs which may broadcast or detect a beacon message, where the beacon message may include the MAC address or other wireless identifier of the broadcasting WED (Wireless Enabled Device). The detecting WED may send a query to an API for accessing or retrieving one or more social media profiles that may be associated with the detected MAC address. The API may check the detected MAC address against a plurality of MAC addresses previously registered in a registry. The API may retrieve links stored in the registry and associated with the registered MAC address. The API may send these links to the detecting WED which may use the links to automatically retrieve one or more social media profiles from third-party providers.
US09693218B2 Mobility management system, mobility management method, access GW apparatus, mobility management control apparatus, and computer-readable medium
A mobility management system in which mobility management for a mobile terminal is performed, including a plurality of mobility anchor nodes configured to communicate with an external network; an access gateway configured to communicate with the mobile terminal and the plurality of anchor nodes, and configured to send, to at least one of the mobility anchor nodes, a packet being relayed between the mobility terminal and the external network; and a control unit having at least one hardware processor configured to execute modules to control the access gateway to switch a destination mobility anchor node of the packet.
US09693215B2 Electronic apparatus and wireless device checking method
An in-vehicle apparatus is capable of connecting to wireless devices by using a plurality of wireless communication modes and includes a wireless device retrieval section configured to retrieve a connectable wireless device for each of the plurality of wireless communication modes, and a wireless communication mode display processing section, a display processing section, and a display device that are configured to display wireless communication modes corresponding to connectable wireless devices whose existence has been checked by the wireless device retrieval section.
US09693212B1 Devices and methods for efficient emergency calling
Disclosed are devices, systems, methods, and media for efficient emergency calling using digital devices. In some embodiments, a user is able to make an emergency call by a one-touch or dual-touch process. An authentication process may reduce inadvertent and unauthorized emergency calling. Persistent emergency buttons are also disclosed that may be used for calling emergency in different states of the device.
US09693210B2 Customizing wireless emergency alert messages using network analytics
A method, computer-readable medium, and apparatus for broadcasting a wireless emergency alert message are disclosed. For example, a method may include a processor receiving a request to broadcast a wireless emergency alert message, determining an anticipated increase in a network usage in response to broadcasting the wireless emergency alert message, determining that a capacity of the network will not be exceeded with the anticipated increase in the network usage, and broadcasting the wireless alert message in an alert area. In one example, the request comprises a type of alert, the alert area, and a message content. In one example, the wireless emergency alert message that is broadcast includes the message content in a format that deviates from a default format when it is determined that the capacity of the network will not be exceeded with the anticipated increase in the network usage.
US09693204B2 System and method for conveying information using broadcast frames
The present disclosure discloses a system and a method for conveying information using broadcast frames. Specifically, a network device detects a first wireless signal comprising a beacon frame transmitted by an access point in a network. The network device then identifies a radio Frequency (RF) channel indicated in the beacon frame. Responsive to identifying the RF channel in the beacon frame, the network device selects the RF channel to convey information to one or more network elements using a broadcast frame. Moreover, the network device transmits the broadcast frame to the one or more network elements. Note that, the broadcast frame includes information corresponding to a detected second wireless signal.
US09693203B2 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 an apparatus of transmitting broadcast signals. The apparatus includes, an encoder encoding service data, a constellation mapper mapping the encoded service data by either QAM, NUQ (Non Uniform QAM) or NUC (Non Uniform Constellation), a mapper mapping the mapped service data into a plurality of OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex) symbols to build at least one signal frame, a modulator modulating data in the built at least one signal frame by an OFDM scheme and a transmitter transmitting the broadcast signals having the modulated data.
US09693202B2 Systems and methods for determining device location using wireless data and other geographical location data
A computer-implemented method for determining device location of a user device within a venue using a wireless positioning system is provided. The method includes identifying a plurality of signal sample sets, wherein each signal sample set includes a sample location within the venue and one or more wireless signal strengths of associated wireless access points positioned at the venue, wherein the sample location is determined based on location data associated with a corresponding payment card transaction within the venue. The method also includes receiving a subject wireless signal strength sample of the wireless access points captured by the user device at an unidentified location within the venue. The method further includes determining a subject location of the user device based on the plurality of signal sample sets and the one or more subject wireless signal strength samples, and providing the subject location of the user device within the venue.
US09693197B2 System with wireless messages to enhance location accuracy
Electronic equipment in a system may transmit and receive wireless advertisement messages. Each wireless message may include location information and may have an associated received signal strength indicator when received from transmitting equipment by receiving equipment. The transmitting equipment may be associated with stationary equipment such as equipment installed at a building, adjacent to a road, or in traffic control equipment or other traffic structures. The receiving electronic equipment may be mobile equipment such as a vehicle or mobile computing equipment such as a cellular telephone or portable computer. Satellite navigation system signals may be received by the receiving electronic equipment in addition to the wireless messages. The receiving electronic information can present alerts to a user based on a location determined using the wireless messages and the satellite navigation system signals.
US09693194B2 Determining location via wireless access points
Determining a location of a user device comprises a wireless computing system supported by an access point. The wireless computing system receives a signal from the user device. The system estimates a location of the user device based on RSSI and calculates a boundary around the estimated location. The wireless computing system selects a plurality of sections inside of the boundary and performs a coarse calculation of a location of the user device based on an angle of arrival of the received signal. The system determines sections of the plurality of sections that have results from the coarse calculation that are more likely to be a location of the user device. The system performs a fine calculation of the location based on the angle of arrival of the received signal within each of the sections. The system identifies a particular section as the location of the user device.
US09693193B2 Presence detection based on crowd surfing signal strength
A method includes receiving wireless signals from consumer devices that are in communicable range of the merchant device. The wireless signals each include a unique identifier associated with one of the consumer devices. The method further comprises generating signal strength data that includes one signal strength value associated with the unique identifier of each of the wireless signals, storing the signal strength data in a data storage device, analyzing the signal strength data to determine how many of the consumer devices achieved various signal strength levels, determining a threshold signal strength value based on the analysis, determining a consumer device is present within a physical area when a subsequent wireless signal from a subsequent consumer device is greater than the threshold signal strength value.
US09693184B2 Control plane location solution to support wireless access
Techniques for supporting a control plane solution for location services and positioning are described. In an aspect, an Evolved Serving Mobile Location Center (E-SMLC) may communicate with a Mobility Management Entity (MME) to support location services and positioning for a UE. In one design, the E-SMLC may receive a location request from the MME, perform a positioning procedure with the UE in response to the location request, and send a location response to the MME after completing the positioning procedure. For a UE-assisted or UE-based positioning procedure, the E-SMLC may send a downlink positioning message to the UE via the MME and may receive an uplink positioning message from the UE via the MME. For a network-based positioning procedure, the E-SMLC may send a network positioning request message to an eNB via the MME and may receive a network positioning response message from the eNB via the MME.
US09693174B2 Wireless device, wireless communication system, wireless module, interface module, and communication method
A wireless device includes a wireless module and an interface module. One of the wireless module and the interface module generates a first message having a predetermined format and including data, which is to be transmitted to other one of the wireless module and the interface module, and type information representing a type of the data, and transmits the first message to the other one of the wireless module and the interface module. The other one of the wireless module and the interface module generates, in accordance with the type information included in the first message, a second message having the same format as the first message and including data, which is to be replied to the one of the wireless module and the interface module, and type information representing a type of the data, and replies the second message to the one of the wireless module and the interface module.
US09693172B2 System and method for machine-type communications
A method for operating a machine-type device (MTD) includes determining communications requirements for a machine-type device (MTD), and assigning a first signal waveform selected from a plurality of signal waveforms to the MTD in accordance with the determined communications requirements, wherein each signal waveform has an associated characteristic signal bandwidth.
US09693171B2 Sound field measuring device, method, and program
A sound field measuring device (1) includes an external output unit (6) configured to output a measurement signal composed of a periodic function having a code length of 2n−1 (n is a natural number) to a speaker (9), a microphone (7) configured to pick up the measurement signal outputted from the speaker (9), a Fourier transform unit (12) configured to obtain frequency characteristics by Fourier transforming measurement sound picked up with a sample length of 2m (m is a natural number), a thinning-out unit (13) configured to remove line spectra except for the (k×2m-n+1)th line spectra (k=0, 1, 2, and the like) from the obtained frequency characteristics, and an averaging unit (14) configured to obtain averaged frequency characteristics of a sound field on the basis of frequency characteristics thinned-out.
US09693169B1 Ultrasonic speaker assembly with ultrasonic room mapping
Audio spatial effects are provided using ultrasonic speakers. To better reproduce the audio effects, ultrasound is used to map a room in which the speakers are disposed and the direction of emitted ultrasound from the speakers established using the map.
US09693164B1 Determining direction of networked microphone device relative to audio playback device
Example techniques involve determining a direction of an NMD. An example implementation includes causing two audio drivers to output audio content, where the audio drivers are positioned at a known distance apart in a given azimuthal plane and recording the audio content output by the two audio drivers. The implementation also includes causing a processing device to identify a direction of the NMD relative to a center point of the two audio drivers in the given azimuthal plane. Identifying the direction of the NMD may involve determining a range of possible azimuthal angles between the NMD and the center point, the range of possible angles dependent upon the known distance between the two audio drivers and a phase offset between the two audio drivers indicated by the recorded audio content output. The implementation further includes causing a playback device to adjust calibration based on the identified direction of the NMD.
US09693159B2 Method of fitting a hearing aid and a hearing aid
A method of fitting a hearing aid having means (104) for determining a real ear response. The invention also provides a hearing aid adapted for improved fitting.
US09693157B2 Hearing aid system with a positioning tool
A hearing aid system with a positioning tool is disclosed. The hearing aid system has a hearing aid, an adhesive interconnection unit and a positioning tool. The interconnection unit can be connected to both the hearing aid and the positioning tool. The positioning tool facilitates a correct positioning of the interconnection unit on the hairless skin area behind the outer ear and ensures that neither the hearing aid nor the interconnection unit touches the skin of the outer ear. The hearing aid position can be fine-tuned by turning it in relation to the interconnection unit.
US09693151B2 Condenser microphone unit
In a primary sound pressure-gradient type condenser microphone unit driving a diaphragm by difference in sound pressure applied to acoustic terminals in front and back of the diaphragm, a drive force of the diaphragm and sound collection characteristics in a high frequency band are easily adjusted. The condenser microphone unit includes a first pipe extending forward on the front side of a diaphragm and a second pipe arranged so as to surround the first pipe. A front acoustic terminal communicating with a front surface of the diaphragm is formed on an inner side of either one of the first pipe or the second pipe. A rear acoustic terminal communicating with a back surface of the diaphragm from the rear side of a fixed electrode is formed on an inner side of the other pipe.
US09693149B2 Microphone and method for manufacturing the same
A microphone and method for manufacturing the microphone are provided. The microphone includes a substrate with a penetration aperture, a vibration unit disposed on the substrate to cover the penetration aperture, and a fixed electrode disposed over, and spaced from, the vibration unit. Further, the vibration unit includes a first portion and a second portion disposed on the penetration aperture, and a third portion disposed on the substrate. In addition, the first portion and the third portion are spaced from each other, and the second portion is connected between the first portion and the third portion, and includes a first piezoelectric portion and a second piezoelectric portion.
US09693143B2 Multi-layer laminate with high internal damping
The invention relates to a multi-layer composite for the production of membranes for electroacoustic transducers, comprising a first and second cover layer, a first and second damping layer and a separating layer, the first and the second damping layer consisting of adhesive compositions the respective glass transition temperatures TG (DSC) of which differ by at least 10 K.
US09693137B1 Method for creating a customizable synchronized audio recording using audio signals from mobile recording devices
A system and method for creating a synchronized audio signal having a variable sound perspective from a plurality of audio signals captured by mobile recording devices. The system includes an audio source for producing an audio signal, mobile devices for capturing the audio signal as audio recordings. The mobile devices are connected to a server via a communications network. The audio recordings are transmitted from the mobile devices to the server over the communications network. The server receives the audio recordings and saves them to a database. A mixer accesses the saved audio recordings and then aligns, mixes, and modifies them according to mixing instructions to produce a synchronized recording having a first sound perspective. A user may provide input to the server to generate new mixing instructions, and the mixer generates an updated synchronized recording having a second sound perspective in response to those new mixing instructions.
US09693136B2 Digital speaker driving apparatus
A digital sound system suitable for a digital speaker device to directly convert analog sound by a circuit using a ΔΣ modulator and a mismatch shaping filter circuit to output a plurality of digital signals and a plurality of speakers driven by the plurality of digital signals. A digital speaker driving device includes a ΔΣ modulator, a post filter, s driving circuits, and a power supply circuit to supply power to the ΔΣ modulator, the post filter and the s driving elements, and the s driving circuits are adapted to s digital signal terminals.
US09693135B2 Differential microphone and method for driving a differential microphone
A differential microphone with improved biasing and a well defined common mode output voltage is connected to an amplifier that includes a differential amplifier stage and a common mode feedback circuit. The amplifier is in a feedback configuration.
US09693134B2 Waterproof sound-transmitting member
A waterproof sound-transmitting member includes a waterproof sound-transmitting membrane and a support layer. The support layer includes a polyolefin-based resin foam. The support layer has a loss modulus of 1.0×107 Pa or less and a loss factor of 1.0×10−1 or more. The waterproof sound-transmitting membrane is, for example, a stretched porous polytetrafluoroethylene membrane. The waterproof sound-transmitting membrane may include an adhesive layer.
US09693127B2 Method and apparatus for communicating audio data
A method and an apparatus are provided for transmitting audio data. The method includes setting a connection with a plurality of slave devices by using a short range wireless communication protocol, generating a data packet comprising the audio data, and repetitively transmitting the data packet to the plurality of slave devices through a multicast/broadcast channel a number of times.
US09693126B1 Speaker assembly and display device including speaker assembly
A speaker assembly and a display device including the speaker assembly are provided. The speaker assembly may include a first speaker, a first connecting portion that is depressed at a side of the first speaker, a first magnetic body provided at the first connecting portion, a second speaker, a second connecting portion that protrudes from a side of the second speaker and configured to be inserted into the first connecting portion, and a second magnetic body provided at the second connecting portion and having a magnetic polarity different from a magnetic polarity of the first magnetic body.
US09693125B2 Loudspeaker cabinet stand
A stand that is adapted to support an upper loudspeaker cabinet relative to a lower loudspeaker cabinet. The stand has a first structure that is constructed and arranged to be directly coupled to a first portion of the lower loudspeaker cabinet in a stand stowed position wherein the stand is stowed on or in the lower loudspeaker cabinet, and a second structure that is constructed and arranged to be directly coupled to a second portion of the lower loudspeaker cabinet in a stand deployed position wherein the stand is supported by and extends above the lower loudspeaker cabinet. The stand is further constructed and arranged to support the upper loudspeaker cabinet when the stand is in the deployed position.
US09693124B2 Macro-switch with a buffered switching matrix
A macro-switch is described. This macro-switch includes facing integrated circuits, one of which implements optical waveguides that convey optical signals, and the other which implements control logic, electrical switches and memory buffers at each of multiple switch sites. Moreover, the macro-switch has a fully connected topology between the switch sites. Furthermore, the memory buffers at each switch site provide packet buffering and congestion relief without causing undue scheduling/routing complexity. Consequently, the macro-switch can be scaled to an arbitrarily large switching matrix (i.e., an arbitrary number of switch sites and/or switching stages).
US09693118B2 Systems and methods for prioritizing adaptive bit rate distribution of content
Systems and methods for prioritizing adaptive bit rate distribution of content are provided. In some aspects, a method includes identifying a plurality of content streams. Each of the plurality of content streams is associated with a variant feature of content to be delivered to the client device. Each variant feature of the content comprises at least one of a bit rate and a non-bit rate feature. The method also includes determining a priority of each of the plurality of content streams relative to one another based at least on the non-bit rate feature associated with each of the plurality of content streams. The method also includes providing an indication of the priority of each of the plurality of content streams to the client device.
US09693108B2 Method and system for displaying user selectable picture
Provided is a method and system for displaying a user selectable picture that enables a user to select a predetermined object from a picture of a camera relayed in real time, and to actively select and thereby view a picture captured to include the selected object.
US09693104B2 Client-side multimedia content targeting system
A client-side multimedia content targeting system schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of multimedia content on a client system storage device. The system accepts as input a prioritized list of program viewing preferences which is compared with a database of program guide objects that indicate when programs of interest are actually broadcast. The viewer's client system locally retains the viewer's preferences and other personal information that the viewer has entered and is sent targeting information relating to program guide objects by a server. Using the viewer's preferences and personal information, the client system creates a viewer profile, which is used with the targeting information by the client system to record content that is within the viewer profile. The described client-based form of targeting can be applied to almost any multimedia situation, including, but not limited to: TV shows, movies, advertisements, product and service offerings, music, radio, audio, etc.
US09693101B2 Multi-platform digital television
A multi-platform television comprises at least one television signal interface to receive premium television services from at least two different television service providers. The television further comprises a programmable conditional access system to enable conditional access to the premium television services received by the at least one television signal interface from the at least two different service providers.
US09693090B2 Remote control for first and second apparatus
First apparatuses (1) to be remotely controlled by devices (3) comprise interfaces (11) for receiving first signals from second apparatuses (2) that define that the second apparatuses (2) have received codes from the devices (3), interfaces (12) for sending second signals to the devices (3), and first controllers (21) for detecting the first signals and in response to detection results generating the second signals for providing assistance to the configurations of the devices (3) for remotely controlling the second apparatuses (2). The devices (3) for remotely controlling the first apparatuses (1) comprise interfaces (14) for sending codes to the second apparatuses (2) for remotely controlling the second apparatuses (2), interfaces (15) for receiving the second signals from the first apparatuses (1), and second controllers (22) for detecting the second signals for configuring the devices (3) for remotely controlling the second apparatuses (2).
US09693089B2 Media return system
A system includes a consumer electronic device adapted to render a media content and a hand-held, portable device having a touch screen display, a transmitter, a receiver, and a processing unit. The processing unit of the hand-held, portable device uses data related to the media content received via the receiver to cause command icons related to rendering of the media content to be defined and displayed in the touch screen display and to cause the transmitter to transmit one or more commands for controlling a functional operation related to rendering of the media content by the consumer electronic device in response to a user interaction with one or more of the command icons caused to displayed in the touch screen display.
US09693082B2 Method and device for transmitting/receiving digital broadcast signal
The present invention relates to a device and a method for transmitting/receiving a digital broadcast signal having a three-dimensional image. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a device for receiving a digital broadcast signal comprises: a tuner which receives a digital broadcast signal of a transport packet that contains signaling data and a video stream for implementing a three-dimensional image; a demodulation unit which demodulates said received digital broadcast signal; a decoding module which extracts mode conversion information from said demodulated digital broadcast signal; and an output formatter which outputs a decoded image signal on the basis of said mode conversion information.
US09693075B2 Picture encoding device, picture encoding method, picture encoding program, picture decoding device, picture decoding method, and picture decoding program
A candidate list construction unit selects a plurality of blocks each having one or two pieces of motion information containing at least information about a motion vector and information about a reference picture from a plurality of neighboring encoded blocks of an encoding target block and constructs a candidate list containing candidates of the motion information used for the motion compensation prediction from the motion information of the selected blocks. A selected candidate generator generates a new candidate of the motion information by combining the motion information of a first prediction list derived by the first motion information deriving unit and the motion information of the second prediction list derived by a second motion information deriving unit.
US09693072B2 Moving picture compression apparatus, image processing apparatus, moving picture compression method, image processing method, and data structure of moving picture compression file
A frame sequence of moving picture data is divided into a tile image sequence, and the color space of the tile image sequence is converted to generate a YCbCr image sequence. Each frame is reduced to ½ time in the vertical and horizontal directions, and a compression process is carried out to generate compression data of a reference image. The compression data of the reference image is decoded and decompressed similarly as upon image display to restore a YCbCr image as the reference image, and a difference image sequence is generated from the reference image and the original YCbCr image. Then, compression data of a difference image is generated, and compression data obtained by connecting the compression data of the reference image and the compression data of the difference image is generated for every four frames of a tile image.
US09693064B2 Video coding infrastructure using adaptive prediction complexity reduction
Within a device, one or more subsets associated with one or more frames or pictures of the video signal may be adaptively selected and used for motion vector calculation (e.g., such as in accordance with inter-prediction). For example, a picture or frame of the video signal may be partitioned into a number of respective regions. Any one or more, but typically fewer than all, of the respective regions of that picture or frame may be appropriately selected, and stored, based on any one or more considerations for use in motion vector calculation (e.g., inter-prediction). A sub-sampled or down-sampled picture or frame [or alternatively, a sub-sampled or down-sampled version of one or more respective regions of a picture or frame] (e.g., the sub-sampling or down-sampling ratio which may be adaptively determined based on any one or more considerations) may be stored for use in motion vector calculation (e.g., inter-prediction).
US09693062B2 Apparatus and method of texture encoding and decoding
A method of texture encoding is provided. The method includes obtaining a plurality of textures, assembling a sequence of textures by selecting a first texture of the sequence of textures and then, one or more times, adding to the sequence of textures a texture from the plurality of textures that is calculated to be the one most similar to the current last texture in the sequence of textures. The method then encodes the assembled sequence of textures using a motion vector based video encoding scheme. Meanwhile, a method of texture decoding includes receiving a data file encoded using a motion vector based video encoding scheme, decoding the data file using a corresponding motion vector based video decoding scheme, and obtaining from the decoding scheme a sequence of textures arranged in an order of mutual similarity.
US09693049B2 Projection mapping video pipeline
A projection mapping video pipeline is provided including a system comprising: a lookup table generator; a memory and a communication interface, the memory storing: a three-dimensional (“3D”) model of a physical object; and a mapping of the 3D model onto unwrapped two-dimensional (“2D”) surfaces of the 3D model; the lookup table generator configured to: receive projector data defining a location, an orientation and lens characteristics associated with a given projector, relative to the physical object; generate a lookup table from the 3D model, the mapping and the projector data, the lookup table comprising a respective mapping of projector pixels to the unwrapped 2D surfaces of the 3D model, respective to the given projector; and, transmit, using the communication interface, the lookup table to a given control device in communication with the given projector.
US09693046B2 Multi-view display system
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a multi-view display system. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a display screen to display multiple views simultaneously, and a controller to control the views presented on the display screen. The apparatus is configurable by the controller to provide multiple view settings, the view settings including a first setting in which the apparatus provides a single view to each viewer of the display screen and a second setting in which the apparatus provides a first view to a first viewer of the display screen and a second view to a second viewer of the display screen. A first filtering element filters views presented to viewers of the display screen such that an intended view is displayed to one or more viewers.
US09693039B2 Hand-held electronic device
A hand-held electronic device (10) includes an upper housing (21) and a lower housing (11) which are foldable. An upper LCD (22) capable of displaying an image which is stereoscopically visible with naked eyes is provided on an inner side surface of the upper housing (21).
US09693038B2 Systems and methods for imaging
An imaging device has a light field imager and a processor. The light field imager includes a microlens array, and a light field sensor positioned proximate to the microlens array, having a plurality of pixels and recording light field data of an optical target from light passing through the microlens array. The processor is configured to: receive the light field data of the optical target from the light field sensor, estimate signal to noise ratio and depth of the optical target in the light field data, select a subset of sub-aperture images based on the signal to noise ratio and depth, combine the selected subset of sub-aperture images, and perform image analysis on the combined subset of sub-aperture images.
US09693037B2 Imaging apparatus having an imaging element in which a plurality of light receiving elements is arranged with respect to a micro lens and method for controlling same
An imaging element is configured by arranging a plurality of light receiving elements with respect to each micro lens. A second PD selecting/composing unit has a mode for generating right-eye image data and left-eye image data from the output signal of the imaging element. A phase difference detecting unit detects a phase difference from right-eye image data and left-eye image data. A movement detecting unit detects the movement of an object from right-eye image data or left-eye image data. A CPU calculates an object position based on both the result of phase difference detection and the result of movement detection and drives a focus lens via a driving unit to thereby control focus adjustment.
US09693035B2 Reconfigurable asynchronous readout array
A 3D stacked electro-optical radiation imaging device with a plurality of integrated circuit layers, the device having a pixelated array of semiconductor detector elements, in which each detecting element is electrically connected a stacked integrated circuit. The stacked integrated circuit has a mixed signal layer and a reconfigurable layer. The mixed signal layer has a passive signal path and an active signal path. A readout decoder block controls operation of the passive paths. The active signal path triggers readout upon transient event detection and is readout by an address arbitration control block, the address arbitration control block operating independent and asynchronous to the readout of the passive path and transient event detection initiates the identification of the location of and readout of the signaling active path. The reconfigurable layer has processing units that each correspond to one or more pixels in the pixelated array. The processing units are reconfigurable through received signals from either the passive path, the active path, or an external signal. A controller programs and communicates with the mixed signal layer and reconfigurable layer
US09693031B2 System and method for capturing and processing a live event
A system comprising a lead computer a plurality of receivers and transmitters for capturing audio and/or video signals and converting the audio and/or video signals to a transmittable form, wherein at least one of the plurality of receivers and transmitters is associated with at least one individual of a group, wherein the lead computer includes a computer processor for processing a selection of the group and a selection of the transmittable audio and/or video signals of the at least one individual transmitted over a network to the lead computer, wherein the lead computer includes a display device having one or more view windows for playing the selection of the group alongside the selection of the transmittable audio and/or video signals of the at least one individual.
US09693029B1 System and method for feedback control in scanning projectors
A scanning projector and method is provided that generates a feedback signal from at least one photodetector. In the scanning projector, a scanning mirror is configured to reflect laser light into an image region and an over scanned region. The at least one photodetector is configured to receive a portion of the reflected laser light impacting the over scanned region, and provides the feedback signal responsive to the received portion of light. This feedback signal can then be used to provide precise control of the scanning mirror.
US09693024B2 Visual inspection device
A visual inspection device includes a body having a support portion and a grip portion extending from the support portion. The device also includes a flexible cable having a first end portion coupled to the body and a second end portion, and a camera assembly coupled to the second end portion of the flexible cable. The camera assembly includes an image sensor operable to transmit image data through the flexible cable. The device further includes a display supported by the support portion of the body. The display is electrically connected to the flexible cable to display image date from the image sensor. The device is powered by a rechargeable battery pack removably coupled to the body.
US09693022B2 Solar-powered camera that mounts directly on existing lighting
Surveillance cameras can be used in many buildings accessible to the public to deter criminal activity and promote public safety. Apparatus and corresponding methods, of the disclosed embodiments of the invention promote installation and use of such surveillance devices through an improved camera mounting module and power supply unit using a solar module having solar cells. An example embodiment of the surveillance devices includes an imaging device, power supply unit employing a solar module having solar cells, and a mounting module coupled to the imaging device, the solar cells being configured with the mounting module to collect light and provide available power to the power supply unit. The disclosed surveillance device, and corresponding process of performing surveillance, minimizes installation and maintenance costs and times associated with surveillance systems.
US09693021B2 Device for searching for defects on parts by endoscopy
A device for searching for defects on parts that are masked, such as turbine engine blades, the device including a tubular sheath, a light-guide guiding light, an image-transmission mechanism transmitting images housed inside the sheath, an examination head at a distal end of the sheath including an illumination mechanism and an image-taking mechanism connected to the light-guide and to the image-transmission mechanism housed in the sheath, a mechanism spraying a succession of penetrant test materials on the part for inspection including a capillary slidably guided in a duct housed in the sheath, and a mechanism adjusting orientation of the examination head at the distal end of the sheath.
US09693020B1 Producing and viewing publically viewable video-based group conversations
A system and method for producing a video-based group conversation for viewing over a network. The system is configured to generate a display at a first user computer which includes a plurality of sections in a single screen display, including at least a preview section configured for displaying an indicator for each of one or more viewers who are viewing the video-based conversation, and a media player section configured for displaying a video signal including at least some of the video feeds. The creator of the publically viewable video-based group conversation controls which users can participate in the publically viewable video-based group conversation by enabling video streams provided by those users to be displayed on the screen and viewable to other users who access the group conversation.
US09693005B2 Electric apparatus and an operation method thereof
The present invention discloses an electric apparatus and operation method thereof. The electric apparatus includes: display unit to display the output content from said electric apparatus: operation unit used to operate said electric apparatus; the apparatus further includes: the primary indication unit, when the primary indication unit is started up, the operation unit is in visible status and otherwise the operation unit is in invisible status. The design of the present invention improves the front visual effect and the interactive performance of the electrical apparatus.
US09692999B2 Solid-state imaging device and electronic equipment
A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel unit in which a plurality of pixels converting physical quantities into electric signals are arranged in a two-dimensional shape, a vertical signal line for reading signals from the pixels, and column circuits arranged corresponding to columns of the pixel unit and collecting the signals from the vertical signal line at the inside of the pixel unit.
US09692996B2 Sensor and method for suppressing background signal
A sensor for suppressing a background signal is provided. The sensor includes: a pixel array that detects a signal by using a plurality of pixels; an accumulator that converts a differential signal between two signals detected from an arbitrary pixel of the pixel array at predetermined times into a digital signal and accumulates the digital signal; and a digital memory that stores the accumulated digital signal.
US09692992B2 Color and infrared filter array patterns to reduce color aliasing
Embodiments of a color filter array include a plurality of tiled minimal repeating units, each minimal repeating unit comprising an M×N set of individual filters, and each individual filter in the set having a photoresponse selected from among four different photoresponses. Each minimal repeating unit includes a checkerboard pattern of filters of the first photoresponse, and filters of the second, third, and fourth photoresponses distributed among the checkerboard pattern such that the filters of the second, third, and fourth photoresponses are sequentially symmetric about one or both of a pair of orthogonal axes of the minimal repeating unit.
US09692966B2 Image capturing device and image capturing method
A bus interface/camera control interface connects a processor and a plurality of imaging units. A control data pass-through logic exchanges data between the bus interface/camera control interface and the plurality of imaging units. A pass-through mask register includes: a write register used to specify, of the plurality of imaging units, one or more imaging units to be selected so as to selectively supply write data to the one or more imaging units; and a read register used to specify, of the plurality of imaging units, a single imaging unit to be selected so as to selectively receive read data from the single imaging unit. The control data pass-through logic can use the pass-through mask register to switch between input and output operations.
US09692964B2 Modification of post-viewing parameters for digital images using image region or feature information
A method of generating one or more new digital images using an original digitally-acquired image including a selected image feature includes identifying within a digital image acquisition device one or more groups of pixels that correspond to the selected image feature based on information from one or more preview images. A portion of the original image is selected that includes the one or more groups of pixels. The technique includes automatically generating values of pixels of one or more new images based on the selected portion in a manner which includes the selected image feature within the one or more new images.
US09692961B2 Electronic device and virtual image rotation method
A virtual image rotation method activates a camera to capture an image on a first side of an electronic device, analyzes the captured image to identify one or more facial images from the captured image, and identifies one of the one or more facial images from the captured image as a primary facial image. The method further calculates a directional value of the primary facial image in the captured image, and rotates a virtual image displayed on a display screen based on a preset rotational value associated with a preset directional value range in which the directional value of the primary facial image falls. A related electronic device and a related non-transitory storage medium are provided.
US09692953B2 Camera-lens automatic pop-up assembly
A camera-lens automatic pop-up assembly and a terminal device are provided. The assembly comprises a camera lens, a first elastic member, a rotating member, a slide-rail switch and a second elastic member. The camera lens is connected with one end of the first elastic member and a body of the terminal device, respectively. A side of the camera lens is provided with a connection groove and the other end of the first elastic member is connected with the body. The slide-rail switch is connected with the body through the second elastic member.
US09692952B2 Camera module and method for assembling the same
A camera module including a cover part having an opening, a lens mounted to the opening of the cover part, a lens guide formed in the opening at an upper portion of the cover part to prevent removal of the lens, a back cap contacted with the lens and mounted to the opening, a first protrusion part protruded from a lower portion of the cover part, a second protrusion part protruded from the lower portion of the cover part and spaced from the first protrusion part, and a cavity disposed between the first and second protrusion parts, wherein a protruding length of the first protrusion part is longer than a protruding length of the second protrusion part.
US09692950B2 Display method for video conferencing
A display method for video conferencing and an associated video conferencing system are provided. The video conferencing system includes a display, an image capturing unit, and a network interface unit. The method includes the steps of: utilizing the image capturing unit to capture images of a local user in a video conference; performing foreground segmentation on the captured images to obtain a foreground object; flipping the foreground object horizontally; identifying a human face from the flipped foreground object and correcting a facing angle of the human face; determining interaction data from the local user on the display; encoding the interaction data and the flipped foreground object into an interaction stream and a video stream, respectively; packing the interaction stream and the video stream into an output stream; and transmitting the output stream to a remote user of the video conference through the network interface unit.
US09692936B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method for clipping, from a second image, an area at a position corresponding to designated position in a first image
An aspect of the present invention provides an image processing apparatus that includes a reading unit configured to read a plurality of documents, a display control unit configured to display on a screen a first image corresponding to a first document among the plurality of documents read by the reading unit, a receiving unit configured to receive a position serving as an area starting point for of a designated area in the first image, and a specifying unit configured, according to the position serving as the area starting point received by the receiving unit, to specify an area of a second image corresponding to a second document read by the reading unit, wherein the display control unit displays on the screen, along with the first image, the area of the second image specified by the specifying unit.
US09692935B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and medium with adjustment level setting and charging level setting
In a case where one of setting information relating to image adjustment and setting information relating to stepwise charging is changed, an influence that is exerted on the other is immediately checked. A corresponding information processing apparatus includes a first reception unit configured to receive an image adjustment setting value that specifies a degree of adjustment processing for image data, and a second reception unit configured to receive a setting value in stepwise charging in which a charging amount increases stepwise as a toner consumption amount increases, and in the information processing apparatus, in the case where one of the received image adjustment setting value and the received setting value in stepwise charging is changed, the other is changed in accordance with the changed value.
US09692934B2 Communicating apparatus, communication method, and storage medium storing program
A communicating apparatus receives a request command which requires a response, and determines whether the communication mode of a partner apparatus corresponding to the request command matches a communication mode executed by the self communicating apparatus. If it is determined that the communication mode of the partner apparatus matches the communication mode executed by the self communicating apparatus, the communicating apparatus transmits a response command to the request command. If it is determined that the communication mode of the partner apparatus does not match the communication mode executed by the self communicating apparatus, the communicating apparatus transmits no response command to the request command.
US09692929B2 Method and system for correction of an image from a hand-held scanning device
A method for correcting an image acquired by a hand-held scanning device. A binarized image of an acquired image is cropped by removing columns on the left end and on the right end of only first components. A work image is created from the cropped image by replacing in each row of components series of first components smaller than a predetermined distance with series of second components. In the work image, a central line is identified. The identified central line in the work image is used to identify the corresponding central line in the cropped image forming a central line image, and in the central line image, the central text line is straightened.
US09692927B2 Device, information processing system, and information processing method
A device includes an input part configured to input data, a first transmission part configured to transmit the data to a predetermined transmission destination, a second transmission part configured to transmit the data to a transmission destination different from the predetermined transmission destination, and a transmission control part configured to cause the second transmission part to transmit the data in response to receiving a request to transmit the data from the first transmission part.
US09692920B2 Multi-function apparatus
A multi-function apparatus includes a body, an image reading unit, a document cover and a locking member. The image reading unit is movable between a closed position and an opened position. The document cover is movable between a closed position and an opened position. The locking member is movable to a first position and a second position and includes a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion. In response to a movement of the document cover to the opened position, the locking member moves to the first position and locks the image reading unit to the closed position. In response to a movement of the image reading unit to the opened position, the locking member moves to the second position and locks the document cover to the closed position.
US09692919B2 Image forming apparatus, image editing method and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium for forming an image on a recording medium based on an image displayed on a display section
An image forming apparatus includes a position detecting section detecting a position of contact with a display screen of a display section and forms an image on a recording medium based on a display image displayed on the display section. The display image includes an object image indicative of an object for an image formation and a medium image indicative of the recording medium, and the image forming apparatus selectively edits the object image or the medium image based on positions of two points detected by the position detecting section.
US09692901B2 System and method of intelligent call routing for cross sell offer selection based on optimization parameters or account-level data
An apparatus and methods for a call routing system is disclosed whereby the call routing service provider is associated with a series of partners. By providing a system supporting not only the main user, but also the partners, efficiencies are gained through cost-spreading. Agents can be qualified to field calls for multiple business entities. Cross-selling and proactive servicing based on caller demographic and profile data can be effectuated. The system employs a centralized or global bank of shared Interactive Voice Response (IVR) units so that unnecessary post-routing and call site interflow are reduced. The system comprises a central server system that interfaces with a long distance provider so that route requests are received, caller data is retrieved from one or more databases, routing and handling strategies are developed, load balancing is effectuated, and calls are appropriately routed to one of a plurality of geographically separated call center systems with queues staffed by agents. Each call center system is designed to support various queues, and agents may be qualified or assigned to various queues based on their skill sets and skill levels.
US09692891B1 Methods and systems for blocking unwanted communications
Methods and systems are described for processing call blocking instructions and for managing mobile messaging. A method of processing call blocking instructions is described. A call processing system receives a call from a caller intended for a first user. A notification regarding the call is transmitted to a mobile device associated with the first user. A message from the user is received via the mobile device, wherein the message is a text or multimedia type message. At least partly in response to the message, the caller is placed on a blacklist indicating that future calls from the caller to the user are to be blocked.
US09692883B2 Consensual wiretap phone system
To provide flexible capabilities to agencies, an agency service configures a virtual number for wiretapping communications between subjects and an informant. A wiretap module executing on the informant's device registers with the agency service for authorization to utilize a virtual number for wiretapping the informant device. The wiretapping module works in conjunction with the agency service to covertly route communications between the informant device and subject device through the virtual number, which may be monitored by agency personnel and the communications thereon recorded. Through the described wiretapping system, the informant may communicate with subjects in a traditional fashion utilizing the informant device all the while the communications are monitored and recorded with low cost to the agency.
US09692882B2 Auto-tuning of an acoustic echo canceller
A gain control system for dynamically tuning an echo canceller, the echo canceller being configured to estimate an echo of a far-end signal and subtract that estimate from a microphone signal to output an echo cancelled signal, the system comprising an echo measurement unit configured to calculate a ratio of the microphone signal to the far-end signal, an attenuation unit configured to attenuate at least one of the microphone signal and the far-end signal to output a second microphone signal and a second far-end signal to the echo canceller, the ratio of the second microphone signal to the second far-end signal being different from the calculated ratio, and an attenuation controller configured to control the attenuation unit, in dependence on the calculated ratio, so as to alter the ratio of the second microphone signal to the second far-end signal and control the echo-cancelled signal.
US09692870B2 Monitoring camera system
In a monitoring camera system, a master device registers a smart phone and a wireless router therein in advance. If sensor detection information is received from a human sensor, the master device requests a monitoring camera to transmit image/audio data, and sends image/audio data transmitted from the monitoring camera to the smart phone via the wireless router. The smart phone displays the image data sent from the monitoring camera on a touch panel.
US09692859B2 Software upgrade using layer-2 management entity messaging
Principles, apparatuses, systems, circuits, methods, and computer program products for performing a software upgrade in a MoCA network includes receiving an image of a software upgrade at a server and sending the image in the MoCA network using an L2ME message channel to a client that is enabled to receive the image and store the image in a client memory. The image may be broken up into packets, and a sequence number may be assigned to each packet to assist the client in assembling them. CRC information may also be appended to the packets to enable the client to verify their contents.
US09692857B2 Low latency networking device using header prediction
A network device receives a packet that includes a plurality of header fields. The packet is parsed to sequentially obtain the plurality of header fields. One or more header fields not yet available at the network device are predicted based on one or more header fields that are available at the network device. A network processing decision is generated for the packet based on the predicted one or more header fields and the one or more header fields that are available at the network device.
US09692854B2 Communication between a web-based application and a desktop application
New functionality to be added to a web-based application and a desktop application is expressed as declarative and/or procedural code that a conventional rendering engine of the web-based application and the desktop application can use to directly update the state of the applications. Users need not update client-side components—such as the desktop application and/or any plug-ins used by the browser hosting the web-based application—to take advantage of new types of functionality.
US09692850B2 Integrating complex data structures into collaboration environments
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide improved mechanisms and techniques for integrating complex data structures with collaboration environments. Various embodiments involve creating a collaboration group around a selected complex data structure, and including the selected complex data structure as well one or more other related complex data structures in the collaboration group. In some embodiments, an object consumption definition is applied to metadata associated with the complex data structure to determine the related complex data structures.
US09692848B2 Preemptive loading of protected data for streaming mobile devices
According to some embodiments, a proxy server populates a proxy server cache with first user content and sends the first user content to a secure client application executing on a user's mobile device. The proxy server determines a usage pattern based on a portion of the first user content consumed by the secure client application, prioritizes unrequested user content according to the usage pattern, and populates the proxy server cache with at least a portion of the unrequested user content based on priority.
US09692846B2 System, device and method for providing push service using feedback message
Disclosed are a system for providing a push service using a feedback message including: a service providing device to transmit a push message to a client device and receive a feedback message with respect to the transmitted push message; and a push service device to receive the push message from the service providing device and transmit the push message to the client device, store the feedback message when the push message transmitted to the client device fails and a connection with the service providing device is disconnected, and transmit the stored feedback message to the service providing device.
US09692838B2 Generating business insights using beacons on online social networks
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from beacons of a third-party content provider (e.g., a business), session information for users of an online social network. A mobile device of each user may have been in at least one wireless communication session with at least one beacon, and during the session the mobile device was proximate to the at least one beacon. The session information may include an identifier for each of the users, which may be used to access social-networking information for each user. A report of business insights may be generated based on aggregated social-networking information (e.g., demographics) and aggregated session information (e.g., average duration of sessions) of the users. For example, the report may include statistics regarding the business' clientele. User-specified permissions may delimit which information may be included in the report. The report may be sent to a third-party system for display.
US09692835B2 Method and apparatuses for the provision of network services offered through a set of servers in an IMS network
A method for managing the provision of services in a telecommunication network, wherein the services are offered through a set of servers and the telecommunication network includes at least one first network entity and a plurality of second network entities, each second network entity being adapted to access a sub-set of the servers. The method includes: 1) receiving at the first network entity a request for a predetermined service from user equipment; and 2) at the predetermined first network entity, identifying, based on the service requested by the user equipment, the second network entity which, among the plurality of second network entities, has access to the server that, among the set of servers, allows meeting the request for the predetermined service.
US09692832B2 System and method for controlling connection timeout in a communication network
A client device configured to access a remote device via a communication network. The client device is configured to: a) detect a termination of a network connection to the remote device and b) in response to detecting the termination of the network connection, record an idle time duration associated with the network. The client device repeats a) and b) until a plurality of idle time durations have been recorded. The client device then determines from the plurality of idle time durations a timeout value associated with the network and sets a transmission period of a keep-alive signal transmitted from the client device to the remote device based on the determined timeout value. The client device transmits the determined timeout value and information identifying the network to a timeout value server that may be accessed by other client devices.
US09692829B2 Medication delivery system and method
A medication delivery system includes a medical server configured to send and receive and process data, a medication device configured to administer a preselected medication, a sensor circuit configured to detect selected parameters relating to medication delivery and transmit information, a transmission hub configured to communicate with the medical server and the sensor circuit. The transmission hub is configured to receive a signal from the sensor circuit and exchange the information. An application is configured to facilitate exchange of information between the sensor circuit and the medical server. The application has a preselected set of protocols. The application monitors usage of the medication device and location of the medication device by connecting to the medication device via the transmission hub.
US09692814B2 Integrating social-networking information
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a message associated with a user at an information exchange system. At least one correspondent associated with the user may be determined, based on the message. A social connection between the user and the at least one correspondent may be assessed with respect to a social-networking system. The information exchange system may provide an interface for display to the user, the interface comprising information associated with the message. If the social connection is confirmed, the interface may include social-networking information associated with the at least one correspondent. Otherwise, the interface may provide functionality to create a social connection between the user and the at least one correspondent with respect to the social-networking system.
US09692809B2 Maximizing data transfer through multiple network devices
A first computer utilizes a logical connection with a second computer. The logical connection comprises multiple physical network connections using multiple physical network devices on the first computer. Two or more of the physical network devices of a logical connection are used to transfer packets of a single data transfer such as a database request or response. A logical connection can include a single physical network device on the second computer creating a one-to-many logical connection or may also include multiple physical network devices on the second computer creating a many-to-many logical connection.
US09692798B2 Method for routing in a central conferencing routing server
Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems, methods, computer program products, and the like, for collaboration conferencing with multiple participants over a communications network, and more specifically for a conferencing routing service for managing and routing collaboration participants. A collaboration conferencing routing server may provide configurability in routing a collaboration conference to a conference bridge based on any number of criteria and information about the requester and the communications network on which the conference occurs.
US09692783B2 Method and apparatus for reporting a virus
According to an example, a client device determines at least one virus sample according to at least one anti-virus engine, transmits sample information of the at least one virus sample to a server, such that the server determines a first virus sample set needs to be reported according to the sample information of the at least one virus sample and a predefined sample information list in the server, and returns to the first virus sample set to the client device. The client device receives the first virus sample set needs to be reported and performs a virus reporting operation according to the virus sample set.
US09692781B2 Detecting unwanted intrusions into an information network
The present invention relates to a device for detecting unwanted intrusions into an information network comprising a module for receiving raw data from the network, a plurality of search engines configured to detect an attack indicator and any derived data which may be corrupted, a distribution module suitable for allocating at least one search engine to each piece of raw data, an administrator module linked to the search engines and to the distribution module and configured to transmit each piece of derived data to said module as new raw data if it has not already been processed by said same search engine(s), so as to provide recursive analysis of each piece of raw data received by said receiving module. The invention further relates to a process implemented by a device of this type.
US09692767B2 Systems and methods for expedited entitlement checks
Systems and methods for managing access data are disclosed. One method can comprise receiving prediction information relating to one or more content options and requesting access information associated with the prediction information. At least a portion of the received access information can be processed to provide a preliminary access decision. A request for access relating to the one or more data options can be received and an access decision based at least in part on the preliminary access decision can be provided.
US09692766B2 Validation of a location resource based on recipient access
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method, a system, and a computer program product for validating a location resource, e.g., a hyperlink, embedded in a message for one or more recipients. The method includes receiving, by a computing node in a distributed computing environment and from a messaging application on a remote client computer, an identifier of a user profile and a location resource. The location resource is embedded in a message and that indicates a path to a computing resource outside of the remote client computer. The method also includes querying a repository in the distributed computing environment to obtain access permission information about the location resource. The method also includes determining, based upon the access permission information about the location resource, whether the user profile has access permission for the location resource.
US09692760B2 Browser device access proxy
In a web browser (100) access is controlled with respect to at least one user data providing device (102), the web browser comprising a browser engine (106), a browser application (104) and a device access proxy, DAP (108). Access is acquired, in the DAP, to at least one user data providing device and a request is received from a web application (110) for user data from a first user data providing device. In response to the request, default data (112) is transmitted from the DAP to the web application. A user data access confirmation signal is obtained, and in response to the user data access confirmation signal, the transmission of the default data is discontinued and the requested user data is transmitted from the DAP to the web application.
US09692759B1 Control of cloud application access for enterprise customers
A system for controlling access to cloud applications includes a cloud security server that receives network traffic stream from cloud application clients of a private computer network. The cloud security server examines the network traffic stream to identify a cloud application that is associated with the network traffic stream and directs the network traffic stream to one of several application handlers that is configured to process network traffic stream for the cloud application. The application handler enforces on the network traffic stream an application policy that is applicable to the cloud application.
US09692757B1 Enhanced authentication for secure communications
A server obtains a challenge from another computer system during a negotiation with a client according to a protocol. The server injects the challenge into a message of the protocol to the client. The client uses the challenge in an authentication request. The server submits the authentication request to the other computer system for verification. The other computer system verifies the authentication request using a key registered to the client. The server operates further dependent at least in part on whether verification of the authentication request was successful.
US09692756B2 Magic wand methods, apparatuses and systems for authenticating a user of a wand
Methods, apparatuses, systems, and storage media for creating, discovering, and/or resolving spells using a wand are provided. In embodiments, a computing device or a wand may detect one or more gestures and sensors in the wand may generate sensor data representative of the one or more gestures. The one or more gestures may be movements performed using the wand. The sensor data representative of the one or more gestures may be converted into a spell sequence. The wand may transmit the spell sequence to a computing device, and receive, from the computing device, an authentication spell output when the spell sequence corresponds with an authentication spell sequence or an inactivation spell output when the spell sequence does not correspond with the authentication spell sequence. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09692753B2 Password encode card system and method
A system and method is presented for use of a password encode card to create multiple random passwords at a variety of computerized service providers. The encode card contains a plurality of ciphers, each assigned to a different service provider. Using only a single memorized master password, the user encodes the master password using the appropriate cipher and then uses the encoded password at that service provider. The card can be implemented as a plurality of substitution ciphers printed on a single card, or as an electronic card capable of either displaying a plurality of substitution ciphers or of implementing the plurality of ciphers on the inputted text of the master password.
US09692751B1 User actuated release of a secret through an audio jack to authenticate the user
A technique provides a secret to authenticate a user. The technique involves storing, by processing circuitry, an initial secret in local memory. The technique further involves receiving, by the processing circuitry, a release command after the initial secret is stored in the local memory. The technique further involves, in response to the release command and based on the initial secret, outputting a released secret through an audio jack which is coupled to the processing circuitry. With such a technique, the secret is only exposed in response to user actuation thus providing improved security against an attacker vis-à-vis a conventional authentication token which constantly generates and outputs a series of one-time use passcodes (OTPs) on a display based on a seed stored in memory.
US09692747B2 Authenticating linked accounts
Embodiments of authenticating linked accounts are presented herein. In an implementation, an authentication service provides functionality to form links between a plurality of user accounts. A client may then authenticate by providing credentials for one account in a group of linked accounts, and is permitted access to each account in the group of linked accounts based upon the linking. Thus, a single sign-in of a client to one account may permit the client to obtain services for service providers corresponding to multiple linked accounts, without an individual sign-in to each account.
US09692746B2 Single sign-on processing for associated mobile applications
Systems, methods and computer-readable media are disclosed for performing single sign-on processing between associated mobile applications. The single sign-on processing may include processing to generate an interaction session between a user and a back-end server associated with a mobile application based at least in part on one or more existing interaction sessions between the user and one or more back-end servers associated with one or more other mobile applications. In order to establish an interaction session with an associated back-end server, a mobile application may leverage existing interaction sessions that have already been established in connection with the launching of other associated mobile applications.
US09692744B2 Secure user authentication in a dynamic network
A method, apparatus and/or computer program provides secure user authentication in a network having a dynamic set of services. The method comprises a client authenticating with an edge service and generating a query key. The edge service issues a request to the dynamic set of services. The request comprises (i) an encrypted identifier associated with the client, (ii) a private portion of the request being encrypted with the query key, and (iii) a public portion of the request. In response to ascertaining from the public portion of the request that it is able to respond to the request, one or more of the dynamic set of services respond to the edge service with (i) an identifier associated with the dynamic set of services, and (ii) the identifier associated with the client. The edge service then authenticates that it is able to respond to the request, including generating a session key.
US09692738B1 Returns in a multi-seller marketplace
Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating item returns on behalf of customers of an electronic commerce site. Embodiments of the disclosure can, in one example, facilitate item returns on behalf of a buyer where the seller is a seller in a multi-seller marketplace. A return shipping label can be generated on behalf of the seller as well as communications between buyer and seller archived in the event of a subsequent dispute.
US09692735B2 Systems and methods for decryption as a service via a message queuing protocol
Systems and methods for decryption of payloads are disclosed herein. In various embodiments, systems and methods herein are configured for decrypting thousands of transactions per second. Further, in particular embodiments, the systems and methods herein are scalable, such that many thousands of transactions can be processed per second upon replicating particular architectural components.
US09692730B2 System and method for decoding traffic over proxy servers
Methods and systems for applying surveillance to client computers that communicate via proxy servers. A decoding system accepts communication packets from a communication network. Based on the received packets, the decoding system identifies that a certain client computer conducts a communication session with a target server via a proxy server. The decoding system processes the packets so as to correlate the identity of the client computer with the identity of the target server. The correlated identities may comprise, for example, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses or Uniform Resource Locators (URLs).
US09692729B1 Graceful migration of isolated virtual network traffic
A connectivity manager (CM) of a provider network selects, from a plurality of ERGs (edge resource groups), a particular ERG comprising an edge router and a network marker translation agent to be used for routing traffic between a resource collection of a VCS (virtual computing service) and a client network. The CM detects a condition that triggers the selection of a second ERG to be used for at least a subset of the resource collection's traffic, and initiates a set of configuration changes to enable the use of the second ERG for connectivity between the first resource collection and the client network.
US09692725B2 Systems and methods for using an HTTP-aware client agent
Systems and methods are described for using a client agent operating in a virtual private network environment to intercept HTTP communications. Methods include: intercepting at the network layer, by a client agent executing on a client, an HTTP request from an application executing on the client; modifying the HTTP request; and transmitting, via a transport layer connection, the modified HTTP request to a server. Additional methods may comprise adding, removing, or modifying at least one cookie in the HTTP request. Still other methods may comprise modifying at least one name-value pair contained in the HTTP request. Corresponding systems are also described.
US09692715B2 Multiple ethernet ports and port types using a shared data path
In an embodiment an interface unit includes a transmit pipeline configured to transmit egress data, and a receive pipeline configured to receive ingress data. At least one of the transmit pipeline and the receive pipeline being may be configured to provide shared resources to a plurality of ports. The shared resources may include at least one of a data path resource and a control logic resource.
US09692707B2 Virtual resource object component
The present invention discloses a Virtual Resource Object Component; it achieves the goal of mapping logical POD to physical POD. The technical solution is: the Virtual Resource Object Component abstractly represents the physical resources in a physical POD as virtual resources. An embodiment of the Virtual Resource Object Component is utilized in a service delivery platform which automatically organizes and connects the physical resources in the physical POD(s), and transforms them into virtual resources which will be delivered to a logical POD.
US09692695B2 Techniques for aggregating hardware routing resources in a multi-packet processor networking system
Techniques for aggregating hardware routing resources in a system of devices are provided. In one embodiment, a device in the system of devices can divide routing entries in a software routing table of the system into a plurality of route subsets. The device can further assign each route subset in the plurality of route subsets to one or more devices in the system. The device can then install, for each route subset that is assigned to the device, routing entries in the route subset into a hardware routing table of the device.
US09692694B2 Multi-protocol routing system and method driven by application and network in convergence
The present invention relates to a multi-protocol routing system, comprising a route determining module and a forwarding module which are located in network layer, wherein the route determining module is used for determining, based on the related information of applications and networks, the types of routable protocols and the next-hop path which are to be selected in the current routing phase; the forwarding module, including different routable protocols and corresponding routing information, is used for periodically calculating the newest remaining network resources and the state of link during a routing process and updating the forwarding table in current state. By integrating various characteristics and states of applications as well as different routable protocols, the present invention realizes real-time protocol selection and dynamic routing. Moreover, the present invention is easy to be expanded to other protocols, thus being adaptive to the continuous development and evolution of network services.
US09692692B1 High-scale data center having LSP transport hierarchy
A high-performance, scalable data center switch fabric and infrastructure is described that provides a clean separation between of routing and forwarding information between a transport layer of the data center and a service layer of data center that includes the endpoint devices, such as virtual or physical machines deployed within the data center. For example, techniques are described that enable the automatic creation of a transport hierarchy of label switched paths (LSPs) across the transport layer of the data center. For example, the techniques may be applied with the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) labeled unicast (LU) in a manner that constructs a hierarchy of LPSs in the transport layer of the data center.
US09692691B1 Concurrent forwarding plane programming for multi-protocol label switched networks
In general, techniques are described for configuration of label switched paths in multi-protocol label switched networks. A router comprising a control unit and an interface may be configured to perform the techniques. The control unit may determine a label to bind to the LSP. The interface may transmit a message specifying the label that has been bound to the LSP prior to confirming that the LSP has been successfully configured within the support router to use the bound label.
US09692674B1 Non-parametric change point detection
Described herein are systems, mediums, and methods for simultaneously determining multiple types of changes in time series data. A plurality of potential change points may be selected in a signal representing the time series data. For each potential change point the signal may be a split into two segments including data points before and data points after the potential change point, respectively. Estimate of cumulative distribution function for each segment may be determined. A normalized difference of the respective estimates of cumulative distribution functions may be determined. The normalized difference may be compared to a threshold value to determine whether the potential change point qualifies as valid change point. The techniques discussed herein may determine at least two valid change points representing at least two different types of changes in the signal.
US09692669B2 Determination of internet access
Internet access or connectivity is determined by sending a request to a third-party service to which connectivity is desired with an application on a client computing device and responsive to receiving a response, attempting to rule out a false positive response from an entity other than the third-party service.
US09692668B2 Method and apparatus for dynamic service provisioning for machine to machine (M2M) devices in a communications network
A method and non-transitory computer readable medium for provisioning services for machine to machine communication devices in a communications network. For example, the method receives a request from a third party service provider to provision a service to a user of the third party service provider, determines whether a communication network service provider of the communications network and the third party service provider have a pre-existing agreement to provision the service, and provisions the service of the third party service provider to the user via the communications network in accordance with the pre-existing agreement, wherein the user is a subscriber of the communication network service provider.
US09692666B2 Container manager
The present invention relates to a method for managing containers in a could computing environment, the method comprising obtaining current information on resources available at hosts, obtaining information on host resources needed for a new container and allocating the new container to a selected host based on the resources available at the host and the host resources needed for the container. The present invention further relates to an apparatus and a computer program product implementing the method for managing containers. The method and the apparatus beneficially speeds up the process of allocating and replacing containers and ensures that only the latest version of the applications placed in containers are available in the cloud computing environment for client devices.
US09692656B2 System and method for distributing heuristics to network intermediary devices
A policy distribution server provides, on a subscription basis, policy updates to effect desired behaviors of network intermediary devices. The policy updates may specify caching policies, and may in some instances, include instructions for data collection by the network intermediary devices. Data collected in accordance with such instructions may be used to inform future policy updates distributed to the network intermediary devices.
US09692655B2 Packet processing in a network with hierarchical managed switching elements
Some embodiments provide a managed network for implementing a logical switching element. The managed network includes several managed edge switching elements that are each for (1) receiving packets for forwarding through the logical switching element and (2) forwarding packets that are known to the managed edge switching element to other managed edge switching elements in the several managed edge switching elements. The managed network includes a set of managed non-edge switching elements for (1) receiving packets from the several managed edge switching elements that are unknown to a particular managed edge switching element in the several managed edge switching elements and (2) forwarding packets to the several managed edge switching elements that are unknown to the several managed edge switching elements.
US09692651B2 Method and apparatus for improving network performance
A method for improving performance of a network includes identifying at least two communities of users within the network, analysing a structure of each community and clustering the communities according to community performance. The method further includes comparing a structure of a lower performing community with a structure of a higher performing community, and changing the structure of the lower performing community substantially to resemble the structure of the higher performing community. Related computer program product for carrying out a method of introducing connections among users of a network and an apparatus configured to introduce connections among users in a network are disclosed.
US09692650B2 Control apparatus, communication system, communication method, and program
A control apparatus includes: a topology management unit that manages a network topology formed by including a plurality of relay apparatuses; a link aggregation group management unit that groups ports of the plurality of relay apparatuses, having a physical link with an arbitrary node of the network topology and manages the grouped ports as a port of a virtual logical link between the plurality of relay apparatuses and the arbitrary node; and a relay apparatus control unit that controls the plurality of relay apparatuses, having the grouped ports, so that, when one of the plurality of relay apparatuses receives a broadcast packet or a multicast packet, a plurality of same packet are not forwarded to the physical links that form the virtual logical link.
US09692642B2 Offloading to a network interface card
A processing device sends a set of executable instructions to a network interface controller (NIC). The processing device accesses a report generated by the NIC after the NIC has executed at least one instruction from the set of executable instructions.
US09692641B2 Network connecting method and electronic device
A first electronic device stores first configuration information of the first electronic device collected by a tamper-resistant chip on the first electronic device and approved by a third-party device in the portable medium. A second electronic device stores second configuration information of the second electronic device collected by a tamper-resistant chip on the second electronic device and approved by the third-party device in the portable medium and acquires the first configuration information from the portable medium. The first electronic device transmits the first configuration information of the first electronic device and the second configuration information of the second electronic device acquired from the portable medium to the second electronic device over a long-distance network. The second electronic device controls connection between the first and the second electronic devices over the long-distance network based on the first configuration information and the second configuration information received from the first electronic device.
US09692620B2 System aware transmitter adaptation for high speed serial interfaces
A high-speed serial interface includes a transmitter having an output module with settings that select an output impedances of the output module and a tuning value for the output impedance, and a receiver having a plurality of compensation modules each to provide a selectable level of equalization to a data bitstream from the transmitter, and a control module that directs the transmitter to successively select each of the tuning values, that directs the compensation modules, for each tuning value, to successively select each of the levels of equalization, that evaluates an indication of a performance level of the receiver for each of the successively selected levels of equalization and for each of the tuning values, and that selects a particular tuning value based upon the indications of the performance level of the receiver.
US09692617B2 Electronic apparatus and method for improving quality of transmitted signal, and system for the same
The present disclosure relates to an improvement in the quality of a transmitted signal, and more particularly, to an electronic apparatus and a method which are provided with a passive equalizer improving the quality of a transmitted signal when a signal is transmitted/received to/from an external apparatus, and a system for the same. The present disclosure provides a signal transmission system for improving the quality of a transmitted signal. The signal transmission system may include a transmitter that transmits a signal; a receiver that receives the signal from the transmitter; a channel that is formed between the transmitter and the receiver and transmits the signal delivered by the transmitter; and a passive equalizer that is formed between the transmitter and the receiver and controls the signal so as to have a higher impedence than a predetermined impedance at a lower frequency than a predetermined frequency of the signal.
US09692603B2 Biometric PKI authentication
A mobile device obtains an encryption key pair, including a public key and a private key, and engages in a process, that uses the private key, for requesting a digital certificate from a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) Certificate Authority. The mobile device receives a digital certificate signed by the PKI Certificate Authority, and obtains, via a biometric input unit device, biometric data related to an identity of a user of the device. The mobile device derives a password using the biometric data, and stores, and password protects using the derived password, the public key, the private key, and the digital certificate in a secure key store.
US09692587B2 Phase tracking
Techniques for pilot-aided carrier frequency and phase synchronization may use a three-pass process. In a first pass, initial frequency offset may be addressed, and a frame start time may be established. In a second pass, a fine frequency correction may be performed. In a third pass, phase variation may be tracked and corrected using a minimum set of pilot symbols.
US09692575B2 Method of receiving uplink control signals identified by cyclic shift values in wireless communication system
A method and a base station for receiving uplink control signals in a wireless communication system are described. The base station receives a first uplink control channel in a mixed resource block from a first user equipment. The mixed resource block includes a plurality of subcarriers. The base station receives a second uplink control channel in the mixed resource block from a second user equipment. The first uplink control channel is identified by a first cyclic shift value. The second uplink control channel is identified by a second cyclic shift value that is different from the first cyclic shift value. The first uplink control channel carries a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) acknowledgement/negative acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) of the first user equipment. The second uplink control channel carries a channel quality indicator (CQI) for the second user equipment and a HARQ ACK/NACK of the second user equipment.
US09692562B2 Communication apparatus and communication method
A communication apparatus includes an output portion and a controller. The output portion outputs an output signal. The output signal includes a synchronization signal, a data signal, and an end signal in this order. The controller includes a measuring portion that measures a length of a received pulse, a signal determiner that determines whether the received pulse corresponds to the synchronization signal based on the length of the received pulse, and a signal acquisition portion. The signal acquisition portion skips the received pulse in a case where the signal determiner determines that the received signal does not include the synchronization signal. The signal acquisition portion considers the received signal as the synchronization signal and reads a pulse following the received pulse to the end signal in a case where the signal determiner determines that the received signal includes the synchronization signal.
US09692554B2 Power line communication operating frequency band selection apparatus, systems and methods
A band of interest is divided into band segments. A scan frame is sent by a transmitter at a transmitting PLC node across each band segment. A receiver at a receiving node scans the band segments, listening for the scan frame. Upon detecting a scan frame, the receiving node measures the signal quality of each OFDM subcarrier modulated with symbols from the scan frame. The subcarrier signal quality values are stored in a table. Upon completion of the scan process, the table contains a signal quality value for each subcarrier within the band of interest. The table is then analyzed to find an operating band consisting of subcarriers with a highest average signal quality or a band that results in greater than a pre-determined minimum signal quality. The invented methods and embodiments may operate periodically to readjust the operating band configuration in the presence of electromagnetic interference including time-variant interference.
US09692549B2 Accessing CP channels with LP terminals via wavefront multiplexing
Presented are methods that utilize wavefront multiplexing for enabling linearly-polarized terminals to access circularly-polarized satellite transponders. The methods disclosed herein feature (1) polarization formation capability that renders transmitted signal conditioned on circularly-polarized channels through multiple linearly-polarized feeds, and (2) polarization-conversion capability that compensate path differentials introduced by electromagnetic wave propagation channels. Data streams to be transmitted are pre-processed by a wavefront multiplexer into multiple wavefront components in linear polarization formats, where signals from respective data streams are replicated into linearly-polarized sub-channels. These replicated data streams are linked via a unique complex weighting vector (amplitude and phase or their equivalents), or “wavefront”, which are also linked by various spatially independent wavefronts. Additionally, a probing signal is sent on the transmitting side and linked via some of the independent wavefronts. Aggregated signals in linearly-polarized sub-channels are unique linear combinations of all input data streams. Aggregated signals in turn appear in circularly-polarized formats and propagate through circularly-polarized channels including circularly-polarized satellite transponders and a circularly-polarized teleport on the receiving side. Correlation between the circularly-polarized signal and the probing signal is sent back to the transmitting side that drives the polarization-conversion function toward the optimal state such that this correlation is lower than a pre-defined level. Accordingly, an optimally configured satellite communication system either (1) enables the linearly-polarized terminal on the transmitting side to access right-hand circularly-polarized satellite transponder without interfering the left-hand circularly-polarized satellite transponder, or (2) enables the linearly-polarized terminal on the transmitting side to access left-hand circularly-polarized satellite transponder without interfering the right-hand circularly-polarized satellite transponder.
US09692543B2 Optical transmission system
A receiver is configured to have two coherent receivers using two pieces of local oscillator of optical frequencies f11 and f12 close to optical frequency f1 of signal light, the two pieces of local oscillator being controlled to have a predetermined optical frequency spacing ΔF, and a digital signal processor demodulating transmission data signal sequences based on outputs from the coherent receivers. When the frequency difference Δf1 of one of the two pieces of local oscillator from a virtual reference frequency f1′ close to the optical frequency f1 of the signal light is set, the digital signal processor obtains the frequency difference Δf2 of the other of the two pieces of local oscillator by calculating Δf1−ΔF, inputs electric signals output from the two coherent receivers, and compensates the phase rotation caused in the electric signals by frequency differences Δf1 and Δf2.
US09692542B2 Method and system for generating channel codes, in particular for a frame-header
A method for generating a channel code, in particular for a frame-header, wherein at least a code-word of the channel code is obtained by means of at least a concatenation of code-words of two constituent codes and such concatenation is performed on subsets of code-words of a first constituent code, having maximum length, with code-words of a second constituent code.
US09692539B2 Incremental interference cancelation capability and signaling
Incremental interference cancelation (IC) capability management and signaling is disclosed. A mobile device selects certain groups of its individual IC capabilities to deactivate in response to various operating conditions it is experiencing. The mobile device reports its currently active IC capability to a serving base station, which uses information to determine whether to modify any existing communication conditions with respect to the reporting mobile device. The base station detects and analyzes the current communication conditions with respect to the reporting mobile device in light of the mobile device's currently active IC capabilities. The base station may modify such conditions through actions such as signaling the mobile device to activate or deactivate certain other groups of IC capabilities. The base station can make other modifications such as changing the communication schedule for the mobile device, modifying the control loop for channel quality indicator (CQI) reporting, and the like.
US09692532B2 Method and wireless communication device for antenna deployment determination
A method of antenna deployment determination in a wireless communication device is disclosed. The method includes transceiving a radio signal via the a first antenna port of the wireless communication device, obtaining a first strength result corresponding to the radio signal transmitted or received via the first antenna port, and determining a connecting status of the first antenna port according to the first strength result.
US09692523B2 Electronic quantum information probability transfer
Methods of digital communication utilizing entangled qubits are disclosed. The communication methods exploit selective entanglement swapping to transfer an entangled state between a sending device and a receiving device. Each device includes pairs of qubits that are independently entangled with pairs of qubits in the other device. By selectively entangling the qubits within a pair in the sending device, the qubits of the corresponding pair in the receiving device also are selectively entangled. When the qubits are entangled, they are projected onto a particular entangled state type. Though no information may be transferred through selective entanglement of one qubit pair, the disclosed methods determine whether a set of pairs of qubits are entangled by determining whether the distribution of pairs is a correlated or uncorrelated distribution (a probabilistic approach) and transform the distribution type to a classical bit of data to transfer classical bits in a qubit-efficient approach.
US09692521B1 Polarization pre-compensation technique for polarization-division-multiplexed direct-detection optical communication systems
This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for mitigating the effects of an optical link in a communication system on polarization angles of signals transmitted over the optical link. The communication system can include an optical transmitter transmitting polarization-division multiplexed (PDM) optical signals over the optical link and a direct-detection receiver for receiving the PDM optical signals. The transmitter can include a polarization compensation unit for receiving estimated values of link polarization parameters from the receiver. The receiver uses the estimated values to pre-distort modulator drive and bias signals and to adjust the relative phase between modulated optical signals. The transmitter can also transmit training optical signals to the receiver over the optical link. The receiver uses the training optical signals to estimate the values of link polarization parameters. The receiver also can include a crosstalk mitigation unit for mitigating effects of crosstalk between the PDM optical signals.
US09692519B2 Level spacing for M-PAM optical systems with coherent detection
An apparatus includes an optical transmitter configured to provide an optical signal amplitude-modulated among M different levels. A constellation control module is configured to provide a drive signal to control the optical signal. A feedback module is configured to receive a measure of spacing between amplitude peaks of a symbol constellation of the optical signal. The feedback module is further configured to regulate the constellation control module to adjust the optical signal in response to the measure of spacing.
US09692503B2 Network protection through excess directions of reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexor (ROADM)
A first reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers (ROADM) and a second ROADM are connected by a primary light path and a protection light path. The first ROADM includes a first direction and a second direction, and the second ROADM includes a third direction and a fourth direction. The primary light path is coupled between the first direction and the third direction, and the protection light path is coupled between the second direction and the fourth direction. Transmissions on the primary light path are monitored, and when a problem is detected on the primary light path, the first and third directions are deactivated and the second and fourth directions are activated so that additional light signals are sent on the protection light path and not on the primary light path.
US09692498B2 Extending wireless signal coverage with drones
Example methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture (e.g., physical storage media) to extend wireless signal coverage with drones are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein to extend wireless signal coverage include determining whether a status of a wireless communication link being received at a first device from a second device meets a trigger condition. Such disclosed example methods also include, after determining the status meets the trigger condition, deploying a drone to a target location determined based on a first device location associated with the first device and a second device location associated with the second device, the drone being equipped with a signal extender capable of extending the wireless communication link.
US09692496B2 Wireless terminal, method therein, computer program and computer-readable storage medium
Embodiments herein relate a wireless terminal for handling channel feedback for a channel from a radio base station to the wireless terminal in a MIMO system. The wireless terminal computes a Signal to Noise Ratio, SNR, or Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio, SINR, for each entity in a precoding codebook for a plurality of transmission ranks. The wireless terminal either computes a capacity for each entity based on the computed SNR or SINR and then computes an averaged capacity by averaging the computed capacities for a plurality of layers; or the wireless terminal computes an averaged capacity for each entity based on an average of the computed SNR or SINR for a plurality of layers. Then the wireless terminal selects a preferred precoding control index, PCI, and a preferred transmission rank as channel feedback, which preferred PCI and preferred transmission rank maximize the computed averaged capacity.
US09692494B2 Dynamic switching between wireless multiple access schemes
Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for dynamic switching between wireless multiple access schemes. In some aspects, a plurality of characteristics corresponding to a respective plurality of transmit/receive beam forming direction pairs of a wireless communication channel may be identified, and a wireless multiple access schemes used for communication in the wireless communication channel may dynamically be switched based at least in part on the identified plurality of characteristics, the wireless multiple access schemes comprising orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) and single-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA).
US09692489B1 Transceiver using novel phased array antenna panel for concurrently transmitting and receiving wireless signals
A wireless transceiver using a phased array antenna panel for concurrently transmitting and receiving wireless signals is disclosed. The wireless transceiver includes receive antennas forming a receive configuration and transmit antennas forming a transmit configuration. The receive antennas form a receive beam at a receive frequency based on phase and amplitude information provided by a master chip in the phased array antenna panel. The transmit antennas form a transmit beam at a transmit frequency based on phase and amplitude information provided by the master chip in the phased array antenna panel. The phase and amplitude information for the receive antennas is provided by an RF front end chip that is connected to the master chip. The phase and amplitude information for the transmit antennas is provided by the RF front end chip that is connected to the master chip.
US09692487B2 Apparatus for handling change in orientation of terminal during wireless power transfer and method thereof
A wireless power transmitter for transmitting power by wireless to a terminal includes a power conversion unit and a power transmission control unit. The power conversion unit forms a wireless power signal for wireless power transfer using power supplied from a power supply unit. The power transmission control unit regulates a characteristic of the supplied power, based on orientation information of the terminal. A terminal includes a power receiving unit and a control unit. The power receiving unit receives a wireless power signal formed by a wireless power transmitter. The control unit detects whether or not an orientation of the terminal is changed while the wireless power signal is received, and transmits a control message for power regulation to the wireless power transmitter when the change in the orientation of the terminal is detected.
US09692484B2 Optimized PHY frame structure for OFDM based narrowband PLC
A method of operating a communication system is disclosed. The method includes forming a data frame having plural orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) symbols. A first set of preamble subcarriers is allocated to at least one of the OFDM symbols. A second set of data subcarriers is allocated to said at least one of the OFDM symbols.
US09692483B2 Communication device using power line communication and frequency-division multiplexing on a pilot line, and related systems
The invention relates to a communication device using power line communication provided in a first system coupled to a second system via a power cable comprising a pilot line having a first impedance, which encounters at least second and third impedances and through which a first analog signal passes in a first frequency band. The device is arranged so as to: i) generate, from a local digital signal, a second analog power line communication signal having frequencies included in a second frequency band that has minimal overlap with the first frequency band; ii) supply the second analog signal to the pilot line via a capacitive means and iii) extract, from the analog signals passing through the pilot line, each second analog signal in order to convert the latter into a digital signal to be processed by the system.
US09692482B2 System and method to reduce crosstalk of digital subscriber lines
A method includes identifying, at a processor, a set of communication lines from a plurality of communication lines, the set of communication lines including a first communication line and a second communication line. A first crosstalk characteristic of the first communication line is correlated with a second crosstalk characteristic of the second communication line. The method also includes modifying, at the processor, a first signal corresponding to the first communication line based on a second signal corresponding to the second communication line.
US09692479B2 Radio-frequency switch decoder
A decoder for a radio-frequency module includes a control signal output, first control signal generator circuitry configured to receive an input signal indicating an operational state of a radio-frequency core communicatively coupled to the decoder, and generate an output control signal for controlling one or more radio-frequency devices of the radio-frequency core, second control signal generator circuitry configured to generate an intermediate output signal, and transition detection circuitry configured to receive a least a portion of the input signal and selectively provide the intermediate output signal on the control signal output when the input signal indicates a transition of the radio-frequency core for a first operational state of a first group of operational states to a second operational state of a second group of operational states.
US09692473B2 Offset compensation in a receiver
Aspects of this disclosure relate to compensating for an offset in a receiver. In one embodiment, the receiver comprises a mixer, a feedback amplifier, and an offset correction circuit. The offset correction circuit can generate an indication of an offset in a differential input to the feedback amplifier and apply an offset compensation signal at an offset compensation node. The offset compensation node can be in a signal path of the feedback amplifier. Such offset compensation can reduce or eliminate leakage from a local oscillator at an input port of the mixer and/or at an antenna port of the receiver.
US09692465B1 Aggregate interference model and use thereof to evaluate performance of a receiver
A computer implemented hybrid method determines a modeled aggregate interference power distribution at a receiver resulting from multiple radio frequency (RF) interferers. The method determines a respective interference power distribution for each interferer. The method also determines, among the interference power distributions, (i) first interference power distributions that meet a Central Limit Theorem (CLT) criterion, and (ii) second interference power distributions that do not meet the CLT criterion. The method combines the first interference power distributions using the CLT to produce the normal combined interference power distribution, and convolves the second interference power distributions with each other and the normal combined interference power distribution to produce the aggregate interference power distribution.
US09692463B2 Wireless transmission system and signal transmission method
A wireless transmission system includes a first device and a second device that are connected by an optical transmission line. The first device includes: a generating unit that generates a transmission signal; and a first attenuation unit that attenuates the transmission signal generated by the generating unit and that inputs the transmission signal to the optical transmission line. The second device includes: a second attenuation unit that attenuates the transmission signal output from the optical transmission line; an amplifying unit that amplifies the transmission signal attenuated by the second attenuation unit; and a transmitting unit that wirelessly transmits the transmission signal amplified by the amplifying unit. The first device or the second device further includes a control unit that controls attenuation in each of the first attenuation unit and the second attenuation unit.
US09692454B2 Transmitting apparatus and interleaving method thereof
A transmitting apparatus is provided. The transmitting apparatus includes: an encoder configured to generate a low density parity check (LDPC) codeword by LDPC encoding based on a parity check matrix; an interleaver configured to interleave the LDPC codeword; and a modulator configured to map the interleaved LDPC codeword onto a modulation symbol, wherein the modulator is further configured to map a bit included in a predetermined bit group from among a plurality of bit groups constituting the LDPC codeword onto a predetermined bit of the modulation symbol.
US09692446B2 Delta-Sigma ADC with wait-for-sync feature
An integrated circuit (IC) chip containing a Delta-Sigma (ΔΣ) filter module for a ΔΣ analog-to-digital converter and a method of providing analog to digital conversion are disclosed. The IC chip includes a ΔΣ filter that is connected to receive a digital data stream created by a ΔΣ modulator, provide a multibit data value when a counter reaches a selected number of received bits, and reset the counter responsive to receiving a synchronization pulse. The IC chip also includes a FIFO buffer connected to store the multibit data value only when a synchronization flag is on and to send an interrupt towards a processing unit only after storing a selected number of multibit data values. The IC chip further includes a synchronization module connected to turn on the synchronization flag responsive to receiving the synchronization pulse and to turn off the synchronization flag responsive to the sending of the interrupt.
US09692437B2 Analog-to-digital converting device and method of operating analog-to-digital converting device
Provided is an analog-to-digital converting device. The analog-to-digital converting device may include a determination circuit that determination whether a reference digital signal or a determination digital signal obtained by conversion of a reference voltage or a determination voltage matches a test pattern for the reference voltage, and it is possible to monitor whether the analog-to-digital converting device normally operates, according to whether there is matching.
US09692429B1 Systems and methods involving fast-acquisition lock features associated with phase locked loop circuitry
Systems and methods are disclosed relating to fields of clock/data acquisition or handling, such as clock/data locking and the like. In one exemplary implementation, phase lock loop (PLL) circuitry may comprise voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) circuitry, phase frequency detector, converting circuitry, and frequency detector (FD) circuitry that outputs a frequency difference signal proportional to frequency difference between frequencies of a feedback clock signal and a reference clock signal.
US09692425B2 Oscillator, electronic apparatus, and moving object
An oscillator includes a control voltage generator that generates a control voltage between a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage with a digital signal, and a voltage controlled oscillation circuit that outputs a signal at a frequency in response to the control voltage. The control voltage generator includes a first D/A conversion circuit of resistor voltage-dividing type that generates a voltage between the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage.
US09692416B1 Buffers for driving circuits in a stand by mode
A buffer that drives components during a standby mode includes a first combination of two standard voltage threshold (SVT) transistors and two high voltage threshold (HVT) transistors that generate a logic 1 signal at a first output. A second combination of two SVT transistors and two HVT transistors generates a logic 0 signal at a second output. A power supply operates the buffer, wherein the power supply generates a voltage less that the threshold voltages of the HVT transistors.
US09692411B2 Integrated level sensing printed circuit board
A level sensing circuit board featuring at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, where the at least one memory and computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to: respond to a signal containing information related to the electrical conductivity of a material causing a stimulus to a sensing plate that corresponds to a positive plate of a capacitor directly connected to an input of a comparator that forms part of a variable frequency oscillator; and determine a proportional response containing information about the material causing the stimulus to the sensing plate based at least partly on the signal received. The level sensing circuit may be used as a means to turn a pump on or off based on a sensed fluid level.
US09692408B2 Devices and systems comprising drivers for power conversion circuits
An electronic switching system and device comprising driver circuits for power transistors are disclosed, with particular application for MOSFET driven, normally-on gallium nitride (GaN) power transistors. Preferably, a low power, high speed CMOS driver circuit with an integrated low voltage, lateral MOSFET driver is series coupled, in a hybrid cascode arrangement, to a high voltage GaN HEMT and provides for improved control of noise and voltage transients. Monitoring and control functions, including latching and clamping, are based on monitoring of Vcc conditions for shut-down and start-up conditioning to enable safer operation, particularly for high voltage and high current switching. Preferred embodiments also provide isolated, self-powered, high speed driver devices, with reduced input losses.
US09692407B2 Circuit and method for detection of failure of the driver signal for parallel electronic switches
There is described a method for driving paralleled electronic switches via a drive signal processing circuit (1) connected to respective driver circuits (5A, 5B) associated with said electronic switches (7 A, 7B). During the turn-off intervals of the electronic switch, the driver circuit sends a fault signal to the drive signal processing circuit. During the turn-off intervals of the electronic switch, the driver circuit masks the fault signal coming from the drive circuit of the electronic switch.
US09692402B2 Method, apparatus, system for centering in a high performance interconnect
In an example, a system and method for centering in a high-performance interconnect (HPI) are disclosed. When an interconnect is powered up from a dormant state, it may be necessary to “center” the clock signal to ensure that data are read at the correct time. A multi-phase method may be used, in which a first phase comprises a reference voltage sweep to identify an optimal reference voltage. A second phase comprises a phase sweep to identify an optimal phase. A third sweep comprises a two-dimensional “eye” phase, in which a plurality of values within a two-dimensional eye derived from the first two sweeps are tested. In each case, the optimal value is the value that results in the fewest bit error across multiple lanes. In one example, the second and third phases are performed in software, and may include testing a “victim” lane, with adjacent “aggressor” lanes having a complementary bit pattern.
US09692399B2 Digital delay unit and signal delay circuit
An example of the invention provides a digital delay unit that is made up of a plurality of NAND gates. The digital delay unit includes a first delay path and a second delay path. The first delay path is coupled between a first input terminal and an output terminal to provide a basic time delay which is caused by one NAND gate. The second delay path is coupled between a second input terminal and the output terminal to provide at least three basic time delays.
US09692393B2 Radio communication receiver apparatus and method
A radio communication receiver apparatus is configured to process multiple radio frequency bands in a telecommunication system. The apparatus includes a plurality of digital receiver chains wherein each digital receiver chain is coupled to receive a digital representation of the multiple radio frequency bands, including a particular radio frequency band for processing by the respective digital receiver chain. Each digital receiver chain includes a digital receiver that is programmable to select a particular radio frequency band from the digital representation of the multiple radio frequency bands, and configured to down convert the selected radio frequency band into a digital baseband signal associated with the particular radio frequency band. Built in calibration is provided by operation of direct radio frequency technology.
US09692386B2 Three-dimensional wire bond inductor
An inductor is provided on a substrate that includes a capacitor. The inductor comprises a series of wire loops. An end of the wire loop is wire bonded to the capacitor.
US09692384B2 System and method for audio volume control
Method for audio volume control, the method comprising the steps of: receiving (301) a volume change request; changing (304) the volume according to a volume change step; the method being characterized in that the volume change step determination (302) is executed by applying one or more rules wherein each rule provides a definition of at least two ranges, with respect to a monitored condition, wherein the volume change step, associated with each such range, is different; storing a new volume change step in a volume step register (120).
US09692379B2 Adaptive audio capturing
Embodiments of the present invention relate to adaptive audio capturing. A method for adaptive audio capturing is disclosed. The method comprising obtaining an audio signal through an audio channel associated with an audio capturing element on a user terminal; calculating a signal amplitude for the audio channel by processing the obtained audio signal; and determining a functionality of the audio capturing element based on the signal amplitude and a further signal amplitude for at least one further audio channel associated with at least one further audio capturing element on the user terminal. Corresponding apparatus, computer program product, and user terminal are also disclosed.
US09692378B2 Programmable gain amplifier with analog gain trim using interpolation
Disclosed examples include programmable gain amplifier (PGA) circuits with an operation amplifier circuit having a first amplifier input and a second amplifier input including a plurality of second input nodes, a resistor array including a plurality of resistor sections connected in series with one another between the amplifier output and a reference voltage node, and a trim select circuit coupled between the second amplifier input and the resistor array circuit to deliver a feedback voltage signal to each individual one of the second input nodes from a given selected one of a plurality of the tap points of the resistor array circuit according to a trim code to provide analog gain trimming by interpolation.
US09692376B2 Controlled switched capacitor coefficients
A switched capacitor circuit including two or more capacitors arranged in a switched capacitor circuit configuration with a comparator comparing a node whose potential varies with the charging of one or more of the switched capacitors. The switched capacitor circuit also has two or more current sources scaled relative to one another coupled to the capacitors and to the comparator, where the current from one current source charges at least two of the capacitors in series during the charge portion of the cycle, and the other current source charges at least one of but at least one fewer of the capacitor(s) during the charge portion of the cycle, and where the current sources are enabled at the beginning of the charge portion of the cycle, but where the comparator disables the current sources once the node reaches a reference potential.
US09692368B2 Dual-band low noise amplifier
An apparatus includes amplification circuitry configured to amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal. The apparatus also includes differential inductors coupled to an output of the amplification circuitry. The differential inductors include a first inductor serially coupled to a second inductor, and the differential inductors are configured to filter the RF signal and to provide a differential output.
US09692361B2 Doherty amplifier
A two-way Doherty amplifier for amplifying a modulated or non-modulated carrier signal, said carrier signal having a carrier frequency; wherein the Doherty amplifier comprises a first amplifier having a first amplifier output node, a second amplifier having a second amplifier output node, a combining node connected or connectable to a load, a first amplifier output line connecting the first amplifier output node to the combining node, and a second amplifier output line connecting the second amplifier output node to the combining node, and wherein the first amplifier output line has an electrical length of substantially one quarter wavelength of the carrier signal and the second amplifier output line has an electrical length of substantially one half wavelength of the carrier signal.
US09692358B2 Circuitry
Trans-impedance amplifier circuitry having an amplifier; a feedback resistor arranged between an output of the amplifier and an input of the amplifier; and at least one further resistor arranged physically parallel to the feedback resistor.
US09692341B2 Apparatus for detecting speed of motor
An apparatus for detecting speed of a motor is disclosed, the apparatus including an amplifier configured to amplify a two-phase sine-wave signal inputted from an encoder based on rotation of a motor; a first conversion unit configured to convert the two-phase sine-wave signal to a digital data; a second conversion unit configured to convert the two-phase sine-wave signal to a square-wave signal; a counter unit configured to accumulate by counting the square-wave signal; and a speed determination unit configured to determine a speed of the motor, by receiving the digital data from the first conversion unit and the accumulated count from the counter unit.
US09692332B2 Power conversion device
A failure in the activation, of a motor, caused by external noise superimposed on an induced voltage is reduced. A detection circuit is connected to a connection node provided between an upper-arm switching element and a lower-arm switching element, and detects the induced voltage of a fan motor before activation. The switching controller activates the fan motor in accordance with a result of detection by the detection circuit. While the detection circuit detects the induced voltage, the switching controller performs switching control which involves alternately turning ON and OFF of the lower-arm switching element.
US09692328B2 Motor driving circuit to reduce switching loss
The present invention provides a motor driving circuit to reduce switching loss, which is applied to a motor. The motor driving circuit comprises a motor driving unit, a push-pull output unit, and a control unit. The control unit is coupled to the motor driving unit and the push-pull output unit. The control unit transmits a driving voltage to drive the push-pull output unit such that the push-pull output unit generates amplified currents which are transmitted to the motor driving unit. The motor driving unit reduces charge/discharge periods thereof based on the received amplified currents.
US09692324B2 System comprising a secondary device with a piezoelectric actuator wirelessly supplied and controlled by a primary device
A system for contactless transmission of energy and control signals between a primary device and a secondary device. The primary device has a primary set with at least one primary coil and an electronic supply driver for supplying primary signals to the primary set of primary coils. A secondary device has a secondary set with at least one secondary coil, at least one piezoelectric actuator, and electronic components including a resonant circuit powered by the secondary set. The piezoelectric actuator is powered and controlled through the secondary set of secondary coils and the electronic components.
US09692320B2 Adaptive control method for grid-connected inverters used with distributed power generation
Systems, methods, and devices relating to control systems for grid-connected inverters. Because grid conditions may vary and because control system stability is dependent on the parameters of the components within the inverter, the present invention adaptably monitors the varying values of these components. Based on the sensed values and on predicted values, controller gains are adaptably adjusted to maintain system stability.
US09692312B2 Power conversion apparatus, and air-conditioning apparatus using the same
A power conversion apparatus includes a rectifier, a converter including a reactor, a switching element, and a reverse current prevention element, a smoothing capacitor configured to smooth the output voltage, a current detector configured to detect a reactor current, a voltage detector configured to detect the output voltage, and a converter control unit configured to control operation of the switching element of the converter. The converter-control unit includes a switching command calculation unit configured to calculate a switching command value responsive to a ratio of the rectified voltage to the output voltage in accordance with the output voltage and the reactor current, a switching control unit configured to control operation of the switching element in accordance with the switching command value, and a supply abnormality determination unit configured to determine occurrence of a momentary power failure or voltage sag in accordance with the switching command value.
US09692296B1 Single-input-multiple-output (SIMO) DC-DC converters and SIMO DC-DC converter control circuits
Single-input-multiple-output (SIMO) DC-DC converters and SIMO DC-DC converter control circuits are disclosed. An example DC-DC converter control circuit includes a switch controller to control respective switches of a SIMO DC-DC voltage converter that has multiple output circuits. The example control circuit also includes an arbitration circuit that determines a first one of the output circuits to have priority over other ones of the output circuits based on a priority signal, and selects a first output circuit to be charged during a first time slot based on the priority signal and based on first kick signals indicating that the at least two output circuits are to be charged. The control circuit also includes a next kick detector that determines a second one of the output circuits to be charged during a second time slot after the first time slot based on the priority. The control circuit also includes a time slot controller that determines a first time duration of the first time slot based on the determined second one of the output circuits, the arbitration circuit to output a second kick signal to the switch controller to control the switches to charge the first one of the output circuits during the first time slot.
US09692295B2 Power converter including a power converter circuit and a plurality of capacitors for reduction of noise currents
In a power converter, an external terminal, a case, and capacitors are arranged to provide a conductive loop. The conductive loop defines thereinside a first region through which magnetic flux of an AC magnetic field penetrates, and a second region through which the magnetic flux penetrates. A magnetic-flux shielding member partly shields at least one of the first region and the second region from penetration of the magnetic flux of the AC magnetic field to adjust at least one of an amount of the magnetic flux penetrating through one of the first region and the second region, and an amount of the magnetic flux penetrating through the other thereof.
US09692287B2 Vibration electricity generation device
A vibration electricity generation device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a fixed unit provided with a coil and a movable unit provided with a magnet. The movable unit is supported on the fixed unit in a suspended manner via a pair of coil springs. The movable unit is thus configured to vibrate in the up and down direction with a rather simple structure. A coil supporting member of the fixed unit is configured to cover a coil accommodating portion from both thickness direction sides thereof and a friction reducing treatment is applied to the surfaces of both thickness direction sides of the coil supporting member. The coefficient of kinetic friction is thus maintained low enough and a pair of guide shafts conventionally used are not required, thereby the electricity generation efficiency being improved.
US09692286B2 Vibration actuator
A first weight portion of a vibration actuator includes an inner-side enlarged portion that protrudes from an end portion of a solid head in a direction of a vibration axis and that is inserted into an opening portion extending within a first compression coil spring along the direction of the vibration axis. An outer peripheral surface of the inner-side enlarged portion becomes continuously smaller in diameter from a base end towards a free end, with the vibration axis being the center of the diameter. That is, the inner-side enlarged portion has the shape of a truncated cone. The inner-side enlarged portion is inserted into the opening portion of the first compression coil spring and the opening portion is utilized to change the length of the inner-side enlarged portion in the direction of the vibration axis, thereby changing the mass of the first weight portion.
US09692281B2 Method for producing rotor laminated core
There is provided a method for producing a rotor laminated core by laminating circular core pieces. The method determines a first blanking area, a second blanking area and a third blanking area in the magnetic steel board, wherein the first blanking area defines a shape of the core piece, the second blanking area defines a shape of a magnet-insertion hole, and the third blanking area defines a shape of an arbitrary part in the magnetic steel board. The method also forms a temporary aperture in the second blanking area, forms a thinning part which extends from the temporary aperture to the third blanking area, and blanks the first blanking area, the second blanking area and the third blanking area, thereby producing each circular core piece including the thinning part and magnet-insertion holes formed in a circumferential direction.
US09692280B2 Laminated core, VR type resolver and production method for laminated core
A production method for a rotor core for a VR type resolver has a structure in which one protrusion is formed on an inner edge thereof in which the rotor cores can be rotated and laminated without increasing cost. In a production method of a rotor core for a VR type resolver, a plurality of tabular rotor core pieces are laminated. In this case, in the rotor core pieces, four protrusions are simultaneously formed, one of them is left, the remainder thereof is removed, and rotating lamination is carried out.
US09692257B2 Control device, conversion device, control method, and electricity distribution system
In a control device configured to control power to be supplied to a specific load from at least one of a converter that has a power generator and a storage battery, and a commercial power supply, the control device determines whether the commercial power supply is in a power failure state or a power distribution state, in which: when determining that the commercial power supply is in a power distribution state, the control device causes both of the converter and the commercial power supply to be connected to the specific load; and when determining that the commercial power supply has made a transition from a power distribution state to a power failure state, the control device causes the commercial power supply to be disconnected from the specific load while maintaining the connection between the converter and the specific load.
US09692251B2 Apparatus, system and method of wireless power transfer
Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, systems and/or methods of wireless power transfer. For example, a Wireless Power Receiver (WPR) may include a rectifier to convert a wireless charging signal received from Wireless Power Transmitter (WPT into a Direct Current (DC) power signal; a voltage regulator to regulate a voltage of the DC power signal according to a voltage range; a bypass path to bypass the voltage regulator; and a bypass controller to select between directing the DC power signal to the voltage regulator or to the bypass path, based on a voltage level of the DC power signal and the voltage range.
US09692250B2 Systems and methods for smart wireless charging
Systems and methods for power distribution allocation are provided. A system may establish a first wireless connection between the system and a first mobile device. The system may receive a first charge request from the first mobile device comprising first mobile device information, and may identify charging system policies based at least in part on the first charge request. The system may determine a first charge program for the first mobile device based at least in part on the first charge request and the one or more charging system policies, where the first charge program comprises a power allocation of the first mobile device with respect to other mobile devices connected to the charging system. The system may wirelessly charge the first mobile device, based at least in part on the first charge program.
US09692241B2 Method for improving call quality during battery charging and electronic device thereof
A method of operating an electronic device is provided. The method includes determining whether a specific event has occurred, when the specific event has occurred, determining whether a battery level is less than a set level, and when the battery level is less than the set level, changing a path of an electric current introduced from a power supply from a first path to a second path.
US09692239B2 Method for battery equalization
A battery equalization circuit is provided, including: a positive battery node connecting to a positive node of a battery cell in a battery circuit with a plurality of other battery cells; a negative battery node connected to a negative node of the battery cell; a transformer winding receiving an AC voltage, the transformer winding having an upper transformer node and a lower transformer node; an upper triac connected between the positive battery node and the upper transformer node; a lower triac connected between the negative battery node and the lower transformer node; a control circuit for controlling the upper triac and the lower triac based on a measured cell voltage between the positive battery node and the negative battery node, and a total battery voltage of the battery circuit; and an isolation element connected between the control circuit and a data bus.
US09692222B2 Heat-recoverable article, wire splice, and wire harness
It is an object of the present invention to provide a heat-recoverable article which heat-shrinks in an appropriate temperature range, in which the occurrence of bloom and bleeding is small, and which has excellent resistance to copper-induced damage; and a wire splice and a wire harness each including the heat-recoverable article. A heat-recoverable article according to the present invention has a cylindrical shape and includes a base material layer, in which the base material layer contains an antioxidant and two or more polyolefin resins, the base material layer has one melting-point peak temperature, the melting-point peak temperature is 112° C. to 128° C., the heat of fusion of all of the resin components of the base material layer is 80 to 130 J/g, and the oxidation induction temperature of the base material layer is 265° C. to 280° C.
US09692216B2 Electric wire protective tube
An electric wire protective tube is configured such that a straight tube section in a shape of a straight tube and a bendable tube section that is bendable are provided along a longitudinal direction, and is configured to have a shape of a tube that allows an electric wire to be arranged therein. The electric wire protective tube has a tubular inner shield portion made of an electrically conductive material and forming an inner surface of the tube, and an exterior portion made of resin and forming an outer surface of the tube. The inner shield portion is provided such that it is firmly attached to an inner surface of the exterior portion in the straight tube section, and such that it is separable from an inner surface of the exterior portion in the bendable tube section.
US09692205B2 Semiconductor laser module
A semiconductor laser module includes: a semiconductor laser element emitting a laser light; an optical fiber, into which the laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser element is incident, guiding the laser light; and an optical-fiber-holding unit having a fixing agent and holding the optical fiber, the fixing agent being for fixing the optical fiber. The fixing agent is provided at an area in which a power of a leakage light of the laser light having been incident into the optical fiber and then emitted to outside the optical fiber is low.
US09692203B2 Optical module
An optical module includes: a wiring substrate that has a wiring pattern including a connecting portion and is arranged on an optical subassembly so as to be electrically connected thereto; and a flexible insulating layer formed between the optical subassembly and the wiring substrate. The optical subassembly includes: a conductive stem that has a surface opposed to the wiring substrate, the conductive stem being shaped so that the surface has a through hole opened therein and being connected to a reference potential; and a signal lead for transmitting a signal, the signal lead passing through the through hole while being electrically insulated from the conductive stem. The signal lead passes through the flexible insulating layer to be joined to the connecting portion. The flexible insulating layer is in contact with the connecting portion, the signal lead, and the surface of the conductive stem.
US09692201B2 Optical-fiber-bundle structure, rare-earth-doped multi-core fiber, connection structure therefor, method for exciting rare-earth-doped multi-core fibers, and multi-core-optical-fiber amplifier
A bundle structure is obtained by arranging optical fibers having equal diameters in a close-packed arrangement around the outer circumference of a center optical fiber. The optical fibers are signal light optical fibers that transmit signal lights. The optical fiber is a pump light optical fiber that transmits pump light. The number of optical fibers is equal to the number of cores in the multi-core fiber. The bundle structure and the multi-core fiber are connected to one another by adhering or fusing. The cores and the cores are optically connected, and the core and the cladding are optically connected. When connecting, the mode field diameter of the cores and the cores are substantially equivalent. In addition, the outer diameter (diameter of circumscribed circle including optical fibers) of the bundle structure is set so as not to be greater than the outer diameter of the multi-core fiber.
US09692198B2 Method of manufacturing an electrically conductive extension/compression spring
An electrically conductive spring having first and second coils defining first and second electrical pathways for completing an electric circuit between two components which may move relative to each other. In one embodiment, the spring is a double start helical spring with first and second coils extending between respective, electrically insulated ends with the coils extending in alternating, spaced relation to each other.
US09692189B2 Safe socket and use thereof
A safety socket includes one or multiple socket bodies. A socket body has a live wire receptacle and a neutral wire receptacle, and includes a live wire connection circuit, a neutral wire connection circuit, and a locking and controlling mechanism. When the live wire pin and the neutral wire pin of a power plug are respectively inserted into the live wire receptacle and the neutral wire receptacle of the socket body, the locking and controlling mechanism is activated and is switched to the operating state so as to connect the live wire connection circuit and the neutral wire connection circuit. When the locking and controlling mechanism is in the idle state, the live wire connection circuit and the neutral wire connection circuit are disconnected. The safety socket can effectively prevent electric shock and is water-proof, thereby preventing electric shock accidents and ensuring the safe usage of the safety socket.
US09692173B2 Feedthrough wire connector for use in a medical device
A feedthrough filter capacitor assembly comprising a terminal pin connector is described. The terminal pin connector is designed to facilitate an electrical connection between the terminal pin comprising a multitude of compositions to a circuit board of an implantable medical device. The terminal pin connector comprises a clip portion positioned within a connector housing. The connector clip mechanically attaches to the terminal pin of the feedthrough with at least one prong and an exterior surface of the connector housing electrically contacts the circuit board, creating an electrical connection therebetween. The connector housing comprises a material that is conducive to a weld or solder attachment process to the circuit board. The feedthrough filter capacitor assembly is particularly useful for incorporation into implantable medical devices such as cardiac pacemakers, cardioverter defibrillators, and the like, to decouple and shield internal electronic components of the medical device from undesirable electromagnetic interference (EMI) signals.
US09692171B2 Waterproof connector
A waterproof connector includes a connector housing. The connector housing includes: a terminal housing part for housing a terminal; a core-wire housing part which is provided continuously to the terminal housing part and houses a core wire part of an electric wire; and a covered end insertion part into which a covered end of the electric wire is inserted. The covered end insertion part is provided with a waterproof partition wall, so that respective interiors of the core-wire housing part and the terminal housing part are kept in a waterproof state. The core-wire housing part is provided, around the core wire part, with a hollow part which allows the core wire part of an end of the electric wire to move freely within the core-wire housing part.
US09692169B2 Connection system between an electrical or electronic device and a plug connector unit and use of the connection system
A connection system between an electrical or electronic device and a plug connector unit, the device including first electrical terminals, which are aligned in parallel to one another with the aid of a first positioning device within a connection area of the device, and second electrical terminals, which cooperate with the first electrical terminals, being aligned with the first electrical terminals with the aid of a second positioning device in a plug connector housing of the plug connector unit.
US09692157B2 Controlled power fade for battery power devices
A method is provided for operating a power tool having a motor powered by a battery. The method includes: delivering power from the battery to the motor in accordance with an operator input; detecting a condition of the power tool indicating a shutdown of the power is imminent; and fading the power delivered from the battery to the motor, in response to the detected condition, through the use of a controller residing in the power tool.
US09692155B2 Jumper clamps
A dual conductive electrical jumper clamp system has two jumper clamps, each jumper clamp having upper and lower clamp frames and an electrical conductive contact plate positioned within each frame. An electrical conductive sleeve is positioned between the contact plates. In this manner, electricity is transmitted from an electric power source to only one of the contact plates, then solely to the other contact plate via the conductive sleeve, and ultimately to electrical terminal attaching jaw members at the ends of the contact plates.
US09692150B2 Tool-less coaxial cable connector
A coaxial cable connector includes a cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis, a front end, an opposed rear end, an interior, and an inner surface bounding the interior. A cylindrical inner post extends through the cylindrical body, supports the cylindrical body, and has an outer surface. A coupling nut is carried on the inner post at the front end of the cylindrical body. A first thread is formed on the inner surface of the body and has a ramped entrance directed toward the rear end of the body and a blunt end directed toward the front end of the body. A second thread is formed on the outer surface of the inner post and has a ramped entrance directed toward the rear end of the body, a blunt end directed toward the front end of the body, and a plurality of stops therebetween.
US09692149B2 Coaxial connector and connecting section
A coaxial connector includes a housing, and a bushing which is attached to the housing and on which the leading end of the coaxial cable is placed. In the coaxial connector, the housing includes a first circular cylinder and a crimping portion holding the bushing, the bushing is press-contacted to an insulation film by a force from the crimping portion, a socket includes a contact portion enclosed by the first circular cylinder and an attachment portion that is press-contacted to the insulation film by a force from the bushing and is connected to a second central conductor through cutting and removing part of the insulation film, and a minimum length from the center of the first circular cylinder to the crimping portion is longer than a maximum length from the center of the outer conductor to an outer edge of the receptacle.
US09692148B2 Connection terminal
A connection terminal includes: an electric wire connection part; a terminal connection part formed in a flat-plate shape; an insertion hole provided in the terminal connection part and connected to a mated member by insertion of a bolt; an erect wall located around the insertion hole and provided integrally with and protrusively from the terminal connection part; and a fracture part provided at the terminal connection part between the erect wall and the insertion hole and configured to separate a part of the terminal connection part from the mated member by a pull force in a state where the bolt is inserted. The fracture part includes: a first slit provided so as to be partially curved along the insertion hole between the erect wall and the insertion hole; and a second slit provided so as to continue to the first slit and to reach the erect wall.
US09692145B2 Mechanical lug with dovetail interlock feature
The present invention is directed to a mechanical lug with interlocking features that secures an electrical conductor. The mechanical lug has a main body and a mounting tongue extending from the main body. The main body includes an inner flange and an outer flange. The inner flange has a horizontal member and an interlocking member with angled pockets. The outer flange has hooks with a tapered face positioned in the angled pockets of the interlocking member of the inner flange thereby forming a dovetail interlock.
US09692143B2 Electrical connection device for producing a solder connection and method for the production thereof
This invention relates to an electrical connection device on a plate-type or strip-type material (1, 1′), which cannot be soldered or is difficult to solder or which is provided with a surface that cannot be soldered or is difficult to solder, having the following characteristics: A self-clinching bolt (5) is provided with a bolt head (7) that, relative to the bolt body (9) beneath, has a tapered cross section such that the bolt head (7) transitions, by way of a conical or shoulder-like sloping flank (11), into the bolt body (9) having an outer circumference (9′) that has a diameter larger than that of the bolt head (7). The outer circumference (9′) of the bolt body (9) is of smooth design, or is provided with a knurling (15). In the penetration area of the self-clinching bolt (5), the plate-type or strip-type material (1, 1′) is provided with a non-flanged material edge (101). Within the material edge (101), the self-clinching bolt (5) is press-fit with a peripheral area of the bolt body (9) thereof, thus creating a force fit.
US09692136B2 Monocone antenna
A monocone antenna includes a conical radiation element having a feed point at a vertex of the conical radiation element being connected to a feed transmission line and a capacitive ring radially outside of the conical radiation element and in proximity to the conical radiation element. The capacitive ring is connected to a ground plane of the monocone antenna. Optionally, a capacitive gap may be defined between the conical radiation element and the capacitive ring that is substantially filled with dielectric material.
US09692135B1 Direct transition from a waveguide to a buried chip
An assembly for confining electromagnetic radiation in a waveguide. The assembly comprises a waveguide, comprising walls surrounding a cavity and an aperture in the walls that opens to the cavity, and a substrate assembly disposed in the aperture. The substrate assembly comprises a substrate comprising an antenna, wherein the antenna is located within the cavity and is configured for transmission of radiation within the cavity. The substrate assembly comprises an integrated circuit (IC) electrically connected to the substrate, where the IC comprises semi-conductor components and a ground plane on one side of the IC. The ground plane is located between the IC semi-conductor components and the antenna. The ground plane is located across the aperture to reduce the area of the aperture and to reflect some of the radiation directed to the aperture back into the cavity.
US09692131B2 Antenna and the manufacturing method thereof
A method of manufacturing an antenna is provided. The method includes steps of providing a substrate including a feed-in terminal and a ground terminal; and forming a ground conductor structure on the substrate extended from the feed-in terminal to the ground terminal and including a first conductor extended along a first direction, a second conductor extended from the first conductor along a second direction, a third conductor extended from the second conductor along a third direction, and a fourth conductor extended from the third conductor along a fourth direction, wherein a first obtuse angle is formed between the first direction and the second direction, a second obtuse angle is formed between the second direction and the third direction, and an acute angle is formed between the third direction and the fourth direction.
US09692124B2 Antenna structures and methods thereof that have disparate operating frequency ranges
A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a circuit for receiving a request to initiate a first multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) communication session and a second MIMO communication session, and configuring a first antenna configuration and a second antenna configuration to enable the first MIMO communication session and the second MIMO communication session. The first MIMO communication session shares spectrum from the first antenna configuration and the second antenna configuration, and the second MIMO communication session utilizes spectrum from the second antenna configuration that differs from the shared spectrum. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09692123B2 Systems and methods of controlling antenna radiation patterns
In a particular embodiment, a method of controlling a radiation pattern includes selecting a signal processing characteristic to vary based on a radiation pattern to be emitted by an antenna array of a wireless device, wherein the antenna array includes a plurality of antennas, wherein the signal processing characteristic provides a target resultant radiation pattern, and wherein the signal processing characteristic is applies to less than all elements of the antenna array, and varying the signal processing characteristic across time, frequency, or a combination thereof.
US09692118B2 Antenna and portable device having the same
An antenna apparatus and a portable device having the same are provided. The antenna apparatus includes a main antenna having a first radiator pattern, and an auxiliary antenna separated from the main antenna by a metal surface adjacent to the main antenna. The auxiliary antenna is resonant at a resonant frequency which is a function of at least one capacitor provided in a cut-out area of a printed circuit board (PCB) adjacent to the metal surface.
US09692114B2 Compact, rugged, environmentally-sealed, electrically non-conductive, antenna radome for an RFID reader and method of installing an antenna in the radome
A compact, rugged, environmentally-sealed, electrically non-conductive, antenna radome protects an antenna of a handheld radio frequency (RF) identification (RFID) reader operative for scanning RFID tags. A rear housing is directly connected to a front housing, each constituted of an electrically non-conductive material. A support structure in the housings supports the antenna to enable RF signals to be transmitted or received by the antenna forwardly through the housings during scanning without being detuned by electrically conductive materials and electrically conductive fasteners located forwardly of the antenna. A seal environmentally seals the antenna inside the housings.
US09692106B2 Hybrid on-chip and package antenna
Antenna devices, antenna systems and methods of their fabrication are disclosed. One such antenna device includes a semiconductor chip and a chip package. The semiconductor chip includes at least one antenna that is integrated into a dielectric layer of the semiconductor chip and is configured to transmit electromagnetic waves. In addition, the chip package includes at least one ground plane, where the semiconductor chip is mounted on the chip package such that the ground plane(s) is disposed at a predetermined distance from the antenna to implement a reflection of at least a portion of the electromagnetic waves.
US09692104B2 Communication device, communication method, and a computer-readable recording medium
A transmission system that can continue communication even if a tracking error exists and to reduce interference on other transponders when transmitting a video and audio between an endstation facility and another endstation facility via a transponder mounted on communications satellite. This transmission system includes a tracking antenna that tracks a transponder, a tracking error calculation circuit that obtains a tracking error in a tracking operation of the tracking antenna, a transmission level control circuit that obtains a transmission level of a signal in response to the tracking error, and a transmitter that transmits the signal at the obtained signal level via the tracking antenna to the transponder of the communication target.
US09692098B2 Multi resonator non-adjacent coupling
A coupling is provided for coupling non-adjacent resonators of a radio frequency filter. The coupling joins together non-adjacent resonators with a metal strip. The metal strip is physically connected to but electrically isolated from resonators located between the connected non-adjacent resonators. The metal strips include tabs the length of which may be varied. The coupling works with different resonator configurations including horizontally aligned resonators. The coupling allows for the jumping of an even number of resonators can produce zeros at high and low bands. A single coupling of this configuration enables two negative couplings.
US09692093B2 Reduced order battery thermal dynamics modeling for controls
A vehicle includes a traction battery that is comprised of a number of cells. A controller operates the traction battery according to a temperature for each of the cells. The temperature is based on a number of coefficients representing a contribution of at least one cell boundary thermal condition and a heat generated in the cell to a steady-state temperature at a predetermined location within the cell. The contributions may be filtered to predict a dynamic response of the temperature to changes in the boundary thermal conditions and the heat generated in the cell. The coefficients may be derived from a full-order model. The resulting reduced-order model requires less execution time while achieving accuracy similar to the full-order model. In addition, a range of characteristic temperatures may be obtained for each cell.
US09692092B2 Battery pack for a motor vehicle
A battery pack includes a battery module having a set of battery cells and at least one cooling device. Each cooling device includes a heat collecting plate, a heat duct, and a heat dissipating element. The heat collecting plate is in contact with an outer surface of at least one battery cell of the set of battery cells. The heat duct is in contact with the heat collecting plate. The heat dissipating element has a circular orifice in which the heat duct is positioned. The heat duct contains a fluid. A connection between the heat dissipating element and the heat duct is established by tinning. A method for producing the battery pack is provided.
US09692088B2 Method for restoring battery capacity, method for restoring battery pack capacity, device for restoring battery capacity, and device for restoring battery pack capacity
This method for restoring battery capacity is provided with an oxygen-generating/exhausting step for charging a nickel-metal-hydride storage battery, causing the generation of oxygen gas in a positive electrode, opening a safety valve device, and discharging at least a portion of the oxygen gas through the safety valve device to the outside of the battery. The battery temperature when starting the step is in the range of −30 to 10° C. and the SOC is in the range of (30-Ta) to 100%, or the battery temperature (Ta) is in the range of 10 to 50° C. and the SOC is in the range of 20-100%.
US09692087B2 Ohmically modulated battery
A rechargeable battery whose ohmic resistance is modulated according to temperature is disclosed.
US09692085B2 Lithium ion secondary battery
It is an object of this exemplary embodiment to provide a lithium ion secondary battery using a positive electrode active material having an operating potential of 4.5 V or more, the lithium ion secondary battery having excellent high temperature cycle characteristics. This exemplary embodiment is a lithium ion secondary battery comprising a positive electrode and a negative electrode capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium, a separator between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and an electrolytic solution containing a nonaqueous electrolytic solvent, wherein the positive electrode comprises a positive electrode active material operating at a potential of 4.5 V or more versus lithium, the separator comprises cellulose, a cellulose derivative, or a glass fiber, and the nonaqueous electrolytic solvent comprises a fluorinated solvent.
US09692079B2 Laminated plate repeating fuel cell unit for an SOFC stack
An improved SOFC repeating fuel cell unit comprising three flat plates and a cell retainer. The three flat plates are metallurgically joined (brazed or laser welded) into a subassembly to which is added the fuel cell and cell retainer (which may also be joined as a second subassembly). Each flat plate performs a specific set of functions and can be optimized for those functions. Since the plates are flat and designed to overlap in loaded areas, the fuel cell unit is not prone to dimensional collapse which eliminates the internal reinforcements of the prior art design. The cell retainer is formed to provide a self-locating and locking feature for the fuel cell and decouples thermal stresses from the thin ceramic fuel cell.
US09692066B2 Device for discharging liquid
A device (13) for discharging liquid water from a water separator (12) in a fuel cell system (1), having a valve device (15), a liquid sensor (16) and a control unit (17) which controls the valve device (15) depending on measured values of the liquid sensor (16). The liquid sensor (16) is arranged downstream of the valve device (15) in the flow direction.
US09692063B2 Fuel cell separator and fuel cell
A fuel cell separator comprises a first plate and a second plate. The first plate has a plurality of first projections protruded toward the second plate to define reactive gas flow paths, the second plate has a plurality of second projections protruded toward the first plate to define reactive gas flow paths. A top of each of the plurality of first projections is in contact with an intermediate part between adjacent two of the plurality of second projections formed on the second plate, and a top of each of the plurality of second projections is in contact with an intermediate part between adjacent two of the plurality of first projections formed on the first plate.
US09692052B2 Electrode material for battery, electrode material paste for battery, and solar cell using same, storage battery, and method for manufacturing solar cell
According to one embodiment, an electrode material for a battery includes a tungsten oxide powder or a tungsten oxide composite powder provided with a coating unit containing at least one selected from a metal oxide, silicon oxide, a metal nitride, and silicon nitride.
US09692041B2 Lithium battery and method of preparing cathode active material for the lithium battery
A lithium battery and a method of preparing the lithium battery, wherein the lithium battery includes: a cathode layer including a cathode active material including a core, and an ion conductive phosphate coating layer on a surface of the core; an anode layer; and a solid electrolyte layer that is disposed between the cathode layer and the anode layer, wherein the solid electrolyte layer includes a sulfide solid electrolyte.
US09692040B2 Electrode coated with a film obtained from an aqueous solution comprising a water-soluble binder, production method thereof and uses of same
A method of preparing an electrochemical electrode which is partially or totally covered with a film that is obtained by spreading an aqueous solution comprising a water-soluble binder over the electrode and subsequently drying same. The production cost of the electrodes thus obtained is reduced and the surface porosity thereof is associated with desirable resistance values.
US09692034B2 Secondary battery
A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly comprising a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate and a separator located between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate; a case accommodating the electrode assembly; a cap plate sealing the case; a first collector plate comprising a first vertical part electrically connected to the first electrode plate, a first horizontal part bent from the first vertical part and extending between the electrode assembly and the cap plate, and a first protrusion protruding from the first horizontal part; and a first electrode terminal electrically connected to the first collector plate and extending through the cap plate, wherein the first electrode terminal has a coupling opening engaged with the first protrusion.
US09692033B2 Manufacturing method of sealed battery
The invention provides a manufacturing method of a sealed battery that includes a power generating element, a housing member, a lid member, a collector terminal member, and a first insulating member. This manufacturing method includes compressing the first insulating member with a protruding portion of the lid member. The method includes measuring a position of the lid member and a compression load applied by the lid member, and stopping compressing when a slope of the change in the compression load with respect to the position of the lid member reaches a predetermined value.
US09692024B2 Cover mechanism comprising slide member and electronic device
A cover mechanism includes a cover which is detachably attached to a housing and a slide member which is slidably attached to the housing. The slide member includes a lock portion which locks the cover to keep the cover closed and a push-up portion which pushes up the cover as the slide member slides in a direction to release the lock.
US09692015B2 Organic light emitting device and manufacturing method thereof
An organic light emitting device having a photonic crystal structure and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The organic light emitting device comprises: a substrate through which light passes; a photonic crystal layer formed on the substrate and having a photonic crystal structure; an intermediate layer formed on the photonic crystal layer and having a large refractive index compared with the photonic crystal layer; a first electrode layer formed on the intermediate layer; a light emitting layer formed on the first electrode layer and emitting light according to current flow; and a second electrode layer formed on the light emitting layer.
US09691995B2 Method of manufacturing substrate for organic electronic device
Provided are a method of manufacturing a substrate, a method of manufacturing an organic electronic device (OED), a substrate, an OED, and a use thereof. The method of manufacturing a substrate which may provide an OED having an element with improved efficiency may be provided. In addition, a substrate having excellent surface roughness, and a refractive index or a light scattering property, which is suitably controlled according to a desired effect may be manufactured, and therefore the substrate capable of forming an OED having excellent reliability and efficiency and the method of manufacturing an OED may be provided. Moreover, a substrate and an OED, which are manufactured by the above methods, and their uses may be provided. The manufacturing method may be effectively applied to manufacture, for example, a flexible element.
US09691989B2 Carbo- and heterocyclic spiro compounds as donor materials for organic photovoltaics and their preparation
The subject invention provides compositions of and methods of using carbo- and heterocyclic spiro compounds as donor materials for organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices. In preferred embodiments, spiro compounds comprising triarylamine and derivatives thereof demonstrate effective hole-transporting properties in OPV devices, achieving up to 5.46% of power conversion efficiency. Advantageously, preferred compounds provided herein are thermally stable and volatile enough to form thin films for the photoactive layer of an OPV device by vacuum deposition or by spin-coating.
US09691982B2 Method of manufacturing thin film transistor
A method of manufacturing a thin film transistor is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes forming an active layer over a substrate and forming a gate insulating layer containing a dopant over the active layer. The method also includes irradiating laser light onto the gate insulating layer such that the dopant of the gate insulating layer diffuses into the active layer.
US09691980B1 Method for forming memory device
A method for forming a memory device is provided. The method includes forming a plurality of memory cells. The method also includes performing a first baking on the memory cells. The method further includes setting a specified current, and after performing the first baking, performing a test process on the memory cells. The test process includes reading the current of the memory cells. When the read current of the memory cells is larger than or equal to the specified current, the test process of the memory cell is done. When the read current of the memory cells is smaller than the specified current, a re-forming process is performed on the memory cells to form a plurality of re-formed memory cells, and then the test process is performed on the re-formed memory cells.
US09691974B2 Phase-change device, related manufacturing method, and related electronic device
A method for manufacturing a phase-change device may include the following steps: preparing a substrate; preparing a first dielectric layer, which may be positioned on the substrate; preparing a first electrode, which may be positioned in the first dielectric layer; forming a phase-change material layer, which may overlap the first electrode; processing (e.g., etching) the phase-change material layer to form a phase-change member, which may be electrically connected to the first electrode; forming an etch-stop layer, which may overlap and/or cover the phase-change member; forming an intermediary layer, which may be positioned on the etch-stop layer; forming a second dielectric layer, which may be positioned on the intermediary layer; and forming a second electrode, which may extend through the second dielectric layer, the intermediary layer, and the etch-stop layer and may be electrically connected to the phase-change member.
US09691971B2 Integrated circuits including magnetic tunnel junctions for magnetoresistive random-access memory and methods for fabricating the same
Integrated circuits that include a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) for a magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) and methods for fabricating such integrated circuits are provided. In one example, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes forming a lower electrode on a metal interconnect. The metal interconnect is disposed above a semiconductor substrate and is aligned with a normal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate. The lower electrode includes a conductive metal plug. A MTJ stack is formed on the lower electrode aligned with the normal axis.
US09691951B2 Curable silicone composition, and optical semiconductor device
The present invention provides a hydrosilylation curable silicone composition for forming a cured product which inhibits the discoloration of silver electrodes or a silver-plated substrate in an optical semiconductor device due to a sulfur-containing gas in the air, and for sealing, covering, or adhering an optical semiconductor element, the curable silicone composition comprising: (A) an organopolysiloxane having at least two silicon-bonded alkenyl groups per molecule; (B) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane having at least two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms per molecule; (C) a tetrazole-based compound; and (D) a hydrosilylation reaction catalyst. In addition, the present invention provides an optical semiconductor device in which an optical semiconductor element is sealed, covered, or adhered by the cured product of the composition so that the discoloration of silver electrodes or a silver-plated substrate due to a sulfur-containing gas in the air is inhibited.
US09691938B2 Advanced electronic device structures using semiconductor structures and superlattices
Semiconductor structures and methods for forming those semiconductor structures are disclosed. For example, a p-type or n-type semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure has a polar crystal structure with a growth axis that is substantially parallel to a spontaneous polarization axis of the polar crystal structure. The semiconductor structure changes in composition from a wider band gap (WBG) material to a narrower band gap (NBG) material or from a NBG material to a WBG material along the growth axis to induce p-type or n-type conductivity.
US09691920B2 Metamaterial enhanced thermophotovoltaic converter
A thermophotovoltaic (TPV) converter includes spectrally-selective metamaterial emitters disposed on peripheral walls of an all-metal box-like enclosure, and associated photovoltaic (PV) cells configured to efficiently convert in-band photons having optimal conversion spectrums into electricity. The peripheral walls surround a substantially rectangular interior cavity having an inlet opening through which heat energy (e.g., concentrated sunlight) is supplied, and an outlet opening through which waste heat exits the cavity. Concentrated sunlight passing through the box-like enclosure heats the peripheral walls to a high temperature (i.e., above 1000° K), causing thermally excited surface plasmons generated on the emitters' concentric circular ridges to produce highly-directional radiant energy beams having a peak emission wavelength roughly equal to a fixed grating period separating the ridges. The metamaterial emitter is optionally provided with multiple bull's eye structures in a multiplexed (overlapping) pattern and with different grating periods to produce a broad emission spectrum overlapping the optimal conversion spectrum.
US09691915B2 Solar cell with anti-reflection structure and method for fabricating the same
A solar cell with an anti-reflection structure comprises a solar cell substrate, a meshed electric-conduction layer formed on one surface of the solar cell substrate, a plurality of microspheres disposed on the meshed electric-conduction layer, and a dielectric layer. The microspheres have a diameter of 0.1-50 μm. The dielectric layer is formed between the meshed electric-conduction layer and the microspheres, and has a thickness smaller than the diameter of the microspheres to make the microspheres protrude from the dielectric layer. The meshed electric-conduction layer is formed via a screen-printing method. The present invention uses the microspheres and the meshed electric-conduction layer to achieve an excellent anti-reflection effect. Further, the present invention has the advantages of a simple fabrication process and a low fabrication cost.
US09691912B1 Devices having nanoscale structures and methods for making same
In one embodiment, a device includes a substrate having a top surface and cavity that defines generally vertical walls, a thin film of material that has been deposited on the walls of the cavity, and a further material that fills the cavity, wherein a top edge of the thin film is exposed and forms a trace that is flush with the top surface of the substrate and has substrate material on one side and the further material on the other side.
US09691903B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, a fin structure including a first semiconductor layer, an oxide layer disposed over the first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer disposed over the oxide layer is formed. An isolation insulating layer is formed so that the second semiconductor layer of the fin structure protrudes from the isolation insulating layer while the oxide layer and the first semiconductor layer are embedded in the isolation insulating layer. A third semiconductor layer is formed on the exposed second semiconductor layer so as to form a channel.
US09691901B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a gate structure, a sidewall spacer, and an epitaxial layer. The gate structure is disposed on the substrate, and the substrate has at least one recess disposed adjacent to the gate structure. The sidewall spacer is disposed on at least two sides of the gate structure. The sidewall spacer includes a first spacer layer and a second spacer layer, and the first spacer layer is disposed between the gate structure and the second spacer layer. The epitaxial layer is disposed in the recess, and the recess is a circular shaped recess. A distance between an upmost part of the recess and the gate structure is less than a width of the sidewall spacer.
US09691895B2 Lateral MOSFET
A device includes a plurality of isolation regions formed in a substrate, wherein a top surface of a first isolation region is lower than a top surface of the substrate and a second isolation region has a first portion in a high voltage region and a second portion in a low voltage region, a first gate electrode layer over the high voltage region, a second gate electrode layer over the second isolation region and a third gate electrode layer over the low voltage region, wherein a bottom surface of the first gate electrode layer is higher than a bottom surface of the third gate electrode layer.
US09691893B2 Low-cost semiconductor device manufacturing method
Provided are a low-cost semiconductor device manufacturing method and a semiconductor device made using the method. The method includes forming multiple body regions in a semiconductor substrate, forming multiple gate insulating layers and multiple gate electrodes in the body region; implementing a blanket ion implantation in an entire surface of the substrate to form a low concentration doping region (LDD region) in the body region without a mask, forming a spacer at a side wall of the gate electrode, and implementing a high concentration ion implantation to form a high concentration source region and a high concentration drain region around the LDD region. According to the examples, devices have favorable electrical characteristics and at the same time, manufacturing costs are reduced. Since, when forming high concentration source region and drain regions, tilt and rotation co-implants are applied, an LDD masking step is potentially omitted.
US09691892B2 High voltage transistor operable with a high gate voltage
A semiconductor device includes a first load contact, a second load contact and a semiconductor region positioned between the first and second load contacts. The semiconductor region includes: a first semiconductor contact zone in contact with the first load contact; a second semiconductor contact zone in contact with the second load contact; a first conductivity type semiconductor drift zone between the first and second semiconductor contact zones, wherein the semiconductor drift zone couples the first semiconductor contact zone to the second semiconductor contact zone. The semiconductor device further comprises: a trench comprising a control electrode and an insulator. The control electrode extends for at least 75% of the semiconductor drift zone. A drift zone doping concentration and an extension of the semiconductor drift zone defines a blocking voltage of the semiconductor device. The insulator is configured for insulating a voltage that amounts to at least 50% of said blocking voltage.
US09691890B2 Compound semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A compound semiconductor device includes a compound semiconductor stacked structure, the compound semiconductor stacked structure including: an electron transit layer; an electron supply layer formed above the electron transit layer, the electron supply layer containing an n-type impurity; and a cap layer formed above the electron supply layer and containing the n-type impurity, in which in the electron supply layer, a concentration of the n-type impurity contained therein is non-uniform in a film thickness direction and a concentration of the n-type impurity in a surface of the cap layer side is lower than a maximum concentration of the n-type impurity in the electron supply layer.
US09691875B2 Method of manufacturing nitride semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a nitride semiconductor device includes: forming a transistor having a gate electrode Schottky-joined to a nitride semiconductor layer; performing high-temperature annealing at a temperature of 200 to 360° C. for 8 to 240 hours on the transistor; and after the high-temperature annealing, performing RF burn-in by applying radiofrequency power to the transistor at a channel temperature of 180 to 360° C.
US09691867B2 Semiconductor device including spacers having different dimensions
The semiconductor device structures and methods for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a metal gate over a substrate. A first spacer is formed over sidewalls of the metal gate and having a first height. A second spacer is formed over the sidewalls of the metal gate and having a second height. The first height is higher than the second height. The first spacer is farther from the sidewalls of the metal gate than the second spacer. In addition, the semiconductor device structure includes a dielectric layer formed over the substrate to surround the first spacer and the metal gate.
US09691863B2 Self-aligned contact for trench power MOSFET
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a self-aligned contact for a trench power MOSFET device. The device has a layer of nitride provided over the conductive material in the gate trenches and over portions of mesas between every two adjacent contact structures. Alternatively, the device has an oxide layer over the conductive material in the gate trenches and over portions of mesas between every two adjacent contact structures. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US09691861B2 Method for analyzing discrete traps in semiconductor devices
A method analyzes traps in a semiconductor device by determining a first-order derivative of a signal representing an operation of the semiconductor device over time to produce a signal rate change. The traps in the semiconductor device are analyzed based on lifetimes corresponding to peaks of the signal rate change.
US09691860B2 Methods of forming defect-free SRB onto lattice-mismatched substrates and defect-free fins on insulators
A strain-relieved buffer is formed by forming a first silicon-germanium (SiGe) layer directly on a surface of a bulk silicon (Si) substrate. The first SiGe layer is patterned to form at least two SiGe structures so there is a space between the SiGe structures. An oxide is formed on the SiGe structures, and the SiGe structures are mesa annealed. The oxide is removed to expose a top portion of the SiGe structures. A second SiGe layer is formed on the exposed portion of the SiGe structures so that the second SiGe layer covers the space between the SiGe structures, and so that a percentage Ge content of the first and second SiGe layers are substantially equal. The space between the SiGe structures is related to the sizes of the structures adjacent to the space and an amount of stress relief that is associated with the structures.
US09691857B2 Group III-N nanowire transistors
A group III-N nanowire is disposed on a substrate. A longitudinal length of the nanowire is defined into a channel region of a first group III-N material, a source region electrically coupled with a first end of the channel region, and a drain region electrically coupled with a second end of the channel region. A second group III-N material on the first group III-N material serves as a charge inducing layer, and/or barrier layer on surfaces of nanowire. A gate insulator and/or gate conductor coaxially wraps completely around the nanowire within the channel region. Drain and source contacts may similarly coaxially wrap completely around the drain and source regions.
US09691853B2 Electronic device including graphene and quantum dots
According to example embodiments, an electronic device includes channel layer including a graphene layer electrically contacting a quantum dot layer including a plurality of quantum dots, a first electrode and a second electrode electrically connected to the channel layer, respectively, and a gate electrode configured to control an electric current between the first electrode and the second electrode via the channel layer. A gate insulating layer may be between the gate electrode and the channel layer.
US09691852B2 Semiconductor device
An element isolation trench is formed in a substrate and is formed along each side of a polygon in a planar view. A first trench is formed in the substrate and extends in a direction different from that of any side of the trench. A first-conductivity type region is formed on/over apart located on the side of an end of the first trench in the substrate. Accordingly, when an impurity region that extends in a depth direction in the substrate is formed by forming the trench in the substrate and diagonally implanting an impurity into the trench, the impurity is prevented from being implanted into a side face of a groove such as a groove for element isolation and so forth impurity implantation into the side face of which is not desired.
US09691837B2 Organic light emitting diode display reducing parasitic capacitance
An organic light emitting diode display includes a plurality of pixels. At least one pixel is connected to a scan line receive a scan signal, a data line to receive a data signal, and voltage line to receive a driving voltage. The at least one pixel includes a switching transistor including a switching drain electrode to output the data voltage, a driving transistor including a driving source electrode connected to the switching drain electrode, and an organic light emitting diode connected to a driving drain electrode of the driving transistor. The driving source electrode is separated from the data line.
US09691828B2 Display apparatus having thin films including nanoparticles
The invention provides a display apparatus and a method for manufacturing the same, relates to the field of display technology, and solves the problem of low display luminance due to the existing display apparatus being affected by other film layers. A display apparatus comprises a light emitting unit and further comprises several layers of thin film located in the light emission path of the light emitting unit, and at least one of the several layers of thin film has nanoparticles.
US09691823B2 Image sensors and electronic devices including the same
Image sensors, and electronic devices including the image sensors, include a first photoelectronic device including at least one of a blue photoelectronic device sensing light in a blue wavelength region, a red photoelectronic device sensing light in a red wavelength region, and a green photoelectronic device sensing light in a green wavelength region, and a second photoelectronic device stacked on one side of the first photoelectronic device without being interposed by a color filter, wherein the second photoelectronic device senses light in an infrared region.
US09691821B2 Vertical cross-point arrays for ultra-high-density memory applications
An ultra-high-density vertical cross-point array comprises a plurality of horizontal line layers having horizontal lines interleaved with a plurality of vertical lines arranged in rows and columns. The vertical lines are interleaved with the horizontal lines such that a row of vertical lines is positioned between each consecutive pair of horizontal lines in each horizontal line layer. Each vertical line comprises a center conductor surrounded by a single or multi-layered memory film. Accordingly, when interleaved with the horizontal lines, two-terminal memory cells are integrally formed between the center conductor of each vertical line and each crossing horizontal line. By configuring the vertical and horizontal lines so that a row of vertical lines is positioned between each consecutive pair of horizontal lines, a unit memory cell footprint of just 2F2 may be realized.
US09691820B2 Block architecture for vertical memory array
Three-dimensional memory structures that are configured to use area efficiently, and methods for providing three-dimensional memory structures that use area efficiently are provided. The vertical memory structure can include a number of bit line bits that is greater than a number of word line bits. In addition, the ratio of bit line bits to word line bits can be equal to a ratio of a first side a memory cell included in a memory array of the memory structure to a dimension of a second side of the memory cell.
US09691818B2 Three dimensional semiconductor device having lateral channel
A 3D semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The 3D semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an active line formed on the insulating layer, including a source region, a drain region and a channel region positioned between the source region and the drain region, a gate electrode located on a portion of the active line, corresponding to a region between the source region and the drain region, and extending to a direction substantially perpendicular to the active line, and a line-shaped common source node formed to be electrically coupled to the source region and extending substantially in parallel to the gate electrode in a space between gate electrodes. The source region and the drain region of the active line are formed of a first material and the channel region of the active line is formed of a second material being different from the first material.
US09691814B2 Chip-on-film (COF) package, COF package array including the same, and display device including the same
A chip-on-film (COF) package includes a base film, an integrated circuit chip, and a plurality of signal interconnections. The base film includes a bonding region and a non-bonding region. The integrated circuit chip is at the non-bonding region. Each of the plurality of signal interconnections is coupled to the integrated circuit chip and extend to the bonding region along a first direction. The plurality of signal interconnections are spaced from each other along a second direction substantially crossing the first direction. The plurality of signal interconnections alternate on a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface of the base film along the second direction.
US09691804B2 Image sensing device and manufacturing method thereof
Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a back side illuminated (BSI) image sensor. The back side illuminated (BSI) image sensor includes a semiconductive substrate and an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer at a front side of the semiconductive substrate. The ILD layer includes a dielectric layer over the semiconductive substrate and a contact partially buried inside the semiconductive substrate. The contact includes a silicide layer including a predetermined thickness proximately in a range from about 600 angstroms to about 1200 angstroms.
US09691802B2 Image-acquisition device
Provided is an image-acquisition device including a first image-acquisition surface including a photoelectric conversion film capable of subjecting incident light to photoelectric conversion while transmitting some of the incident light; a second image-acquisition surface including a photoelectric conversion layer that subjects the incident light transmitted by the first image-acquisition surface to photoelectric conversion; and a polarizing filter that is disposed between the two image-acquisition surfaces and that extracts polarization information from the incident light transmitted by the first image-acquisition surface.
US09691796B2 Display device
A display device is disclosed. In one aspect, the display device includes a substrate, a first signal line formed over the substrate and a first insulating layer formed over the substrate and the first signal line. The display device also includes a second signal line formed over the first insulating layer and including an overlapping area that overlaps the first signal line, a second insulating layer formed over the second signal line and having a via hole that exposes at least a part of the overlapping area. The display device further includes an auxiliary wiring layer covering the via hole and connected to the overlapping area through the via hole.
US09691791B2 Display panel and display device having the same
A display device includes: a substrate partitioned into a display area including a plurality of pixels for displaying images thereon and a non-display area around the display area; a plurality of first gate lines and a plurality of data lines extended in one direction on the display area; a plurality of pads on one side of the non-display area; a plurality of gate fan-out lines, each coupling one of the first gate lines and a corresponding one of the pads; and a plurality of data fan-out lines, each coupling one of the data lines and a corresponding one of the pads, wherein the gate fan-out lines and the data fan-out lines may be alternately disposed.
US09691790B2 Display substrate and method of manufacturing the same
A display substrate includes a gate metal pattern including a gate line on a base substrate and extending in a first direction, and a gate electrode electrically connected with the gate line, a data metal pattern on the gate metal pattern and including a data line extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, a source electrode electrically connected with the gate line and a drain electrode spaced apart from the source electrode, a first electrode pattern on the data metal pattern, a low-resistance electrode pattern on the first electrode pattern and entirely overlapping with the gate metal pattern and the data metal pattern and a second electrode pattern overlapping with the first electrode pattern.
US09691786B1 Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment includes: a first semiconductor layer; and a memory cell array on the first semiconductor layer, the memory cell array including a source line, a second semiconductor layer, and a conductive layer, those are sequentially disposed in a first direction and the memory cell array further including a third semiconductor layer which is columnar and extends in the first direction and a charge accumulation film disposed between the conductive layer and the third semiconductor layer, wherein the second semiconductor layer includes a first impurity region of a first conductivity type disposed at a position of the third semiconductor layer as viewed from the first direction and a second impurity region adjacent to the first impurity region which has a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type.
US09691781B1 Vertical resistor in 3D memory device with two-tier stack
A vertical, columnar resistor in a semiconductor device is provided, along with techniques for fabricating such a resistor. The resistor may be provided in a peripheral area of a 3D memory device which has a two-tier or other multi-tier stack of memory cells. The structure and fabrication of the resistor can be integrated with the structure and fabrication of the stack of memory cells. The resistor may comprise doped polysilicon. In an example implementation, a polysilicon pillar extends a height of a first tier of the stack and a metal pillar above the polysilicon pillar extends a height of a second tier of the stack.
US09691777B2 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first insulating film disposed on the semiconductor substrate, a first conductive film disposed on the first insulating film, a second insulating film disposed on the first conductive film, a second conductive film disposed on the second insulating film, a first electrode disposed on the first conductive film through an opening formed in the second conductive film and the second insulating film, and having a first width, a second electrode that is formed on the first electrode and having a second width, and a wiring layer that is formed on the second electrode. A first width of the first electrode is wider than a second width of the second electrode.
US09691776B2 Nonvolatile memory device
A nonvolatile memory device may include: an isolation layer formed in a substrate and defining an active region; a control plug formed over the isolation layer; a floating gate formed over the substrate and including a plurality of fingers adjacent to the control plug with a gap provided therebetween; and a charge blocking layer formed on sidewalls of the floating gate so as to fill the gap. The control plug may include: a first control plug formed between the plurality of fingers and having sidewalls facing inner walls of the fingers; and a second control plug formed outside the floating gate and having sidewalls facing outer walls of the fingers.
US09691771B2 Vanadium-containing film forming compositions and vapor deposition of vanadium-containing films
Vanadium-containing film forming compositions are disclosed, along with methods of synthesizing the same, and methods of forming Vanadium-containing films on one or more substrates via vapor deposition processes using the Vanadium-containing film forming compositions.
US09691765B1 Fin type field effect transistors with different pitches and substantially uniform fin reveal
A semiconductor device that includes a first plurality of fin structures in a first device region and a second plurality of fin structures in a second device region. The first plurality of fin structures includes adjacent fin structures separated by a lesser pitch than the adjacent fin structures in the second plurality of fin structures. At least one layer of dielectric material between adjacent fin structures, wherein a portion of the first plurality of fin structures extending above the at least one layer of dielectric material in the first device region is substantially equal to the portion of the second plurality of fin structures extending above the at least one layer of dielectric material in the second device region. Source and drain regions are present on opposing sides of a gate structure that is present on the fin structures.
US09691762B2 Transistor for amplifying a high frequency signal
A transistor includes: a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of gate electrodes, a plurality of source electrodes, and a plurality of drain electrodes on the semiconductor substrate; a drain pad on the semiconductor substrate and connected to the plurality of drain electrodes; a metal wiring on the semiconductor substrate and arranged spaced apart from, adjacent to and parallel to the drain pad; and a ground pad on the semiconductor substrate and connected to both ends of the metal wiring.
US09691759B2 Semiconductor device including semiconductor substrate, silicon carbide semiconductor layer, unit cells, source, and gate
A semiconductor device includes a first silicon carbide semiconductor layer, a source including a source pad and a source wiring, a gate including a gate pad and a gate wiring, first unit cells disposed in a first element region, and second unit cells disposed in a second element region. In a plan view, the first and second element regions are adjacent to each other with the gate wiring between the first and second element regions. A first electrode including the gate electrode of each first unit cell is disposed in the first element region and electrically connected to the gate. A second electrode including the gate electrode of each second unit cell is disposed in the second element region and not electrically connected to the gate. The first and second electrodes are separated below the gate wiring.
US09691758B1 Fin-type resistor
A semiconductor device and method for fabricating such a device are presented. The semiconductor device includes a fin extending away from a substrate, a plurality of epitaxially grown regions disposed along a top surface of the fin, and at least two contacts that provide electrical contact to the fin. The plurality of epitaxially grown regions are arranged to alternate with regions having no epitaxial material grown on the top surface of the fin. A resistance exists between the two contacts that is at least partially based on the arrangement of the plurality of epitaxially grown regions.
US09691752B1 Semiconductor device for electrostatic discharge protection and method of forming the same
An ESD protection device and a method of forming the same, the ESD device includes a substrate, a first doped well, a second doped well, a source and drain regions and a guard ring. The first doped well with a first conductive type is disposed in the substrate. The source and drain regions with the second conductive type are disposed in the first doped well. The guard ring with the first conductive type is also disposed in the first doped well and has a first portion extending along a first direction and a second portion extending along a second direction different from the first direction. The second doped well with the second conductive type is also disposed in the first doped well between the drain region and the second portion of the guard ring to in contact with the drain region in the first direction.
US09691751B2 In-situ doped polysilicon filler for trenches
A method of fabricating an integrated circuit (IC) includes etching a trench in a semiconductor substrate having an aspect ratio (AR) ≧5 and a trench depth ≧10 μm. A dielectric liner is formed along the walls of the trench to form a dielectric lined trench. In-situ doped polysilicon is deposited into the trench to form a dielectric lined polysilicon filled trench having a doped polysilicon filler therein. The doped polysilicon filler after completion of fabricating the IC is essentially polysilicon void-free and has a 25° C. sheet resistance ≦100 ohms/sq. The method can include etching an opening at a bottom of the dielectric liner before depositing the polysilicon to provide ohmic contact to the semiconductor substrate.
US09691750B2 Semiconductor device and layout method thereof
In some embodiments, a semiconductor device comprises a first active region, a second active region, and a conductive metal structure. The second active region is separate from the first active region. The conductive metal structure is arranged to connect the first active region and the second active region. The conductive metal structure includes a first leg, a second leg and a body. The second leg is separate from the first leg and a body extending between and connecting the first leg and the second leg.
US09691737B2 Semiconductor device
Provided is a semiconductor device having as many input/output pads as possible using a chip having a small number of input/output pads. The semiconductor device includes a substrate including first and second extending input/output pads, a first memory structure disposed on the substrate and including first connecting input/output pads, a second memory structure disposed on the first memory structure and including second connecting input/output pads, and a wiring structure formed on lateral surfaces of the first and second memory structures and connecting the first and second connecting input/output pads and the first and second extending input/output pads, respectively; wherein the wiring structure includes a first wiring connecting the first connecting input/output pads and the first extending input/output pad and a second wiring connecting the first connecting input/output pads and the second extending input/output pad, and the second wiring is offset relative to the first wiring.
US09691734B1 Method of forming a plurality of electronic component packages
A method of forming a plurality of electronic component packages includes attaching electronic components to a carrier, wherein high aspect ratio spaces exist between the electronic components. A dielectric sheet is laminated around the electronic components thus filling the spaces and forming a package body. The spaces are completely and reliably filled by the dielectric sheet and thus the package body has an absence of voids. Further, an upper surface of the package body is planar, i.e., has an absence of ripples or other non-uniformities. Further, lamination of the dielectric sheet is performed with a low cost lamination system.
US09691733B1 Bonded semiconductor structure and method for forming the same
A bonded semiconductor structure includes a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate includes a first interconnection structure, a first dielectric layer, and a first silicon carbon nitride (SiCN) layer sequentially stacked thereon. And at least a first conductive pad is formed in the first dielectric layer and the first SiCN layer. The second substrate includes a second interconnection structure, a second dielectric layer, and a second SiCN layer sequentially stacked thereon. And at least a second conductive pad is formed in the second dielectric layer and the second SiCN layer. The first conductive pad physically contacts the second conductive pad, and the first SiCN layer physically contacts the second SiCN layer.
US09691726B2 Methods for forming fan-out package structure
A method includes forming a first composite wafer including molding a plurality of device dies and a plurality of through-vias in a first molding material, and forming redistribution lines on opposite sides of the first molding material. The redistribution lines are inter-coupled through the plurality of through-vias. The method further includes forming a second composite wafer including stacking a plurality of dies to form a plurality of die stacks, and molding the plurality of die stacks in a second molding material. The second molding material fills gaps between the plurality of die stacks. The first composite wafer is bonded to the second composite wafer to form a third composite wafer.
US09691723B2 Connector formation methods and packaged semiconductor devices
Methods of forming connectors and packaged semiconductor devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a connector is formed by forming a first photoresist layer over an interconnect structure, and patterning the first photoresist layer with a pattern for a first portion of a connector. A first metal layer is plated through the patterned first photoresist layer to form the first portion of the connector which has a first width. A second photoresist layer is formed over the interconnect structure and the first portion of the connector. The second photoresist layer is patterned with a pattern for a second portion of the connector. A second metal layer is plated through the patterned second photoresist layer to form the second portion of the connector over the first portion of the connector. The second portion of the connector has a second width, the second width being less than the first width.
US09691722B2 Surface mount high-frequency circuit
A surface mount high-frequency circuit is configured such that a plurality of ground pads 41 and a plurality of external connection ground conductors 51 are discretely disposed to surround a signal line pad 42 and an external connection signal line conductor 52, and a plurality of interlayer connection ground conductors 31 and that a plurality of columnar ground conductors 12 are discretely disposed to surround an interlayer connection signal line conductor 32. Thus, it is possible to suppress radiation of an unnecessary signal to the outside using a simple production process that is completed by only a wafer process without separately preparing a component such as a shield cover case.
US09691719B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device is a semiconductor device in which one chip region is formed through divided exposure. An interlayer insulating film has a via and an interconnection trench in an element formation region and has a guard ring hole in a guard ring region. An interconnection conductive layer is formed in the via and the interconnection trench. A guard ring conductive layer is formed in the guard ring hole. A minimum dimension of a width of the guard ring conductive layer is greater than a minimum dimension of a width of the interconnection conductive layer in the via.
US09691713B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate having an element; a front surface electrode connected to the element; a rear surface electrode connected to the element; a protective film disposed on the front surface of the semiconductor substrate in a separation region; and a temperature sensor disposed on a front surface side of the semiconductor substrate. The front surface electrode is divided into multiple pieces along at least two directions with the protective film. The separation region includes an opposing region located between opposing sides of divided pieces of the front surface electrode adjacent to each other, and an intersection region, at which the opposing region intersects. The temperature sensor is disposed in only the opposing region.
US09691709B2 Semiconductor device security
Semiconductor device security is provided as follows. A unique identification is generated by randomly forming a plurality of defects in one or more circuit elements of the semiconductor device. This method may yield a semiconductor device which is not susceptible to being replicated or cloned.
US09691703B2 Bond pad structure with dual passivation layers
A bond pad structure with dual passivation layers is disclosed. The bond pad structure includes: a pad material layer on a first passivation layer; a protection layer on the top surface of the pad material layer; a second passivation layer covering on the first passivation layer and the protection layer; and an opening formed through the second passivation layer and the protection layer to expose the pad material layer.
US09691698B2 Method of transferring and electrically joining a high density multilevel thin film to a circuitized and flexible organic substrate and associated devices
A method is for making an electronic device and includes forming an interconnect layer stack on a sacrificial substrate and having a plurality of patterned electrical conductor layers, and a dielectric layer between adjacent patterned electrical conductor layers. The method also includes laminating and electrically joining through an intermetallic bond a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) substrate to the interconnect layer stack on a side thereof opposite the sacrificial substrate. The method further includes removing the sacrificial substrate to expose a lowermost patterned electrical conductor layer, and electrically coupling at least one first device to the lowermost patterned electrical conductor layer.
US09691697B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A terminal pressing frame of a semiconductor device is disposed so as to form a first gap partially from the bottom surface of an L-shaped leg portion of an external terminal and a second gap from an inside surface of a resin case. Adhesive spreads to the second gap and further spreads to the first gap connected to the second gap, consequent to the pressure when a metal base is assembled. The spreading of the adhesive to the first gap fixes an L-shaped leg portion of the external terminal and the terminal pressing frame to each other; and the spreading of adhesive to the second gap fixes the resin case and the terminal pressing frame to each other.
US09691694B2 Substrate comprising stacks of interconnects, interconnect on solder resist layer and interconnect on side portion of substrate
An integrated circuit device that includes a package substrate and a die coupled to the package substrate. The package substrate includes at least one dielectric layer, a first stack of first interconnects in the at least one dielectric layer, and a second interconnect formed on at least one side portion of the at least one dielectric layer. The first stack of first interconnects is configured to provide a first electrical path for a non-ground reference signal, where the first stack of first interconnects is located along at least one side of the package substrate. The second interconnect is configured to provide a second electrical path for a ground reference signal.
US09691693B2 Carrier-less silicon interposer using photo patterned polymer as substrate
A component, e.g., interposer has first and second opposite sides, conductive elements at the first side and terminals at the second side. The terminals can connect with another component, for example. A first element at the first side can comprise a first material having a thermal expansion coefficient less than 10 ppm/° C., and a second element at the second side can comprise a plurality of insulated structures separated from one another by at least one gap. Conductive structure extends through at least one insulated structure and is electrically coupled with the terminals and the conductive elements. The at least one gap can reduce mechanical stress in connections between the terminals and another component.
US09691691B2 Semiconductor package with sidewall contacting bonding tape
A semiconductor package having a structure in which a decoupling capacitor is disposed to be adjacent with a semiconductor chip using a vertical chip interconnection (VCI) to improve power integrity. The semiconductor package includes a semiconductor substrate including a first finger pad and a second finger pad, a semiconductor chip mounted on the semiconductor substrate and including a first chip pad and a second chip pad, a bonding tape electrically connecting the first finger pad and the first chip pad, and a bonding wire electrically connecting the second finger pad and the second chip pad. Here, the bonding tape is formed to make contact with a sidewall of the semiconductor chip in a vertical direction of the semiconductor chip.
US09691679B2 Method for package-on-package assembly with wire bonds to encapsulation surface
A microelectronic assembly (10) includes a substrate (12) having a first and second opposed surfaces. A microelectronic element (22) overlies the first surface and first electrically conductive elements (28) can be exposed at at least one of the first surface or second surfaces. Some of the first conductive elements (28) are electrically connected to the microelectronic element (22). Wire bonds (32) have bases (34) joined to the conductive elements (28) and end surfaces (38) remote from the substrate and the bases, each wire bond defining an edge surface (37) extending between the base and the end surface. An encapsulation layer (42) can extend from the first surface and fill spaces between the wire bonds, such that the wire bonds can be separated by the encapsulation layer. Unencapsulated portions of the wire bonds (32) are defined by at least portions of the end surfaces (38) of the wire bonds that are uncovered by the encapsulation layer (42).