US09138989B2
In a printing apparatus capable of printing the same pixel by a plurality of print elements, a print speed is increased, and further, a partial frequency of use of each of the print elements is reduced, so as to prolong the lifetime of the print head. In view of this, dithering is used as a pseudo-halftone representing method, and further, a distribution pattern for use in creating image data to be distributed to each of the plurality of print elements is switched.
US09138981B1
The invention relates to a material composition, which may be a support material, for three-dimensional (3D) inkjet printing, comprising a glycol polymer, a low molecular weight polar substance and a surface active agent. The invention further provides a method for 3D inkjet printing comprising building a 3D object in layers, wherein at least one layer comprises a model material composition and a support material composition comprising PEG and a low molecular weight polar substance, wherein the layers are solidified before deposition of subsequent layers; and wherein, after solidification, the support material composition is removed by immersion of the solidified objet with the support in a liquid composition comprising a solvent.
US09138975B2
A composite sheet material and method for forming the same is provided that includes a substrate, a matrix, and a cover sheet. The substrate has a first face surface, a second face surface, and a plurality of edges, and includes a thermoplastic material. The matrix is attached to the substrate. The matrix includes a support component having a first melting point, and a thermoplastic component having a second melting point. The second melting point is less than the first melting point. The cover sheet imparts one or more surface characteristics to the composite sheet material during thermo-pressure formation of the composite sheet material.
US09138972B2
An assembling machine for assembling an elongated module into a tubular body includes a holding assembly disposed on a base for holding the tubular body, a conveying assembly slidably connected to the base and having a cantilever for holding the elongated module and adapted to extend into the tubular body through a first opening thereof with the elongated module partially protruding from a second opening thereof, and a dispenser positioned between the cantilever and the holding assembly for dispensing adhesive on a joint surface of the elongated module. The holding assembly is adapted to drive the tubular body to move to a pressed position, so that an inner surface of the tubular body is pressed against the joint surface of the elongated module.
US09138967B2
Wood laminate articles comprising substituted cellulose ester adhesives and methods relating thereto
Wood laminates may comprise a plurality of wood substrates and an adhesive disposed between at least a portion of at least two of the wood substrates, the adhesive comprising a substituted cellulose ester that comprises a cellulose polymer backbone having an organic ester substituent and an inorganic ester substituent that comprises an inorganic, nonmetal atom selected from the group consisting of sulfur, phosphorus, boron, and chlorine. In some instances the adhesive may be substantially formaldehyde-free.
US09138966B2
The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a printed laminated glazing unit composed of two glass sheets separated by an interlayer adhesive sheet, comprising the steps consisting in screen printing, with a printing composition, at least one face of one of the sheets making up the glazing unit using a screen printing screen; and in assembling the various sheets making up the glazing unit, at least one of which has been screen printed. In this process a screen printing screen is used that comprises two superimposed fabrics, the fabric (I) intended to be placed opposite the face to be screen printed having a smaller mesh opening than the other fabric (S), the difference in mesh opening between the two fabrics lying in the range from 22 to 65 μm.
US09138965B2
As consistent with various embodiments, an electronic device includes a fibrous material having a conductive coating thereon. The conductive coating includes conductive nanoparticles coupled to fibers in the fibrous material. The structure is implemented in connection with a variety of devices, such as a capacitive device or a battery. Other embodiments are directed to forming conductive fibrous sheets, in dispersing a nanomaterial in a solution and applying the solution to a fibrous sheet, such as commercial paper, to form a conductive sheet.
US09138964B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a copper foil excellent in softening resistance performance which reduces decrease in tensile strength after heat treatment at about 350° C. to 400° C. In order to achieve the object, a surface-treated copper foil provided with a rust-proofing treatment layer on both surfaces of a copper foil in which a rust-proofing treatment layer is constituted by zinc alloy, and the either rust-proofing treatment layer is a zinc alloy layer having zinc amount of 20 mg/m2 to 1,000 mg/m2; and the copper foil contains one or two or more of small amount elements selected from carbon, sulfur, chlorine and nitrogen, and a sum amount thereof is 100 ppm or more is adopted.
US09138961B2
Highly uniform woven fibrous structures formed from fibrous tapes, wherein the tapes constitute the warp and weft tapes of a woven fabric. The individual fibrous tapes may be woven or non-woven, and may be formed as narrow tapes or may be cut from a wider fabric web.
US09138955B2
An aircraft collapsing device that collapses an aircraft fuselage inward includes: a gate-shaped shell which covers a circumference of both sides and an upper portion of a fuselage of an aircraft body from which horizontal wings and a vertical wing have been decoupled, a wedge-shaped pressing member that is mounted to an upper portion of the shell to press at least one portion of a circumference of at least one of annular frames juxtaposed in a longitudinal direction of the fuselage toward a center of the fuselage, a pair of sidewall pressing members that is mounted to both sides of the shell to press the fuselage simultaneously from two directions crossing a pressing direction of the wedge-shaped pressing member at the center of the fuselage after pressing by the wedge-shaped pressing member, and a moving unit that moves the fuselage of the aircraft and the shell relative to one another.
US09138953B2
Tread rubber is provided with a base rubber section formed by helically winding a first electrically non-conductive rubber strip, a cap rubber section formed by helically winding a second electrically non-conductive rubber strip, and a conduction section penetrating through the base rubber section and the cap rubber section and extending in the radial direction. The conduction section is composed of: a first electrically conductive winding section consisting of a first electrically conductive rubber strip which is wound within the base rubber section so as to be superposed on the first electrically non-conductive rubber strip; and a second electrically conductive winding section consisting of a second electrically conductive rubber strip which is wound within the cap rubber section so as to be superposed on the second electrically non-conductive rubber strip.
US09138950B2
A tire mold apparatus is provided along with methods of retrofitting a tire mold, such that a tire mold of the type traditionally utilized in a dome type curing press can be modified to have external steam tracings allowing the mold to be utilized in a platen press.
US09138945B2
A polymeric load carrying apparatus (10) and method of manufacture is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an outer shell composition and a filled inner core composition within the outer shell composition. The outer shell composition comprises less than 10% filler, and preferably substantially no filler, by weight, and the inner core composition comprises more than 15% filler, and preferably at least 40% filler, by weight. The filler is preferably a mineral sand.
US09138941B2
Provided is an example method of preparing a porous metal oxide structure, the method including adsorbing a metal oxide precursor onto a template having a networked structure of branched polynucleotides, decomposing and converting the adsorbed metal oxide precursor into a metal oxide, and removing the template. The networked structure of branched polynucleotides may be used as a template so as to facilitate control of the pore structure of a porous metal oxide structure.
US09138933B2
A process and apparatus for manufacturing a crystalline resin film or sheet. This manufacturing apparatus includes: an extruder that melts crystalline resin while supplying it; a gear pump that is provided on the downstream side of the extruder; a die which is provided on the downstream side of the gear pump, and which has a slit-shaped aperture; a cooling apparatus which cools film-shaped or sheet-shaped crystalline resin (A) discharged in a melted state from the die to a temperature which is not less than the crystallization temperature but not more than the melting point; and a pair of pinch rolls that press-roll between them the film-shaped or sheet-shaped crystalline resin (B) which has passed through the cooling apparatus (40), wherein the pair of guide rolls are positioned such that the thickness of the film-shaped or sheet-shaped crystalline resin (B) which has passed through the cooling apparatus is between 1.3 and 8.0 times the thickness of the film or sheet (C, D) after it has been press-rolled.
US09138932B2
A method of making a separator for an electrochemical battery cell of a lithium ion battery includes electrospinning a non-woven polymer fiber mat onto a collection face of a collector substrate. The separator may be formed entirely of the electrospun non-woven polymer fiber mat or it may be a multi-layer composite that contains other components in addition to the electrospun non-woven polymer fiber mat. The collector substrate comprises an electrode (positive or negative) optionally covered with a ceramic particle layer such that electrospinning of the non-woven polymer fiber mat forms an electrode-separator integral segment. The electrode-separator integral segment may then be assembled into an electrochemical battery cell of a lithium ion battery.
US09138926B2
An apparatus simultaneously operates all split locking nuts of an injection molding machine two-platen clamp unit to engage and disengage the split locking nuts with clamp unit strain rods. Each split locking nut has opposed pivoting nut halves operated by coupling rotation of a rotating member through a predetermined angular range to the nut halves via translating members such as push rods. The push rods are pivotably connected to the rotating member and to the nut halves so that the direction of each push rod relative to the rotating member and to the nut half changes with rotation of the rotating member. A method of molding comprises: disengaging split locking nuts from strain rods; positioning a moveable platen assembly to abut mating mold components; simultaneously operating the split locking nuts to engage the strain rods; and, applying force to the abutted mold components sufficient for injection and cure of melt.
US09138923B2
The vertical injection molding machine is provided with an electric servomotor which moves an injection drive unit up and down accompanying the rotation of a driven pulley via a ball screw mechanism, a timing belt by which the drive force of the electric servomotor is transmitted, and a driven pulley on which the timing belt is rotated, wherein an arc groove is formed on the driven pulley, and an election pin is provided which is inserted to the arc groove of the driven pulley when the timing belt is disconnected. When the election pin is inserted to the arc groove, the tip of the election pin applies pressure on an inclined portion by means of elastic force of a spring, slowing the rotational speed of the driven pulley and stopping the injection drive unit by an inner wall surface of the slowed driven pulley colliding with the ejection pin.
US09138919B2
A collapsible bladder has flexible outer walls and at least one strut inside the enclosure. The strut is connected to the outer walls and controls the shape into which the enclosure may be collapsed.
US09138918B2
The invention is directed to a patterned aerogel-based layer that serves as a mold for at least part of a microelectromechanical feature. The density of an aerogel is less than that of typical materials used in MEMS fabrication, such as poly-silicon, silicon oxide, single-crystal silicon, metals, metal alloys, and the like. Therefore, one may form structural features in an aerogel-based layer at rates significantly higher than the rates at which structural features can be formed in denser materials. The invention further includes a method of patterning an aerogel-based layer to produce such an aerogel-based mold. The invention further includes a method of fabricating a microelectromechanical feature using an aerogel-based mold. This method includes depositing a dense material layer directly onto the outline of at least part of a microelectromechanical feature that has been formed in the aerogel-based layer.
US09138908B2
A material trimmer for trimming sheet material having a blade slidingly engageable with the sheet material along a cutline and an indicator indicative of the approximate location of the cutline. The indicator provides for ready and correct orientation of the sheet material within the material trimmer. In one set of embodiments, the blade is attached to a carriage or trolley adapted for sliding translation along a portion of a guide. The guide is operatively connected to a base. The indicator is disposed in relation to a slot provided in the guide overlaying the sheet material orientated on the base. The indicator may comprise a cord operatively connected to the guide. The tension of the indicator is maintained or adjusted through manipulation of one or more tensioners operatively connected to the guide.
US09138907B2
Feather cutters are described that cut a feather shaft of a feather. One feather cutter includes a first sildable arm and a second sildable arm that move in a linear direction with respect to each other between a first position and a second position, a plurality of springs that are placed between the first sildable arm and the second sildable arm, an adjustable blade that is attached to the first sildable arm via a screw and cuts the feather shaft of the feather upon moving the first sildable arm to the second position, a shaft cylinder with two slits that is attached to the second sildable arm and the feather shaft of the feather is placed within the shaft cylinder to hold the feather shaft which is being cut with the adjustable blade in a fixed position.
US09138906B2
The invention provides a whetstone type of scoring device for production of gypsum boards which can accurately and stably form a groove of a constant depth on a sheet of paper for gypsum board liner, and which can prevent wear of a rotary blade and a backing block. The scoring device (11) for a gypsum board production machine (10) has the rotary blade (24) and the backing block (30). The sheet (3) travels under tension over the block (30), which abuts against the lower surface of the sheet. The block has an opening (32) immediately under the blade. The lower surface of the sheet is released downward by the opening. The sheet is ground by a blade edge (24a) while being slightly bent downward within a range of the opening (within an intimate contact area of an angle β).
US09138904B2
A cutting guide having a seam allowance recess and methods of cutting a piece of material with such cutting guide.
US09138903B2
Techniques involving a kicker assist mechanism and other functionality are described. In one or more implementations, the techniques describe a device that includes a lever coupled to a stop-pin and configured to cause deployment of a blade from a handle of a folding knife. The lever may be configured to pivot about the stop-pin in response to a push or pull force directed at one end of the lever and engage the blade with an opposing end of the lever with a force to cause the deployment of the blade. The blade may be configured to deploy in a pivotal movement from a closed position of the folding knife to a deployed position in response to the force employed by the opposing end of the lever.
US09138900B2
A transport configured to cooperate with a mechanical arm to pick up and place rubber plugs, includes a housing, a piston assembly received in the housing and a pickup assembly. The pickup assembly includes a guide base and a pickup member. The guide base defines a second receiving cavity. The housing also defines a first receiving cavity coupling with the second receiving cavity. A first tracheal joint and a second tracheal joint are provided on the housing. The piston assembly is slidably received in the first receiving cavity and driven by the first tracheal joint. The piston assembly defines a channel coupling with the second tracheal joint. The pickup member includes a connecting portion and an ejection portion inserting through the connecting portion. The connecting portion is received in the second receiving cavity. The ejection portion defines an air vent.
US09138897B1
Technologies pertaining to a robotic hand are described herein. A protection apparatus is positioned in a joint of the robotic hand, where movement of a link about the joint is driven by a motor. The protection apparatus absorbs torque about the joint caused by an external force. At least a portion of the robotic hand can be covered by an anthropomorphic skin. An apparatus suitable for controlling operation of the robotic hand is also described herein.
US09138896B2
A system, method, and device may include software and hardware which simplify and quicken configuration of the system for testing a device, enhance testing procedures which may be performed, and provide data via which to easily discern a cause and nature of an error which may result during testing. A camera may capture still images of a display screen of a tested device and another camera may capture video images of the tested device and a partner device. A wizard may be used to generate a configuration file based on one previously generated for a similar device. A mount for a tested device may be structured so that: it is suitable for mounting thereon a plurality of differently structured devices; and adjustments in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction in a plane and adjustments of an angle of the device relative to the plane may be easily made.
US09138893B2
A robot teaching system according to an embodiment includes a robot, a sensor, a screen generator, an adjuster, and a job generator. The sensor measures measured values relating to operations of the robot. The screen generator generates a teaching operation screen that includes guidance information intended for the teacher. The adjuster adjusts parameters for generating a job based on specified values relating to the operations of the robot and input in the teaching operation screen, and the measured values of the sensor associated with the specified values, the parameters defining an operation command including corrections of the operations of the robot. The job generator generates the job in which the parameters adjusted by the adjuster are incorporated.
US09138880B2
A screwdriver comprises a handle. A wire stripping component is arranged inside the handle; an opening corresponding to a working portion of the wire stripping component is provided on the handle. Owing to the built-in wire stripping component, the screwdriver has the wire stripping function. Also disclosed is a handle applied to the screwdriver.
US09138876B2
A torque multiplier apparatus includes an input pinion, a geared torque multiplier mechanism, and an input retainer. The input pinion and the input retainer include first and second identical connectors so that a detent stud can be positioned in either one of the first and second connectors, allowing the torque multiplier to be used for increased torque (and reduced speed) or for increased speed (and lesser torque). A related method includes engaging the driving tool with the first connector and the socket with the second connector to provide an increased torque on a socket to break loose a fastener, and flipping the torque multiplier so that the driving tool engages the second connector and the socket engages the first connector to provide an increased speed of torsional rotation to more quickly remove the fastener from the shaft. The detent stud is torsionally shearable, thus preventing over-stressing and damaging the tool.
US09138870B2
A tool has disks or ring disks arranged for metal-cutting, which are stacked on top of each other in an overlapping fashion and engage into each other at their incisions which reach from the outer circumference up to the center point of the disks or the inner circumference of the ring disks. The incisions of the directly adjacent disks or ring disks are respectively angularly offset by 360°/n, with n being the number of the disks or ring disks. A production method is also provided for such a tool, in which the disks or ring disks are incised up to the center point or inner circumference, are completely slid into each other at the incisions, folded towards one another and displaced until an angular offset of the incisions of 360°/n is produced.
US09138862B2
CMP pad dressers having leveled tips and associated methods are provided. In one aspect, for example, a method can include pressing a CMP pad dresser against a CMP pad, where the dresser includes a monolayer of a plurality of superabrasive particles protruding from a matrix layer. The difference in protrusion distance between the highest protruding tip and the second highest protruding tip of the monolayer of superabrasive particles is less than or equal to about 10 microns and the difference in protrusion distance between the highest 10 protruding tips of the monolayer of superabrasive particles are within about 20 microns or less. The method can further include rotating the dresser against the CMP pad such that asperities are cut into the CMP pad having a maximum cutting depth of about 60 microns.
US09138854B2
A polishing apparatus polishes a periphery of a substrate by bringing a polishing tool into sliding contact with the substrate. The polishing apparatus includes a substrate-holding mechanism configured to hold a substrate and rotate the substrate, a polishing mechanism configured to press a polishing tool against a periphery of the substrate so as to polish the periphery, and a periphery-supporting mechanism configured to support the periphery of the substrate by a fluid. The periphery-supporting mechanism is configured to support a surface of the substrate from an opposite side or the same side of the periphery of the substrate.
US09138842B2
A pneumatic impact tool includes a housing, a power output unit, a transmission unit, and an oil seal assembly. The housing has first and second accommodating chambers, and first and second oil inlets in fluid communication with the first and second accommodating chambers, respectively, and permitting lubricating oil to be fed into the first and second accommodating chambers therethrough. The power output unit is centered at a Z-axis, and is disposed in the first accommodating chamber for power outputting. The transmission unit is centered at an X-axis, and is disposed in the second accommodating chamber for transmitting a power to the power output unit. The oil seal assembly prevents flow of the lubricating oil out of the first and second accommodating chambers.
US09138839B2
A support ring (12) and a piston ring (11) that are arranged in a peripheral groove (20) provided on a piston body (15), the axial width of the peripheral groove (20) being greater than the total axial width of the support ring (12) and of the piston ring (11), and the support ring (12) is arranged radially inwardly at a distance from the piston body (15), and the support ring (12) is relief-milled from the piston body (15) as an unbroken ring.
US09138837B2
A method of manufacturing a bearing ring of a rolling bearing includes a process of forming a bearing ring material in which a raceway groove is formed, a process of performing form rolling so as to form surface textures in axially opposite end portions of the raceway groove, a heat treatment process, a grinding process, and a super-finishing process.
US09138833B2
Disclosed is an aluminum alloy brazing sheet for heat exchanger which excels in resistance to corrosion from its inside and simultaneously attains satisfactory erosion resistance and high strength. This includes a core material of an Al alloy containing predetermined amounts of Si, Mn, Cu, Mg, and Ti; a clad material of an Al alloy containing predetermined amounts of Si, Mn, and Zn, having a predetermined thickness, and lying on one side of the core material so as to constitute an inner side of a tube member of the heat exchanger; and a filler material of an Al alloy containing a predetermined amount of Si, having a predetermined thickness, and lying on the other side of the core material so as to constitute an outer side of the tube member. The crystal grain size of the core material after brazing under specific conditions is 50 μm or more but less than 300 μm in a rolling direction.
US09138832B2
A hard composite composition may comprise a binder and a polymodal blend of matrix powder. The polymodal blend of matrix powder may have at least one first local maxima at a particle size of about 0.5 nm to about 30 μm, at least one second local maxima at a particle size of about 200 μm to about 10 mm, and at least one local minima between a particle size of about 30 μm to about 200 μm that has a value that is less than the first local maxima.
US09138830B2
A method for producing a fastening device, in which a head part and a shaft part are joined, is disclosed.
US09138827B2
A method of laser welding is disclosed. The method may be performed after an upper steel plate and a lower steel plate are overlapped. The method may include: forming a molten pool at the upper steel plate and the lower steel plate and welding the upper steel plate and the lower steel plate by irradiating a laser beam of focal region to a welding portion of the upper steel plate and the lower steel plate along a main welding pattern; and melting a peripheral portion of a keyhole formed at an end of the main welding pattern and welding the upper steel plate and the lower steel plate by irradiating the laser beam of the focal region along a fine welding pattern added to an end portion of the main welding pattern.
US09138820B2
A wire aspiration device includes a first member having a first curved surface with a projected portion that is in close contact with peripheral surfaces of first and second recovery rollers on one side, a second member having a second curved surface with a projected portion that is in close contact with the peripheral surfaces of the first and second recovery rollers on the other side, and a third member having a through hole formed in a central portion thereof to cause the ejected wire electrode to run in the wire-electrode recovering direction and coupling the first and second members to form two grooves between the first and second curved surfaces to be in contact with the through hole, wherein a fluid spout for spouting a fluid into the through hole in the recovering direction is formed in any of the first, second, and third members.
US09138818B2
A device and associated system for threading, cutting, and reaming pipe ends are described. The device and system utilizes a brushless DC electric motor. The devices also include on-board electronics and operator interface(s) to provide sophisticated control and information as to the various operations. Also described are methods of operating the devices and several different modes for performing various operations.
US09138802B2
A forging press device for valve including an upsetter in which a plurality of primary forming stages are provided, a forging press main body adjacent to the upsetter, that secondarily forms a primary formed workpiece, and a workpiece conveyance/carry-in device which grips and conveys the workpiece, to carry it into the forging press main body, the device in which the workpiece conveyance/carry-in device is composed of a high speed multi jointed robot capable of circling around a vertical shaft, which has an arm (a chuck) gripping the workpiece. In accordance with the invention, it is possible to provide a forging press device for valve in which the number of deliveries of workpiece from the upsetter to the forging press main body is decreased, which speeds up a valve forging line, and improves the production efficiency.
US09138801B2
Disclosed herein is a method of making a spring core (12) for a bedding or seating product (10). The spring core (12) has coil springs (26) having unknotted end turns (72, 74) made from high tensile strength wire. In each embodiment, the end turns (72, 74) of the coil springs (26) are generally U-shaped having one arcuate leg (76) longer than the other (78), the legs (76, 78) being joined by a connector (80) having an arcuate bump (81) therein. The springs (26) are oriented in the spring core (12) such that a long leg (76) of one end turn (72) abuts a short leg (78) of the adjacent end turn (72) prior to being wrapped in helical lacing wire (32). The high tensile wire enables the coil springs (26) to be manufactured using less wire than heretofore possible.
US09138800B2
A safety wire plier includes a pair of plier arms with each of the arms including a jaw end and a handle. The plier arms of the safety wire plier are pivotally connected to each other for movement in either an open or closed position. The safety wire plier also includes a sealed lock for releasably locking the safety wire plier in the closed position.
US09138798B2
The present invention relates to a baguette tray used in baking baguettes and to a method for manufacturing the same. More specifically, the invention relates to a baguette tray and a method for manufacturing the same, the baguette tray comprising: a body; a pair of first side surface parts which are bent and extend from the left and right sides of the body and are opposite to each other; and a pair of second side surface parts which are bent and extend from the front and rear sides of the body and are bent and extend from one side of the pair of first side surface parts, wherein the body includes a plurality of accommodation parts which are formed in parallel to the first side surface parts for accommodating flour dough, and a boundary part formed between the accommodation parts. The duration for manufacturing the baguette tray can be shortened, and the loss of material for manufacturing the baguette tray can be reduced. In addition, the baguette tray is convenient to use, can prevent accidental injuries during use, and has improved durability.
US09138794B2
A press machine includes a lifting mechanism that selectively lowers and lifts a die on a movable side. The lifting mechanism includes a motor driven lifting unit using a servomotor as a drive source thereof, and a hydraulically driven lifting unit using a hydraulic actuator as a drive source thereof. The lifting mechanism is controlled so as to enable the motor driven lifting unit to move the die on the movable side from a standby position to a drive system changeover position immediately before a press start position at which the die on the movable side starts contacting a workpiece to be processed and so as to enable the hydraulically driven lifting unit to move the die on the movable side from the drive system changeover position to a top dead center position.
US09138787B1
A system and method for de-gassing, neutralizing, and decontaminating various equipment with a clean hydrocarbon-free chemical solution such that maintenance of various equipment may begin sooner.
US09138781B1
A system for cutting a workpiece into one or more portions or final pieces, and then transferring the final pieces to a receiving location, includes a conveyor configured to support and advance workpiece, as well as a cutter configured to cut the workpiece into the final pieces. At least one fluid nozzle is positioned relative to the conveyor and selectively activatable to discharge a stream of fluid at a predetermined location(s) on the final piece, thereby to propel the final piece from the conveyor to a receiving location. A controller activates the nozzle to direct the fluid stream at the target position(s) on the final pieces.
US09138775B2
A method for preparing an article having an uneven microstructure on a surface thereof, including coating a surface of a mold having an uneven microstructure formed from an anodized alumina oxide on a surface with a release treatment solution including a mold release agent that includes one or more kinds of phosphoric ester compound and the pH of the aqueous solution when extracted with 50 mL of water with respect to 1 g of the mold release agent is 3.0 or more; and interposing an active energy ray curable resin composition including a polymerizable compound, a polymerization initiator, and an internal release agent between the mold and the substrate, and curing the active energy ray curable resin composition by the irradiation with active energy rays to form a cured resin layer having the uneven microstructure transferred on a surface of the substrate.
US09138770B2
A device for dyeing columnar objects rotates the columnar object as they brush past an endless, absorbent, dye-carrying belt. The colored dye from the belt rubs off onto the columnar object, providing an even and consistent coating of dye.
US09138763B2
A fluid pump control that allows for both flow control and pressure control to allow greater flexibility in applying architectural coatings.
US09138756B2
A showerhead or hand shower with spray outlet openings and “x” (x>1) valves that control the inflow of a fluid to the spray outlet openings, wherein each valve can be activated independently of the other valves and comprises a movable valve body by means of which at least a first and a second valve position are realized, and for each of the “x” valves, a pushbutton is arranged to control it, wherein a displacement of the associated valve body takes place upon actuation of one or more pushbuttons, a control element is provided via which, when the same pushbutton or the same pushbuttons are actuated, the position of the associated valve body in the second valve position is secured and/or all other valve bodies whose associated pushbutton is not actuated are reset to the first valve position.
US09138754B2
A new firefighting nozzle has a base nozzle with one size or type of orifice and one or more auxiliary nozzles with a different size or type of orifice that a firefighter can easily see. A firefighter can swing the auxiliary nozzle into series with the base nozzle to change the flow. A springy element biases a locking element on the auxiliary nozzle from a retracted position toward an extended position in which it locks the auxiliary nozzle in place.
US09138750B2
The present invention is directed to a spray apparatus and methods for the separation of plant embryos.
US09138749B2
A method for processing a supply of post consumer scrap linear low density or low density polyethylene film into near-virgin quality blown film product. The method includes tearing the supply of film in a shredder, wherein the surface area of the film is exposed, including delaminating the film. The torn supply of film is washed in a water bath including a surfactant. The film is agitated in the bath containing the surfactant wherein contaminants on the film are removed from the film. The washed film is ground into smaller pieces and additional washing of the ground film in a rotating friction washer and a sink float tank occurs wherein additional contaminants are removed from the film. The ground film is then dried and compacted without addition of water into granulated objects of near-virgin quality blown film product.
US09138746B2
A test cartridge includes an input channel to receive a liquid sample to be tested. A sample chamber is coupled to the input channel to receive the sample. An air permeable membrane is coupled between the sample chamber and ambient to prevent passage of the sample past the membrane and stop movement of the sample in the sample chamber.
US09138738B1
A process for regenerating a catalyst used in a reaction zone. In a regeneration zone, the catalyst may be cooled before passing into a chloride rich zone. The regeneration zone may also receive a heated ambient oxygen in a catalyst heating zone. The regeneration zone may also receive recovered chloride from a chloride recovering zone which removes and recovers chloride from regeneration gas taken from the regeneration zone. Heated ambient oxygen may also be introduced into a chlorination zone.
US09138731B2
An extruded honeycomb catalyst for nitrogen oxide reduction according to the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) method in exhaust gases from motor vehicles includes an extruded active carrier in honeycomb form having a first SCR catalytically active component and with a plurality of channels through which the exhaust gas flows during operation, and a washcoat coating having a second SCR catalytically active component being applied to the extruded body, wherein the first SCR catalytically active component and the second SCR catalytically active component are each independently one of: (i) vanadium catalyst with vanadium as catalytically active component; (ii) mixed-oxide catalyst with one or more oxides, in particular those of transition metals or lanthanides as catalytically active component; and (iii) an Fe- or a Cu-zeolite catalyst.
US09138729B2
The invention relates to a catalyst molded body for preparing maleic anhydride by gas-phase oxidation of a hydrocarbon having at least four carbon atoms using a catalytically active composition contains vanadium, phosphorus and oxygen, where the shaped catalyst body has an essentially cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis, wherein the cylindrical body has at least two parallel internal holes which are essentially parallel to the cylinder axis of the body and go right through the body. The catalyst molded body has a large outer surface area, a lower pressure loss and sufficient mechanical stability.
US09138706B2
An apparatus and method for adding an alkali metal promoter into steam and contacting the solution with a dehydrogenation catalyst during a dehydrogenation reaction is disclosed. The apparatus has a first conduit capable of transporting an alkali metal salt solution and a second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit, the second conduit capable of transporting steam so that the alkali metal salt is dissipated into the steam prior to entry into a dehydrogenation reaction zone.
US09138702B2
A system and method for custom coloring sealant is generally provided with one or more dispensing cartridges, containing a quantity of low viscosity sealant base solution, which in some embodiments is as fluid, or more-so, as common latex paint. One or more such dispensing cartridges are secured within a cartridge case. A coloring agent is added to the dispensing cartridge. The system may then be agitated by hand or in a mechanical agitator, such as a commercial paint shaker, until a desired color is attained. The sealant thickener may then be added and mixed by similar agitation of the system to obtain a non-sag, high viscosity sealant. Embodiments of the cartridge case are provided for use with various mechanical agitators and dispensing cartridges.
US09138700B2
The invention may provide a microfluidic mixer having a droplet generator and a droplet mixer in selective fluid connection with the droplet generator. The droplet generator comprises first and second fluid chambers that are structured to be filled with respective first and second fluids that can each be held in isolation for a selectable period of time. The first and second fluid chambers are further structured to be reconfigured into a single combined chamber to allow the first and second fluids in the first and second fluid chambers to come into fluid contact with each other in the combined chamber for a selectable period of time prior to being brought into the droplet mixer.
US09138689B2
An electrical purification apparatus and methods of making same are disclosed. The electrical purification apparatus may provide for increases in operation efficiencies, for example, with respect to current efficiencies and membrane utilization.
US09138679B2
Abatement systems are used to remove harmful pollutants resulting from manufacturing processes. Prior art abatement systems can dangerously back-flash due to, for example, changes in gas velocity and if the inlets become constricted due to clogs. To prevent back-flash a sprayer is introduced to an inlet of the abatement system. The sprayer sprays a volume of a cooling liquid, such as water, into the inlet. In the event of a back-flash, the liquid can extinguish the flame, preventing further damage to the abatement system. The sprayed liquid can provide further benefits, such as cooling the incoming, mitigating effects of reactions within the cooling gases, and flushing away solid particles that would otherwise clog the inlet. These further benefits can allow the abatement system to safely handle additional gases and larger volumes of incoming gas.
US09138675B2
A process of producing degassed liquid sulfur using process gas containing H2S to agitate the liquid sulfur being degassed while in contact with a degassing catalyst. Process gas is less costly and less complicated and quickly accomplishes substantial degassing rendering the liquid sulfur much safer in storage and transportation.
US09138662B2
A chromatography column and method of maintenance is described which does not require the use of a hoist or crane for disassembly. The method provides improved operator safety by reducing the need for the operator to work below a suspended or supported load within the column. Furthermore, the removal or replacement of column components is facilitated by providing access to the interior of the column and by the provision of a handling device.
US09138661B2
A chromatography column and method of maintenance is described which does not require the use of a hoist or crane for disassembly. The method provides improved operator safety by reducing the need for the operator to work below a suspended or supported load within the column. Furthermore, the removal or replacement of column components is facilitated by providing access to the interior of the column and by the provision of a handling device.
US09138659B2
The present invention generally relates to compositions, methods, and systems relating to controlled crystallization and/or nucleation of a molecular species. In some embodiments, the crystallization and/or nucleation of the molecular species may be controlled by tuning the surface chemistry and/or the morphology of a crystallization substrate. In some embodiments, the molecular species is a small organic molecule (e.g., pharmaceutically active agent).
US09138658B2
The invention concerns the control of solvent systems in processes and apparatus for the separation of aromatic hydrocarbons from non-aromatic hydrocarbons in liquid-liquid extraction, extractive distillation, and the combination thereof.
US09138651B2
A universal game pedal controller and method of emulating the output of multiple game pedal controllers in a universal game pedal controller are disclosed. A universal game pedal controller according to the present invention provides a microcontroller-based interface board for mapping the inputs from multiple pedal sensors to analog outputs of a primary game controller interface having a common adapter cable port, and adapter cables configured to connect the interface board to different primary game controllers. A USB interface may also be provided, permitting connection of the universal game pedal controller to a personal computer. The method provides for calibration of the input signals to the full range of the outputs, whether analog or digital, for increased accuracy and responsiveness.
US09138650B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a portable wireless tracking device for tracking a participant as part of an interactive entertainment experience carried out within a wireless-compatible entertainment facility. The tracking device includes multiple wireless transceivers for providing both short-range and medium-range wireless communications with one or more wireless-compatible devices. Multiple fixed transceivers and associated effects are distributed throughout the entertainment facility and are able to communicate with the tracking device and exchange tracking information pertinent to the entertainment experience. The tracking information is reported to a central server which creates a stored database record of the participant's movements and activities within the entertainment facility. This information is then used to adjust the entertainment experience for each participant based on “knowing” where the participant has been, what objectives have been accomplished, and how many points or levels have been reached.
US09138643B2
The present invention relates to an online flash game system and method, a flash game web page providing method, a web server for providing web pages for flash game execution, and a storage medium for recording method programs. When a flash game execution is selected, a skin flash module performs a skin flash, which is a frame on a flash game screen, on a user terminal screen, and controls a UI flash module and a game contents flash module. The skin flash module displays the skin flash, which is a frame on the flash game screen, on the user terminal screen, and controls the UI flash module and the game contents flash module.
US09138641B2
Systems and methods for manipulating an object include a display for displaying an object where the object has a geometric shape and is arranged in a first orientation of the geometric shape. The display also displays at least a second orientation of the geometric shape in proximity to the object. The system includes a user interface for receiving a user input to select the second orientation of the geometric shape. A processor, in communication with the display and user interface, determines one or more possible orientations of the object including the second orientation and arranges the orientation of the geometric shape of the object to match the selected second orientation.
US09138640B2
One example embodiment includes an electronic device gaming system. The electronic device gaming system includes a case configured to receive an electronic device. The electronic device gaming system also includes an input device. The input device is releasably attached to the case and configured to connect electronically to the electronic device.
US09138635B1
A mechanical shuffling apparatus is disclosed having a mechanism for delivering a single card through a horizontally disposed slot such that mechanical damage to the card is minimized and adequate shuffling of a deck of cards is achieved. The horizontally disposed slot is sized to receive a single card and can be adjusted or calibrated by card manufacturer or type. Additionally, the mechanical shuffler has a weight to flatten cards disposed on a horizontal plane. By keeping cards flat and minimizing mechanical damage to the card the mechanical shuffler disclosed herein also avoids delays and damage caused by jamming.
US09138632B2
A wheeled sport apparatus may comprise a platform and first and second sets of wheels disposed on the platform. Each set of wheels may include a center wheel between two outboard wheels and the outboard wheels may be toed outward for defining a turning radius. One or more carrier wheels may be provided between the first and second sets of wheels.
US09138629B2
A sports board has a board body having a top surface and an opposed bottom surface, a binding attachment structure formed on or in the board body, and a plurality of ribs collectively having longitudinal portions and transverse portions each having a thickness and a height that are predetermined to provide the sports board with a preselected longitudinal, transverse, and torsional stiffness desirable for sliding on the snow.
US09138628B2
The present disclosure includes a binding apparatus for use on a splitboard. The binding apparatus may be used to change the splitboard between a snowboard for riding downhill in a ride mode and touring skis for climbing up a hill in a tour mode. The binding apparatus can include at least one board joining device. The binding apparatus can also include a binding interface configured to receive a boot and selectively attach to a ride mode interface in a snowboard configuration and to a tour mode interface in a ski configuration.
US09138624B2
A golf glove magnetic attachment adaptor has a magnetic body and a male snap stud. The magnetic body includes a magnet and a magnet casing; the magnet casing having an end wall, a lateral wall, and an end cap. The magnet is positioned within the magnet casing and allows the golf glove magnetic attachment adaptor to be attached to any substantially ferrous metal object. The male snap stud is centrally connected to the magnet casing opposite the magnet and allows the golf glove magnetic attachment adaptor to be attached to a female snap socket of a golf glove. In turn, the golf glove can be attached to any desired metal object. The golf glove magnetic attachment adaptor also functions as a ball marker when detached from the golf glove by depressing the male snap stud into the ground in order to anchor the magnetic body in place.
US09138621B2
A golf club head with a face insert that is only partially connected to the body of the golf club head is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a golf club head with a face insert wherein the face insert is only connected to the body of the golf club head at specific engagement portions around the perimeter of the face insert while keeping the remainder of the perimeter unengaged. The golf club head disclosed in accordance with the present invention will allow for removal of excessive weight traditionally needed to connect the face insert to the body of the golf club head, therefore improving the performance of the golf club head.
US09138619B2
A golf club head includes: a face portion; a crown portion, furrows being formed on an interior surface of at least a part of the crown part in a mesh-like pattern; a side portion; a sole portion, at least a front part of the sole portion being made of metal, and furrows being formed on an interior surface of at least a part of the front part in a mesh-like pattern; and a hosel portion.
US09138611B2
A selectorized dumbbell has a plurality of nested weights which each have a box-shaped configuration comprising spaced left and right weight plates joined by planar, substantially imperforate, front and rear walls. The front and rear walls of the nested weights are very thin in comparison to the weight plates, extend over substantially the full height of the weight plates, and are joined to the weight plates along substantially their entire height. A selector comprises a pair of connecting members that coact between a handle of the dumbbell and upper portions of the front and rear walls of the nested weights to select a desired number of the weights for use with the handle depending upon the selected positions of the connecting members.
US09138610B2
Exercise equipment comprising a grippable handle at which said exercise equipment can be lifted by a user, and at least one docking assembly connected to the grippable handle. The docking assembly has opposing arms that define a slot in which at least one weight plate can be removably mounted. At least one locking member is located on the docking assembly to capture and/or lock at one weight plate to the docking assembly once received in the slot.
US09138605B2
A method of using a residential fire protection sprinkler. The method includes providing a fluid supply conduit extending along a ceiling, having a pitch up to 12/12, at a predetermined distance relative to the ceiling and connected to a source of fluid having a predetermined source pressure. The method also includes connecting at least two residential fire protection sprinklers to the fluid supply conduit such that the sprinklers are spaced at least eight feet (8′) apart from one another, wherein the sprinklers have a K-factor of at least 2.8. A residential fire protection sprinkler system is also provided. The system includes a fluid supply conduit extending along a ceiling, having a pitch of up to 12/12, at a predetermined distance relative to the ceiling and connected to a source of fluid having a predetermined source pressure. The system also includes at least two residential fire protection sprinklers connected to the fluid supply conduit such that the sprinklers are at least eight feet apart from one another, wherein the sprinklers have a K-factor of at least 2.8.
US09138601B2
Disclosed is a method capable of improving the skin regeneration effect of medicinal materials through double boiling using an earthenware pot. The method shows an excellent skin regeneration effect, and the extract of medicinal materials obtained therethrough can be variously applied in the fields of cosmetics, health foods or medicine.
US09138599B2
Disclosed are waving compositions for waving of keratinous fibers, such as hair, containing a) a bisulfite compound, b) a sulfate compound or urea, and c) a lactone or about 0.3% or greater, by weight, of ascorbic acid or a derivative thereof, based on the total weight of the composition and methods of waving keratinous fibers by applying such compositions to keratinous fibers. Also disclosed is a multi-unit cosmetic kit for treating a keratinous fiber containing a) a first unit containing a first composition containing a bisulfite compound and a sulfate compound or urea, and b) a second unit containing a second composition containing a lactone or ascorbic acid or a derivative thereof.
US09138597B2
A method, computer program product and processor for quantitatively registering a 2D endoscopic ROI in a 3D volumetric imaging dataset. An endoscopic dataset and a volumetric imaging are registered to a common coordinate system. A 2D endoscopic ROI is generated within the endoscopic imaging dataset. A 3D surface ROI is generated within the volumetric imaging dataset corresponding to the 2D endoscopic ROI, based on a projection of the 2D endoscopic ROI to the registered common coordinate system.
US09138593B2
The light capsule object of the present invention is an ingestible device designed to illuminate the gastric cavity of the stomach for therapeutic purposes directed against Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria. It comprises: a casing transparent to visible light, in turn containing punctiform light sources, preferably constituted by LEDs, positioned immediately under said casing and capable of emitting light at appropriate wavelength bands (preferably 405 nm and 630 nm); a battery, adapted to power the LED sources for approximately 20-30 minutes (the average transit time in the stomach); a switch which allows a delayed power on and allows the tablet to be still “off” when it is swallowed. The light emitted by the capsule strikes the H. pylori bacteria anchored on the gastric wall. The light radiation is preferentially absorbed by molecules of porphyrin produced by the bacterium which works as photosensitizing agent by inducing the formation of cytotoxic molecular species.
US09138590B2
A CRM system enhances intracardiac electrogram-based arrhythmia detection using a wireless electrocardiogram (ECG), which is a signal sensed with implantable electrodes and approximating a surface ECG. In one embodiment, an intracardiac electrogram allows for detection of an arrhythmia, and the wireless ECG allows for classification of the detected arrhythmia by locating its origin. In another embodiment, the wireless ECG is sensed as a substitute signal for the intracardiac electrogram when the sensing of the intracardiac electrogram becomes unreliable. In another embodiment, a cardiac signal needed for a particular purpose is selected from one or more intracardiac electrograms and one or more wireless ECGs based on a desirable signal quality. In another embodiment, intracardiac electrogram-based arrhythmia detection and wireless ECG-based arrhythmia detection confirm with each other before indicating a detection of arrhythmia of a certain type.
US09138588B2
Medical devices provide a connector enclosure that includes a feedthrough integrated into the base of the connector enclosure. The feedthrough may include feedthrough passageways that align longitudinally with lead connectors of the connector enclosure where feedthrough pins extend from the lead connectors through the feedthrough passageways. The feedthrough may also include filter plates mounted to the base of the connector enclosure to provide an integrated filtered feedthrough. Additionally, the connector enclosure may include metallic features such as the base and one or more walls that define an enclosure of the lead connectors. The base may be bonded to the can of the medical device to provide a hermetic seal such that the feedthrough integrated into the base eliminates the need for a feedthrough for the can.
US09138583B2
Systems and methods for optimizing the stimulation of a heart of a patient are disclosed herein. The method comprises delivering pacing therapy to the patient according to a pacing therapy setting schedule, using specific pacing intervals via specific electrode configurations. Further, sinus rate values are recorded over at least one cardiac cycle at each pacing therapy setting and it is determined whether a sinus rate value satisfies predetermined measurement conditions, wherein sinus rate values are used for trending the sinus rate over time if the measurement conditions are satisfied. The accepted sinus rate values, i.e. values that satisfy the measurement conditions, are trended over time, wherein each trended sinus rate value is created based on recordings from at least one cardiac cycle. A preferred pacing therapy setting is determined to be the pacing therapy setting that provides a lowest sinus rate.
US09138572B2
A medical valve has an open mode that permits fluid flow, and a closed mode that prevents fluid flow. To that end, the medical valve has a housing having an inlet and an outlet, and a resilient member within the housing. The resilient member has a body portion with a free state when undeformed by external mechanical forces and a deformed state when the valve is in the closed mode. The body portion is formed to return toward the free state as the valve transitions from the closed mode to the open mode and defining at least part of a fluid path through the valve.
US09138569B2
Medical devices which are adapted to be inserted into a patient for a limited period of time using minimally invasive insertion procedures for dilating a stenotic opening, such as a stenotic sinus opening, are provided. The devices and methods can be used for treating sinusitis and other nasal and/or sinus disorders.
US09138568B2
An apparatus capable of generating flow in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt systems by vibrating the shunt, tubing or shunt valve dome, or applying cyclical pressure to the various parts of the shunt system. A method of generating flow and method of using the apparatus in shunt patency assessment, for example, hydraulic resistance assessment, is also disclosed. The apparatus allows, in conjunction with a thermal dilution method or radionuclide method, a quick CSF shunt patency assessment based upon CSF shunt resistance and not upon CSF flow or intracranial pressure (ICP) separately. This provides a more objective measure of shunt obstruction compared to other methods. Furthermore, the apparatus can be used to enhance flow in shunts, identify partial occlusion before symptoms occur, differentiate between patent, partially-occluded and occluded shunts. The apparatus can be used to generate flow in shunts if there is a need to lower ICP or move drugs administered via an injection chamber or a shunt dome.
US09138562B2
A percutaneous delivery system with a high degree of flexibility is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a catheter having a portion comprising multiple segments, linked in series by at least one connecting wire. Joints between the multiple segments provide a high degree of flexibility. In some embodiments, only a distal portion is made up of segments. In other embodiments, the whole length of the catheter is made up of segments. Manipulation of the at least one connecting wire enables manipulation of the segments to flex a portion of the catheter. In one aspect, the invention provides a delivery system that reduces the impact of the delivery system on the final release position of the implant delivered. The delivery system can be used to deploy and/or retrieve implantable medical devices, for example, patent foramen ovale (PFO) occluder.
US09138554B2
A patient interface device (2) includes a coupling (4) structured to receive and distribute a flow of breathing gas (100), and a nasal component (6) extending outwardly from the coupling. The nasal component includes a single sealing element (8) structured to engage and seal only one of the two nostrils (306, 308) of a nose (304) of a patient (300). A method of fitting the patient interface device includes receiving the aforementioned patient interface device, and engaging and sealing a single nostril of the patient's nose with the single sealing element.
US09138550B2
A non-heating tobacco flavor suction device (1) comprises a suction holder (2) with a suction path defined inside and a filler (8) arranged in the suction path. The filler (8) is formed of tobacco particles. The suction path and the filler (8) arranged therein provide a ventilation resistance of between about 40 and about 80 mmAq in cooperation with each other.
US09138545B2
A needle retraction apparatus for a medical device such as a liquid infusion or collection device, the apparatus having a body, a needle retraction mechanism seated inside the body, a transverse slide member with an external needle retraction chamber, and a retraction actuator that is rotatable relative to the slide member, the retraction actuator being attachable to or made as part of the liquid infusion or collection device, whereby rotation of the device causes the slide member to move in a linear translational direction to reposition the retraction chamber in alignment with the needle retraction mechanism and allow retraction.
US09138541B2
A dose setting mechanism for a drug delivery device is disclosed. The mechanism comprises an outer housing (17) and an inner housing (5) having an external groove (30; 31). The inner housing guides a driver (7, 9) having either a blocking or locking member (11; 11′) disposed inside the driver that can lock a flexible tab (21) to an internal groove during dose delivery in the inner housing such that the driver follows the path of the groove and to advance a spindle to move a cartridge bung. A dial sleeve (3) is disposed between the outer and inner housing and is rotatably engaged with the inner housing.
US09138538B2
A needle-free injector device comprising a latch having a safe position which disables the triggering of the device, and a ready position which restrains movement of a dispensing member but enables triggering and a triggered position which permits movement of the dispensing member is disclosed. An additional safety mechanism blocks the triggering of the device until removed. A cap is provided to maintain the sterility and stability of the drug formulation and is configured such that the cap removal is required prior to placing the device in a ready to trigger state.
US09138528B2
An access disconnection system includes a blood treatment machine including a housing, an access site detection housing separate from the blood treatment machine housing, a transmitter positioned in the access site housing and configured to transmit an ultrasound wave into a blood stream of a patient, a receiver positioned in the access site housing and configured to receive a reflection of the ultrasound wave from the blood stream of the patient; and electronic circuitry in communication with the transmitter and the receiver. The electronic circuitry is supported by the access site detection housing, and the transmitter is configured to send a wireless disconnection output to the blood treatment machine. The disconnection output is indicative of a change in the reflected ultrasound wave received by the receiver sufficient to expect that an access disconnection of one of the arterial line and the venous line has occurred.
US09138527B2
A retrograde flow system is configured for treating an artery. The system includes an arterial access device adapted to be introduced into an artery and receive blood flow from the artery. A shunt fluidly is connected to the arterial access device, wherein the shunt provides a pathway for blood to flow from the arterial access device to a return site. A flow control assembly is coupled to the shunt and is adapted to regulate blood flow through the shunt between at least a first blood flow state and at least a second blood flow state. A shut-off valve assembly automatically blocks fluid flow through the shunt in response to injection of the fluid into the arterial access device.
US09138516B2
In an apparatus for recognizing couplings between a first and a second component of a system, one of the two components is provided with an identification unit. A checking unit is operatively connected to the second component. The identification unit contains an item of information relating to the first component. The checking unit is designed for recognizing and processing this item of information. The checking unit moreover is designed such that, as a function of a result of the processing of the item of information, it allows or prevents coupling between the first and the second component. This apparatus enables a combined use of system components only in the case of an admissible coupling thereof.
US09138515B2
The illustrative embodiments described herein are directed to an apparatus and method for managing reduced pressure at a tissue site. The apparatus includes a reduced pressure source that generates reduced pressure. The reduced pressure is delivered to the tissue site via a delivery tube. The apparatus includes a single pressure sensor. The single pressure sensor detects an actual reduced pressure at the tissue site. The apparatus also includes a controller. The controller determines a responsiveness of the actual reduced pressure measured by the single pressure sensor to an increase in reduced pressure generated by the reduced pressure source. The apparatus includes an indicator. The indicator emits a signal when the controller determines that the actual reduced pressure measured by the single pressure sensor is nonresponsive to the increase in reduced pressure generated by the reduced pressure source.
US09138513B2
Method are disclosed for local and systemic administration HDL, recombinant HDL or HDLm for the prevention, treatment, or amelioration of a vascular disorder, disease or occlusion such as restenosis or vulnerable plaque.
US09138510B2
A sterilized ready-to-use catheter includes a package, a catheter having a hydrophilic coating, and an aqueous solution in contact with the catheter inside of the package.
US09138507B2
A method for manufacturing an implant material includes preparing a base material for implant, removing moisture from a chamber in which the base material is placed, and introducing material gas as a carbon source and a silicon source into the chamber after the removal of the moisture to form a carbon thin film containing a C—C component in which carbon atoms are bonded, and a SiC component in which carbon and silicon atoms are bonded on a surface of the base material by ionized deposition.
US09138504B2
The present invention relates to a novel plasma driven catalyst apparatus for disinfecting and purifying air. The apparatus has a synergistically favorable effect from plasma and catalyst on high disinfecting and purifying efficiency and efficacy, low by-product formation, and low energy consumption. The plasma combined with catalyst enhances the production of new active species, increases the oxidizing power of the plasma discharge, as well as activate the catalyst that additionally contributes towards the disinfection and purification process and the elimination of toxic by-products.
US09138497B2
A method of presterilizing an aseptic tank and connecting conduits involves pumping a certain amount of cold water into the tank and the conduits which is caused to pass through a heat exchanger. In the heat exchanger, the water is heated to 120-150° C., whereafter the water is pumped across the tank and conduits during 10-20 minutes.
US09138492B2
Provided is a particle which can stably hold a dye in itself even in an aqueous solution such as serum, in order to solve such a problem of a particle containing ICG, which has been conventionally used in a contrast agent or the like, that the ICG is a dye having a hydrophilic functional group and hence the ICG leaks out of the particle in an aqueous solution such as serum. More specifically, provided is a particle including a hydrophobic dye having a cyanine structure, in which the hydrophobic dye is represented by the following chemical formula (1).
US09138491B2
The present invention relates to a nano-composite containing anionic and cationic polymers and a method for preparing thereof, and more particularly to a poly-gamma-glutamic acid (γ-PGA)/chitosan/manganese iron oxide nanoparticle composite prepared by encapsulating iron oxide-based nanoparticles in a γ-PGA/chitosan polymer composite using the ionic self-assembly properties of poly-gamma-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) and chitosan, which are biocompatible polymer materials, and to a method for preparing thereof.The present invention provides a magnetic resonance imaging nano-contrast agent based on a nanoparticle composite including iron oxide-based nanoparticles encapsulated in a self-assembled composite of anionic poly-gamma-glutamic acid (γPGA) and cationic chitosan. The iron oxide-based nanoparticles encapsulated in the composite interact with each other to produce a synergistic effect on the amplification of magnetic resonance signals, and thus have an relatively excellent contrast effect compared to when they exist as single particles.
US09138487B2
The invention relates to a method for obtaining membrane vesicles enriched in membrane transport proteins of plant origin, for cosmetic or therapeutic use, which can contain other substances, such as natural bioactive compounds. Preferably, said vesicles are obtained from plants of the Brassicaceae (cruciferae) family. In addition, the invention relates to a method for increasing these proteins of plant origin.
US09138464B2
The present invention relates to compositions for delivering nitric oxide (NO) to cells using heme proteins as carriers. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to the use of MalPEG surface modified hemoglobin to deliver NO to cells.
US09138450B2
The present invention provides methods for treating constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome comprising administering to a patient in need thereof, a polymeric proanthocyanidin composition from a Croton species or Calophyllum species in an amount sufficient to treat constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (c-IBS). Treatment of c-IBS includes the treatment of the constipation component of c-IBS as well as the pain and abdominal discomfort associated with c-IBS. In one embodiment, the polymeric proanthocyanidin compound is crofelemer. The present invention in an alternative embodiment also provides methods for treating alternating constipation-predominant/diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.
US09138446B2
Compositions comprising emu oil as a vehicle for the delivery of other active ingredients for the treatment of cosmetic and other skin imperfections such as acne, wrinkles, and hair loss are disclosed. Methods of treating cosmetic and other skin imperfections using the compositions are also disclosed.
US09138441B2
Methods and compositions for treating inflammatory bowel disease involve the use of targeted antibiotics in combination with probiotic formulations. The probiotics mitigate many of the deleterious side effects associated with antibiotic use and permit the antibiotic to be administered at a higher dose and for a longer duration than would otherwise be possible in the absence of the probiotic. The practice of the invention may reduce or eliminate the use of immunosuppressants in the treatment and management of IBD.
US09138424B2
Disclosed are methods and compositions for treating subjects with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS). Specifically disclosed are methods for using Indomethacin or Acemetacin to treat subjects with CdLS. Also disclosed are methods for identifying compounds beneficial for the treatment of CdLS using an assay based on the expression of NIPBL or NIPBL homologous or orthologous genes. Also disclosed is a method of identifying compounds beneficial for the treatment of CdLS based on administering a test compound to Drosophila lava with reduced expression of Nipbl, and determining the normalization of CdLS phenotypes.
US09138421B2
Disclosed are a class of platinum compounds with a leaving group of malonic acid derivatives containing amino and alkylamino, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, their preparation methods and pharmaceutical composites comprising them. Disclosed also are for the uses of the compounds in the treatment of cell proliferative diseases, particularly for the treatment of cancers. The present platinum compounds have high water solubility and low toxicity.
US09138419B2
The problem of the present invention is to provide a patch preparation containing a drug (excluding 2-(4-ethyl-1-piperazinyl)-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-5,6,7,8,9,10-hexahydrocycloocta[b]pyridine and a physiologically acceptable acid addition salt thereof), which is superior in both the skin permeability of a drug, and adhesiveness in the presence of water.A patch preparation containing a support and an adhesive layer on one surface of the support, wherein the adhesive layer contains a drug excluding 2-(4-ethyl-1-piperazinyl)-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-5,6,7,8,9,10-hexahydrocycloocta[b]pyridine and a physiologically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, an acrylic polymer, lactic acid and magnesium aluminometasilicate.
US09138412B2
The present invention provides a suitable technique namely wet milling and the process for reducing the particle size of efavirenz and making a tablet or capsule formulation with desired bioavailability equivalent to the reference listed drug without loosing its characteristics.
US09138410B2
Compositions for nasal administration, which comprise a pharmaceutical, a physiologically active peptide, or a peptide-related compound, and as the carrier thereof, crystalline cellulose with a specific particle diameter and/or partially pregelatinized starch are provided. Such compositions improve the in vivo absorption efficiency of pharmaceuticals.
US09138404B2
Methods of treating at least one condition chosen from pain, inflammation, and fever in a critically ill patient in need thereof, comprising administering to the critically ill patient an intravenous pharmaceutical composition comprising ibuprofen using a first dosage regimen, wherein the first dosage regimen produces a first pharmacokinetic profile in critically ill patients that is about equivalent to a second pharmacokinetic profile produced by administration of the intravenous pharmaceutical composition using a second dosage regimen of ibuprofen to non-critically ill patients, wherein the at least one condition of the critically ill patient is thereby treated.
US09138402B2
The present invention discloses compositions of liquid and gel formulation containing aripiprazole in the form of a patch for transdermal delivery.
US09138398B2
Compositions are disclosed comprising novel fluorinated cationic alcohols in a cosmetically acceptable vehicle. The fluorinated compounds alter a surface property of the hair to provide hair conditioning, for example. In embodiments, the compounds have improved water solubility and deposition properties.
US09138392B2
Provided is a nontherapeutic cosmetic process for depigmenting, lightening and/or whitening keratin materials applying an effective amount of at least one compound of formula (I): or a tautomer thereof of formula (I′): to a keratin material, where the structural variables are as defined herein.
US09138390B2
The present invention discloses petrolatum based composition containing silicone oils which are structured with specific blend and ratio of fatty acids.
US09138385B2
The invention relates to microemulsions which comprise, as oil phase, a polysiloxane containing at least one quaternary ammonium group, methods for production thereof and also to the use of such microemulsions.
US09138381B2
Process for producing composite materials by reactive spray-drying, where a liquid phase A, which comprises inorganic cations, and a liquid phase B, which comprises anions which, with the inorganic cations, form a salt that is insoluble in the mixture of the liquid phases are sprayed together using at least one multi-substance nozzle, and where at least one hydrophobic active ingredient is present in dissolved form in at least one liquid spraying phase, and where the salt formed from the cations of phase A and the anions of phase B has a solubility of less than 0.02 mol/l in the neutral aqueous medium.
US09138380B2
A package has a transport/storage state for storing powdery material which is to be mixed with a solvent to form a medical solution. The package includes a compartment which is at least partially defined by two opposing wall portions, and a connector. In the transport/storage state, the compartment contains the powdery material in the form of at least two distinct sets of powdery material of different compositions, where the opposing wall portions are brought into engagement with the powdery material so as to immobilize the sets of powdery material. When used for preparation of the medical solution, a fluid is selectively admitted into the package via the connector so as to expand the compartment and enable mixing of the sets of powdery material with the solvent in the compartment.
US09138374B2
Various embodiments of irrigation fluid collection basins are disclosed. The basin is configured for irrigation of a wound or fracture generally located on a portion of the human anatomy, such as a knee, shin, calf, elbow, or otherwise. The basin can include two recesses located on opposite sides of the basin along an upper periphery of the basin. The recesses are configured to receive the portion of the human anatomy (e.g., a leg) at two regions proximal to the location of the wound or fracture, so that the wound or fracture is located over the cavity of the basin. The recesses can be sized so that one is broader than the other, the broader recess configured to comfortably accommodate a larger region of the leg and the other recess configured to comfortably accommodate a smaller region of the leg.
US09138370B2
The adjustable massage apparatus has a massage effect of which is based on the suction effect created in connection with the treatment head of the apparatus. The treatment head of the apparatus has a surface which comes into contact with the skin, a frame, and a low-pressure chamber, associated with the surface for creating a low-pressure suction in order to lift the skin. The apparatus has a sensor for measuring characteristics of skin tissue, and elements to automatically adjust the low-pressure suction to the desired value, on the basis of the obtained measurements.
US09138369B1
A system for enhancing user mobility can include a support member configured to engage a posterior region of a user and a mast coupled to the support member. The mast can be at least partially lifted and repositioned when the user's weight is shifted to a mobile leg of the user, thereby allowing the user to relocate the mast according to an intended direction of movement. The mast is further configured to receive a force exerted on the support member by the user when the weight of the user is shifted away from the mobile leg of the user, thereby enabling the mobile leg of the user to move from a first location to a second location while the weight of the user is shifted from the mobile leg of the user to the mast via the support member.
US09138365B2
A patient protective system that preferably includes at least an adjustable bed providing a bed frame, and a side rail in sliding communication with the bed frame and a mattress supported by the bed frame. The patient protective system further preferably includes a side impact absorbing pad supported by the mattress and in contact adjacency with the side rail a patient access flap secured to the side impact absorbing pad and attached to the mattress, and a patient head entrapment impediment secured to the side impact absorbing pad and the mattress.
US09138349B2
A laser device, in particular for ophthalmological laser surgery, comprising a laser source (14) for providing laser radiation, controllable scan components (20) for setting a focus position of the laser radiation, measuring components (30) for registering information that is representative of an actual position of the radiation focus, and also a control arrangement (22) controlling the laser source and the scan components. In accordance with the invention, the control arrangement has been set up to bring about the implementation of a test-mode operation of at least some of the scan components with the laser source turned off, in accordance with a predetermined test scan pattern, the test scan pattern defining at least one scan path for the radiation focus, and the control arrangement having been set up to bring about, during a scan movement along the scan path, repeatedly in succession a registration of the actual focus position without stopping the scan movement, and to ascertain a desired focus position, assigned to each registered actual focus position.
US09138342B2
This invention provides an oral apparatus and method capable of alleviating or curing snore and obstructive sleep apnea by applying a negative pressure through a mini oral interface to the oral cavity. The mini oral interface creates a secure connection to mouth and prevents disengaging from patient's mouth during sleeping. The negative pressure pulls the tongue toward upper palate and also pulls the soft palate forward as well. By moving the tongue and the soft tissue in a forward direction, the patency of the upper airway near the pharynx is maintained to prevent sleep-disordered breathing. The negative pressure will pull the lips inward to close the mouth preventing air from entering the oral cavity from atmosphere. The negative pressure will also pull the soft palate into contact with the rear surface of the tongue to create a seal that prevents the air from entering the oral cavity through the nasal airway.
US09138339B2
An apparatus for gripping a tool shaft includes a tubular handle having an opening for receiving a tool shaft; an air bladder disposed within the tubular handle for selectively constricting the opening; and a valve in pneumatic communication with the air bladder for inflating the air bladder, thereby causing the air bladder to grip a tool shaft inserted therethrough.
US09138334B2
A medical device with a radially compressible and expandable lattice structure (10) contains at least one closed cell (15) delimited in each case by four webs (11, 12, 13, 14) coupled to one another in one piece, of which at least one web (11, 12, 13, 14) is embodied as a stabilisation web (11, 13) with a first web width b1 and at least two further webs (11, 12, 13, 14) are embodied as connecting webs (12, 14) with a second web width b2, wherein the connecting webs (12, 14) are arranged inside the cell (15) so that they lie parallel opposite one another and are connected to one another by the stabilisation webs (11, 13) and wherein the ratio b1/b2 between the first web width b1 and the second web width b2 is at least 1.2.
US09138317B2
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for enhancing bone or soft tissue regeneration are provided. For example, a conduit, having one or more segments, can originate at a tissue regeneration site and can have a first opening to promote physiological signals to enter the conduit and transit to a second opening that penetrates a histologically rich source of multipotent mesenchymal cells, promoting the multipotent mesenchymal cells to produce tissue regeneration response products, the response products transiting through the second opening to egress at the first opening of the conduit, and promoting tissue regeneration at the tissue regeneration site. Transit of the physiological signals and the tissue regeneration response products is promoted through physical and/or chemical means, as is promotion of the anatomical functionality of the regenerated tissue. For example, a number of the segments of the conduit can be formed at least partially from an osteoceramic material.
US09138311B2
A soft prosthetic implant shell, such as a silicone breast implant shell, that has discrete fixation surfaces thereon for tissue adhesion. The fixation surfaces may be provided on the posterior face of the shell, as well as either on the periphery or at discrete areas on the anterior face. Band-shaped fixation surfaces may be provided on the anterior face of the shell to generally match the angle of pectoralis major or pectoralis minor muscle groups. The fixation surfaces may be roughened areas of the shell, or may be separate elements adhered to the shell.
US09138306B2
A detachment and retrieval mechanism for a central venous access filter includes a catheter body, and an outer sheath concentrically disposed about the catheter body. The outer sheath and the catheter body are moveable relative to one another. A filter member includes a first end coupled to the catheter body and a second end movable relative to the catheter body. The first end may have a collar that is immovably coupled to the catheter body in a first state and movably coupled to the catheter body upon transition to a second state.
US09138305B2
In one embodiment, an implant includes a support member defining an opening and a strap being configured to extend through the opening defined by the support member. The strap includes a first retention member and a second retention member. The first retention member is configured to engage the support member to couple the strap to the support member. The second retention member being configured to engage bodily tissue of a patient to couple the strap to the bodily tissue. In another embodiment, an implant includes a support member defining an opening and a strap defining an opening. The strap is configured to be coupled to the support member and to bodily tissue of a patient. The strap is configured to extend through the opening defined by the support member and the opening defined by the strap.
US09138304B2
New chewing-actuated teeth cleaning techniques are provided. In some aspects of the invention, a device with bite-actuated cleaning features is provided, which may comprise, tooth-guiding channels and variable openings enabling the variable bite-actuated application of a dentifrice for bite-actuated scrubbing. In further aspects, internal springs and the tension of surrounding material drive bite actuation of protrusions. In other aspects, intermediate antechambers, and/or interstitial fluid, gel or other medium, aid in enabling re-sealing an inner chamber following penetration of the CleanChew. This aspect may also be applied to a variety of related arts, including but not limited to pneumatic tires, to aid in remediating gas or fluid leaks from piercing.
US09138302B2
A method of making a dental workpiece is provided. The method comprises the steps of suspending machining of the workpiece, exposing the workpiece to a first air jet; and causing relative movement between the first air jet and the workpiece under numeric control. The method may facilitate manufacturing of dental workpieces.
US09138276B2
A system for spinal surgery includes a prosthesis comprising a plurality of bone anchors which engage an intervertebral construct for fusion or motion preservation. The fusion construct comprises a spacer optionally encircled by a jacket. The motion preservation construct may comprise an articulating disc assembly or an elastomeric disc assembly. Any of the constructs may occupy the intervertebral disc space between adjacent vertebrae after removal of an intervertebral disc. The anchors slidingly engage the construct to securely fix the prosthesis to the vertebrae. The anchors and jacket of the fusion construct provide a continuous load path across opposite sides of the prosthesis so as to resist antagonistic motions of the spine.
US09138272B2
An assembly for surgically treating a chest-wall deformity may include an implantable stabilizer member, an implantable pectus bar and an implantable stopping member. The implantable stabilizer member may include first and second base parts and a channel defined by the first and second base parts. The stabilizer member may include first and second retaining bars extending between the first and second base parts and traversing the channel. The first and second base parts may be adapted to be secured to tissue of the chest wall. The implantable pectus bar may be receivable within the channel of the stabilizer member. The implantable stopping member may be adapted to be engaged with the pectus bar between the first and second retaining bars after the pectus bar is inserted into the channel to restrict movement of the pectus bar relative to the tissue.
US09138264B2
A laminoplasty rod and rod system that allows for variable angulation, translation (distraction and/or compression) and rotation of a spinal lamina bone portion associated with a laminoplasty. The laminoplasty rod is used with a polyaxial spinal rod bone screw assembly anchored to the vertebra associated with the laminoplasty, and is attachable to the spinal lamina bone portion. The laminoplasty rod system provides positional attachment of the rod to the spinal components and fixation thereof in various orientations. The laminoplasty rod system includes a configured laminoplasty rod that fits into or onto the head of a polyaxial spinal rod bone screw assembly. A bone screw boss, defining a bone screw attachment configuration, is formed at one end of the laminoplasty rod. Preferably, but not necessarily, the bone screw boss is situated at an angled end of the rod having a pre-defined bend that provides for greater variation in rod orientation.
US09138263B2
An improved flexible component used for dynamic stabilization of spinal segments for the treatment of vertebrae deformities and injuries and for the replacement of a complete or segment of the body of a vertebra in the spine is described. The flexible component is comprised of a solid, suitable implant material with a longitudinal bore the entire length and an appropriately formed slot which extends spirally around the shaft either continuously or segmentally. The flexible component may be encapsulated, fully or partially, in a suitable implant grade elastomeric resilient material. When used for a dynamic stabilization device, the component is attached to the vertebral bodies by pedicle screws know to those in the art. When used as a vertebral replacement device, attached to the component's opposite ends are members for attachment to the adjacent vertebra that allow for height and angular adjustment.
US09138262B2
The present invention generally is directed toward a spinal fixation system whereby a coupling element allows the physician to selectively lock or unlock either the connection between the coupling element and a fastener, such as to allow for repositioning of the coupling element, or the connection between the coupling element and an elongate rod. The locking or unlocking of these connections may be made independently and as desired by the physician.
US09138253B2
An assembly and method for percutaneous placement of a catheter comprising an elongated hollow catheter having a distal end and a reduced cross-section portion at a proximal end thereof. An introducer needle is slidably mounted over said catheter. The introducer needle has an elongated slit adapted to slide over the reduced cross-section portion to separate the needle from the catheter. A syringe may be attached to the proximal end of the catheter. Also, a valve may be attached to the catheter to permit easy collection of fluid.
US09138252B2
An access device places a medical article within a body space of a patient. The device has a needle that includes an elongated body and a needle hub. The device further includes a dilator and a medical article. A track can extend in a proximal direction from the dilator. The needle hub can slide along at least a portion of the track between a first position and a second position. The device can further include a locking mechanism operably disposed between the track and the needle hub so as to inhibit further axial movement of the needle in the proximal direction when the needle hub is in the second position. The device can further include a guidewire that can bend such that the guidewire can both pass through the needle hub at one end and attach to the needle hub at another end.
US09138244B2
A system, devices and methods are provided for facilitating stabilization of periarticular fractures. The system includes a compression plate and one or more of a cerclage cable for encircling the bone and securing the compression plate to the bone, a crimp lug for securing the cable in tension relative to the bone and/or a plate, and a supplemental plate coupled to the compression plate and adapted to receive bicortical or unicortical bone screws to further secure the compression plate relative to the bone. In addition, the system includes a cable tensioner for temporarily retaining the cable in tension and then applying a tension to the cable until a desired compression is effected between a plate and bone and while a cable retaining structure is secured to the cable to retain the applied tension on the cable. Also provided is a jig for use with plates for minimally invasive fracture stabilization.
US09138241B2
Methods and apparatus provide for modifying a patient's femur to receive a patellofemoral prosthesis, including: a distal punch, an anterior punch and a trochlear punch which are used in well defined orientations to remove material from the femur to accommodate complex geometries of a patellofemoral prosthesis; and optionally a guide operating to engage a distal end of the femur, the guide including a distal slot, an anterior slot and a transverse slot, which ensure that the punches achieve the desired orientations.
US09138237B2
A total joint instrument set according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a guide assembly that orients a cut in a first bone and a linkage guide that orients a cut in a second bone. A positioning of the linkage guide is mechanically linked to at least a portion of the guide assembly.
US09138230B1
An AV fistula between first and second blood vessels is created by forming a hole through adjacent walls of the vessels and inserting a welding catheter into the first vessel, and through the hole into the second vessel, so that a distal end of the catheter is disposed within the second vessel. A portion of wall defining the welding catheter is then expanded radially outwardly, and the expanded wall portion is pulled proximally to engage the wall of the second blood vessel and to pull it toward the wall of the first blood vessel. A portion of wall proximal to the first expanded wall portion and disposed in the first blood vessel is expanded radially outwardly, thereby capturing the walls of each of the second and first blood vessels between the two expanded wall portions. Cutting elements are energized to create a tissue welded elongate aperture between the blood vessels.
US09138213B2
The disclosure is directed to a heart occlusion device and a method for occluding an aperture defect in a heart. The heart occlusion device includes two separate wires 12, 14. Each wire forms geometric shapes that together form a distal plate and a proximal plate. The first plate is disposed in a first plane. The second plate is disposed in a second plane that is parallel to and remote from the first plane. The distal plate and the proximal plate are separated by a self-centering waist. The proximal plate is attached to a hub. A similar hub is optional on the distal plate. The plates further include coverings which form a sealant to occlude an aperture in a tissue. The wires forming the plates have a shape-memory capability such that they can be collapsed and distorted in a catheter during delivery but resume and maintain their intended shape after delivery.
US09138210B2
A fistula cleaning and repairing device comprises a device for cleaning a fistula and a device for repairing a fistula. Some versions of the device for cleaning a fistula comprise a rotary device with ah head configured to debride a fistula. Some versions of the device for cleaning comprise an abrasive catheter. Some versions of the device for cleaning comprise a plurality of abrasive beads. Some versions of the device for repairing a fistula comprise an implantable stent. Some versions of the device for repairing a fistula comprise an implantable mesh. Some versions of the device for repairing a fistula comprise a swab configured to deliver a medical fluid.
US09138206B2
In a device for tissue extraction from a breast, a needle mount accommodating a biopsy needle can be placed by a connection element such that no regions of the breast that are to be examined by x-rays are occluded by parts of the device during an x-ray image acquisition.
US09138205B2
Disclosed herein is a sample recovery and collection device comprising a tube, a cap, an insert, and an opening. The cap includes an O-ring and is removably secured to the tube for sealing the tube. The insert includes a first end having a ring that is adhered to the tube and second end opposite the first end. The insert also includes a first leg, a second leg, and a third leg, each coupled to and extending from the ring to the second end. The opening extends from the ring to the second end and the insert defines a diameter. Also disclosed herein is a kit comprising the sample recovery and collection device. Further disclosed herein is a method of collecting a sample from a subject.
US09138201B2
An ultrasonic probe for supporting spine surgery serving as a tissue insertion type ultrasonic probe comprises an insertion unit and an operation unit. On a front end portion of the insertion unit, a tactile member and a transducer unit are provided. The insertion unit comprises a pipe, and a sheath tube provided outside of the pipe. An FPC board serving as a line sheet is provided in the pipe. The FPC board is inserted in a rounded shape similar to a tube along an inner wall surface of the pipe. A large number of signal lines are formed on the FPC board through printing. A ground cable is provided in an inside space of the FPC board. In the operation unit, a rear end portion of the FPC board and a front end portion of another FPC board are connected by thermo compression bonding.
US09138191B1
An integrated circuit (IC) module with a lead frame micro-needle for a medical device, and methods of forming the IC module are described. The methods include forming a lead frame blank including a micro-needle integrally formed therein. The micro-needle may be bent beyond an initial lower side of the lead frame blank. The initial lower side may be joined with a protection layer such that the bent micro-needle is embedded in the protection layer, which may be removably attached to the initial lower side and the bent micro-needle. An IC component may be affixed to an upper side of the lead frame blank. The IC component and an upper surface of a core of the lead frame blank may be encapsulated with a molding compound forming a packaging of the IC module. Removal of the protection layer may expose the bent micro-needle projecting away from the packaging.
US09138189B1
An earplug to be worn in the ear canal of a person has a thermochromic probe and stem portion that continuously monitors the core body temperature of the wearer and changes color reversibly upon detection of temperatures above or below a temperature range considered to be normal for tympanic temperature to visually indicate to the wearer or an observer that the wearer has an unsafe core body temperature. The earplug has an outer body formed of a soft resilient material configured to conform to the generally conical interior profile of the ear canal and become resiliently and removably engaged therein when pressed into the canal. The probe has a head portion and a radial flange configured to permit a desired insertion distance such that, when properly inserted, the head portion is near, but not in contact, with the tympanic membrane and engaged on the conical wall of the ear canal.
US09138186B2
Systems and methods for automated on-boarding of a new-hire are provided. A sensor may monitor a response of the new-hire. A reference index may correlate the response to a known condition. A processor device may detect the known condition or a threshold number of known conditions. The processor may relate the known condition to feedback. A feedback mechanism may provide the feedback to the new-hire. The feedback may be provided based on the known condition. The feedback may be configured to provide the new-hire with directions, a policy reminder or any other suitable information. The feedback may be based on the threshold number.
US09138184B2
A contact activated incision device, comprises a housing defining a cavity, and a longitudinal axis extends between a proximal end and a distal end of the housing. A slider is slidable with respect to the housing along the longitudinal axis and at least partially positioned outside of the housing. A roller is mounted on the housing and rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A blade assembly is mounted on the roller and has a blade, wherein the blade is movable from a retracted position to an extended position and to a final position, at the retracted position the blade is positioned in the cavity, at the extended position the blade extends at least partially beyond the proximal end of the housing, and at the final position the blade is positioned in the cavity.
US09138181B2
Medical sensors configured to provide enhanced patient comfort when worn over a period of time are provided. The medical sensors may include a first padding layer and a second padding layer disposed on either side of an emitter and a detector for measuring a physiological parameter of a patient. The medical sensors may also include an island padding layer secured to a patient-facing side of the second padding layer for reducing localized pressure points that may be caused by protrusions of the sensor. Additionally or alternatively, certain edges of the sensors may be rounded and/or stepped to reduce marking on the patient's tissue and to reduce strain and shear forces produced on the patient's tissue. Still further, certain embodiments provide enhanced light transmission between the emitter and detector of the sensors.
US09138178B2
A system and method are provided for capturing hearing characteristics from self-administered hearing tests or from professionally administered hearing tests, including loudness tolerance levels as at different sound frequencies, as an individualized audiological profile for automatically enhancing audio to complement and address as closely as possible an individual's hearing deficits. The user may self-administer a hearing test on a convenient personal apparatus, such as a smartphone. The system includes the ability for capturing an environment profile. The user's hearing is protected against harm in the enhanced audio setting while being provided with the option of a “enhanced hearing” experience. The invention is useful for any individual seeking an enhanced hearing experience, whether having hearing within normal range or hearing that is impaired. Thus the system is useful as a hearing aid.
US09138176B2
A biological information measuring device includes a finger insertion part; a first light source which emits, to the finger insertion part, first light; a second light source which emits, to the finger insertion part, second light; and a first light-receiving unit which receives first reception light which is the first light transmitted through the finger or reflected from the finger. A second light-receiving unit receives second reception light which is the second light transmitted through the finger or reflected from the finger; a calculating unit measures a vein pattern of the user based on the first reception light, and measures biological data of the user based on the second reception light; and a transmitting and receiving unit transmits, to an external server, a measurement result of the vein pattern and a measurement result of the biological data.
US09138171B2
A system and method for detecting swallowing activity is provided. In an embodiment, a method includes receiving an electronic signal from an acceleronic signal from an accelerometer that represents swallowing activity, extracting at least two features from the signal, classifying the signal as a type of swallowing activity based on the extracted features, and generating an output of the classification. Exemplary activities include swallows, aspirations, movement and vocal artifacts. By indicating whether an activity is a swallow or an aspiration, the manner in which a patient afflicted with an increased likelihood for aspirations is fed can be adjusted to increase the likelihood of achieving a swallow instead of an aspiration during feeding. In turn this could reduce hospitalizations for aspiration pneumonia in patients with acute or chronic injury.
US09138167B1
An acoustic means for rendering key respiratory measurements accessible to hand-held mobile digital devices with audio input capabilities (such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants, mobile gaming platforms, and tablets). One or more embodiments comprise: a compact and portable whistle (101) that encodes a user's expiratory airflow rate as audio frequency, and a software process with local or remote access to mobile-device audio that decodes said audio frequency to regain expiratory airflow rate and derive key respiratory measurements, so that these measurements and related information may conveniently be made available to the user (100) and the user's health network of family members (103) and physicians (104). Embodiments enable leveraging the ubiquity and extensive capabilities of hand-held mobile digital devices, while simultaneously simplifying requirements for a dedicated spirometry device.
US09138166B2
Systems and methods for integrating and/or registering a shape sensing fiber in or to various instruments are described herein. Registration fixtures and registration techniques for matching the coordinate system of a fiber to the coordinate system of an elongate instrument or other device are provided. Various systems and methods for integrating a shape sensing fiber into an elongate instrument or other device are also described herein.
US09138157B2
A method and medical device for monitoring cardiac function in a patient that includes a plurality of electrodes to deliver cardiac pacing therapy, and a processor configured to determine a pacing threshold in response to initial delivery of the pacing therapy, determine whether there is a change in the pacing threshold during initial delivery of the pacing therapy, adjust a delivery parameter of the pacing therapy in response to determining the change in the pacing threshold during initial delivery of the pacing therapy, determine whether there is an increase in the pacing threshold during delivery of the adjusted pacing therapy, and determine hypokalemia in response to the increase in the pacing threshold during delivery of the adjusted pacing therapy being present.
US09138156B2
A magnetic imaging systems produces magnetic magnitude images using magnetic sensors capable of determining only the absolute value of a detected magnetic field and provide no information regarding the positive or negative sign of the detected magnetic image. A 2D dipole location is determines the 2D location of a dipole within a magnetic magnitude image by finding the minimum of the derivative of the absolute value of the magnetic field. This 2D dipole location is then used to determine the 3D position and momentum of a current dipole responsible for the observed magnetic magnitude image. The current dipole is used to generate a magnetic image that incorporate positive and negative sign information.
US09138148B2
A method for performing elastographic deformation mapping of tissues and plaques comprises: introducing a distal portion of a catheter to an interior of an interior body of a patient; applying, from a palpator in the distal portion, one of a directed fluid or a mechanical indenter to produce a surface-applied palpation force to a target area of the interior body to mechanically displace the interior body and cause elastographic deformation of the target area of one or more surface and subsurface tissues and plaques; and directing and delivering an OCT (optical coherence tomography) beam, from an OCT imaging sensor in the distal portion, for OCT deformation detection including elastographic deformation measurement to provide elastographic mapping of the target area.
US09138141B2
An ophthalmologic apparatus includes an irradiation optical system configured to guide light emitted from a light source to the subject's eye, a control unit configured to sweep a wavelength of light emitted from the light source, an imaging optical system configured to guide to an imaging unit a return beam from the subject's eye of light swept by the control unit, a tomographic image acquisition unit configured to acquire a tomographic image of the subject's eye based on an output from the imaging unit, a fundus image acquisition unit configured to acquire a fundus image of the subject's eye, and a display control unit configured to display the fundus image on a first area in a display unit and display the tomographic image on a second display area which is positioned above or below the first area and is wider in a horizontal direction as compared to the first area.
US09138139B2
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan data of a subject is acquired over a region of interest which can include an optic disc or a macula of a retina. Layer boundaries of retinal layers are identified in the OCT scan data to facilitate measurements. In one aspect, a measurement related to ratio value between a total backscattered signal intensity of one or more target layers of the retina and a total backscattered signal intensity of one or more reference layers is computed on a location-by-location basis within a region of interest of the OCT scan data. Measurements can be collected, aggregated, analyzed, and displayed in connection with other information taken or derived from the OCT scan data.
US09138129B2
A medical robotic system includes articulated instruments extending out of a distal end of an entry guide. Prior to pivoting the entry guide to re-orient it and the instruments, the instruments are moved in tandem back towards the entry guide. Haptic cues and velocity limits are provided to assist the operator in the retraction of the instruments. After retraction, the entry guide may then be pivoted without concern that the instruments will harm patient anatomy. The movement of the instruments in tandem back towards the entry guide may also occur through coupled control modes while the entry guide is held in a fixed position and orientation.
US09138128B2
A medical instrument includes a handle, on which at least one electric switch is arranged. The switch has an annular mechanical actuation unit whose outer side forms a grip surface running peripherally of the handle.
US09138126B2
A conduit for a dishwashing appliance that is height adjustable and can accommodate different vertical positions of a rack assembly. One end of the conduit moves up and down with the rack assembly while maintaining a connection with e.g., a spray arm assembly suspended from the bottom of the rack assembly. The other end of the conduit remains in a relatively fixed vertical position during height adjustments so as to enable connection and reconnection at the fixed position of a main fluid supply conduit.
US09138123B2
A dishwasher comprising liquid lines that guide washing liquor towards spray devices arranged inside a washing receptacle. In an exemplary embodiment, the dishwasher includes a switch-over element, upon actuation of which, the washing liquor may be guided to a first liquid line leading to a first spray device, and/or to a second liquid line leading to a second spray device. The dishwasher may include at least one supplementary filter associated with the switch-over element.
US09138121B2
A scraper attachment for mounting onto sponges used in cleaning applications is described. The inventive attachment comprises a leading scraping edge, a serrated raised edge, a debris catch, finger grips and side flaps formed integrally as a single piece of material. A support rod integral a side flap of the inventive scraper attachment is pierced through the body of a sponge for securely mounting the inventive attachment on a sponge to by fastening to the opposite side flap. The inventive scraper attachment can be easily dismounted from the sponge for reuse and cleaning, and be used independently with any brand of sponge. The serrated raised edge serves to help break up stubborn deposits, while the debris catch collects the loosened material for convenient cleaning. Additionally, a liquid soap or detergent dispensing means is included to infuse liquid soap or detergent into the sponge.
US09138116B2
A movement operation system for autonomous moving cleaning apparatus comprises a virtual wall apparatus and an autonomous moving cleaning apparatus. The virtual wall apparatus includes an infrared ray emitter. The autonomous moving cleaning apparatus includes an infrared ray receiver and a microcontroller unit. The infrared ray emitter emits at least one encrypted infrared signal within an emission zone. When the autonomous moving cleaning apparatus enters the emission zone and the infrared ray receiver receives the encrypted infrared signal, the microcontroller unit controls the autonomous moving cleaning apparatus to move away from the virtual wall apparatus. The encrypted infrared signal can be encrypted in different codes or operating frequencies to prevent the autonomous moving cleaning apparatus from being interfered by external lights or other infrared rays so that it can operate steadily.
US09138114B2
An upright surface cleaning apparatus comprises a support structure moveably connected to a surface cleaning head and a surface cleaning unit that is detachably connected to the support structure. The surface cleaning unit is selectively connectable to the surface cleaning head by an airflow conduit. The airflow conduit can be detached from the surface cleaning head and attached to a cleaning wand or second surface cleaning head. The cleaning wand may be bendable.
US09138112B2
A toilet seat assembly has a user operated cleaning feature in the form of a mechanism that includes a plurality of discharge ports formed within a toilet seat cover and being open along the bottom surface of the toilet seat cover. The mechanism also includes a manually operated actuator that is accessible along one surface of the toilet seat cover and a reservoir for containing a sanitizing agent. The actuator is operably coupled to the reservoir and operable to drive the sanitizing agent from the reservoir and out of the discharge ports so as to allow sanitizing agent to be delivered to the top surface of the toilet seat when the actuator is operated with the seat cover in the closed position.
US09138100B2
An igniter for solid cooking fuels includes a heat chamber and a heat gun manifold. The heat gun manifold includes a manifold flange with a first hole, the manifold flange attached to a bottom of the heat chamber, and a manifold tube received within the first hole. A top of the manifold tube received at least partially within the heat chamber. A heat gun may be removably coupled to a bottom of the manifold tube with the heat gun in fluid communication with the heat chamber. An upper handle may be attached to an outer surface of the heat chamber with a heat shield between the upper handle and the heat chamber.
US09138092B2
A footwear hanger including a central stem having support arms for supporting footwear where the arms are attached to the stem and the hanger has a suspension means for attaching the hanger to a display. The stem has a V-shaped or Y-shaped cross-section along at least part of its length which allows the footwear hanger to be easily stacked one on top of the other when stored without footwear being attached.
US09138090B2
An automatic sensing article/toothpick dispenser with sanitizing capability. The dispenser is configured to store a plurality of toothpicks in a hygienic storage compartment specifically designed to prevent contaminants from entering the storage compartment. The dispenser is further configured to automatically dispense the toothpicks individually in an unwrapped, ready-to-use configuration, wherein the dispenser is configured and adapted to mitigate contact between the user and the dispenser so as to reduce the likelihood that contaminants may be transferred from the user to the dispenser.
US09138089B1
A buttering device for coating the outside of hot vegetables with butter or similar coating includes a hollow receptacle to hold the butter that has the shape of a truncated wedge. The receptacle has a relatively narrow discharge opening and a relatively wide supply opening.
US09138087B2
A universal pillow to accommodate a head of a patient in a prone and in a supine position, including a support surface having a frontal/parietal support portion, a mental/occipital support portion, and two side portions extending between respective ends of the frontal/parietal and mental/occipital support portions, a recessed head receiving portion, provided in the support surface, configured to be lower than the frontal/parietal support portions, mental/occipital support portions, and side portions, and having an opening configured to receive at least a portion of a face of the patient, and a bottom surface disposed opposite to the support surface.
US09138080B2
A checkout stand having a circular turret rotatable about a central axis and a damping cylinder including a piston rod. The first end of the rod is pivotally attached to a location outside the perimeter of the turret, and the second end of the rod is pivotally attached to a location on the circular turret offset from the central axis.
US09138079B2
A display fixture is disclosed. In one embodiment, a display fixture comprises a plurality of shelves and a plurality of posts supporting the plurality of shelves. Each shelf may comprise a panel, a plurality of apertures formed in the panel and a plurality of walls extending upwardly from the panel and forming a perimeter of the panel. Each post may comprise a shoulder, a columnar member extending from the shoulder, a seat disposed opposite the shoulder and comprising a cavity configured to receive a columnar member from another post, an elongate body disposed between and joining the shoulder and the seat, and a skirt extending from the body and surrounding the seat. The skirt and the seat may define a tapered recess, which may expand to receive a portion of the panel walls.
US09138077B2
A hanger track system that can be mounted to horizontal or vertical surfaces including ceilings, joists, and walls. The hanger tracks include a surface on which a storage container may be supported. The hanger tracks are positioned substantially parallel to each other and spaced a distance apart such that a storage container can fit in between the hanger tracks and be supported by a portion of the tracks.
US09138063B1
The present disclosure introduces various embodiments of a collapsible rotating seat, as well as methods of assembly and use thereof. The seat includes a frame, a first support rotatably coupled to the frame and rotatable around a first axis, and a second support rotatably coupled to the frame and rotatable around a second axis. A seating member is rotatably coupled to the frame and rotatable around a third axis that is non-parallel to at least one of the first and second axes. The seating member includes an opening through which the third axis extends.
US09138062B2
A seat incorporating insert(s) intermediate its upper and lower surfaces. A seat insert for the support of the users buttocks conforms to the user's body, has “rebound” properties, and areas adapted to underlie the perineum and/or ischiums of a user softer than the rest of the seat insert. Alternatively, a perineal insert and/or ischium inserts may be used without the seat insert described. Finally, a heatable insert can be used in conjunction with or in the absence of said seat inserts to provide heat for the comfort of a seat user. In all cases, the aforesaid inserts are preferably completely encapsulated and enclosed by the foam materials making up the seat, which can be accomplished by molding the seat around the insert(s), creating a seat with various internal density zones, adjustable heat, and enhanced abilities to conform to the user's body, while limiting pressure on perineum and/or ischiums.
US09138058B2
A chair includes a base, a seat assembly comprising a seat, and a height adjustment mechanism attached between the base and the seat assembly. The height adjustment mechanism vertically moves a position of the seat from a first position to a second position that is higher than the first position. The height adjustment mechanism includes a first gas spring attached to the base, a second gas spring attached to the seat assembly, and a support attached between the first gas spring and the second gas spring. The first gas spring is at least partially within a lower portion of the base and the second gas spring is at least partially within the seat assembly. The seat assembly is movable relative to the lower portion of the base.
US09138054B2
The invention relates to a household built-in appliance, which is configured to be built into a recess and has an exterior housing, the exterior housing having an exterior width, which has a non-even measurement in inches, its number before the decimal point being 17 or 23 and its portion after the decimal point being smaller than or equal to 0.5. The invention also relates to an apparatus with a recess and a plurality of built-in appliances, as well as a method for fitting built-in appliances into a recess.
US09138051B2
A desk structure with adjustable angles is provided, characterized in that: an angle-adjustment unit is coupled to a bottom of a desk which is space-demanding and falls into the category of OA office furniture such that folding the desk entails: performing positional release with the angle-adjustment unit disposed below a desk board, rotating the desk board by a predetermined inclination angle, and imposing a positional restriction on the angle-adjustment unit upon completion of the angular positioning of a rotation state. Accordingly, the desks can be folded up each by a predetermined adjustable inclination angle and stacked up in a non-space-demanding direction.
US09138049B2
A paint removal device that allows for the removal of excess paint from a paintbrush for cleaner and more efficient painting. The paint removal device contains an attachment member to allow for the device to be secured to a lip of a paint can, and a removal member that includes a pair of arms extends laterally away from the clip portion. When attached to a paint can, the paint removal member is positioned to allow for a painter to draw the paintbrush against the side of the arms of the paint removal member to remove the excess paint from the paintbrush bristles after inserting the paintbrush into the paint supply.
US09138038B2
A hair styling apparatus includes a hair-heating device for applying heat to hair. The hair-heating device has a moisture-temperature setting and a dry-temperature setting less than moisture-temperature setting. A moisture sensor detects a moisture-indicating parameter of the hair, and generates a moisture-indicating signal indicative of whether the hair is at or below a predetermined moisture threshold level. A control circuit adjusts the temperature of the hair-heating device from the moisture-temperature setting to the dry-temperature setting in response to the moisture sensor generating a moisture-indicating signal indicative of the hair being at or below the predetermined moisture threshold level. The hair-heating device is active in the dry-temperature setting.
US09138032B1
A touch fastener strip includes a pair of longitudinal barrier walls each extending upward from a base, a plurality of lateral barrier walls each extending upward from the base and between facing surfaces of the barrier walls, thereby defining one or more fastening cells, and a pair of wave walls each extending upward from the base and outboard the barrier walls thereby defining a relief space. Each wave wall has a wave shape having rising and falling edges, at least one of the edges having a slope in the range of 3° to 65°. In some cases, the wave shape has a duty cycle of 40% to 60%, and may include a sine wave, a triangle wave, a ramp wave, and/or a bi-modal wave having two different peak points in a given cycle of the shape. In one example application, the strip may be anchored in a foam cushion product.
US09138029B2
An article of footwear may have a sole structure and an upper that includes a foundation element, a strand, and a cover layer. The strand is positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of the foundation element and substantially parallel to the exterior surface for a distance of at least five centimeters. The cover layer extends along the strand for the distance of at least five centimeters, and the strand is positioned between the cover layer and the foundation element. In some configurations, the cover layer has a pair of edges on opposite sides of the strand, the strand is substantially centered between the edges of the cover layer for the distance of at least five centimeters, and areas of the exterior surface are exposed beyond the edges of the cover layer.
US09138028B2
A shoe according to the invention comprises an upper assembly comprising an upper portion (10) having an outer material (11) for surrounding a foot and a lower portion (20) having at least a breathable layer (21). The shoe also comprises a sole comprising a ventilating container element (113) having a bottom part (103) and a side wall (102) surrounding said bottom part (103) so as to form an inner space of the ventilating container element (113), the ventilating container element being arranged below and attached to the upper assembly, and a filler structure or material (61; 62; 63; 64; 65; 112) allowing for air flow through it placed in the inner space of the ventilating container element (113).
US09138024B1
The purpose of the invention is to create an easily installed accessory that yields a natural look in hair styling versatility and reduces damage to natural hair and scalp. It is made to alter the appearance of a wearer's natural hair, by adding length and/or volume. The unit comprises of a breathable mesh fabric, with multiple layers of wefted hair extension fibers (hair pieces) sewed on to the top surface of it. To the underside of the mesh fabric, are three metal hair clips that help to secure the unit in place. Connected bilaterally to the mesh fabric, is a satin covered elastic hair band that functions in conforming to the wearer's head during installation and use of the unit. When the hair band extension system is used, hair is adorned attractively and the breathability and moisture conserving qualities help to promote healthy hair and scalp.
US09138020B2
A knee joint supporter which can improve the stability of the knee joint, reduce the wearer's fatigue and reduce the load on the patellar tendon includes a first anchor section formed by wrapping one end of a tubular knitted fabric around the wearer's thigh to tighten it with the fabric, a second anchor section formed by wrapping the other end of the fabric around the wearer's lower thigh to tighten it with the fabric, and a substantially U-shaped knitted supporting section joined to the first anchor section, covering the wearer's patella region and thus supporting the wearer's patella. In the circumferential direction of the fabric, the stretch resistance of the two anchor parts are larger than the stretch resistance of a base fabric section. In the length width direction of the fabric, the stretch resistance of the supporting section is larger than the stretch resistance of the base fabric section.
US09138005B2
Apparatus for concentrating a nebulant comprising a nebulant flow conduit and a counter-flow conduit, or preferably, a plurality of alternating nebulant flow conduits and corresponding counter-flow conduits eg in layered or coaxial arrangement. and wherein at least a portion of the nebulant flow conduit and said counter-flow conduits define respective opposed sides of a gas permeable membrane. In use a nebulizer is in communication with the nebulant flow conduit and the nebulant flow and counter-flow are in the same or opposite directions and act to concentrate the amount of active in a droplet eg from 35 wt % to 60 wt % hydrogen peroxide in water to disinfect and/or sterilize an article.
US09138003B2
An insecticidal composition having as an adjuvant a phosphonate or an alkoxylated derivative or dimer thereof. Preferred phosphonates are bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-2ethylhexylphosphonate, bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-octylphosphonate and bis-(butyl)butylphosphonate.
US09137980B2
A fishing lure and leader may reside in a modular fishing lure organization and storage container receptacle characterized by a chamber having a pair of parallel spaced-apart planar sidewalls, a pair of parallel spaced-apart outwardly concave channel walls connecting the planar sidewalls, and a receptacle saddle connecting the sidewalls and the channel walls. A closure is closeable over a chamber opening. A slot divides a concave channel wall, and extends from the chamber opening into the receptacle saddle. A fishing lure may be placed in the receptacle, and a leader attached to a fishing lure is insertable through the slot. The closure may be closed over the chamber opening, and the leader may be wrapped along the concave channel walls and over the receptacle saddle and the closure.
US09137974B2
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a method, which can comprise a plurality of activities, which can comprise automatically detecting the presence of a bird in a housing. The housing can be adapted to substantially surround the bird. The housing can define an aperture adapted for the bird to enter and exit the housing.
US09137968B2
A watering device for animals with continuously flowing water to attract the attention of the animal utilizes a water screw device within the watering device to move water from a lower bowl of the device to an upper bowl to create flowing water. The water screw is configured such that the electrical components of the water screw remain separated from the water of the watering dish to remove the possibility of electrocution of the water. Rather, only the mechanical components of the water screw device contact the water of the watering device while the electrical motor of the water screw remains safely out of the water.
US09137967B2
A feed dispensing apparatus including a feed storage portion configured to define a feed receiving volume for receiving a feed bag. This feed dispensing apparatus also includes a feed presentation portion that defines an opening proximate the feed receiving volume through which a user can open the feed bag effective that feed automatically dispenses from the feed bag into the feed presentation portion in a self-regulating manner.
US09137966B2
The present invention relates to a Lactuca sativa seed designated 41-112 RZ, which exhibits a combination of traits including resistance to downy mildew races Bl:1 to Bl:28, CA-I, CA-IIA, CA-IIB, CA-III, CA-IV, CA-V, CA-VI, CA-VII, CA-VIII (Bremia lactucae Regel), currant-lettuce aphid (Nasonovia ribisnigri) biotype Nr:0, root aphids (Pemphigus bursarius), corky root rot (Sphingomonas suberifaciens), and Fusarium (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lactucae) race Fol:1. The present invention also relates to a Lactuca sativa plant produced by growing the 41-112 RZ seed. The invention further relates to methods for producing the lettuce cultivar, represented by lettuce variety 41-112 RZ.
US09137961B1
The invention provides seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated 1104361. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety 1104361, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety 1104361 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety 1104361.
US09137960B2
The present invention relates to a new and distinctive canola, designated G2X0062A/B. Also included are seeds of canola G2X0062A/B, to the plants, or plant parts, of canola G2X0062A/B and to methods for producing a canola plant produced by crossing the canola G2X0062A/B with itself or another canola genotype, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of canola G2X0062A/B.
US09137959B2
The present invention relates to novel pepper plants resistant to insects, and to seeds and fruits of said plants. The present invention also relates to methods of making and using such plants and their fruits. The invention further relates to markers and the use thereof in marker assisted breeding and for identifying the insect resistance trait. In particular, the present invention provides a cultivated Capsicum annuum plant which is resistant, particularly intermediately resistant, to infestations by insects of the family Thripidae and/or the genus Bemisia, but especially to infestations by Bemisia tabaci and Frankliniella occidentalis.
US09137953B2
A method can include providing an underground vault; providing a lift mechanism; providing a crop protection system that includes a housing that houses a vertically oriented roll of material; and positioning the crop protection system in the underground vault where the lift mechanism provides for vertically adjusting the crop protection system with respect to the underground vault to raise the vertically oriented roll of material above ground. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US09137952B1
A growing tray system for growing soilless plants and sod utilizing trays for growing plants and sod without soil wherein the trays are easily stackable, movable, and are contoured with shapes such that roots may grow downward around the contoured shapes promoting interwoven geometric root structures.
US09137949B2
A chopper assembly for harvesting equipment including a knife bank movable between a first position where knife elements of the knife bank are fully inserted into a passageway for crop residue and a second position where knife elements of the knife bank are fully retracted from the passageway. A body has a slot or profile, the body secured to the knife bank and at least one knife element, the body and the knife element configured to move relative to the knife bank. A resilient device operably connects the slot or profile and the knife bank, the resilient device preventing movement of the knife element away from the first position and toward the second position until the knife element is subjected to a predetermined force. Upon removal of the predetermined force, the resilient device urges the knife element to move toward the first position.
US09137948B2
A harvester includes a crop receiver configured to receive agricultural material. The crop receiver includes a lid to cover a portion of the crop receiver. The harvester also includes a frame assembly coupled to the lid of the crop receiver. The harvester includes an actuator coupled to the frame assembly and configured to be controlled to adjust a vertical height of the lid. The harvester also includes a sensor coupled to the frame assembly and configured to indicate whether the lid is positioned at a first vertical height or a second vertical height. The harvester includes control circuitry coupled to the sensor and configured to instruct the actuator to move the lid of the crop receiver between the first vertical height and the second vertical height based at least partly on an indication from the sensor.
US09137941B2
A precision seeder for sowing seeds to obtain a predetermined number of plants per unit of length includes a seed discharging tube adapted to feed the seed by an excess air pressure from a seed distributing device to a seed outlet, a seed furrow opener including two sowing discs arranged at an angle relative to each other, and a resilient press surface for pressing the seed into the soil. The press surface is configured such that a direction of flow of the seeds at the seed outlet intersects or is substantially tangent to at least a portion of the press surface. The seed outlet is located between the sowing discs and, as seen in the transverse direction, inside or immediately adjacent to the periphery of at least one of the sowing discs.
US09137939B2
An electric adjusting apparatus for a row cleaner has a pair of upright posts connected by a pair of parallel linkages, an electric motor with a lead screw and a motor controller. One of the posts mounts on a fertilizing and/or planting apparatus and the row cleaner mounts on the other post. The electric motor moves the parallel linkages to move the row cleaner up and down without tilting. The motor controller controls the electric motor and displays the depth of the row cleaner.
US09144173B2
A slide rail assembly includes a slide assembly, a front support, a first rear support, a second rear support, and a reinforcement member. The slide rail assembly includes an outer rail, an inner rail and an intermediate rail. The front support and the first rear support are respectively connected to the front end and the outside of the outer rail. The second rear support is movably connected to the first rear support. The reinforcement member includes a body, two first support parts and at least two second support parts. The body has a slot and a contact portion. The two first support parts embrace the outer rail, and the at least two second support parts embrace the second rear support. The slide rail assembly is installed to the rack. The reinforcement member reinforces the connection between the second rear support and the outer rail.
US09144171B2
Techniques for efficient routing of wires and electrical components within a device are disclosed. A wire can be routed, for example, in the space between two battery cells (or other components/structures) with the use of a bracket inserted between the cells to provide structural support. Electrical tape surrounding a battery may be breached to expose a cavity between distinct battery cells. In some embodiments, multiple brackets may be inserted between the cells, creating a trough through which a wire or other component may be routed. After routing a wire through the trough, another electrical part or housing may be fixed above the battery cells. One example case includes a first electrical component placed within the bracket, and a second electrical component routing in a divergent path to the first electrical component external to the bracket, wherein the first and second electrical component have a common start and end point.
US09144170B2
A local coil for a magnetic resonance tomography system includes a mainboard, at least one plug-in module that is connectable to the mainboard, and a clip engaging with the plug-in module and the mainboard. The clip is arranged at least partially at a side of the mainboard.
US09144169B2
A system includes a display, a manually operable controller and a mechanism. The display includes a screen, a first axis and a second axis disposed within a plane that is parallel and adjacent the screen. The second axis is perpendicular to the first axis. The controller can be tilted around a first controller axis and around a second controller axis and is configured as an elongate beam longitudinally disposed parallel to the first controller axis at a default position. The second controller axis is perpendicular about the first controller axis. The mechanism operatively couples the controller to the display such that the screen is configured to rotate around the first axis in response to the controller being tilted around the first controller axis and the screen is configured to rotate around the second axis in response to the controller being tilted around the second controller axis.
US09144163B2
An external storage device enclosure includes a box-body portion and a cover-body portion. The box-body portion supports a storage device, and has a connection port. The cover-body portion includes a cover-board and a top-board. A first-side of the top-board connects the cover-board. The top-board is pivotally connected to the box-body portion through a rotation axis located a second-side of the top-board. When the cover-body portion rotates around the rotation axis and covers the storage device, a driving element of the cover-board contacts a first-side of the storage device to electrically connect a connection slot of the storage device and the connection port. When the cover-body portion rotates around the rotation axis and exposes the storage device, a releasing element located at the first-side of the top-board contacts a second-side of the storage device to electrically separate the connection slot of the storage device from the connection port.
US09144148B2
In some aspects, nozzles for a gas-cooled plasma torches can include a hollow generally cylindrical body having a first end and a second end that define a longitudinal axis, the second end of the body defining a nozzle exit orifice; a gas channel formed in the first end between an interior wall and an exterior wall of the cylindrical body, the gas channel directing a gas flow circumferentially about at least a portion of the body; an inlet passage formed substantially through a radial surface of the exterior wall and fluidly connected to the gas channel; and an outlet passage at least substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis and fluidly connected to the gas channel.
US09144144B2
A method, apparatus, and user interface for providing a network based surround-light environment to dynamically drive lighting scenes are described. Location information of one or more illuminating elements relative to a display for presenting media information is determined. Lighting characteristic information for the one or more illuminating elements is determined. And a lighting profile for illuminating the one or more illuminating elements based on the location information and lighting characteristic information is determined.
US09144142B2
One or more switches in an occupancy sensor are enabled. When a switch is enabled, a reduction timer measuring a reduction time delay is initiated when an occupancy condition is detected by an occupancy sensor. In addition, one or more outputs controlled by the reduction timer are activated so that a signal is sent to a control system to notify the control systems of the occupancy condition. When the reduction time delay expires, the outputs of the occupancy sensor that are controlled by the reduction timer are deactivated, and so the outputs cease sending the signal to the control system. As a result, the control systems initiate their own internal time delays sooner.
US09144141B1
A method of sensing magnitude of lumen depreciation not only of a lamp of a lighting fixture, but other factors, by sensing a relative light level external of the lighting fixture to derive not only lamp lumen depreciation but total lumen depreciation from the fixture. An apparatus of monitoring light level of one or more lighting fixtures comprises a sensor positioned external of the lighting fixture(s), a comparator adapted to compare a measured actual lumen output signal from the sensor to a pre-set reference or threshold lumen output value. An error signal is generated by the comparator if the comparison indicates actual lumen output to have dropped below the reference or threshold lumen output. An alarm or communication can be actuated by the error signal to instruct corrective action to ensure relatively constant light levels to be maintained for the lighting system over time, thus providing ongoing assurance to the end user of proper system operation.
US09144140B1
A method of controlling a plurality of light fixtures. The method includes detecting the light outputs of a plurality of light fixtures and detecting a reflection of light from a surface. The light outputs and the reflection of light are analyzed. Differences among the light outputs of the plurality of light fixtures are determined, and a difference between the reflection of light and a desired reflection of light is determined. New or updated values for output color, output brightness, and output spectra are determined for the plurality of light fixtures such that the light outputs of the light fixtures are consistent and correspond to a desired light output, and such that the reflection of light corresponds to the desired reflection of light. Each of the plurality of light fixtures is then driven using respective light source output values to produce the desired light outputs.
US09144132B2
An apparatus and method for controlling the brightness and luminance of a light, such as an LED. The embodiment may vary the brightness and luminance of the LED in a variety of ways to achieve a variety of effects. The exemplary embodiment may vary the rate at which the LED's luminance changes, such that an observer perceives the change in the LED's brightness to be smooth and linear as a function of time, regardless of the ambient light level. Changes to the LED's luminance may be time-constrained and/or constrained by a maximum or minimum rate of change.
US09144131B2
A lighting system provides for control of the perceived color of the light emitted by the light fixture. The light fixture has two light sources, a control circuit pulses the two light sources and changes relative duty cycles of the light sources to alter a perceived color output of the lighting fixture, in response to a control signal. Duty cycles of the light sources are a function of the control signal.
US09144128B2
A dimming system of a lamp using a light-emitting device includes: a power source including a power input terminal, a dimmer connected to the power input terminal, and a rectifier circuit; a lighting unit including light-emitting devices from a first light-emitting device to an nth light-emitting device; a light-emitting drive unit including a plurality of switching circuits individually connected to an output terminal of each of the light-emitting devices, and dimmer control circuits connected to the switching circuits of the first light-emitting device and configured to sense whether or not a current supply channel for the first light-emitting device is normally operated, and to output a control signal; and a dimmer drive unit parallel-connected to a connection line between the power source and a power input terminal of the first light-emitting device to form a bleeding current supply channel, and having a switch.
US09144126B2
An electronic circuit for driving a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) channels coupled to a common voltage node includes a priority queue for tracking a dominant LED channel. A queue manager may be provided to keep the priority queue updated during LED drive operations based on operating conditions associated with the LED channels.
US09144114B2
Insert for electrical furnaces comprising an insulating shell and a coiled heater element, the heater element comprising element wire that consists of at least two sections that are interconnected via a bend of element wire in such a way that the bend and the sections mutually form a loop of element wire. A fastening member is fixedly anchored in the insulating shell and arranged in the area of the bend in such a way that the element wire in a section directly connected to the bend is prevented from expanding past the fastening member.
US09144112B2
In one embodiment, a wireless system comprises a host MSC/VLR of a public land mobile network (PLMN) and a plurality of base station subsystems (BSSs). Each BSS includes a respective base station controller (BSC) and one or more base transceiver stations (BTSs). The wireless system further comprises a virtual base station controller (VBSC) communicatively coupled to the plurality of BSSs and the host MSC/VLR. The VBSC appears, from the perspective of the host MSCNLR, to be a base station controller for the BTSs in the plurality of BSSs. The VBSC and at least some of the BSSs include functionality for locally switching calls in the BSSs.
US09144107B2
Embodiments describe registration in a wireless communication system. A method includes wirelessly transmitting over a WWAN a first registration message from a mobile device, wirelessly transmitting through the WWAN a second registration message to a WLAN access point and receiving at the mobile device access through the WLAN access point. According to another embodiment is a method for constructing a self-configuring ad-hoc network. The method can include receiving a GPS coordinate from a WWAN channel node at a management system and creating an initial topography based at least in part on the GPS coordinate to achieve a network connectivity with diverse routes between a plurality of nodes.
US09144105B2
The present invention provides a deactivation method of multimedia broadcast multicast service for wireless communication system, comprising steps of: in SGSN, completing the context deactivation of user equipment of broadcast multicast service; in the user equipment, completing the context deactivation of user equipment of multimedia broadcast multicast service; in GGSN, completing the context deactivation of user equipment of multimedia broadcast multicast service; characterized by further comprising steps of: in SGSN, after completing the context deactivation of user equipment of multimedia broadcast multicast service, completing the context deactivation of user equipment of multimedia broadcast multicast service in a radio network controller of a radio access network. According to the method of the present invention, the context of user equipment of multimedia broadcast multicast service in the radio network controller is deleted, so that the waste of radio resources is prevented, the hidden troubles induced by the inconsistency of data among the network elements is removed, and a foundation for the correct realization of future products is laid.
US09144104B2
A user equipment implements a method of processing indication messages, such as SCRI (signalling connection release indication) messages. If upper layers indicate that there is no more packet switched data for a prolonged period, then if a count of how many indication messages have been triggered in at least one RRC (radio resource control) state is less than a maximum number, the UE increments the count, and a cause is set in the indication message, and the indication message is sent.
US09144089B2
The present invention provides an access method and a system for a Machine-Type Communication (MTC) device, and an MTC device. The method comprises the steps of: an MTC device sending, when performing channel request, a channel request cause value and a random reference value to a Base Station Subsystem (BSS) (100), and the BSS sending the received channel request cause value and random reference value back to the MTC device when completing channel allocation (101). The present invention distinguishes the MTC services from other non-MTC services through the channel request cause value, that is, when the cause values are different, the collision will not occur even if the random reference values are the same, thus reducing the probability of the random reference value collision, implementing the effective management for access operations of large numbers of MTC devices, and avoiding the influence of random reference value collision on the normal implementation of original services.
US09144087B2
A method in a user equipment for handling a scheduling request, SR, is provided. The user equipment is served by a base station in a cellular communications network. The user equipment receives a first message from the base station. The first message comprises a first assignment of SR resources. The first message is received using a first protocol. The first assignment of SR resources is semi-static. The user equipment further receives a second message from the base station. The second message comprising a second assignment of SR resources. The second message is received using a second protocol. The second protocol is associated with a layer that is lower than a layer associated with the first protocol. The user equipment then applies the SR resources according to the first assignment and the SR resources according to the second assignment at the same time or separately.
US09144086B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for coordinating operation of wireless local area network (WLAN) and ANT systems. A coexistence manager may determine an operating mode of the ANT transceiver and selectively enable and disable the ANT and WLAN transceivers based on the operating mode to reduce the potential for interference.
US09144079B1
Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for to dynamically adjusting the number of uplink grants per random access response (RAR) message. In a particular embodiment, a method provides, for a Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless access node having a downlink control channel including a plurality of control channel elements, determining wireless signal conditions for a plurality of wireless devices requesting communication service from the wireless access node. The method further provides allocating a number of the plurality of control channel elements for a random access response message based on the wireless signal conditions. The method further includes transferring a plurality of uplink grants to the plurality of wireless devices in the number of control channel elements.
US09144077B2
In an embodiment, a radio resource manager device is provided. The radio resource manager device may include a receiver configured to receive an application applying for radio resources; an interference allowance determiner configured to determine whether interference of signal transmission during radio communication using radio resources is allowed; and a radio resource assigner configured to assign radio resources based on the determined interference allowance.
US09144071B2
Methods and apparatus for effectively allocating resource partitioning information (RPI) in a wireless communication network are provided. For certain aspects, a method for wireless communications generally includes receiving, at a first base station, such as a pico enhanced Node B (eNB), resource partitioning information (RPI) from at least one second base station, such as a macro eNB; determining one or more resources indicated in the RPI actually usable by the first base station; and sending, from the first base station to the at least one second base station, an indication of the actually usable resources.
US09144067B2
Communication systems in which a fixed size information block is transmitted to one or multiple receivers, such as the long term evolution (LTE) of the 3rd Generation Partnership Projection (3GPP), may benefit from a structure, in which a downlink control information (DCI) format, or more generally the fixed sized information block, can be extended by a small number of bits and still be backwards compatible with older terminals, which do not need the extra bits or may not even be aware of this extension. A method for providing this extension can include preparing a first codeword for transmission. The method can also include preparing a second codeword for transmission. The second codeword can have a code rate that is configured to be less than the code rate of the first codeword. The method can further include initiating simultaneous transmission of the first codeword and the second codeword.
US09144059B2
A method and arrangement for enabling communication of data between a UE and a first base station in a cellular communication network further comprising the second base station, and the second base station is connected to the first base station via a communication interface. A scheduling request is received from the first base station. The scheduling request is based on a suggested scheduling which is determined by the first base station, and the suggested scheduling concerns the communication of data. Scheduling information is determined based on the scheduling request, and the scheduling information is transmitted to the UE. By determining a suggested scheduling in a micro base station, but transmitting scheduling information from an overlaying macro base station, local awareness of communication conditions may be applied, and interferences from neighboring micro base stations may be decreased.
US09144050B2
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of operating a mobility management node to provide location and/or status information for a user terminal connected to an Evolved Packet Core network. The method comprises receiving a request for location and/or status information for the user terminal from a subscriber register, determining the location and/or status information for the user terminal, and sending a response to the subscriber register including the determined location and/or status information.
US09144049B1
Methods and systems for using coverage or capacity classifications regarding a macro RF network to manage registration of femtocells with a service provider network (SPN) so as to avoid signaling overload are described herein. After a wide-scale power outage within an area where multiple femtocells are located, the femtocells can power on and attempt to register with the SPN at about the same time. The femtocells can scan RF signals received from the macro network and classify the received RF signals with respect to capacity or coverage of the macro network at the time of transmitting the RF signals. A device within the SPN can determine whether classification of the received RF signals is associated with dropping or accepting a registration request associated with the classified RF signals. The SPN device can accept the registration request or drop the registration request and request the femtocell to transmit another registration request.
US09144048B2
Long Term Evolution (LTE) cell detecting apparatus includes a secondary synchronization signal (SSS) reference signal generating unit for generating reference signals of all SSSs included in a specific subframe, a memory for storing a reference phase difference sequence with respect to the reference signal of the SSS generated, a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) operation unit for performing an FFT operation with respect to a received radio signal to output a primary synchronization signal (PSS) and an SSS, a time synchronization acquisition unit for acquiring LTE time synchronization by the PSS output from the FFT operation unit, and a cell detection unit for detecting an LTE cell by the time synchronization information acquired by the time synchronization acquisition unit and a correlation between a phase difference sequence of a received SSS output from the FFT operation unit and the reference phase difference sequence stored in the memory.
US09144043B2
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for acquiring time synchronization in a wireless communication system, and to an apparatus for the method, wherein the method comprises the steps of: obtaining information on a discontinuous transmission pattern of a synchronous channel; attempting detection of a synchronous channel of a base station; and, if said detection fails, continuously attempting detection of the synchronous channel of the base station during a predetermined time period. If the base station is of a first type, said predetermined time period is set to be the same as or longer than the time period in which the synchronous channel is continuously not transmitted in said discontinuous transmission pattern. If the base station is of a second type, said predetermined time period is set to be the same as or longer than the time period in which the synchronous channel is continuously transmitted in said discontinuous transmission pattern.
US09144040B2
A system and method for uplink multi-antenna power control in a communications system are provided. A method for user equipment operations includes determining a transmit power level for transmit antennas of the user equipment having at least two transmit antennas, and setting a power amplifier output level for each of the at least two transmit antennas in accordance with a respective transmit power level.
US09144036B2
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate mitigating effect of non-linear distortion from a power amplifier on a spectral mask margin. Power limit indications can be analyzed in scheduling mobile devices. Mobile devices with power limits can be scheduled on inner subbands. The power limits can be based at least in part on power amplifier headroom information. Other mobile devices can employ remaining portions of an allocated spectrum. Further, mobile devices can evaluate and establish a power amplifier backoff based upon the subband scheduling.
US09144022B2
The present invention relates to a system and method for routing a data from one or more mobile communication channel to one or more fixed communication channel in a resource efficient manner. The delinking router of the system communicates with the one or more mobile communication channel and with one or more fixed communication channel and transmits the request to a Base Transmitting Station (BTS) for routing the data from the mobile communication channel to the fixed communication channel. The delinking router also reduces energy and spectrum consumption of the mobile communication channel by turning off its radio frequency module after routing its data to the fixed communication channel.
US09144019B2
A network searching method adapted to a mobile electronic device in a no service state is provided. In the method, a first timer is activated. A network searching operation is performed. Whether an available network is found is determined. If the available network is not found, whether a time count of the first timer is smaller than a network searching active interval is determined. If the time count is not smaller than the network searching active interval, a second timer is activated. Before a network searching inactive interval set up by the second timer expires, the mobile electronic device is controlled to remain in a power save mode. If the time count is smaller than the network searching active interval, a third timer is activated. When a sleep interval set up by the third timer expires, the mobile electronic device is controlled to perform the network searching operation again.
US09144018B2
A particular method includes receiving a power save polling frame from a station at an access point. The method also includes, in response to receiving the power save polling frame, transmitting a frame from the access point to the station, the frame indicating whether traffic associated with the station is buffered at the access point. Another particular method includes transmitting a power save polling frame from the station to the access point. The method further includes, in response to transmitting the power save polling frame, receiving a frame from the access point indicating whether traffic associated with the station is buffered at the access point.
US09144016B2
Embodiments herein relate to a method in a radio base station for transmitting an information signal in a radio communications network. The radio base station is arranged to operate in a time structure associated with a clock and arranged to transmit an information signal associated with the time structure. The radio base station is in the radio communications network. The radio base station transmits the information signal repeatedly with a first frequency over a first period of time. Then, the radio base station transmits the same information signal repeatedly with a second frequency over a second period of time, wherein the first frequency is lower than the second frequency and the first period of time is longer than the second period of time.
US09144013B2
A wireless device implements power saving logic for two or more wireless clients that concurrently communicate on a shared wireless channel (single channel concurrency). When one of the wireless clients transitions from power save mode to active mode (e.g., in response to a beacon signal), the power saving logic causes the other wireless client(s) to transition to active mode as well. Each wireless client ‘awakened’ in this manner transmits a NULL frame having a power management bit set to a logic ‘0’ value to an associated access point (AP), thereby indicating its active status to the associated AP. As a result, all of the wireless clients may concurrently receive buffered data from their associated APs on the shared wireless channel. If the ‘awakened’ wireless client(s) do not need to transition to active mode in response to their next received beacons, power consumption of the wireless device is advantageously reduced.
US09144009B2
An wireless access selection capability is disclosed. In at least some embodiments, the wireless access selection capability enables a wireless user terminal to determine, via interaction with a mobility network (e.g., a 3G cellular network, a 4G cellular network, and the like), whether to remain connected via the mobility network or to connect via a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). The interaction may be in the form of two queries initiated by the wireless user terminal, including a first query for determining whether the wireless user terminal should perform a scan for identifying WLANs available for providing wireless access to the wireless user terminal and a second for determining whether the wireless user terminal should switch from being connected to the mobility network to being connected to an identified WLAN identified during a scan initiated by the wireless user terminal.
US09144005B2
A method, system and device for call switching between a mobile device using a mobile communication network and any data communication equipment using other type of communication network without any disconnection of a on ongoing call is provided. In a method for a call switching service, the first and second mobile devices establish wireless communication channels with the mobile communication network, respectively. The first mobile device transfers a call to specific data communication equipment. The mobile communication network establishes a call channel between the specific data communication equipment to which the call is transferred and the second mobile device that is not transferring the call to the specific data communication equipment.
US09144004B2
A mobile station includes a measurement unit that measures radio qualities for a serving cell and a candidate switching target cell; a cell switching determination unit that determines whether the radio quality of the serving cell is less than a reference quality corresponded in advance with a predetermined throughput, wherein, when the radio quality of the serving cell is less than the reference quality, the cell switching determination unit determines whether the serving cell is to be switched to the candidate switching target cell by comparing the radio quality of the serving cell with that of the candidate switching target cell; and a radio communication unit that transmits a signal for requesting the switching of the serving cell, and that receives a signal for instructing the switching of the serving cell from a network apparatus.
US09143999B2
The present solution relates to a method in a first network node (301) for handling handover of a user equipment (105) from a source cell (303) to a target cell (309) in a communication network (300). The first network node (301) selects (504) the target cell (309) from neighbor cells (309) based on information of cell size, which target cell (309) will be used for handover the user equipment (105) to.
US09143998B2
A base transceiver station receives first and second reception power values from a plurality of user equipments. The first reception power value is a reception power value at which a user equipment receives a radio signal from another base transceiver station without using a reception beam formation function that allows a radio signal transmitted from a predetermined direction to be selectively received with increased reception sensitivity. The second reception power value is a reception power value at which a user equipment receives a radio signal from another base transceiver station using the reception beam formation function. The base transceiver station selects, from among the plurality of user equipments, a user equipment to be handed over based on the first and second reception power values, and performs handover processing on the selected user equipment.
US09143995B2
An example method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a handover request from a first radio network to handover a user equipment (UE) to a second radio network, wherein the handover request includes an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) for a user associated with the UE and a pseudo cell identifier (ID); determining a target channel configuration for the UE using the pseudo cell ID; querying a third radio network using the user IMSI to determine a location of the UE, wherein at least one access point in the third radio network is in communication with the UE; and selecting a particular target access point in the second radio network for handover of the UE based, at least in part, on the location of the UE, the target channel configuration for the UE and a location of the particular target access point.
US09143991B2
In an embodiment, a method is provided that includes receiving a handover request for a mobile station to be handed over to a macro base station. Identification information for the mobile station is received. The identification of the mobile station is compared with stored association information that includes identification information of a femto base station, and identification information for a particular mobile station. The method further includes identifying that the mobile station identification information matches the identification information for an associated mobile station using the stored association information. The information regarding the associated femto base station is transmitted to the associated mobile station.
US09143988B2
A system and method of supporting packet-switched handover of a mobile station (MS) from a GERAN/UTRAN cell to a Generic Access Network (GAN) cell within a GAN. If the MS is within coverage of the GAN cell, the MS registers within the GAN, triggering initiation of the packet-switched handover from the GERAN/UTRAN cell to the GAN cell. A preparation phase is then conducted for executing the packet-switched handover. The preparation phase includes identifying the MS context as part of the preparation phase and activating the GA-PSR TC towards the MS. Next, the packet-switched handover is executed, resulting in the MS switching to GAN mode. The MS then begins transferring packets via the GAN cell. The system and method also supports a packet-switched handover from the GAN cell to the GERAN/UTRAN cell.
US09143986B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a load compensation method, a measuring method for load estimation, a base station and user equipment. The load compensation method includes: obtaining, by a base station of compensation cell, an estimated value of a resource needed by user equipment of energy-saving cell in the compensation cell according to signal quality of the compensation cell measured by the user equipment of the energy-saving cell; determining whether to compensate for the energy-saving cell according to the estimated value of the resource needed by user equipment of the energy-saving cell in the compensation cell; and increasing power of related resources to compensate for the energy-saving cell after it is determined to compensate for the energy-saving cell. With the embodiments of the present invention, the resources of the compensation cell occupied by the user equipment of the energy-saving cell may be reflected, thereby improving accuracy of load compensation.
US09143969B2
The transmission of a reference signal, such as a CSI-RS, is enabled while maintaining a power saving effect when performing inter-cell cooperative transmission/reception or the like in a plurality of cells. In order to realize inter-cell cooperative transmission/reception, a CSI-RS which is used for estimating the state of a spatial propagation path of a communication line is generated by a CSI-RS generation unit, and the CSI-RS is disposed in a predetermined subframe by a disposition unit and transmitted. At this time, when a frame has ten subframes #0 to #9, the CSI-RS is disposed in the subframes #4 and #9, which are subframes excluding the subframes #0 and #5 incapable of transmitting a CSI-RS and are subframes other than subframes capable of acting as MBSFN subframes when discontinuous communication (Extended Cell DTX) is performed so as to achieve power saving, and transmitted.
US09143968B1
In some aspects, a wireless-spectrum analysis system is described. In some examples, the wireless-spectrum analysis system includes wireless-spectrum analysis devices distributed at distinct locations over a geographic region. The wireless-spectrum analysis devices are configured to concurrently monitor wireless-spectrum usage at each distinct location. Each wireless-spectrum analysis device is configured to transmit, from the wireless-spectrum analysis device, spectral-usage parameters identified by the wireless-spectrum analysis device based on wireless signals detected by the wireless-spectrum analysis device at its distinct location. The wireless-spectrum analysis system further includes a data aggregation system configured to aggregate the spectral-usage parameters transmitted from the wireless-spectrum analysis devices.
US09143952B2
A device for detecting RF power information, for use as a stand alone purpose built device, or connectable to an external computing instrument such as a laptop, PDA, or cell phone, or other similarly capable technology. The device scans two or more bands in the wireless frequency and provides output to the user with wireless information about multiple bands of information.
US09143948B2
The embodiments herein relate to a method in a first network node for measuring processing power in a second network node in a communications network. The first network node obtains a signaling load value associated with a procedure, which procedure is triggered by a message. Based on the obtained signaling load value, the first network node measures the processing power of the second network node.
US09143940B2
A generation unit generates the wireless network connection setting information from the first information based on the conversion rule. The encoding unit encodes the first information to generate a code image. A display unit displays the code image. An imaging unit captures the code image. A decoding unit decodes the code image captured by the imaging unit and acquires the first information. A second storage unit stores a conversion rule that is the same as the conversion rule stored in the storage unit. A second generation unit generates the wireless network connection setting information from the first information acquired by the decoding unit based on the conversion rule stored in the second storage unit. A communication unit connects to a wireless network using the wireless network connection setting information generated by the second generation unit.
US09143935B2
A counter status that is allocated to a communication terminal and a base station is usually deleted when the storage space in the respective base station is used up. To address this, the counter status is saved in an additional communication network element when a predefinable criterion is met, and can thus be retrieved.
US09143921B2
Methods, systems, and devices are described for communicating physical layer wireless parameters over an application programming interface. A wireless modem of a wireless device may measure at least one physical layer wireless parameter. The wireless modem may report the at least one physical layer wireless parameter to an application running on the wireless device over an application programming interface between the wireless modem and the application. A behavior of the application may be adapted to control wireless communications between the application and a network based on the at least one physical layer wireless parameter reported by the wireless modem. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.
US09143918B2
The present invention provides a method for improving Network Discovery and Selection suitable for a UE which is moving into a new TA, which comprises: receiving, by a MMF, a TAU request including the new TA from the UE; allocating, by the MMF, a new TA List according to the new TA in the TAU request; sending, by the MMF, the new TA List to the UE; sending, by the MMF, a TA information to a Mobility Policy Function, MPF, for updating mobility policy of the UE if the new TA is a special TA covered by different networks.
US09143908B2
A message distribution center (MDC) and Intelligent Delivery Agent are implemented in a wireless Internet gateway interposed between content providers and a wireless carrier to subjectively examine and direct messages via SMTP based on desired rules (non-peak hours, paying subscribers only, etc.) using standard SMTP Gateway and other well-known protocols. The MDC includes an individual queue for each subscriber, and the provider is informed through conventional SMTP protocol messages that the short message has been accepted. If the carrier has specifically disallowed service for a particular MIN (in the case of churning), then the content provider is informed through an SMTP interchange that the recipient is invalid.
US09143902B2
A method and apparatus for creating a communication group for a given type of communication using a mobile station for initiating communication sessions of the given type among mobile stations are disclosed. A group definition for determining members of the new communication group is composed from one or more contacts from the electronic address book such as by selecting from the address book using the mobile station. The group definition may include logical operators to define the combination of contacts. A name may be specified for the new group. The assembly of the list of members may be performed by the mobile station, a communication network server for maintaining groups (e.g. a Group and List Management Server (GLMS)) or an email server.
US09143900B2
A system and method for providing traffic notifications to mobile devices is provided. The system obtains device data from a plurality of mobile devices within a similar area, gathered using, e.g., a GPS system. According to the speed that the mobile devices are travelling and the location of the similar area, traffic events can be identified and other mobile devices notified to provide dynamic updates as traffic situations change. Follow up notifications can be provided to update the user regarding the progress of traffic congestion, detours can be suggested, and various alerts provided. The mobile device may be connected to or part of a vehicle and leverage the notification system to provide different types of alerts and to notify users using various mechanisms.
US09143894B2
A mechanism is described for facilitating proximity and context-based deduction of global positioning of computing devices according to one embodiment of the invention. A method of embodiments of the invention includes detecting wireless proximity of a plurality of computing devices with respect to a computing device, and selecting one or more of the plurality of computing devices based on their detected proximity to the computing device. The method may further include receiving contextual information from the one or more computing devices, and semantically deducing location of the computing device based on the received contextual information.
US09143891B2
A method for providing a location service for a roaming terminal includes: receiving a start message for starting a location service from a terminal in a situation in which a session for the location service is ongoing; transmitting, by the terminal, a roaming location service start message including an indication parameter for requesting information required for an intended location measurement method and the start message to a server of a network the terminal is visiting; receiving a roaming location service start response message including a start response message and the requested information from the server; and transferring the start response message in the received location service start response message to the terminal.
US09143886B1
A provisioning server comprising at least one processor, at least one memory area, at least one communications interface for sending and receiving data, and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions, when executed by the processor, receive and store mobile device data related to at least one of a mobile device reference number and a mobile device configuration, receive and store pre-provisioning data from at least one of a customer, a buyer, an equipment manufacturer, and a wireless service provider, and store instructions related to an activation event for a mobile device, wherein the activation event occurs in response to the mobile device being powered on for the first time.
US09143883B2
The present disclosure discloses a method and digital device for improving performance in discovery stage of fast roaming. A disclosed digital device switches from a first wireless communication channel to a second wireless communication channel; transmits, on the second wireless communication channel, a request message comprising a designated field; and switches from the second wireless communication channel to the first wireless communication channel prior to receiving a response message corresponding to the request message on the second wireless communication channel. A network device receives the request message from a client device on the second wireless communication channel. The request message is associated with a first signal strength level. The network device determines that the request message includes a designated field; and transmits a response message to the client device via a different communication interface, such as a wired or wireless distribution system, or the client device's data transmission channel.
US09143882B2
The invention relates to a method and an system for displaying viewscreen information on a display in a mobile communication device, wherein the viewscreen information is related to information shown on a viewscreen, wherein the method comprise the steps of determining a direction to the viewscreen from the mobile communication device, communicating the determined direction to a server, determining, in the server, viewscreen information based on the direction to the viewscreen, wherein the viewscreen information is related to information displayed on the viewscreen, receiving viewscreen information from the server in the mobile communication device and displaying the viewscreen information on the display in the mobile communication device.
US09143881B2
Systems, methods, and devices that provide interactive services relating to an information presentation to user equipment (UE) are presented. A presentation management component (PMC) provides at least a portion of the information presentation to one or more UEs, which can be integrated with the PMC, to facilitate enabling one or more UE users to use interactive services in relation to a tour of a point(s) of interest associated with the PMC. The interactive services comprise, for example, broadcast communications to desired UEs in a tour group, UE clustering, customized tour recommendations, whiteboard feature, note-taking functions, “slow down” option, and “raise hand” option. Respective UEs in a group are configured to be a master UE, sub-master UE, or slave UE, wherein the master UE at least partially controls communications of the other UEs in the group, and the sub-master UE at least partially controls communications of UEs in a sub-group.
US09143867B2
Provided is an electronic device including: a piezoelectric element; a vibration plate to which the piezoelectric element is joined for vibration; and a housing to which the vibration plate is joined. Vibration sound, which is transmitted by vibrating a part of a human body, is generated by the vibration plate. The vibration plate includes, in a plan view thereof, a first area including a joining portion with the piezoelectric element and a second area located further away from the joining portion than the first area is, and rigidity in a first area is lower than rigidity in the second area. With the above configuration, sound leakage or the like is reduced, and usability of the electronic device is improved.
US09143866B2
A support member for a voice coil former in an audio transducer is described. The support member comprises a bridge between the inner surface of the voice coil former and a radiating surface, such as a diaphragm or cone, which is disposed in the center of the voice coil former. The support member provides added rigidity to reduce wobble during operation of the transducer.
US09143859B2
Technology for grouping, consolidating, and pairing individual playback devices with network capability (players) to stimulate a multi-channel listening environment is disclosed. Particularly, the embodiments described herein enable two or more playback devices to be paired, such that multi-channel audio is achieved. Such embodiments may be used to produce stereo and multi-channel audio environments for television and movies.
US09143852B2
A stateless cord management device for storage and deployment of a cord, cable, or wire comprises a body having a sidewall with oppositely disposed open ends. A channel is at least partially defined by the sidewall and disposed therethrough between the oppositely disposed open ends. An access opening extends longitudinally along and through the sidewall between the oppositely disposed open ends of the sidewall. The access opening is at least partially defined by cooperatively disposed and abutting free ends of the sidewall, the free ends being at least partially separable from one another permitting access into the channel.
US09143848B2
A head-mounted wearable device assembly is provided that includes a bone conduction transducer (BCT) and an elastomeric isolation member that provides acoustic isolation between the BCT and a housing of the head-mounted wearable device assembly. The elastomeric isolation member may be a polyurethane material having a hardness (durometer) on the order of 60 A. The material arrangement and durometer may be chosen to provide a frequency response and/or acoustic leakage within a predetermined range, which results in high quality sound reproduction for the wearer. The elastomeric isolation member may be secured to an interior portion of the housing by a pair of mounting posts. The elastomeric isolation member physically and acoustically separates the BCT from the interior of the housing and other components therein.
US09143835B2
A preview and playback method of video streams is provided for a video playback device having network function. The method includes defining a virtual channel and a preview channel corresponding to the virtual channel. A video stream list of the virtual channel is established for linking a plurality of video streams. A preview list is established and description information of each of the preview data corresponding to the video streams is recorded in the preview list. When the video playback device receives a preview channel selection instruction, the preview data is obtained automatically and played continuously. When the video playback device receives a preview data selection instruction, the video stream corresponding to the preview data being selected is recognized as a selected video stream. The preview channel is switched to the virtual channel, and the selected video stream is obtained from a video stream service and played automatically.
US09143826B2
Systems and methods are provided for cross-platform rendering of video content on a user-computing platform that is one type of a plurality of different user-computing platform types. A script is transmitted to the user-computing platform and is interpreted by an application program compiled to operate on any one of the plurality of user-computing platform types. Transmitting the script causes the script to be interpreted by the application program operating on the user-computing platform to cause the interpreted script to directly decode encoded video data transmitted or otherwise accessible to the user-computing platform into decoded video data and to further cause the rendering of the decoded video data.
US09143822B2
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for transceiving a broadcast signal. A method for receiving a broadcast signal comprises the following steps: extracting, from the received broadcast signal, a broadcast stream including at least one program, first program table information for indicating the broadcast stream, and second program table information for indicating the correlation among a plurality of programs provided using at least one broadcast service; parsing the broadcast stream using the extracted first program table information; and acquiring, using the extracted second program table information, information on the group to which the plurality of programs belong.
US09143818B1
Remote media access is facilitated. According to an example embodiment, remote-user media access is facilitated using media provided by a subscriber media source, over a packet-based network. This access is facilitated in an environment involving subscriber users that provide media for transfer over a packet-based network to a remote device. A host server receives a request for access to media content provided by a subscriber. The request is authorized as a function of authorization criteria. In response to the request being authorized, a media source associated with the subscriber is controlled to provide requested media for access at a remote device. A media player is displayed at the remote device, and the media is provided for access via the media player.
US09143816B2
Techniques and mechanisms are provided for sending targeted content and data to mobile devices. Location information associated with a device is determined. In some instances, the location information is manually entered. In other instances, the location information is determined automatically from characteristics associated with the device. Location information can be obtained from global positioning system (GPS) data, cell-site triangulation, Internet Protocol (IP) address detection, etc. Content and advertising can be provided in a location relevant manner to the mobile device.
US09143799B2
A video processing system, method and computer program storage device cooperate to provide a resource and performance efficient sub-pixel motion search operation. Using on the fly calculations it is possible to provide approximations of sub-pixel positions on one image with respect to another image in an image sequence. A sub-pixel position used to set a motion vector for an encoding process may then be identified with reduced processing and memory resources relative to conventional techniques. Also, by later performing a full encoding cost analysis on the earlier identified sub-pixel position, and keeping track of differences, an interpolation accuracy may be dynamically improved by applying the differences to subsequent image frames.
US09143798B2
An apparatus for coding an image is provided to effectively code the image. The apparatus for coding the image includes an input image segmentation unit to segment an input image into a plurality of image blocks including a first image block and a second image block. The apparatus also includes a waveform information generation unit to select a plurality of reference pixels from among pixels included in the first image block, generate first waveform information about the first image block based on a pixel value difference between the selected plurality of reference pixels, and generate second waveform information about the second image block based on a pixel value difference between the pixels included in the second image block. The apparatus also includes a coding unit to code an image included in the second image block based on the first waveform information and the second waveform information.
US09143780B1
An apparatus includes a processor, a graphics processing unit and a memory. The memory stores computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions include a motion estimation kernel which when executed by the graphics processing unit performs motion estimation on a current frame using a reference frame. The current frame and the reference frame are stored in a globally shared memory of the graphics processing unit.
US09143775B2
Method of evaluating a defect of quality in a data signal, associated device and computer program. The method evaluates the defect of a carrier signal bearing data intended to be restored to a recipient, the signal including a video component and audio component. The method includes the following steps implemented on at least one sample of the signal: detection of a defect in the video component of the sample and calculation of a duration associated with the defect; assigning a class of defect to the defect detected as a function of its associated duration; according to the class of defect assigned, obtaining a result of searching for a defect in the audio component at the instants corresponding to the sample; deciding to confirm the detection of a defect of quality in the sequence as a function of the result of the search for a defect in the audio component.
US09143773B2
A video signal fault detection system includes a front-end device and a back-end device. The back-end device includes: a quality evaluation unit generating a quality evaluation result associated with successive image frames captured by an image capturing device of the front-end device and transmitted through a transmission channel; a recognition unit generating, based on the quality evaluation result, a recognition output indicating a non-corruption condition or a corruption type of each transmitted image frame; and an inference unit inferring, based on a predetermined lookup table and a determination output generated based on the recognition output, whether each of the transmission channel and the image capturing device is normal or not.
US09143768B2
In a mobile phone 1, when displaying content received from a television broadcast receiving section 17 or the like in a display section 19 capable of three-dimensional display, a central controlling section 11 judges the suitability in 3D display of the content based on the reception condition at the time of the content reception, and displays the content in the display section 19 in accordance with display control determined based on the suitability in 3D display. As a result, a suitable display ranging from an easy-to-view 2D display to a realistic 3D display is actualized based on a reception condition of content.
US09143751B2
A content player includes a pausable mass storage device player that can be used to record and play content. The pausable mass storage device can become paused in response to an assertion of a pause signal. Once paused, the content player remains paused until the pause signal is deasserted. The content player also includes an event detector that is coupled to the pausable mass storage device player. The content player detects a non-viewer initiated event, (e.g., an automatic event such as the receipt of an email with embedded enhanced content), and to assert the pause signal in response thereto. The content player receives content, detects an event, and in response to detecting the event, pauses the content to a presentation device and spools the content onto the mass storage device.
US09143743B2
A method, system, and medium are provided for remotely monitoring a surveillance area, including deploying a ruggedized, secure enclosure that includes a controller coupled to a switch, a router, and a video-server appliance within the enclosure, the controller configured to provide remote operation and status information by way of a graphical user interface presentable via a remote server coupled to the router via a wireless link, wherein each of the controller, switch, router, and video-server appliance is configured to be powered by a battery; by way of a communications path to a remote computing device, sending video information received by one or more cameras coupled to the enclosure; and periodically sending data through a wireless portion of the communications path even if no video information is sent through the wireless portion.
US09143734B2
A method and system for storing a file on a portable device 36 includes a display 30, a digital video recorder 32, a first control device 80 and a controller 200 coupled to the digital video recorder. The controller generates a screen display having a selector for selecting a file to transfer. Upon selecting a file to transfer, storing the file on the portable device 36 and storing license information in a memory 210 of the portable storage device.
US09143730B2
An information processing apparatus, communicatively connectable to a first transmission terminal, and communicatively connectable with a second transmission terminal via a network and to a first display device, includes a display control unit that displays a region in a screen of a second display device; a bandwidth determination unit that determines whether bandwidth for communication between the transmission terminals is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold; an acquisition region reception unit that receives a selection for selecting at least one of first display data displayed in an entire region of the screen and second display data displayed in an active region in the screen, according to the determination; a resolution conversion unit that converts a resolution of the selected display data based on resolutions of the first and second display devices; and a display data transmission unit that transmits the display data to the first transmission terminal.
US09143722B2
In one embodiment, a method includes constructing at a source node, a session description pointer to a session description for a media session, inserting the session description pointer in a packet in a media stream of the media session, and transmitting the packet to a receiver node. The session description pointer is configured for use in obtaining the session description by an intermediate node located between the source node and the receiver node. An apparatus is also disclosed.
US09143717B2
A broadcast receiver and method of providing a preferred channel thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes receiving a program of the preferred channel (52) set by a user among a plurality of broadcast channels, transforming an image of the received program of the preferred channel into a reduced image (54) and storing the reduced image per the preferred channel. Accordingly, when a turn-on mode of the broadcast receiver is switched to a turn-off mode (56) of the broadcast receiver, when a turn-off mode (56) of the broadcast receiver is switched to a turn-on mode of the broadcast receiver, or when a display of a preferred channel is requested in a turned-on mode, a per preferred channel reduced image is displayed as OSD (60) on a currently viewed image. So, a user is facilitated to recognize and select a program received on the preferred channel without blocking the currently viewed image.
US09143692B2
In an imaging apparatus of the present invention, when an instruction to perform image capturing is made during a monitoring operation of waiting for an image capture instruction while causing a live view image to be displayed, development processing for generating a recording image for recording from a RAW image captured by an image pickup element is started, and continuously performed concurrently with the monitoring operation. Then, after the development processing performed concurrently with the monitoring operation is completed, the recording image obtained by the development processing is recorded. Also, when the monitoring operation is being performed, the processing status of the development processing being performed is judged, and the judged processing status of the development processing is displayed together with the live view image while the monitoring operation is being performed.
US09143681B1
A system and method for accessing a media item on a mobile device are described. The mobile device includes a media placement application and a media display application. The media placement application receives a selection of a media item generated by the mobile device. The media placement application generates access conditions for the media item based on geolocation and position information of the mobile device associated with the selected media item. The media display application monitors the geolocation and position of the mobile device and determines whether the geolocation and position of the mobile device meet the access conditions of the selected media item. The media display application generates a notification that the selected media item is available to view in a display of the mobile device in response to determining that the geolocation and position of the mobile device meet the access conditions of the selected media item.
US09143673B2
An imaging device includes a first pixel array arrange to capture a first image and a second pixel array arranged to capture a second image. The first pixel array and the second pixel array face substantially a same direction. The imaging device also includes shutter control circuitry which is coupled to the first pixel array to initiate a first exposure period of the first pixel array to capture the first image. The shutter control circuitry is also coupled to the second pixel array to initiate a second exposure period of the second pixel array to capture the second image. The imaging device also includes processing logic coupled to receive first pixel data of the first image and coupled to receive second pixel data of the second image. The processing logic is configured to generate at least one image using the first pixel data and the second pixel data.
US09143661B2
A balanced, modular camera mounting apparatus providing near hands free support and positioning of a mounted camera with infinite adjustment capability. The apparatus is comprised of a shoulder brace, at least one intermediate assembly plate, a camera mount plate, and a weight/accessory box. The shoulder brace includes curvature both longitudinally and laterally to ergonomically conform to the shoulder of the user. The rear end of the shoulder brace can be straight or curved and also includes a slot to adjustably connect the weight/accessory box. The shoulder brace further includes nonslip padding. Intermediate assembly plates vary in shape and size to allow for myriad adjustments providing balance and positioning according to a desired use. The camera mount plate is attached to an intermediate assembly plate. The weight/accessory box may contain extra assembly plates, camera equipment, or bagged weights as a counterbalance. Components are releasably attached to each other with hand-tightened thumbscrews.
US09143660B2
An image pickup system includes a lens apparatus, and an image pickup apparatus to which the lens apparatus is detachably attached. The image pickup apparatus controller changes a cycle of a control reference signal for internal processing of the image pickup apparatus, and sends a command of changing the cycle of the control reference signal to the lens controller in synchronization with a post-change control reference signal. The lens controller that has received the command changes the cycle of the control reference signal when the lens apparatus is ready to change the cycle of the control reference signal, and sends to the image pickup apparatus controller information representing whether the lens controller has been able to follow the change of the cycle of the control reference signal.
US09143655B2
A receiver is configured to receive input of authentication information of a user. A communicator is configured to perform communication with a server that performs user authentication. An image processor has at least one image processing function. A memory stores authentication information of the user and stores instructions. A processor performs: a selection process of selecting which of the server and the image processing apparatus itself performs the user authentication, based on the authentication information received by the receiver; an authentication process of causing an apparatus selected in the selection process to perform the user authentication based on the authentication information received by the receiver; and a permission process of permitting the image processor to perform image processing if the user authentication by the authentication process succeeds and prohibiting the image processor from performing image processing if the user authentication by the authentication process fails.
US09143653B2
An image processing apparatus includes an input image acquiring module for acquiring a first input image generated by reading one side of a document and a second input image generated by reading the other side of the document, a binarized image generator for generating a first binarized image by binarizing the first input image and a second binarized image by binarizing the second input image, an expanded image generator for generating an expanded image containing an expanded pixel obtained by expanding a valid pixel contained in the first binarized image, and a show-through position identifying module for identifying a show-through position in the second input image, based on the second binarized image and the expanded image.
US09143649B2
An image forming system includes a plurality of image forming devices connected in data communication with each other via a network. Each of the image forming devices includes a storage unit, an operational unit, and a controller. If one user logs into a first image forming device among the image forming devices, a controller of the first image forming device checks for the existence of a second image forming device into which the user has logged. If the controller of the first image forming device determines the second image forming device into which the user has logged, the controller transmits a logout instruction of the user to the second image forming device.
US09143647B2
An image reading apparatus includes a document cover, a cover state detector that detects whether the document cover is open or closed, an image reading unit that reads an image by conducting an optical scan that moves a scanning body with a mounted light source, detecting reflected light from the target object with a photoelectric transducer, and outputting a signal expressing the detected pixel densities, a white reference plate used as a reference for correcting an image, a power manager that switches between a power-saving state and a standby state, and a controller that controls the respective units such that in the case of restoring the standby state due to detecting the opening or closing of the document cover, an image of a document is read to detect the document size, and an image of the white reference plate is read after the detection to acquire correction values.
US09143643B2
An image processing device first displays a first screen when first screen information is acquired. The image processing device displays a second screen when a screen change instruction is given from the user in a state in which the first screen is displayed on the display unit. The image processing device executes the image processing related to an object option when the target option is selected in a state in which the second screen is displayed. The image processing device displays the second screen including the option information when the second screen information is acquired after the image processing is executed.
US09143620B2
Methods, devices, and storage media provide for receiving a request to use a multiparty service offered by autonomous devices; determining whether persistence information exists that indicates one of the autonomous devices to which the request is to be routed; selecting one of the autonomous devices to transmit the request in response to determining that persistence information does not exist, and wherein the device has no knowledge which of the autonomous devices is to accept the request; transmitting the request; receiving a response; recognizing whether the request is accepted based on the response; storing persistence information indicating the one of the autonomous devices is servicing the request; and using the persistence information to transmit a subsequent request to use the multiparty service to the one of the autonomous devices, wherein the subsequent request pertains to a same session of the multiparty service as the request.
US09143619B2
Methods and systems to facilitate real time communications via a telephonic apparatuses that support data communications. In one embodiment, a telephonic apparatus includes: a network interface to submit a query over a data communication network and to receive a listing with embedded information about the query; and a call module coupled to the network interface, the call module to embed the information about the query in a call signaling message for a telephonic connection according to the listing.
US09143615B2
A system and method for providing call-back options is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a call in a call routing system, providing at least one call-back option for a caller to receive a call-back, re-allocating resources in the call routing system based at least in part on the at least one call-back option, and calling the caller based on the at least one call-back option. The caller may specify a specific time, a relative time, or a time range when a call-back is preferred. The caller may also specify one or more telephone numbers in combination with the time preferences. The call-back may be initiated by a voice response unit (VRU) and additional call-back options may be presented to the customer who responds to the call-back.
US09143600B2
Implementations disclose a single button mobile telephone using server-based call routing. A method of an implementation of the disclosure includes receiving, by a processing device, datasets from an apparatus worn by a user, wherein the datasets correspond to an event experienced by the user, in response to a signal to initiate a communication with the user, analyzing, by the processing device, the datasets to determine a type of the event, identifying, by the processing device, one of a plurality of destinations based on the analysis of the datasets and the determined type of the event, and routing, by the processing device, the signal to the identified destination.
US09143596B2
A voice communication apparatus is provided. The voice communication apparatus includes a control unit, a hand-held voice transceiver, a position status detector, a first switch and a one-way signal transmitter. The position status detector generates status information by detecting a position status of the hand-held voice transceiver. The first switch turns on or cuts off a connection path between the hand-held voice transceiver and the control unit according to the status information. The one-way signal transmitter is coupled between the position status detector and the control unit, and transmits the status information to the control unit.
US09143595B1
An overall wireless broadcast system utilizing headphones that react in terms of light colors and light impulses when attuned to specific broadcast channels is provided. Such a system provides a unique performance capability in relation to the whims and selections of headphone wearers and listeners at an event with multiple attendees, ostensibly creating a spontaneous, continually changing visual result for spectators and participants alike. The headphones utilized for such a purpose are particularly adapted to allow for channel selections based upon different broadcast music possibilities (such as from a DJ or music device located in sufficiently close proximity for a headphone wearer to receive the broadcast signal to the degree that the broadcast music can be properly heard within the headphones themselves) such that the headphones themselves become modified in their own presentation based upon such a channel selection. The headphone modifications at a minimum require outward displays of luminescent color of at least the ear pieces (and may include the headband portion as well) thereof, as well as impulses of such color attenuated to reflect the rhythm of the selected broadcast music received by the headphones themselves. In essence, a wearer (listener) has the ability to select different broadcast music not only to allow for their own listening pleasure, but the outward appearance of the headphones in relation to such a selection provides a unique visual view to other listeners and/or spectators, as well. The entire multi-listener system utilizing such multi-channel and multi-color headphones is encompassed within this invention as well.
US09143594B2
The present disclosure relates to devices, systems and methods for programming base units of communication headset systems with new or updated configuration parameters by a portable or handheld programming unit.
US09143593B2
An addressee information notification system includes an application server which, based on an addressee number requested by an incoming call connection request, selects one transfer destination terminal from plural alternative transfer destination terminals associated with the addressee number, and transfers the call connection request to the selected terminal, and plural terminals configured as alternative transfer destinations. The application server includes an addressee information attachment section that attaches addressee information in the form of the addressee number or identification information associated with the addressee number to the call connection request to be transferred to the selected terminal. At least one of the plural terminals has an addressee information output section that, when a call connection request is provided to that terminal from the application server, outputs the addressee information attached to the call connection request before the terminal is taken off-hook.
US09143584B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a message synchronization method, apparatus and system. The method includes: obtaining a first sending time stamp transmitted on a main link and a second sending time stamp transmitted on a backup link respectively; calculating to obtain a time difference according to the first sending time stamp and the second sending time stamp; adding bytes to the first message transmitted on the main link and the first message transmitted on the backup link, and form second messages to be transmitted on the main link and the backup link respectively; and sending the second messages to a receiving end on the main link and the backup link respectively.
US09143574B2
A presence system and method are disclosed. The system comprises, intercommunicated: presentities E1, E2, E3 that provide presence notifications N1, N2, N3; a watcher W able to observe, when received, the presence notifications N1, N2, N3; and a presence service PS that receives the presence notifications N1, N2, N3 and delivers it to the watcher W, which is subscribed to the presence service PS. The presence service PS is able to acquire information about an idle, on-hold or suspended state of the presence subscription of the watcher W, and automatically delivers the presence notifications N1, N2, N3 to the watcher W only when he is not in the idle, on-hold or suspended state. The method is applied to carry out the necessary actions for operating the system proposed.
US09143573B2
In one embodiment, a method includes accessing an image portraying at least a first person, accessing a social graph, determining a social-graph affinity for a first set of users, determining a facial-recognition scores for the first set of users based on the social-graph affinity for each user and a facial-representation associated with each user, where the facial-representation for each user is compared with the image, and generating one or more tag suggestions for the first person portrayed in the image based on the facial-recognition scores.
US09143571B2
A method for identifying mobile devices in a similar sound environment is disclosed. Each of at least two mobile devices captures an input sound and extracts a sound signature from the input sound. Further, the mobile device extracts a sound feature from the input sound and determines a reliability value based on the sound feature. The reliability value may refer to a probability of a normal sound class given the sound feature. A server receives a packet including the sound signatures and reliability values from the mobile devices. A similarity value between sound signatures from a pair of the mobile devices is determined based on corresponding reliability values from the pair of mobile devices. Specifically, the sound signatures are weighted by the corresponding reliability values. The server identifies mobile devices in a similar sound environment based on the similarity values.
US09143570B2
Sharing a desktop screen is implemented on a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) web server using variable interval GET and POST requests. Connection to a web server bypasses firewall or shared IP limitations. In the described HTTP/HTTPS only solution, an existing web server is used to allow one or more clients to view a remote computer's screen and control it (remoting). The web server can act as an intermediary to enable one computer to “take control” of a second computer by enabling the first computer (a client) to view the desktop session of the second computer (a host) and enable the first computer to act as master for input device input (e.g., keyboard input, mouse input, stylus input, etc.) for the second computer.
US09143562B2
In a method for managing transfer of data from a source machine cluster to a destination machine cluster, information relevant to the transfer of data from the source machine cluster to the destination machine cluster is accessed. In addition, a data transfer operation that substantially optimizes the transfer of the data based upon the accessed information is determined. Furthermore, the determined data transfer operation is implemented to transfer the data from the source machine cluster to the destination machine cluster.
US09143555B1
A method for managing assets for a content item to be displayed on at least one client computing device having a display is provided. Additionally, a server computing device for managing assets for a content item to be displayed on at least one client computing device having a display is provided. Additionally, a computer-readable storage device having processor-executable instructions embodied thereon is provided. The processor-executable instructions are for managing assets for a content item to be displayed on at least one client computing device having a display.
US09143553B2
A method of transferring data using a Trivial File Transport Protocol (TFTP) includes sending first request packet from client to server, first request packet requesting that first file be transferred; transferring first file according to first request packet if first acknowledgement packet is received at client from server indicating that server can accommodate request of first request packet; sending second request packet from client to the server if transfer of first file does not complete successfully, the second request packet including TFTP option indicating that transfer of first file be retried beginning at first block after final block that was successfully transferred in response to first request packet; and retrying transfer of first file according to second request packet if second acknowledgement packet is received at client from server indicating that server can accommodate request of second request packet.
US09143550B2
Systems, methods, and apparatus for enabling communications between a client and server are herein disclosed such that a connection between the client and server can be switched from a persistent to a nonpersistent connection. Persistent connections tend to drain battery power and cause other degradations, and thus switching to nonpersistent connections, at least temporarily, can preserve battery power and enable other advantages.
US09143546B2
Systems and methods for providing accelerated transmission of broadcast data, such as financial data and news feeds, over a communication channel using data compression and decompression to provide secure transmission and transparent multiplication of communication bandwidth, as well as reduce the latency associated with data transmission of conventional systems.
US09143543B2
A method for multi-streaming multimedia content data over a network to affiliated client devices is provided. A manifest including a list of Universal Resource Indicators (URIs) for different segments of multimedia content data for selected primary multimedia content and a list of URIs for different segments of multimedia content data for at least one alternate multimedia content related to and different from the selected primary multimedia content is built and made available for download over the network with a transfer protocol. Synchronization of display of the selected primary multimedia content on a primary display and display of the at least one alternate content on the at least one auxiliary client device is thereby enabled. A system for streaming multimedia data over a network to affiliated client devices is also disclosed.
US09143539B2
Techniques for inter-user equipment (UE) transfer (IUT) are disclosed. An application server receives an IUT request for transfer of a media session toward at least one UE such that a media stream is played by at least two UEs that are geographically separated after the transfer. The application server triggers inter-destination media synchronization (IDMS) for group synchronization of the media session among the UEs. The media stream may be anchored at a media server, and a media synchronization application server for the IDMS may be running at the media server. Alternatively, the media stream may be anchored at a media resource function (MRF), and a media synchronization application server for the IDMS may be running at the MRF.
US09143535B1
A method of creating a projection of a situational network includes creating, by an event node server, an event node in a multi-dimensional personal information network, where the event node corresponds to a situation. A projection of nodes of the situational network is formed using geographic locations of a plurality of devices corresponding to nodes in the multi-dimensional personal information network. An invitation is transmitted to establish a link with the event node server to the devices corresponding to each node in the projection. A response is received from at least one of the devices accepting the invitation to establish a link with the event node server. A link with each device accepting the invitation is established.
US09143526B2
Methods and systems for content filtering of remote file-system access protocols are provided. According to one embodiment, a remote file-system access protocol response is received at a network device logically interposed between one or more clients and a server. The response represents a response to a request from one of the clients relating to a file associated with a share of the server. A determination is made whether a holding buffer corresponding to the file exists. If not, then one is created; otherwise, the existing holding buffer is used for any of the clients or processes running on the clients that access the file. Data read from or written to the file as a result of the request is buffered into the holding buffer. The existence or non-existence of malicious, dangerous or unauthorized content contained within the holding buffer is determined by performing content filtering on the holding buffer.
US09143522B2
In some embodiments, heuristic botnet detection is provided. In some embodiments, heuristic botnet detection includes monitoring network traffic to identify suspicious network traffic; and detecting a bot based on a heuristic analysis of the suspicious network traffic behavior using a processor, in which the suspicious network traffic behavior includes command and control traffic associated with a bot master. In some embodiments, heuristic botnet detection further includes assigning a score to the monitored network traffic, in which the score corresponds to a botnet risk characterization of the monitored network traffic (e.g., based on one or more heuristic botnet detection techniques); increasing the score based on a correlation of additional suspicious behaviors associated with the monitored network traffic (e.g., based on one or more heuristic botnet detection techniques); and determining the suspicious behavior is associated with a botnet based on the score.
US09143509B2
A system for assessing a computer device's state may collect state data about the device, then assess the state with respect to the policy for granting one or more claims. Each claim may be defined by a set of requirements that, if fulfilled, may be used to permit or deny access to a resource, such as an application, network, data, or other resource. A collection engine may reside on the device or other location and may collect requested data, and some collection engines may be extensible with a plugin architecture for expansion. A server may receive information from the device to evaluate claims. Depending on the use scenario, the claim results may be incorporated into communications and passed to an evaluator that may produce an access token which is used to permit or deny access based on the claim results.
US09143508B2
A computer is configured to receive a request to access an application, the request having a header. The header includes a source address and an encrypted address generated based on the source address. The computer is further configured to generate a decrypted address from the encrypted address. The computer is further configured to determine whether the source address and the decrypted address match, transmit the source address to a data store, and determine whether a customer profile corresponding to the source address is found within the data store.
US09143506B2
Systems and methods of identifying biometric information as trusted and authenticating persons using trusted biometric information are provided. Biometric information can be identified as trusted by comparing it to other biometric information and/or based on the age of the biometric information and/or receiving correct answers to questions based on personal information. Once biometric information has been identified as trusted it can be used as part of an authentication process by receiving biometric information from a person to be authenticated and comparing the received biometric information with the trusted biometric information.
US09143492B2
Systems and methods for a secure soft token solution applicable to multiple platforms and usage scenarios are provided. According to one embodiment a method is provided for soft token management. A mobile device of a user of a secure network resource receives and installs a soft token application. A unique device ID of the mobile device is programmatically obtained by the soft token application. A seed for generating a soft token for accessing the secure network resource is requested by the soft token application. Responsive to receipt of the seed by the soft token application, the soft token is generated based on the seed and the soft token is bound to the mobile device by encrypting the seed with the unique device ID and a hardcoded pre-shared key.
US09143489B2
An improved system and method are disclosed for peer-to-peer communications. In one example, the method enables endpoints to securely send and receive messages to one another within a hybrid peer-to-peer environment.
US09143488B2
A method for encrypting application layer packets, including UDPTL data used by T.38 FOIP devices, for securing transmission of Fax communications over the Internet. In one embodiment, a client side SIPCryptAgent is provided and operably installed on the user's Fax or Voice over IP server/device. Similarly, a server side SIPCryptAgent is installed on the SBC servers at the service provider. The client side SIPCryptAgent acts as a proxy for the Fax device thereby receiving all data sent out by the Fax device and encrypting the SIP and media packets of the Fax device using a lightweight protocol before sending them to the SBC servers. Similarly, the server side acts as a proxy for the SBC servers and encrypts outgoing data and decrypts incoming data so that the exchange of data over the Internet between the client side CryptAgent and the server side CryptAgent is done in a secure, encrypted and real time manner.
US09143486B2
According to one embodiment, there is provided a communication device including a first communication layer receiving processor to perform a receiving process on a first communication layer on data received from a first communication device. The first communication layer receiving processor includes a first key identifying unit to identify, a key required to process the data; a first attribute identifying unit to identify, pursuant to key data, first attribute information that is attribute information associated with the key as identified; and a data processor to process the data using the key as identified. The data processed by the data processor and the first attribute information are passed to a second communication layer processor configured to perform a process on a second communication layer.
US09143479B2
Methods and apparatuses for a network element having DHCP proxy functionality are described. According to one embodiment, an exemplary method includes receiving, at a network element, a request for an IP address from a subscriber, in response to the request, on behalf of the subscriber, communicating with one or more IP address providers over a network to process the request, and responding to the subscriber with respect to the request as if the network element is an IP address provider, on behalf of the one or more IP address providers.
US09143478B2
This invention is an email system that replaces every URL, attachment and image in the email message with a short URL, where the original URL, attachment or image is publicly accessible through the short URL. The system further includes the short URL in the public profile associated with the email address of the sender and also publishes the most popular short URLs in the system.
US09143475B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a unified messaging proxy and a method thereof. The unified messaging proxy advantageously enables a user to be communicatively coupled with the same account on a messaging platform using multiple end user devices at the same time, allowing the user to read messages on a first end user device and send messages from a second end user device. The unified messaging proxy manages the multiple end user devices and intercepts all messages to and from the multiple end user devices and the messaging platform. From its perspective, the messaging platform only sees a single client messaging application.
US09143472B2
Arrangements describe herein relate to updating an e-mail recipient list. A first version of an e-mail can be received, the first version comprising a message header identifying at least a first e-mail recipient. The first version of the e-mail can be sent to the first e-mail recipient indicated in the message header. A second version of the e-mail can be received, the second version of the e-mail indicating at least a second e-mail recipient. The second version can be sent to the at least second e-mail recipient indicated in the message header of the second version. An update request for the first version can be received, the update request configured to be processed to update the message header of the first version to add the at least second e-mail recipient to the message header. The update request can be sent to the at least first e-mail recipient.
US09143458B2
A device that can sufficiently speed up a communication of a TCP is provided. A network device relays a TCP communication between hosts. The network device holds a request rate and a first output rate indicative of an effective bandwidth for transferring data to a second network. The network device divides data from a first network into a plurality of connections a second network, and transfers the data between the hosts. The network device holds a second output rate for each of the divided connections. When the request rate is equal to or larger than the first output rate by a threshold value, and a relatively low-speed connection is detected among the plurality of connections of the second network, the network device conducts a communication with the use of a connection other than the relatively low-speed connection.
US09143455B1
A method, system, and computer program are provided for quality of service using multiple flows. At a first digital device, a plurality of inter-computer flows is established between the first digital device and a computer. A plurality of inter-device flows is also established between the first digital device and a second digital device via a communication network. At least one flow metric associated with each of the inter-device flows is determined, which may include, for example, a latency metric, a loss metric, and/or a re-ordering metric. According to various embodiments, flow metrics may form a basis for categorizing the inter-device flows. One or more preferred flows are selected based on the flow metrics. Finally, a packet to be sent to the second device is directed to one of the preferred flows.
US09143454B2
A system for congestion control of traffic in a network that uses Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) includes a plurality of TCP congestion control programs having one or more parameters, a plurality of TCP congestion control units running the TCP congestion control programs, and a TCP mapper adapted to map incoming TCP traffic flow from a plurality of incoming TCP traffic flows to the TCP congestion control units based on at least one of (a) the type of application program from which the incoming TCP traffic flow originated (b) the type of network for which the incoming TCP traffic flow is destined, (c) parameters related to network performance (d) network constraints (e) source of the incoming TCP traffic flow, and (f) destination of the incoming TCP traffic flow.
US09143452B2
A method implemented in a network apparatus used in a network is disclosed. The method comprises collecting information about network topology from a network controller, collecting information about data movement, deciding routing in the network according to the information about network topology and the information about data movement, and providing information about the routing to the network controller, wherein the network controller enforces the routing in the network. Other methods, apparatuses, and systems also are disclosed.
US09143444B2
In one embodiment, a system includes a TRILL-enabled network that includes a first physical routing bridge (RB) and a second physical RB, logic adapted for creating a virtual RB logically connected to the first and second physical RBs to form a vLAG group at an edge of the network, logic adapted for determining a first distribution tree linking the first physical RB to every other RB in the network in a non-repeating fashion, ending with the second physical RB, and logic adapted for determining a second distribution tree linking the second physical RB to every other RB in the network in a non-repeating fashion, ending with the first physical RB, wherein when a multicast packet is received by the virtual RB from one of the physical RBs, the multicast packet is distributed according to either the first or the second distribution tree thereby preventing looping.
US09143439B2
A method is provided in one example and includes receiving a request message from a first network element using an out-of-band control link. The request message includes a request to bundle a first port associated with the first network element into a channel group associated with a cluster. The cluster includes a plurality of clustered network elements. The method further includes determining a status of the first port with respect to the channel group, and sending a reply message to the first network element using the out-of-band control link. The reply message indicates the determined status of the first port of the first network element.
US09143430B2
In a communication network comprising nodes and links between the nodes, a controller node disseminates link state information. A nodal routing table exists at each node comprising routes between pairs of nodes. The nodal routing table is either populated by the given node based on network information received from the controlling node or populated at the controlling node and received by the given node. Each node receives heartbeat signals from its neighbouring nodes. An unexpected delay between heartbeat signals may be perceived as a failure of a link. The perceived failure of that link is reported by the perceiving node to the controlling node. Upon receiving link failure information from a node, the controlling node may determine a subset of nodes in the network influenced by the link failure and indicate the link failure to the determined subset of influenced nodes.
US09143423B2
A framer interfacing between one or more data converters and a logic device is disclosed. The framer comprises a transport layer and a data link layer, and the framer is configured to frame one or more samples from the data converters to frames according to a serialized interface. In particular, the synthesis of the hardware for the framer is parameterizable, and within the synthesized hardware, one or more software configurations are possible. Instance parameters used in synthesizing the framer may include at least one of: the size of the input bus for providing one or more samples to the transport layer, the total number of bits per converter, and the number of lanes for the link. Furthermore, a transport layer test sequence generator for inserting a test sequence in the transport layer is disclosed.
US09143397B2
The present application provides a method and an apparatus for avoiding interruptions in an on-going service. A LAN bridge intercepts a trusted port connected to a first routing bridge; determines whether the first routing bridge is forwarding or has a permission to forward data flow from a C-VLAN according to a result of the interception; and if the first routing bridge is not forwarding or no longer has the permission to forward the data flow from the C-VLAN, broadcasts the data flow from the C-VLAN to a second routing bridge so that the second routing bridge forwards the data flow from the C-VLAN. With the method provided in the embodiments of the present application, a forwarding path can be rapidly switched when a designated routing bridge is faulty and cannot carry out a traffic forwarding function or an appointed forwarder of a customer VLAN is changed.
US09143391B2
A method of processing management frame for a first communication device in a network system is disclosed. The method comprises maintaining a device table including at least an identity of at least a communication device of the network system, and at least a medium access control (MAC) address corresponding to the identity, and determining whether to perform management frame transmission to a second communication device of the network system according to the existence of the identity of the second communication device in the device table.
US09143390B2
A method and apparatus for the provision of unified systems and network management of aggregates of separate systems is described herein.
US09143382B2
A method in a distributed computer system includes a server and a client and is for delivering Web content within a body section of electronic mail messages. The method includes receiving at a server, at least one mail message containing an embedded hyperlink. The method includes downloading Web content associated with the hyperlink into the message store at the server. The method also includes transmitting the mail message and at least one of a link to the Web content downloaded into the message store at the server and the corresponding Web content for display at the client. The method includes determining whether the client has a preset time for downloading messages containing Web content. In response to determining that a preset time for downloading Web content exists, the method includes caching the message and Web content at the server until the preset time is reached.
US09143378B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to rendering components within different browser environments. A request for a portal page is received from a client system. The portal page is aggregated by a computer and a renderer is selected based on a client system browser specific environment. A browser specific markup, provided by at least one portlet, is transmitted from the renderer to the client system.
US09143367B2
In described embodiments, a method for producing sample decisions with a digital signal processing-based SERDES device includes converting an analog signal to a digital signal, equalizing the digital signal, selecting inputs for a phase detector in a main CDR loop, computing a phase difference signal, producing a phase skew to signals for a last equalization stage by a first interpolation filter bank, generating a control signal to control the phase provided by the first interpolation filter bank by a phase skew adaptation loop, and updating the phase skew values to generate a resulting decision. A device includes a first interpolation filter bank inserted between the equalization stages is configured to generate phase skew signals to a last equalization stage and a phase skew loop responsive to the last equalization stage is configured to adjust the phase skew provided by the first interpolation filter bank.
US09143363B2
The invention relates to a method and a correspondingly arranged communication device for channel estimation in vehicle-to-environment communication, wherein a model of the environment influencing the vehicle-to-environment communication is produced from parameters of a vehicle-to-environment communication and the quality of the model for the environment is ascertained by the convergence of the parameters used in the model. The course of the convergence of the parameters in the model is monitored and conclusions are drawn with regard to the environment from the course of the convergence of the parameters.
US09143356B2
An Email processing method and system comprising in response to obtaining an Email, parsing contents of the Email to obtain an Email subject identifier of the Email, at least one new interaction record, and interaction information corresponding to the at least one new interaction record; determining whether there is a merged Email, which has a merge Email subject identifier matching a subject identifier of the Email, and conforms to a predefined interaction content structure comprising at least one interaction record divided by interaction relationship of contents; and in response to that the determination result is yes, merging the at least one new interaction record of the Email into the merged Email to generate a new merged Email based on the interaction information corresponding to the at least one new interaction record.
US09143355B2
A request for a first dynamic bridge end is received at a first device. A capability for a second dynamic bridge end is transmitted to a second device. At least one of the first dynamic bridge end and the second dynamic bridge end have a movable end point location. The first dynamic bridge end and the second dynamic bridge end create a path for transmission of an object.
US09143354B2
A method of transmitting data streams of a multimedia session between a first and a second terminal through a telecommunication network comprising a network core is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes the determination by border modules, points of access to the network core, of the routing topology and of the state of the links of the network. The method further includes the determination of parameters of the session, the selecting of input and output border modules of the network core for the streams, the predetermination of a path, between the input and output border modules for all the streams of the session, the setting up of resources along the path, the defining of routing rules at the routing modules situated along the path, and the transmission of the streams only by the path.
US09143351B2
Methods, systems and data structures for determining a token master on a ring network are provided. According to one embodiment, determining a token master on a ring network includes receiving a packet containing a network token at a first node on the network. If the network token does not arrive within a preselected timeout period, generating an arbitration token. If the packet contains an arbitration token, determining if the arbitration token was modified by a higher priority node of the network and if not, setting the first node as a token master and converting the arbitration token to a packet transmission token. Arbitration tokens are used to identify a token master that is responsible for generating a packet transmission token onto the network, whereas the packet transmission token authorizes a transmitting node that has most recently received the packet transmission token to transmit locally generated packets onto the network.
US09143349B2
Embodiments related to configurable Media Access Controllers (MACs) are described and depicted.
US09143346B1
A method and apparatus for a configurable packet routing, buffering and scheduling scheme to optimize throughput with deadlock prevention in SRIO-to-PCIe Bridges have been described. A single level enqueue method with dynamic buffering and dequeuing based on packet re-ordering is disclosed. Single level packet routing and scheduling to meet SRIO and PCIe rules to enqueue packets based on FType/TType is disclosed. Backpressure based on ingress watermarks for different packet types is disclosed. Use of a circular-reorder queue (CRQ) for both ingress and egress allows packet reordering and packet passing.
US09143342B2
Systems and methods for home automation and security are disclosed. An example method includes storing an indication that a building is expected to be occupied at a first time; controlling, via a processor, a behavior of a security system at the building at the first time based on the indication; and changing, via the processor, the behavior of the security system at the building at the first time in response to determining that a particular person is located at a location not corresponding to the building at the first time.
US09143338B2
Processing nodes in a 3D torus network topology are connected together via an interconnect that introduces at least one irregularity into the link connections between processing nodes of each ring of the network. Each processing node detects whether there is an irregularity in its links with adjacent processing nodes in a ring. As the sockets or other processing node interfaces of the interconnect are wired to introduce this irregularity and as the positions of the processing nodes within a given ring are relative to this irregularity, the physical location of the processing nodes can be determined based on correlations between physical locations of the sockets relative to the irregularity and the positions of the processing nodes relative to the irregularity. Thus, the relative position of a processing node in the ring can be used to identify the socket with which the processing node is coupled, thereby facilitating network management operations.
US09143331B2
One feature pertains to a content accessing device for securing content. The content accessing device is provisioned with a cryptographic algorithm, and generates a symmetric key also known to a content storage device. The content accessing device sends a first authentication challenge to the content storage device, where the first authentication challenge is based on the cryptographic algorithm and the symmetric key. The content accessing device receives a second authentication challenge from the content storage device in response to sending the first authentication challenge, and determines whether the first authentication challenge is different from the second authentication challenge. If the second authentication challenge is different from the first authentication challenge the content accessing device sends a first response to the content storage device in response to the second authentication challenge.
US09143327B2
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for a cipher then segment approach in a Power Line Communication (PLC). A node or device generates frames to be transmitted to a destination node in the PLC network. A processor in the node is configured to generate a data payload comprising data to be sent to the destination node. The processor divides the data payload into two or more payload segments and encrypts the payload segments. The processor creates a frame for each of the encrypted payload segments, wherein each frame comprises a message integrity code. The processor creates a segment identifier for each frame using the message integrity code and an authentication key that is shared with the destination PLC node. The segment identifier is added to each frame.
US09143326B2
A method and system for encrypting data. An initialization is generated. Ciphertext is generated from plaintext by applying the initialization vector and an encryption key to the plaintext. The initialization vector is combined with the ciphertext to generate encrypted data, by using an embedding rule to perform the combining.
US09143320B2
An electronic key registration system includes a controller of a communication subject, an initial electronic key that communicates with the communication subject and has an initial encryption key generation code, an additional electronic key that communicates with the communication subject, and an information center including an additional encryption key. The initial electronic key holds an initial encryption key generated from the initial encryption key generation code and a logic. The controller holds the logic and identification information of the communication subject. The controller acquires the initial encryption key generation code from the initial electronic key, generates an initial encryption key from the initial encryption key generation code and the logic held by the controller, and stores the initial encryption key. The information center sends the additional encryption key to the additional electronic key or the controller through a network.
US09143313B2
A frequency sweep signal generator in which the frequency error is small even when the control values and the oscillating frequencies have a non-linear relation. The frequency sweep signal generator includes a variable frequency oscillator that changes an oscillating frequency according to a change of an input control value, and a first controller that generates a first control value so that the oscillating frequency within a predetermined frequency sweeping range is output. The first controller controls an increment of the first control value to be output to the variable frequency oscillator per unit time so that, when a change of the oscillating frequency with respect to the increment of the first control value is non-linear, the oscillating frequency is changed linearly with respect to a passage of time.
US09143312B2
Rather than using separate sample rate offset and phase offset estimation algorithms for coarse timing synchronization and fine timing synchronization of a receiver timing, respectively, one phase error algorithm can be used for both the coarse and fine timing synchronization. In order to perform coarse timing synchronization the phase error indications sampled over a sampling period are used to form an error vector, and a Fourier transform can then be applied to the error vector. An analysis of the Fourier transform of the error vector can be used to determine a frequency component identifying an offset between the receiver frequency and the signal frequency. The frequency of the receiver timing can then be adjusted in accordance with the identified offset, thereby performing the coarse timing synchronization. Once the coarse timing synchronization has been applied, the same phase error algorithm may be used, without the Fourier transform, to implement the fine timing synchronization.
US09143309B2
A first radio has duplex communication with a second radio and a third radio, without using a base station by using a multiple-access protocol system. The first radio is configured to switch back and forth between being a master radio and a slave radio in the multiple-access protocol system. In some embodiments, time-division multiplexing is used as the multiple-access protocol system for the first radio, the second radio, and the third radio to communicate. In some embodiments, the master radio provides timing synchronization and/or assigns transmission slots for radios in the multiple-access protocol system.
US09143307B2
A circuit for a large-signal electrical balance duplexer (EBD) may include a circulator that can be configured to couple an output node of a transmit (TX) path to an antenna. An EBD circuit may be coupled to the circulator, at a first port of the EBD circuit. The EBD circuit may be configured to isolate the circulator from one or more input nodes of a receive (RX) path. An attenuator may be coupled between the output node of the TX path and a second port of the EBD circuit. The attenuator may be configured to provide an attenuated signal to the EBD circuit.
US09143304B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods for providing competition uplink channels while minimizing the frequency of blind decoding operations of a terminal, and devices of supporting the methods. An uplink signal transmission method via a competition-based uplink (CB UL) channel according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: receiving the configuration information on the CB UL channel from a base station; receiving resource information from the base station, the resource information containing at last one of the following: information on usage time of the CB UL channel, information on activation and deactivation of the CB UL channel and information on cancellation; and inspecting the validity of the resource information. If the resource information is not valid, the resource information is individually allocated to each subframe; if the resource information is valid, the resource information can be periodically and continuously allocated.
US09143302B2
A communication method of a base station transmits a modulation signal based on an OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) modulation scheme to a plurality of communication terminals. The method includes forming a transmission frame on which a first subcarrier group and a second subcarrier group are arranged, and determining on a per frame basis, which subcarrier group of the first subcarrier group and the second subcarrier group is allocated to each of the plurality of communication terminals and what number of subcarriers are selected from the subcarrier group that is allocated to each of the plurality of communication terminals. The method further includes forming the transmission frame based on the determined subcarrier group and the determined number of subcarriers, transmitting the modulation signal including the transmission frame, and receiving feedback information including radio propagation condition estimation information from each of the plurality of communication terminals.
US09143301B2
Disclosed are an encoding ratio setting method and a radio communication device which can avoid encoding of control information at an encoding ratio lower than necessary and suppress lowering of the transmission efficiency of the control information. In the device, an encoding ratio setting unit (122) sets the encoding ratio R′control of the control information which is time-multiplexed with user data, according to the encoding ratio Rdata of the user data, ΔPUSCHoffset as the PUSCH offset of each control information, and ΔRANKoffset as the rank offset based on the rank value of the data channel using Expression (1). R control ′ = O Q ′ = max ( O ⌈ O 10 - Δ offset PUSCH + Δ offset RANK 10 · R data ⌉ , O 4 · M sc ) ( 1 ) Where ┌x┐ is an integer not greater than x, and max(x,y) is the greater one among X and Y.
US09143295B2
A method and apparatus for allocating and processing sequences in a communication system is disclosed. The method includes: dividing sequences in a sequence group into multiple sub-groups, each sub-group corresponding to its own mode of occupying time frequency resources; selecting sequences from a candidate sequence collection corresponding to each sub-group to form the sequences in the sub-group by: the sequences in a sub-group i in a sequence group k being composed of n sequences in the candidate sequence collection, the n sequences making a |ri/Ni−ck/Np1| or |(ri/Ni−ck/Np1) modu mk,i| function value the smallest, second smallest, till the nth smallest respectively; allocating the sequence group to cells, users or channels. It prevents the sequences highly correlated with the sequences of a specific length from appearing in other sequence groups, thus reducing interference, avoiding the trouble of storing the lists of massive sequence groups.
US09143290B2
A receiver receives payload data transmitted on a downstream using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) symbols via a cable network. The receiver includes circuitry configured to receive a downstream signal representing the payload data modulated onto one or more OFDM symbols, and to demodulate the OFDM symbols of each frame to detect and to recover the payload data using the physical layer signalling data. One or more of the frames of the received signal includes a preamble of the frame providing the physical layer signalling data, and in a separate media access control (MAC) signal within the frame, upstream messages relating to the transmission of data from the receiver to the transmitter. Accordingly, an arrangement is provided for a cable network communications system in which a capacity for upstream signalling messages for communicating on the downstream can be adapted to a requirement of receivers connected to the network.
US09143283B2
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for enhancing transmission of a downlink ACK/NACK signal in an LTE communication system. In order to attain the object of enhancing transmission of a downlink ACK/NACK signal, the invention proposes an enhanced design of the current PHICH and thus makes an enhanced PHICH (E-PHICH). The enhanced design is focused primarily upon the following aspects: the first aspect is to configure an E-PHICH in the legacy PDSCH and to transmit an ACK/NACK signal in the E-PHICH so that a UE demodulates the E-PHICH to obtain the ACK/NACK signal. The second aspect is to improve a PHICH-and-PUSCH association design by designing an implicit association between an E-PHICH index and a radio frequency resource occupied by a UL grant (in a legacy PDCCH or an E-PDCCH) and an explicit association between a PUSCH scheduled by a UL grant and an E-PDCCH respectively and to transmit an ACK/NACK signal in the E-PHICH so that a UE demodulates the E-PHICH to obtain the ACK/NACK signal. With the invention, transmission of a downlink ACK/NACK signal in an LTE communication system can be enhanced.
US09143281B2
In 3GPP LTE, the uplink ACK and CQI bits are jointly coded prior to transmission to maintain a low peak to average ratio (PAR) waveform. Further, when data needs to be transmitted, the uplink control channels are multiplexed with data prior to transmission. However, due to errors on downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) assignments, an evolved Base Node (eNB) receiver needs to employ a set of rules to decode the control channels, to minimize the number of blind decoding hypotheses. This innovation describes the rules employed by a receiver to reduce complexity and computational overhead in part by assuming that the UE is responding to grant on the downlink while providing for combinations in which one or more types of grants are not received. Energy detection in accordance with metrics and normalizing for differing power controls enables selecting the correct combination for decoding.
US09143280B2
A terminal apparatus and retransmission control method reduces overhead of the uplink control channel in cases when ARQ is applied in communication that uses an uplink unit band and a plurality of downlink unit bands associated with the uplink unit band. A first condition is set in which downlink assignment control information is transmitted from a base station by a unit band group which comprises a basic unit band, which is the downlink unit band on which a broadcast channel signal including information relating to the uplink unit band is transmitted, and a second downlink unit band other than the basic unit band. A bundling unit will not transmit a response signal to the base station in certain cases.
US09143277B2
A physical layer (PL) frame generation method is provided. A PL payload is generated by encoding and modulating source data based on a first modcod of a first set. A synchronization header, comprising a first unique word (UW) (designed to facilitate efficient and reliable detection by terminals of a relatively low SNR operating range), and a modcod field (which indicates the first modcod scheme), is appended to the PL payload. A PL header is appended to the synchronization header and PL payload to form the PL frame. The PL header comprises a second UW and physical layer signaling (PLS). The PLS comprises encoded data fields reflecting a length of the PL frame, where the fields are encoded based on a second modcod scheme of a second set. The first modcod set is designed for SNR operating levels relatively lower than the SNR operating levels of the second modcod set.
US09143276B2
A nested CRC code generation method for data transmission error control, comprising: segmenting the data to be computed, allocating a CRC code computing channel to each of the data segments according to the data type, computing CRC sub-codes by the computing channels, sorting the CRC sub-codes, and generating a nested CRC code by sending the sorted CRC sub-codes to the final CRC code computing channel directly or by using the sorted CRC sub-codes as the new data to be computed, repeating the above CRC sub-code computing process and sending the final sorted CRC sub-codes to the final CRC code computing channel. A nested CRC code generation device for data transmission error control, comprising: a data segmenting module, a computing channel selecting module, a multi-channel CRC code computing module, a data sorting module, a set of registers, a data distributor, a counter and a single-channel CRC code computing module.
US09143273B2
Differential decoding processing applied to multilevel modulation is accomplished with the circuit scale kept small by including; an MSB coordinate rotating part for performing coordinate rotation based on information of the first two most significant bits of a signal received via a synchronous detection part; an MSB symbol likelihood generating part for generating likelihood with respect to the first two most significant bits after differential decoding, with the use of two sets of bit strings at different points in time for which coordinate rotation has been performed; an LSB symbol likelihood generating part for generating likelihood with respect to less significant bits; and a soft decision error correction decoding part for generating a decoded signal with the use of the likelihood of the first two most significant bits and the likelihood of the less significant bits.
US09143268B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides a wireless station (STA), comprising a transceiver operable for communicating in a wireless network, wherein the transceiver is adapted to use signaling that enables the wireless station to communicate necessary information including a desired modulation coding scheme (MCS).
US09143263B2
The present disclosure relates to the field of network communication and particularly discloses a method for monitoring performance of a wavelength path. The method includes: receiving, by a second node, a path request message of a wavelength path from an upstream neighboring node, where the path request message includes at least a path identifier of the wavelength path and second wavelength identifier information; obtaining, by the second node, a wavelength identifier according to the second wavelength identifier information, and recording a mapping relationship between the wavelength path and the wavelength identifier; and determining, by the second node according to the wavelength identifier, a low frequency signal modulated at a working wavelength of the wavelength path, and obtaining performance of the wavelength path by monitoring the low frequency signal. A system for monitoring performance of a wavelength path and a node device are also disclosed in embodiments of the present disclosure.
US09143260B2
An optical transmission system includes: a plurality of transmitters that output an optical signal having a frequency different from each other; a process unit that adds a reference signal to at least two of the optical signals, the reference signal having a frequency width narrower than that of the two optical signals, an interval of central frequencies of the reference signals being narrower than that of the two optical signals, a multiplexer that multiplexes optical signals output by the plurality of transmitters; an extract unit that extracts a beat signal generated between the reference signals because of a multiplexing of the multiplexer; and an adjust unit that adjusts a frequency interval of the two optical signals in accordance with an extract result of the extract unit.
US09143256B2
A signal transmitting method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes channel-coding broadcasting channel information by using a first scrambling code in a first frame within a broadcasting channel information updating period including a plurality of frames, and channel-coding the broadcasting channel information by using a second scrambling code in a second frame within the broadcasting channel information updating period. The second scrambling code is different from the first scrambling code.
US09143246B2
A receiver architecture optimizes receiver performance in the presence of interference. In various embodiments, power estimation circuits are used with variable selectivity to determine the exact nature of the interference and to optimize the performance correspondingly. The variable selectivity is achieved using stages of filtering with progressively narrower bandwidths. Also, the actual method of optimizing the receiver performance is an improvement compared to the traditional techniques in that the gain settings and the baseband filter order (stages to be used) will be optimized based on the nature of the interference as determined by the power detector measurements. For a device such as a cellular phone that operates in a dynamic and changing environment where interference is variable, embodiments advantageously provide the capability to modify the receiver's operational state depending on the interference.
US09143233B2
A system and method for carrying a downstream optical signal and an upstream optical signal on a fiber optic link is disclosed. The system and method includes a first transceiver unit that receives an input communication signal from at least one external communication device at an electrical input port, a transmitter that converts the input communication signal into an optical signal and transmits the optical signal as an downstream optical signal on a fiber optic link, a receiver at the second transceiver unit that receives the downstream optical signal and converts the downstream optical signal into an electrical communication signal, and a first circuit in the second transceiver unit that determines whether the second transceiver couples the electrical communication signal to a two wire intercom circuit or a four wire intercom circuit.
US09143232B2
Embodiments provide a first communications device configured to communicate with one or more other communications devices over a wireless optical link. The first communications device may include a first communications structure configured to communicate with a second communications structure via the wireless optical link. The communications device may further include a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) mirror configured to direct an optical data signal sent over the wireless optical link and a controller configured to move the MEMS mirror based on feedback information to maintain the optical link between the first communications structure and the second communications structure.
US09143226B2
Disclosed is a ranging transmission method comprising: a mobile station receiving a message including backoff window information from a base station; the mobile station determining an x-th backoff window for an x-th (x is a non-negative integer) ranging transmission using the backoff window information; the mobile station performing the x-th ranging transmission to the base station within the x-th backoff window; and the mobile station determining a start point of an (x+1)th backoff window on the basis of an end point of the x-th backoff window.
US09143221B2
A system for repeating radio signals to the outside of a structure, from transmitters operating within a structure that normally prevents radio transmissions from propagating out of the structure. A system for repeating radio signals to the inside of a structure, from transmitters operating outside a structure that normally prevents radio transmissions from propagating into the structure.
US09143218B2
A method for extrapolating channel state information (“CSI”) estimates from multiple packets sent over different channels to generate a combined CSI estimate for a MIMO-OFDM system is disclosed. Packets are received on an m×n×Wi channel configuration, wherein m is the number of receive antennas used to receive the packets, n is the number of transmit antennas used to transmit the packets, and Wi is the number of OFDM channels for a packet i in the MIMO-OFDM system. CSI estimates are generated for the received packets and the CSI estimates are extrapolated to generate a combined CSI estimate for an m×n×R channel configuration, wherein R>Wi.
US09143215B2
Methods of allocating orthogonal resources of a wireless communication network to a user equipment (UE) that uses transmit diversity are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the UE is configured to transmit a reference symbol and a modulated symbol on multiple orthogonal resources on an antenna. The method includes: selecting, by the UE, a first and a second orthogonal resource, respectively, from a plurality of orthogonal resources according to the state of information bits to be communicated by the UE; and transmitting, by the UE, the reference and data symbols on the first and the second orthogonal resource, respectively, on one antenna. The first and the second resource are different for at least one of the states of the information bits. The first and the second resource are both in the same physical resource block.
US09143209B2
Various arrangements for mapping antennas to transceivers are presented. A plurality of antennas may be present. Each antenna of the plurality of antennas may be configured to communicate using different radio technologies. A plurality of transceivers may be present. At least some of the transceivers of the plurality of transceivers may be configured to utilize different radio technologies. A selector circuit may be present that is configured, based on input from a processor, to map each antenna of the plurality of antennas with each transceiver of the plurality of transceivers. The processor may be configured to control which antennas of the plurality of antennas are mapped to which transceiver of the plurality of transceivers. Touch sensors may be used to determine which antenna or antennas are likely to serve as effective electromagnetic transducers. Signal-to-noise measurements may be used to determine when to modify an antenna mapping.
US09143204B2
This invention eliminates the need for “capacitor coupling” or “transformer coupling,” and the associated undesirable parasitic capacitance and inductance associated with these coupling techniques when designing high frequency (˜60 GHz) circuits. At this frequency, the distance between two adjacent stages needs to be minimized. A resonant circuit in series with the power or ground leads is used to isolate a biasing signal from a high frequency signal. The introduction of this resonant circuit allows a first stage to be “directly coupled” to a next stage using a metallic trace. The “direct coupling” technique passes both the high frequency signal and the biasing voltage to the next stage. The “direct coupling” approach overcomes the large die area usage when compared to either the “AC coupling” or “transformer coupling” approach since neither capacitors nor transformers are required to transfer the high frequency signals between stages.
US09143197B2
Systems and methods for routing protocols for power line communications (PLC) are described. In some embodiments, a method performed by a PLC device, such as a PLC meter, may include identifying at least one bootstrapping agent and a personal area network (PAN) identifier for one or more networks that are operating within a personal operating space of the PLC device. The device selects a target bootstrapping agent to use for the join process with a target network. The target bootstrapping agent may be selected from a list of bootstrapping agents associated with the target PAN identifier. If the attempt to join the target network fails, then the device further determines if other bootstrapping agents are associated with the target PAN identifier. The device selects an alternate target bootstrapping agent from the other bootstrapping agents that are associated with the target PAN identifier and reattempts the join process.
US09143195B2
A communication system has a trunk extending from a network facility, such as a central office, with a plurality of distribution points positioned along the trunk. Each leg of the trunk defines a shared channel that permits peak data rates much greater than what would be achievable without channel sharing. As an example, the connections of each respective trunk leg may be bonded. Further, the same modulation format and crosstalk vectoring are used for each leg of the trunk. The crosstalk vectoring cancels both far-end crosstalk (FEXT) that couples between connections of a given trunk leg and crossover crosstalk that couples between one trunk leg and another. In addition, logic determines an amount of excess capacity available for each leg of the trunk and controls error correction based on the determined excess capacity.
US09143188B2
A method for transmitting communications by a transmitter includes selecting a non-alternating spreading sequence, receiving bits for transmission, encoding the bits using the non-alternating spreading sequence to obtain encoded bits, and transmitting the encoded bits to a frequency shift key (FSK) receiver. A method for receiving communications by an FSK receiver includes receiving, by the FSK receiver, encoded bits from a transmitter, decoding the encoded bits using a non-alternating spreading sequence to obtain decoded bits, and processing the decoded bits.
US09143185B2
A transmit-receive switching circuit provided between a transmitter circuit configured to generate a transmission signal to be transmitted from an antenna and a receiver circuit configured to receive a reception signal received by the antenna, a transistor input control circuit configured to make the transmitter generate a transmission signal by an amplifying operation of a transistor in an output stage of the transmitter circuit when the transmission signal is transmitted from the antenna, and to short-circuit an output terminal of the transmitter circuit to a ground voltage when the reception signal is received by the antenna.
US09143184B2
A multiport radio frequency (RF) switch circuit is disclosed. The switch circuit includes a first transistor that is connected to a first port, a common antenna port, and a first enable line. The first transistor is selectively activatable in response to a first enable signal applied to the first enable line. There is also a second transistor connected to a second port, the common antenna port, and a second enable line. The second transistor is selectively activatable in response to a second enable signal applied to the second enable line. A first inductor connected to the first port and the second port compensates for parasitic capacitance between the first port and the second port from an inactive one of the transistors.
US09143182B2
A system for coupling a communication unit to an antenna. The system includes a tunable bandpass filter and a second tunable filter, such as a tunable low-pass filter, in parallel with the tunable bandpass filter. The system also includes a measurement and control unit configured to measure a frequency of a signal generated by the communication unit and to tune the tunable bandpass filter to pass the signal generated by the control unit.
US09143179B2
A wireless communication device includes an antenna element for carrying out wireless communications, a power feeding section for supplying power to the antenna element, a conductor other than the antenna element, and a dividing part for dividing the conductor, the dividing part being provided so as to divide the conductor into parts so that each of the parts has a length equal to or less than a quarter of wavelength at an operating frequency at which the antenna element carries out wireless communications.
US09143176B2
Discriminative methods for multipath fingerprinting, enabling single-site localization in rich multipath environments, are provided herein. In contrast to the existing descriptive method that uses only the data of each location for its fingerprint extraction, these methods use also the data of the other locations in the database, and leverage it to make the fingerprint as different as possible from the other fingerprints in the database. The performance of these methods, validated with both simulated and real data, is superior to the existing method, demonstrating localization accuracy of about 1 m in typical indoor environments.
US09143168B1
Reproduction of encoded data which includes a split-mark. FIR data corresponding to split-mark and FIR data affected by the split-mark due to inter-symbol-interference are identified. FIR data corresponding to the split-mark is removed from the received FIR data. Recovered data is created by removing incorrect inter-symbol-interference from the FIR data due to the split-mark, and adding correct inter-symbol-interference from codeword bits. The recovered data is stitched together with data unaffected by split-mark data.
US09143163B2
The present invention is to provide a method and system for compression and decompression text comprising: creating a redundant universal permanent reference vocabulary which include commonest symbols utilized by all application, and symbols found in thousands of books, specific, professional vocabularies and is created in advance of any information processing, own vocabulary containing during process of text compression and decompression wherein the own vocabulary includes words and symbols e.g. slangs are found in written conversation between persons; splitting the universal vocabulary into a root of tree symbol/index and main symbol sections; creating a first temporary vocabulary; wherein the first temporary vocabulary includes commonest symbol/index utilizing by all applications, root of tree word/index section, and merging index table section to words content in specific vocabulary section; creating a second temporary vocabulary for repeating symbols found in the source text and not found in the first temporary vocabulary; creating pseudo-code by merging an indicator with root of tree or main indexes.
US09143155B2
One embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a circuit. The circuit includes a digital to analog converter (DAC) configured to convert a time-varying, multi-bit digital value to a corresponding time-varying output current. The circuit also includes a mixer module downstream of the DAC and comprising a plurality of mixers. A control block is configured to selectively steer output current from the DAC to different mixers of the mixer module. Other techniques are also described.
US09143153B1
An analog to digital conversion method includes: receiving an analog input signal by using a coarse analog to digital converter (ADC) and a fine ADC; generating a first digital signal by using the coarse ADC according to the analog input signal; comparing each bit of the second-most significant bit to the least significant bit of the first digital signal with the most significant bit of the first digital signal to generate a comparison result; according to the comparison result, controlling switching of a high bit capacitor array of the fine ADC to convert the analog input signal received by the fine ADC into a residual signal; generating a second digital signal according to the residual signal by sequentially switching a low bit capacitor array of the fine ADC by using the fine ADC; and combining the first digital signal and the second digital signal to generate a digital output signal.
US09143151B2
Provided is a pulse generator. The pulse generator includes: a pulse generation unit receiving an analog signal and generating a first pulse signal in response to a comparison result of a voltage level applied to a first node and a reference voltage according to the received analog signal; a pulse amplification unit generating a second pulse signal having a wider pulse width than the first pulse signal according to a comparison result of a voltage level applied to a second node and a ground voltage, in response to the first pulse signal; and a gate logic outputting a final pulse signal as a signal for digital conversion by performing a logic operation on the first and second pulse signals.
US09143150B1
Aspects of the preset disclosure are directed to processing an analog signal transmitted during active portions of a duty cycle. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, an apparatus includes a high-speed sampling circuit that samples portions of such an analog signal at a first rate corresponding to the active portion of the duty cycle, and stores the sampled portions of the analog signal. A low-speed analog-to-digital converter accesses the stored sampled portions and converts the sampled portions to a digital form at a second rate that is slower than the first rate.
US09143148B2
An amplification circuit that can reduce an area without using transistors with a high withstand voltage. The amplification circuit (100) includes: an operational amplifier with a first input terminal connected to a reference node; a first capacitor (CA1) provided between a first node and the reference node; a second capacitor (CA2) provided between a second node and the reference node; a switch element (SW1) provided between the first node and an input node of an input voltage; a switch element (SW2) provided between the first node and a supply node of a first analog reference voltage; a switch element (SW3) provided between the second node and an output node of an output voltage; a switch element (SW4) provided between the second node and a supply node of a second analog reference voltage; and a switch element (SW5) provided between the output node of the output voltage and the reference node.
US09143147B1
An analog input signal is dithered using a dithering sequence and then partially chopped using a chopping sequence. The dithered and partially chopped signal is then digitized by analog-to-digital converter (ADC) slices operating in alternating fashion, and the resulting digitized signals are adjusted according to the dithering sequence and the chopping sequence to compensate for gain and voltage offset errors of the ADC slices.
US09143144B2
Systems comprising: a first MDAC stage comprising: a sub-ADC that outputs a value based on an input signal; at least two reference capacitors that are charged to a Vref; at least two sampling capacitors that are charged to a Vin; and a plurality of switches that couple the at least two reference capacitors so that they are charged during a sampling phase, that couple the at least two sampling capacitors so that they are charged during the sampling phase, that couple at least one of the reference capacitors so that it is parallel to one of the at least two sampling capacitors during a hold phase, and that couple the other of the at least two sampling capacitors so that it couples the at least one of the reference capacitors and the one of the at least two sampling capacitors to a reference capacitor of a second MDAC stage.
US09143143B2
A circuit and a method for restarting up a VCO of a PLL are introduced herein. The VCO restart up circuit receives a power down signal, an external signal, a clock output from the VCO and generates a trigger signal to the VCO to trigger the VCO clock to leave a stable mode. In other words, if the VCO clock is in the stable mode, the VCO restart up circuit generates one or more than one pulse on a trigger signal to restart up the VCO. Oppositely, if the VCO is not in the stable mode, there is no pulse on the trigger signal generated by the VCO restart up circuit and the VCO needs not to be restarted up.
US09143132B2
Apparatuses including termination for complementary signals are described, along with methods for terminating complementary signals. One such apparatus includes a termination transistor including a first node configured to receive a first complementary signal and a second node configured to receive a second complementary signal. A regulation circuit can generate a regulated voltage to render the termination transistor conductive with a substantially constant resistance. In one such method, a first complementary signal is received at a drain of a termination transistor and a second complementary signal is received at a source of the termination transistor. Energy of the complimentary signals can be absorbed when the termination transistor is rendered conductive. Additional embodiments are also described.
US09143131B2
An FPGA has a number of CLBs, each CLB having a number of CABs (10, 110, 210, 310, 410). Each CAB (10, 110, 210, 310, 410) comprises: a number of configurable transistors (20, 120, 220, 320, 420) each comprising one or more useable transistors M and a number of switching transistors; and, configuration circuitry comprising a number of switching transistors. The ratio of switching transistors to useable transistors for each CAB is less than 26:1. A method of configuring such an FPGA comprises optimizing each configurable transistor.
US09143129B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to detector circuits. Embodiments provide a low-power, accurate reference-free threshold detector. In particular, embodiments reduce leakage current at low input levels and prevent shoot through current for higher than nominal low input levels. Further, embodiments require no bandgap or accurate reference, and as a result eliminate the need for a constantly ON bandgap or accurate reference circuit. As such, embodiments have significantly reduced power consumption compared to conventional circuits. In addition, embodiments detect correctly low and high input levels that are separated narrowly and that may have wide ranges. Embodiments can be extended to any particular design choice of low and high input levels and corresponding output levels.
US09143128B2
A system and method for reducing power consumption in a reconfigurable integrated circuit. Some embodiments provide placement and routing programs that reduce the number of bits to be reconfigured. Some embodiments provide placement and routing programs that increase the number of groups of circuits that do not need reconfiguration at some times. Some embodiments include circuits that selectively block reconfiguration.
US09143126B2
A vehicle proximity switch and method are provided having lockout control for controlling a movable panel on a vehicle. The switch includes a proximity sensor such, as a capacitive sensor, installed in a vehicle and providing a sense activation field. The proximity switch also includes control circuitry for processing the sense activation field to sense user activation of the switch and controls functionality when one or more lockout sensors are activated.
US09143124B2
Switches for use in RF devices are provided that offer a better balance of power losses and switching times than switches of the prior art. Switches of the present invention comprise a stack of transistors controlled a symmetric bias network. The stack of transistors includes an even number of transistors arranged in series, where every two successive transistors defines a pair. The bias network includes a symmetrically branching set of connections, where the gates of every pair of transistors are connected by a first connection having a first node, and two or more first nodes are connected by a second connection to a second node, and so forth. The symmetry of the bias network tends to reject even harmonics, and the rejection of even harmonics can be further enhanced by adding capacitors between the bias network and the stack of transistors at points of symmetry.
US09143122B1
A system includes: an initial clock region; a first adjacent clock region adjacent to the initial clock region; a spine coupled to receive a clock signal from a clock; and a first phase detector coupled to detect a difference in phase between the initial clock region and the first adjacent clock region. The initial clock region comprises an initial delay element coupled to the spine and to the first phase detector.
US09143117B2
A soft error protection device includes a soft error resilient latch (SERL) and a latch coupled to a detection device and receiving a soft error pulse and a clock (CLK) signal respectively outputted by an electronic element and a CLK generator. The SERL delays the soft error pulse. In the period of a negative level of the CLK signal, the SERL stores the delayed soft error pulse corresponding to the negative level and used as a first detection data. Meanwhile, the latch stores the soft error pulse as a second detection data. The detection device receives the CLK signal, the first and second detection datum, and compares the first and second detection datum to send out a detection signal when the CLK signal rises from the negative level to a positive level.
US09143103B2
Certain embodiments provide a power amplifying device including: a distribution line which distributes power; a plurality of power amplifying elements; a connection line; an output line; a filter; a first directional coupler; and a second directional coupler. The power amplifying elements is provided at a stage subsequent to the distribution line. The connection line is provided at a stage subsequent to each of the power amplifying elements and combines outputs of the power amplifying elements. The output line is connected to the connection line. The filter is placed on the connection line or the output line. The first and second directional couplers are provided at a stage subsequent to the filter. The first directional coupler outputs the high frequency signal transmitted to the output line, to a RF monitor terminal. The second directional coupler outputs the high frequency signal transmitted to the output line, to a level detection detector.
US09143089B2
An example embodiment of an active cascode circuit has a control circuit for control of the gate to source voltage (VGS) of at least one transistor in the active cascode circuit. The embodiment may be configured so that control of the VGS also controls the voltage Vin on the input. Vin may be adjusted without altering the device geometry or changing the drain current. This allows for better control and optimization of available headroom for the input voltage in low voltage designs and also results in higher active cascode circuit bandwidth and/or higher output impedance (Rout) for a given power level.
US09143086B2
Power-efficient resonant clock meshes and multiple frequency resonant clock distribution networks.
US09143085B2
A dual frequency synthesizer architecture for a wireless device operating in a time division duplex (TDD) mode is disclosed. In an exemplary design, the wireless device includes first and second frequency synthesizers. The first frequency synthesizer generates a first oscillator signal used to generate a first/receive local oscillator (LO) signal at an LO frequency for the receiver. The second frequency synthesizer generates a second oscillator signal used to generate a second/transmit LO signal at the same LO frequency for the transmitter. The two frequency synthesizers generate their oscillator signals to obtain receive and transmit LO signals at the same LO frequency when the wireless device operates in the TDD mode.
US09143084B2
A novel MMIC on-chip power-combined frequency multiplier device and a method of fabricating the same, comprising two or more multiplying structures integrated on a single chip, wherein each of the integrated multiplying structures are electrically identical and each of the multiplying structures include one input antenna (E-probe) for receiving an input signal in the millimeter-wave, submillimeter-wave or terahertz frequency range inputted on the chip, a stripline based input matching network electrically connecting the input antennas to two or more Schottky diodes in a balanced configuration, two or more Schottky diodes that are used as nonlinear semiconductor devices to generate harmonics out of the input signal and produce the multiplied output signal, stripline based output matching networks for transmitting the output signal from the Schottky diodes to an output antenna, and an output antenna (E-probe) for transmitting the output signal off the chip into the output waveguide transmission line.
US09143082B2
In a light power generation system, a control device, a control method, and a program, efficient power can be supplied. The maximum power detection unit operates a MOSFET in a power converter circuit and open-circuits both ends of a solar cell panel in the maximum power detection mode. After that, the maximum power detection unit short-circuits both ends of the solar cell panel, detects a maximum power by monitoring the output power of the solar cell panel during a period from the open state to the short-circuited state, and defines the voltage of the solar cell panel as an optimal voltage when detecting the maximum power. In a tracking operation mode, the control unit performs PWM control with respect to the MOSFET by defining the optimal voltage to be a reference signal. Operations are repeated between the maximum power detection mode and the tracking operation mode.
US09143077B2
A conveying system includes: a linear induction motor including a stator provided with a plurality of primary coils arranged along a conveying path and a mover provided movably along the conveying path; one or more first inverters that are provided corresponding to at least one of the primary coils in one or more areas requiring positioning on the conveying path to perform vector control with a sensor; one or more second inverters that are provided corresponding to at least of the primary coils in one or more areas requiring no positioning on the conveying path to perform V/F control; and a controller that is configured to output a speed reference to the first second inverters to control electric supply to the primary coils and to output the speed reference based on a feedback position received from a detector to the first inverter, to perform position control.
US09143076B2
A system and process includes continuously determining an applied armature voltage supplied to a polyphase synchronous machine for which a maximum mechanical load is characterized by a pull-out torque. The armature voltage is supplied from a power source via one of many taps of a regulating transformer. The armature voltage being supplied from the power source to the machine is changed by selecting one of the voltage levels from the taps of the regulating transformer. The tap voltage levels are selected based on the determined applied armature voltage to minimize power consumption of the machine while ensuring based on a predetermined confidence level that the pullout torque of the machine will not be exceeded.
US09143074B2
A method is for controlling a synchronous motor includes a stator, a rotor with a position and a speed, a direct axis and a quadrant axis. The method includes: providing a position control, a speed control and a current control programs; executing either the position control program or the speed control program to produce a quadrant axis current; executing the current control program; detecting the synchronous motor to obtain a first, a second and a third phase currents, and digitizing the three phase currents; using the three phase currents and the quadrant axis current to calculate a direct axis current; converting the direct axis current and quadrant axis current to a direct axis voltage command and quadrant axis voltage command; executing a pulse width modulation for the direct axis and the quadrant axis voltage commands, to get a trigger signal for controlling the synchronous motor.
US09143070B2
A method for controlling torsional oscillation includes detecting angular position of a wound field synchronous generator machine, extracting information indicative of torsional oscillation, selecting synchronous torsional oscillations, compensating for the synchronous torsional oscillations with an exciter signal, and controlling field current in the wound field synchronous generator using the exciter signal. A damping controller includes a damping module with a synchronous selective compensator and a synchronous notch filter for generating torsional oscillation compensation signals for asynchronous torsional oscillation.
US09143060B2
A power generating device includes a first casing, a magnetic component, a second casing, an induction coil, and a first piezoelectric device. The first casing and the second casing engage with each other to form a space, and the magnetic component is fixed on the first casing and configured in the space. The induction coil is fixed on the second casing and configured in the space, and it is positioned outside the contour of the magnetic component. The first piezoelectric is configured between the magnetic component and the first casing. When an external force acts on the first casing and the second casing, the first casing and the second casing move relatively to each other so that the induction coil generates an induced current by sensing a magnetic flux variation, and the first piezoelectric component generates a first charge by absorbing the pressure between the magnetic component and the second casing.
US09143059B2
Provided is a vibration wave motor including: a vibration member having an elastic body joined with a electric-mechanical energy converter; and a moving member contacting the vibration member, the vibration member and the moving member being annularly formed, the vibration wave motor frictionally driving the moving member by a motion generated at a contacting portion with the moving member of the vibration member upon application of an AC signal to the electric-mechanical energy converter. The vibration wave motor includes a centrifugal fan provided at an outer peripheral portion and/or an inner peripheral portion of a circular ring formed of the vibration member and the moving member, and the centrifugal fan rotates integrally with the moving member.
US09143058B2
Provided is an ultrasonic motor, comprising: a vibrator including a piezoelectric element and a contact surface to be brought into contact with a member to be driven, the vibrator driving the member to be driven by an ultrasonic vibration excited by the piezoelectric element; a holding part configured to hold the vibrator; a pressurization unit configured to apply a bias force for biasing the holding part toward the member to be driven so as to impress the contact surface against the member to be driven; and a fixing unit configured to support the pressurization unit, in which the holding part holds the vibrator on both sides of the contact surface in a driving direction of the member to be driven.
US09143055B2
The present invention related to a cell interface. The cell interface includes four diode D1 to D4. A first terminal connected to a voltage terminal of first cell; a second terminal connected to a voltage terminal of second cell; and a third terminal connected to an external voltage terminal of an external electric circuit, another external voltage terminal connected to another voltage terminal of first cell and second cell. The cell interface can prevent from occurring loop current in parallel cell.
US09143050B2
A voltage converting circuit includes a plurality of first capacitors that are charged by a power source, a second capacitor, connected in parallel to the plurality of first capacitors, which is able to be charged to a voltage that is supplied to a load circuit, and a plurality of switching circuits, provided in such a way as to correspond to the plurality of first capacitors, each of which switches states of connection between its corresponding first capacitor and the second capacitor. The first capacitors are sequentially connected to the second capacitor through the corresponding switching circuits as charging voltages of the first capacitors reach a predetermined connection voltage that is higher than a charging voltage of the second capacitor so that the first capacitors are not short-circuited with each other.
US09143045B2
A switched-mode power supply includes a first rectifier circuit configured to generate a first rectified voltage from an AC input voltage. An inverter generates a second AC voltage from the first rectified voltage. A transformer includes a primary coil coupled to the second AC voltage and a secondary coil. A second rectifier circuit is connected with the secondary coil and generates a second rectified voltage from a third AC voltage present at the secondary coil. The second rectified voltage is coupled to a node of the switched-mode power supply and represents or correlates to an output voltage thereof. A monitoring circuit shuts off the inverter when the second rectified voltage or the output voltage exceeds a predetermined first threshold, indicating an idle condition in the load and increasing energy efficiency.
US09143043B2
In accordance with an embodiment, a method of controlling a switched-mode power includes generating a feedback signal proportional to an output of the switched-mode power supply, and operating the switched-mode power supply in a normal mode. If the feedback signal crosses a first threshold, the switched-mode power operates in a second operating mode. In the first operating mode the pulse modulated signal is adjusted to regulate a feedback signal to a first signal level, and in the second operating mode, a dead-time of the pulse modulated signal is adjusted to signal to regulate a feedback signal to a second signal level different from the first signal level. The method further includes driving a switch of the switched-mode power supply with the pulse modulated signal.
US09143040B2
An open loop half-bridge LLC power converter includes circuitry to reliably increase hold-up time without sacrificing efficiency. An LLC resonant circuit includes resonant inductance, a primary transformer winding, and resonant capacitance. An auxiliary circuit includes an auxiliary transformer winding, an inductor, and a third switching element coupled in series. A controller is coupled across a voltage sensor and effective thereby to determine a holdup time condition. In a “normal” operating condition the controller generates switch driver signals to turn OFF the third switching element and disable the auxiliary circuit, and in a hold-up time condition the controller turns ON the third switching element and enables the auxiliary circuit wherein the output voltage is increased via current supplied from the auxiliary winding. In various embodiments the auxiliary winding may be an auxiliary primary or secondary, or a secondary to an auxiliary primary winding of a second transformer.
US09143032B2
The present disclosure shows a hybrid regulator topology that can be more easily integrated and that can maintain high efficiency across a wide output and input voltage range, even with a small inductor. The hybrid regulator topology can include two types of regulators: a flying switched-inductor regulator and a step-down regulator that divides the input voltage into an M/N fraction of the input voltage. The disclosed embodiments of the hybrid regulator topology can reduce the capacitive loss of the flying switched-inductor regulator by limiting the voltage swing across the switches in the flying switched-inductor regulator. The disclosed embodiments of the hybrid regulator topology can reduce the inductor resistive loss of the flying switched-inductor regulator by operating the flying switched-inductor regulator at a high switching frequency and with a small amount of current flow through the inductor.
US09143023B1
The invention provides an electromagnetic propulsive motor having a rotor capable of rotation around a shaft and having a plurality of radially disposed blades including blade tip portions for compressing a working fluid. The invention further provides a stator having a case frame, and a plurality of radially disposed vanes extending generally between said case frame and said shaft for directing the working fluid. A plurality of electromagnetic elements disposed within said rotor blades proximate the tip portions thereof interact electromagnetically with a plurality of electromagnetic elements disposed in said stator case frame to drive said rotor.
US09143018B2
A power generation system that includes a generator comprising an alternator and an internal combustion engine configured to drive the alternator to generate power. The power generation system may provide power to one or more loads. The power generation system may further include an enclosure that houses the internal combustion and the alternator. The enclosure may include one or more openings and that permit air to flow into or out of the enclosure. The power generation system may include a mechanism that may regulate the flow of air through the openings in the enclosure. The mechanism may include a cover that may be positioned adjacent to the opening. The mechanism may control the position of the cover. The power generation system may further include a module that may monitor or measure a load of the power generation system and provide control to the mechanism.
US09143010B2
A wireless power transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention is a wireless power transmission system performing non-contact power transmission from a wireless power feeder selectively to a plurality of wireless power receivers, and each of the plurality of wireless power receivers comprises a power receive resonance circuit including a power receive coil and a power receive capacitor, and the wireless power feeder comprises a power feed coil and a control circuit supplying AC power to the power feed coil. The control circuit in the wireless power feeder performs power supply selectively to the plurality of wireless power receivers by changing frequency of the AC power on the basis of a magnetic field resonance effect between the power feed coil and the power receive coil.
US09143009B2
Operating power (207 and/or 209) is wirelessly transmitted (101) within a movable barrier operator system (200) to at least one remote peripheral device (204) to thereby provide at least a portion of the remote peripheral device's instantaneous power consumption requirements. By these teachings, this remote peripheral device and the movable barrier operator for the movable barrier operator system are able to transmit information there between separate and apart from such wireless transmission of operating power. Such an exchange might comprise, for example, one or more separate wireless transmissions that are distinct and separate from the wireless power transmissions.
US09143006B2
An electric power supply of an electric apparatus is provided. The electric power supply includes a low power supply unit configured to convert a voltage of an input alternating current (AC) power source and provide the converted voltage, a power storage unit configured to be charged by receiving the converted voltage from the low power supply unit and to provide the charged power as a standby power of the electric apparatus, a voltage detection unit configured to detect a level of voltage charged in the power storage unit, and a switch unit configured to allow the voltage of the low power supply unit to be supplied to the power storage unit, or to block the voltage of the low power supply unit from being supplied to the power storage unit according to the level of voltage charged in the power storage unit detected through the voltage detection unit.
US09143002B2
A wireless electric power receiver for receiving wireless electric power from a wireless electric transmitter is provided. The wireless electric power receiver includes an electric power receiving unit that receives wireless electric power from the wireless electric power transmitter; a rectifying unit that rectifies wireless electric power in the form of alternating current output from the wireless electric power receiving unit and outputs rectified electric power; and an electric power regulation unit that receives an input of the rectified electric power, outputs first electric power which has a lower value of a first voltage than that of the rectified electric power for a first period, and does not output electric power for a second period, so as to output electric power with a predetermined voltage value.
US09142999B2
Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for wirelessly charging devices that may not be able to communicate with a wireless charger. In one aspect, a wireless charging device is provided including a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit power via a wireless field at a power level sufficient to charge one or more electronic devices according to one or more charging modes including at least a first charging mode in which the transmitter is configured to vary the power level of the transmitter based on feedback received from one of the one or more electronic devices and a second charging mode in which the power level is constant. The wireless charging device includes a sensor configured to obtain input for switching between the charging modes. The wireless charging device further includes a controller configured to switch between the first charging mode and the second charging mode in response to the input.
US09142997B2
A wireless power transmission system, and a method and an apparatus for allocating a communication channel and transmitting a power in the wireless power transmission system. If a target device configured to wirelessly receive power from a source device is detected, a controlling communication channel to be used for performing communication with the target device is selected. An initial control signal including an identifier (ID) of the source device and a channel fix command are transmitted to the target device through the selected controlling communication channel. The channel fix command includes a command requesting the target device to use the selected controlling communication channel. A charging power is transmitted from the source device to the target device through a magnetic coupling between the source device and the target device.
US09142995B2
A non-contact power charging, in which power transmission can be interrupted when foreign materials are deposited on a charge plate of the non-contact power charging system. A charging operation can be continuously maintained at a stable voltage even if a non-contact power receiving apparatus moves by touching or displacement on the charge plate of the non-contact power charging system in the charging operation. Charging efficiency is improved.
US09142991B2
A current regulation system for generating a charging current curve for charging a rechargeable battery is provided, the system including a current regulation module coupled to a power converter to output a conversion current in a constant current mode and a constant voltage mode, a voltage-to-current regulation module coupled to the rechargeable battery to output a voltage conversion current in the constant voltage mode, a temperature-to-current regulation module and a resistance. The temperature-to-current regulation module outputs a temperature conversion current in the constant current mode and the constant voltage mode. The resistance is coupled to the current regulation module, the voltage-to-current regulation module and the temperature-to-current regulation module to regulate the voltage conversion current or the temperature conversion current, the conversion current is weakened by maintain a constant value so the charging current curve is regulated when the power of the rechargeable battery is full.
US09142987B2
A battery module and an arrangement including a number of battery modules connected in series are disclosed. An energy store has a positive and a negative connection. A boost converter has a first and a second converter output. The energy store is connected at the positive connection of the energy store to a first connection and at the negative connection of the energy store to a second connection. The first converter output is connected to a first compensation connection and the second converter output is connected to a second compensation connection. The converter is designed to draw energy from the energy store and to provide the energy to the converter outputs of the converter in the form of current.
US09142978B2
There is disclosed method of queue prioritization and an electric vehicle charging station, the method includes providing remote access to a queue for the electric vehicle charging station, the queue defining the order and duration of electric vehicles to be charged at the electric vehicle charging station, receiving a plurality of requests to utilize the electric vehicle charging station and entering those requests into the queue. The method further includes prioritizing the queue based upon parameters determined by an electric vehicle charging station operator, notifying a vehicle operator of their position at the top of the queue and enabling the electric vehicle charging station to begin charging a vehicle operated by the vehicle operator upon confirmation that the vehicle is present at the electric vehicle charging station.
US09142974B2
A configurable power supply system is disclosed. The configurable power supply system comprises a power source for providing input power, a switch, coupled to the power source, for enabling a bypass path for outputting the input power to an output node as an output power when turned on; a rechargeable battery module for storing the input power for outputting a battery power; a charging unit, coupled between the power source and the rechargeable battery module, for charging the rechargeable battery module with the input power; a converting unit, coupled to the rechargeable battery module, for converting the battery power to generate the output power; and a control unit, coupled to the switch, the charging unit, and the converting unit, for controlling functions of the switch, the charging unit, and the converting unit.
US09142965B2
Described herein are apparatuses, systems and methods for configuring and managing the combination of strings of photovoltaic energy generators to improve the energy production performance of such generators. The strings of photovoltaic energy generators are connected to terminals in a combiner box having receptacles for receiving removable modular units of various types. Removable modular units with measurement capabilities are used in the combiner boxes to measure the direct current input provided by the strings; and in light of the measurements, the removable modular units can be selectively downgraded to simpler units that do not have measurement capabilities to reduce cost, and/or selectively upgraded to more sophisticated units that can adjust the output of the respective strings, such as upconverting the output voltage of the respective strings, to improve the performance of the strings.
US09142959B2
A fuel cell system (1) has a fuel cell (2) and a reformer (33). A careful operation of the fuel cell system (1), in particular during a start-up of the fuel cell system (1), is obtained when the fuel cell system (1) is equipped with a reformer heating burner (additional burner) (11). The heat of reformer heating burner waste gas of the reformer heating burner (11) is fed to the reformer (9).
US09142949B2
The present invention provides a PTC device having a laminate which includes a PTC component having a laminar PTC element defined by main surfaces which are facing each other, laminar electrodes extending on the main surfaces, and a first insulation layer, the PTC component, and a second insulation layer laminated in this listed order. The laminate has a first end and a second end, and a first side electrode and a second side electrode are disposed on the first end and the second end, respectively; one of laminar electrodes of the PTC component extends while being separated from the first side electrode and the second side electrode; the other is separated from the first end, and extends to the second end and is electrically connected to the second side electrode. At least the first side electrode extends at the first end along an entirety of a thickness direction of the laminate and further extends on a first edge portion of one of the insulation layers; and the first edge portion has a through-hole which reaches the one laminar electrode. The through-hole has an electrically conductive element which electrically connects the one laminar electrode and the first side.
US09142947B2
In a switching control circuit, a length of a soft start period is set in accordance with a time constant of an external circuit connected to a soft start terminal of a switching control IC. A current flowing through a switching element is detected at a current detection terminal. When the value of the current exceeds a first predetermined current value, a second overcurrent protection function is performed, so that a switching operation is stopped. When the value of the current exceeds a second predetermined current value, a second overcurrent protection function is performed, so that the switching element is quickly turned off and a current peak value is limited. On the basis of a voltage at the soft start terminal after the soft start period has elapsed, one of the setting and non-setting of the first overcurrent protection function is selected.
US09142944B2
Disclosed is a case for an electric junction box capable of preventing water that hits onto and bounds from a projection from invading into the case. The case for the electric junction box includes a synthetic resin made case main body, an upper cover, and a lower cover. Adjacent to a part where the case main body and the upper cover are joined a bracket for fixing car body that projects from an outer face of the case main body is disposed. The bracket is provided with a plurality of insertion holes for draining water. The plurality of insertion holes is also disposed throughout the bracket. In such the case, the water blown to the bracket falls down, without bounding, through the insertion holes, and thus making it possible to prevent the water from invading into the case.
US09142941B2
A piston rod (15) and a first piston (13) are arranged in the interior of an external cylinder (11) and internal cylinder (12); a second piston for absorbing the change of volume of operating fluid (24) is also arranged therein. Also, a first return spring (18) for returning the piston rod (15) to the interruption position is provided and a second return spring (20) for returning the operating fluid 24 into the high-pressure chamber (25) by pressurizing the second piston (14) is provided. In addition, the air in the interior of the buffering device (10) is withdrawn by a vacuum pump (38), and operating fluid (24) is thus introduced in a degassed condition.
US09142929B2
A socket includes a tubular frame body into which a base part of an electric lamp bulb is to be inserted, the frame body in which a terminal metal fitting to be electrically connected with the base part is to be provided, the frame body having a side wall formed with two slits and formed with an arm piece between the slits, the arm piece which has a first face to be opposed to the terminal metal fitting and a second face opposite to the first face, the side wall formed with a butting face, when the arm piece is deformed outward of the frame body, a part of the second face of the arm piece is in contact with the butting face.
US09142915B2
An electrical contact (2) for electrically connecting an IC package having solder balls (4) with a substrate and includes a base portion (21), a spring arm (24) extending upwardly from the base portion (21) and a rear portion (23) extending downwardly from the base portion (21), the spring arm (24) defines a contact portion (25) at the end thereof to connect with the solder ball (4) of the IC package, the contact portion (25) includes a wide portion (252) with a width larger than other portions of the contact portion (25), the wide portion (252) includes a pair of higher end portions (2520) at opposite ends thereof and a lower middle portion (2521) between the pair of end portions (2520).
US09142913B2
A magnetically connected universal computer power adapter is presented. The computer power adapter provides a power supply, a power cord, a cord connector, and a charging plug. The cord connector and charging plug each contain a magnet that magnetically couple the cord connector to the charging plug. The cord connector may couple with more than one type of charging plug, allowing the universal computer power adapter to be used with many different computer models.
US09142905B2
A receptacle connector includes an insulative housing, a number of conductive contacts, and a retainer seat. The insulative housing includes a mating face for mating with a plug connector and a mounting face opposite to the mating face. The insulative housing defines a number of contact-receiving passages penetrating from the mating face to the mounting face and a mounting recess recessed from the mounting face toward the mating face a certain distance. The conductive contacts are respectively received in the contact-receiving passages. Each conductive contact includes a contacting portion for electrically contacting the plug connector, a termination portion for electrically connecting with a Printed Circuit Board, and an intermediate portion connecting the contacting portion with the termination portion. The retainer seat is fixedly received in the mounting recess of the insulative housing.
US09142902B2
An electrical terminal assembly includes a base having a body including a first end and a second end. First and second opposed base beams extend from the first end of the body in a first direction. A spring clamp has a clamp base and first and second opposed spring beams extending from the clamp base in the first direction and disposed over the first and second base beams biasing the first and second base beams toward one another. The body of the base is configured to permit the spring clamp to be inserted onto the base in a second direction normal the first direction.
US09142901B2
An elastic contact member (21) formed as a member separate from an electrical connector (11) for a male terminal to be inserted, installed in the electrical connector (11), and gets into contact with the male terminal inserted in the electrical connector (11). The elastic contact member (21) includes: first elastic contact pieces (22) formed with a space (S) in between in a widthwise direction (Y), cantilevered at one end side, in the insertion direction (X), of a surface of the elastic contact member (21) extending in the insertion direction (X), and configured to get into contact with the male terminal inserted into the electrical connector (11); and a second elastic contact piece (23) disposed in the space (S) and configured to get into contact with the male terminal inserted into the electrical connector (11).
US09142898B2
Disclosed is a rotary USB interface device, which includes: a USB module (110), a PCB, a rotary shaft (130) connecting the USB module and the PCB, a conductive layer (140) connected with the rotary shaft, and an insulation layer (150) provided between a grounding layer (160) on the PCB and the conductive layer. The USB module contains a first ground wire, which forms a first grounding path of the USB module, together with the rotary shaft and the conductive layer. The grounding layer on the PCB forms a second grounding path. The first grounding path is separated from the second grounding path by virtue of the insulation layer, i.e. the grounding path of the PCB is separated from the grounding path of the USB module. Thus, an open circuit voltage is formed, the voltage difference is maintained stable, the overall device obtains a stable grounding signal, the grounding performance is enhanced and the transmitting/receiving performance of the device is improved.
US09142885B2
A wireless communication module is disclosed. A circuit board includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a third sidewall. The second sidewall is perpendicular to and connected between the first and third sidewalls. Multiple interlayer traces are formed in the circuit board. An antenna integrated circuit is disposed on the second sidewall of the circuit board and is connected to the interlayer traces. An antenna is formed on the first sidewall of the circuit board. One of the interlayer traces is connected between the antenna integrated circuit and the antenna. At least one external solder pad is formed on the third sidewall of the circuit board. Another one of the interlayer traces is connected between the antenna integrated circuit and the external solder pad.
US09142864B2
Provided are novel electrolytes for use in rechargeable lithium ion cells containing high capacity active materials, such as silicon, germanium, tin, and/or aluminum. These novel electrolytes include one or more pyrocarbonates and, in certain embodiments, one or more fluorinated carbonates. For example, dimethyl pyrocarbonate (DMPC) may be combine with mono-fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC). Alternatively, DMPC or other pyrocarbonates may be used without any fluorinated carbonates. A weight ratio of pyrocarbonates may be between about 0% and 50%, for example, about 10%. Pyrocarbonates may be combined with other solvents, such as ethylene carbonate (EC), propylene carbonate (PC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC), diethyl carbonate (DEC), and/or ethyl-methyl carbonate (EMC). Alternatively, pyrocarbonates may be used without such solvents. Experimental results conducted using electrochemical cells with silicon based electrodes demonstrated substantial improvements in cycle life when pyrocarbonate containing electrolytes were used in comparison with pyrocarbonate free electrolytes.
US09142861B2
A lithium ionic conductor (solid electrolyte) contains lithium (Li), phosphorus (P), boron (B) and sulfur (S) as constituent elements and has a crystal structure that boron (B) is substituted for part of phosphorus (P) in the β structure of Li3PS4.
US09142860B2
A sodium secondary battery capable of reducing the amount used of a scarce metal element such as lithium and cobalt and moreover, ensuring a larger discharge capacity after repeating charge/discharge as compared with conventional techniques, and a mixed metal oxide usable as the positive electrode active material therefor. The mixed metal oxide comprises Na, Mn and M1 wherein M1 is Fe or Ni, with a Na:Mn:M1 molar ratio being a:(1−b):b wherein a is a value falling within the range of more than 0.5 and less than 1, and b is a value falling within the range of from 0.001 to 0.5. Another mixed metal oxide is a mixed metal oxide represented by the following formula (1): NaaMn1−bM1bO2 (1) wherein M1, a and b each have the same meaning as above. The positive electrode active material for sodium secondary batteries comprises the mixed metal oxide above.
US09142844B2
A reliable, end-to-end power supply solution for components of a telecommunications network provides either a primary source or a backup source of electrical power at various telecommunications sites for reliable operation of telecommunications equipment. One subsystem of the power supply solution includes one or more proton exchange membrane type fuel cells and an energy storage device for storing DC electrical power produced by the fuel cells. Another subsystem includes one or more microturbine generators, one or more rectifiers for converting AC electrical power produced by the microturbine generators to DC electrical power, and one or more proton exchange membrane type fuel cells for producing DC electrical power. The power supply solution ensures that voice and data traffic is reliably handled by a telecommunications network in situations where commercial electric utilities fail to supply power at certain points along the network.
US09142841B2
A micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cell arrangement includes two micro-tubular elements having a tubular inner electrode, covered on its outer surface with an electrolyte, the electrolyte being covered on its outer surface with a tubular outer electrode; and a connection element arranged between the micro-tubular elements for connecting one end of one micro-tubular element to one end of the other micro-tubular element, where the micro-tubular element has a first end portion with an inner cone arranged in the tubular inner electrode and a second end portion with an outer cone arranged in the tubular outer electrode, where the connection element comprises a metallic interconnector plate having a first side and an opposite second side, where the plate is provided with at least one hole; a first metallic connector on the first side and arranged around the hole and a second metallic connector on the second side and arranged around the hole.
US09142840B2
Various embodiments are described herein for an electrode assembly for a stacked-cell battery. The electrode assembly comprises a first active material layer; a first current collector layer adjacent to and in electrical contact with an outer surface of the first active material layer; a tab element having an end lead portion and a second lead portion, the end lead portion being in electrical contact with at least one of the first active material layer and the first current collector layer, and the second lead portion extending away from the end lead portion and being substantially adjacent to a surface of at least one of the first active material layer and the first current collector layer and is adapted to provide an electrical connection to the electrode assembly; and an insulative layer covering an inner contact area of the second lead portion to electrically insulate this portion of the tab element.
US09142839B2
The invention relates to an electrochemical battery that comprises at least two electrodes (21, 22) each made of a different conducting material, characterized in that said electrodes are woven or sewn in the fabric of the piece of clothing (1), said fabric containing between 60 and 90% of an animal or vegetal natural fiber and between 10 and 40% of a textile fiber of a chemical elastic material, and using a physiological fluid as an electrolyte. The invention also relates to a piece of clothing equipped with such a battery.
US09142832B2
A graphite material for a negative electrode is provided which can suppress capacity degradation due to repeated charging and discharging cycles, storage in a charged state, and floating charging.A method of manufacturing a graphite material for a negative electrode of a lithium ion secondary battery is provided in which an atomic ratio H/C of hydrogen atoms H and carbon atoms C in the raw coke composition is in a range of 0.30 to 0.50 and a microstrength of the raw coke composition is in a range of 7 wt % to 17 wt %.
US09142829B2
A passive safety device for an energy storage cell for positioning between two electrically conductive layers of the energy storage cell. The safety device also comprising a separator and a non-conductive layer. A first electrically conductive material is provided on the non-conductive layer. A first opening is formed through the separator between the first electrically conductive material and one of the electrically conductive layers of the energy storage device. A second electrically conductive material is provided adjacent the first electrically conductive material on the non-conductive layer, wherein a space is formed on the non-conductive layer between the first and second electrically conductive materials. A second opening is formed through the non-conductive layer between the second electrically conductive material and another of the electrically conductive layers of the energy storage device. The first and second electrically conductive materials combine and exit at least partially through the first and second openings to connect the two electrically conductive layers of the energy storage device at a predetermined temperature.
US09142824B2
A plate-like battery pack has: a plurality of single cell elements; a flat battery pack case composed of an insulating material and adapted to have a plurality of holes respectively housing the single cell elements; and a plurality of sealing plates adapted to hermetically seal the holes housing the single cell elements and connect adjacent ones of the single cell elements, and the sealing plates connect the single cell elements in series, parallel or series-parallel.
US09142813B2
A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly having a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate and a separator interposed between the first and second electrode plates; a lower case accommodating the electrode assembly therein; and a cap assembly sealing the lower case. In the secondary battery, the lower case has the electrode assembly and a vent portion, and includes a surface facing the cap assembly. The vent portion includes an intersecting portion formed inside the surface, first and second curved portions curved to extend from the intersecting portion, and an extending portion extended in a straight line from the intersecting portion. The thickness of the intersecting portion includes the minimum thickness of the surface.
US09142805B2
A method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display panel forming a protective insulating film in a luminescent region without causing defects in a pattern is disclosed. The method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display panel includes forming a substrate having a luminescent region and a pad region, simultaneously forming a light emitting cell in the luminescent region and an organic pattern in the pad region, forming a protective insulating film over the substrate, bonding the substrate provided with the protective insulating film and the sealing substrate using an adhesive film formed in a region corresponding to the luminescent region, cutting the bonded substrate provided with the protective insulating film and the sealing substrate into a plurality of unit panels to expose the pad region, and removing the protective insulating film and the organic pattern in the exposed pad region.
US09142803B2
An organic EL display device ensures brightness and improves a contrast ratio by a reduction in external light reflection. The organic EL display device includes a wavelength selective absorption filter that absorbs a light in a given absorption spectrum uniform in a display region. An absorption spectrum has a negative correlation with an outgoing spectrum in which respective spectrums of R pixels, G pixels, and B pixels are synthesized together.
US09142789B2
An organic photodiode, including a first electrode forming an anode, an active layer, a second electrode, and at least one third electrode, forming a capacitance with another electrode, to trap at least part of dark current or leakage current.
US09142788B2
Novel aryl silicon and aryl germanium host materials, and in particular host materials containing triphenylene and pyrene fragments, are described. These compounds improve OLED device performance when used as hosts in the emissive layer of the OLED.
US09142786B2
Phosphorescent materials and devices, having high device efficiency, stability, and processability are disclosed. The compounds are specific embodiments of an iridium complex, having the following structure: In the compounds of Formula I, n is 2, X—Y is acetylacetonate, R1 is hydrogen or alkyl, R2 is hydrogen, and at least one R3 is alkyl.
US09142785B2
Provided is an organic electroluminescent device (organic EL device) that is improved in luminous efficiency, sufficiently secures driving stability, and has a simple construction. The organic electroluminescent device includes an organic layer including a light-emitting layer between an anode and cathode laminated on a substrate, and at least one layer of the organic layer contains a carbazole compound represented by the following formula (1). It is advantageous to incorporate the carbazole compound as a host material into the light-emitting layer. In the formula (1), A represents a direct bond or an n-valent group, E represents oxygen or sulfur, and n represents an integer of 2 to 4.
US09142783B2
One object of the present invention is to provide a light emitting element that includes an organic compound and an inorganic compound and has low driving voltage. The light emitting element of the invention includes a plurality of layers between a pair of electrodes, wherein the plurality of layers includes a layer that contains a carbazole derivative represented by a general formula (1) and an inorganic compound exhibiting an electron accepting property with respect to the carbazole derivative. By utilizing this structure, electrons are transported between the carbazole derivative and the inorganic compound and carriers are internally generated, and hence, the driving voltage of the light emitting element can be reduced.
US09142781B2
The present invention relates to new naphthalene carbodiimide (NTCDI) derivatives, and organic electronic device using the same and especially to an organic solar cell. The new NTCDI derivatives are used as acceptor, electron transport material, and doped electron transport materials.
US09142780B2
A display device includes a substrate, a first conductive film pattern including a gate electrode and a first capacitor electrode on the substrate, a gate insulating layer pattern on the first conductive film pattern, a polycrystalline silicon film pattern including an active layer and a second capacitor electrode on the gate insulating layer pattern, an interlayer insulating layer on the polycrystalline silicon film pattern, a plurality of first contact holes through the gate insulating layer pattern and the interlayer insulating layer to expose a portion of the first conductive film pattern, a plurality of second contact holes through the interlayer insulating layer to expose a portion of the polycrystalline silicon film pattern, and a second conductive film pattern including a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a pixel electrode on the interlayer insulating layer.
US09142778B2
Sources, devices, and techniques for deposition of organic layers, such as for use in an OLED, are provided. A vaporizer may vaporize a material between cooled side walls and toward a mask having an adjustable mask opening. The mask opening may be adjusted to control the pattern of deposition of the material on a substrate, such as to correct for material buildup that occurs during deposition. Material may be collected from the cooled side walls for reuse.
US09142773B2
A variable resistance nonvolatile memory element includes: first and second electrode layers; a first variable resistance layer between the first and second electrode layers; and a second variable resistance layer between the second electrode layer and the first variable resistance layer and having a higher resistance value than the first variable resistance layer. When viewed in a direction perpendicular to the major surface of the second variable resistance layer, an outline of the second variable resistance layer is located inwardly of the outline of any one of the second electrode layer and the first variable resistance layer, and an outline of a face of the second variable resistance layer, the face being in contact with the first variable resistance layer is located inwardly of an outline of a face of the first variable resistance layer, the face being in contact with the second variable resistance layer.
US09142772B2
A resistive memory device capable of implementing a multi-level cell, a method of fabricating the same, and a memory apparatus and data processing system including the same are provided. The resistive memory device includes a lower electrode, a first phase-change material layer formed over the lower electrode, a second phase-change material layer formed to surround an outer sidewall of the first phase-change material layer, and an upper electrode formed over the first phase-change material layer and the second phase-change material layer.
