US09149961B2
A method of manufacturing a vehicle trim component is provided that includes disposing a fiber panel onto a first surface of a mold cavity. The method also includes compressing the fiber panel between the first surface and a second surface of the mold cavity to form the fiber panel into a desired shape. The method further includes injecting resin into the mold cavity to fill at least one void between the first surface and the second surface adjacent to the fiber panel.
US09149960B2
A method and apparatus for molding a plastic element having a body with a surface from which at least one rib extends and an insert at least partially arranged against the surface and under the rib. The method carried out by the apparatus includes the steps of: (a) installing the insert against a wall of an injection cavity, the wall having at least one slit extending at least partially opposite at least one part of the insert, the slit being adapted to form the rib of the plastic element; and (b) injecting molding material into the injection cavity to create the body and the rib of the plastic element. A support element is positioned in the slit, against the insert, to support said insert during the injection.
US09149958B2
Stamp for microcontact printing. The stamp includes a bulk portion having first and second surfaces, the first surface including a pattern of features to be transferred and the second surface including a different pattern of features. The features on the second surface have a lower stiffness than the features on the first surface. The dual-face stamp design of the invention provides an alternative location for dimensional errors to be absorbed, making microcontact printing a more robust production process.
US09149956B2
A conveying/positioning device includes: a unused-mold placing device 9 that places a rolled mold MB of a sheet-shaped mold M thereon; a mold rolling-up device 11 that rolls up the flat sheet-shaped mold MA supplied from the unused-mold placing device 9; and a tension maintaining device that constantly maintains a tension of the flat sheet-shaped mold even if a form of the flat sheet-shaped mold is changed when the peeling is performed.
US09149952B2
Described herein are bioprinters comprising: one or more printer heads, wherein a printer head comprises a means for receiving and holding at least one cartridge, and wherein said cartridge comprises contents selected from one or more of: bio-ink and support material; a means for calibrating the position of at least one cartridge; and a means for dispensing the contents of at least one cartridge. Further described herein are methods for fabricating a tissue construct, comprising: a computer module receiving input of a visual representation of a desired tissue construct; a computer module generating a series of commands, wherein the commands are based on the visual representation and are readable by a bioprinter; a computer module providing the series of commands to a bioprinter; and the bioprinter depositing bio-ink and support material according to the commands to form a construct with a defined geometry.
US09149950B2
The present invention discloses a debris collection device for cutting mechanism and an LCD panel cutting debris suction device. A debris collection device for cutting mechanism comprises a debris collection cap and a suction spray head used for connecting with a suction device; the debris collection cap comprises a connecting part used for surrounding and fixing on the cutting mechanism, and the debris collection cap is provided with a through hole communicated with the suction spray head. The present invention can remove the debris produced in the cutting process in time, and can reduce relevant defects such as line scratches, terminal scratches, short circuit, broken circuit, etc. which are generated because of debris. Thus, the product yield and quality of LCD panels can be improved, and the time of the subsequent cleaning process can be reduced.
US09149944B2
A razor cartridge includes razor blade assemblies having an inter-blade guard attached to a side of a razor blade. The razor blade is formed from strip that is manufactured including a thermal oxidation process to form a chromium oxide layer on the side surface of the razor blade. This oxide film prevents electrochemical corrosion of the razor blade that may be visible to a user and prevents real or perceived premature failure of the razor blade and thus the razor cartridge during its extended life. The razor blade assembly may also have an array of closely spaced droplets of a liquid adapted to inhibit corrosion of the razor blade applied to the side of the razor blade visible to a user.
US09149931B2
A robot system includes a robot and a robot control device. The robot has a plurality of joint axes including a redundant axis. The robot control device includes a first command generator, a limit avoidance command generator, a posture optimization command generator, a null space matrix calculator, a second command generator and a controller. The first command generator generates a first joint angular speed command for the robot. The limit avoidance command generator generates a joint angular speed command A for the robot for avoiding a state in which the robot reaches an operating limit. The posture optimization command generator generates a joint angular speed command B for the robot for optimizing a posture of the robot. The null space matrix calculator calculates a null space matrix of a Jacobian matrix related to a control point. The second command generator generates a second joint angular speed command for the robot.
US09149916B2
A non-ratcheting socket tool for loosening or tightening nuts or bolts, especially when the nut or bolt head is located in a crowded area where there is inadequate space to pivot or rotate a handle of a wrench or ratchet. The gear head socket tool includes a slim streamlined housing including a straight beveled gear coaxially arranged around a sleeve or ring having a plurality of internal nut/bolt gripping wrench teeth, wherein the straight beveled gear teeth mate with beveled pinion gear teeth perpendicular thereto. An extension bar is inserted into the end of the gear head housing perpendicular to the gear head. Rotation of the extension bar with a ratchet, a breaker bar, strong arm or a power tool such as a pneumatic or electric impact wrench, or drill motor provides perpendicular torque to drive the gear head socket rotating the teeth turning the nut or bolt.
US09149915B1
A wrench has an S-shaped body with a first end, a second end, a first slot, and a second slot. A virtual ground plane is substantially perpendicular to walls of the slots. A first virtual reference plane is perpendicular to the virtual ground plane and abuts the S-shaped body at first and second points on a first side. A second virtual reference plane is perpendicular to the first virtual reference plane and to the virtual ground plane and abuts the S-shaped body at a third point proximate the first end. A third virtual reference plane is perpendicular to the first virtual reference plane and to the virtual ground plane and abuts the S-shaped body at a fourth point proximate the second end. A fourth virtual reference plane is perpendicular to the virtual ground plane and abuts the S-shaped body at fifth and sixth points on a second side.
US09149913B2
An abrasive segment can include an inner segment portion, an outer segment portion, and a central segment portion connected thereto. The inner segment portion can include an inner circumferential wall and an outer circumferential wall. Leading and trailing radial sidewalls can extend between the inner circumferential wall and the outer circumferential wall opposite each other. The outer segment portion can include an inner circumferential wall and an outer circumferential wall. Leading and trailing radial sidewalls can extend between the inner circumferential wall and the outer circumferential wall opposite each other. The central segment portion can include a leading radial sidewall and a trailing radial sidewall. The leading radial sidewall of the central segment portion can establish an acute angle, α, with respect to the outer circumferential wall of the inner segment portion and an obtuse angle, β, with respect the inner circumferential wall of the outer segment portion.
US09149912B2
A CBN grinding particle included in a CBN grinding wheel has a single crystal CBN grinding particle having a tetrahedron construction and a multi crystal CBN grinding particle. The single crystal CBN grinding particle is blended with a ratio of equal to or more than 50% to a total summed volume of the single and multi CBN grinding particles. A CBN grinding wheel having the CBN grinding particle is especially suitable for rough grinding.
US09149910B2
The present invention is primarily assembled from a main body, a lifting device, a control switch, a grinding device, a nozzle apparatus, and a dust collecting device. The main body includes a first casing, and a second casing disposed within the first casing. The lifting device enables raising and lowering of the first casing relative to the second casing for adjustment to a suitable height. An operating area at the top of the first casing is equipped with the control switch. The nozzle apparatus includes an air compressor, a dryer, a sand storage tank, and a nozzle, which facilitate the user in operational use, and enable powerful collection of dust. In particular, during the sand blasting process, the present invention enables optimum handling of environmental dust pollution.
US09149904B1
A lapping platen having a working surface and an abrasive coating on the working surface. The abrasive coating comprises a plurality of individual abrasive composites adhered to the working surface with an epoxy, the abrasive composites comprising diamond particles and a ceramic matrix. The diamond particles have an average particle size of 0.1 micrometers to 3 micrometers with no particle larger than 6 micrometers. The abrasive composites have an average particle size of 15 micrometers to 100 micrometers with no particle larger than 150 micrometers.
US09149903B2
A polishing is used for polishing a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish. The polishing apparatus includes a polishing table having a polishing surface, a substrate holding apparatus configured to hold the substrate and to press the substrate against the polishing surface, and a controller. The substrate holding apparatus includes an elastic membrane configured to forma substrate holding surface which is brought into contact with the substrate, a carrier provided above the elastic membrane, at least one pressure chamber formed between the elastic membrane and the carrier, and an infrared light detector configured to measure thermal energy from the elastic membrane. The controller calculates an estimate value of a temperature of the elastic membrane using a measured value of the infrared light detector.
US09149891B2
A metal core electrode used to form weld deposits having improved slag forming properties with respect to reduced accumulation of slag in toes of the weld bead. The metal cored electrode includes a metal rod and a fill composition. The electrode includes a slag-modifying additive that contains metallic indium and/or one or more indium compounds.
US09149887B2
A laser processing apparatus includes worktable for loading a workpiece, a laser emitter, a user interface, a detecting unit, and a controller. The user interface allows inputting a thickness value of the workpiece. The detecting unit includes a signal emitter, a signal receiver for receiving signals emitted by the signal emitter, and a lifting unit. The workpiece is positioned between the signal emitter and the signal receiver. The controller controls the lifting device to adjust a height of the signal emitter and signal receiver relative to the worktable to be equal to a sum of the input thickness value and a focal length of the laser emitter. The controller controls the driving device to adjust a height of the laser emitter relative to the worktable if the signal receiver receives the signals and stop to adjust the laser emitter if the signal receiver does not receive the signals.
US09149879B2
A guide cutting tool for use in cutting metal studs used in wall construction includes a plate having generally opposite notches. Each notch has a straight notch guide wall extending generally inwardly towards the corresponding straight notch guide wall of the opposite notch at a generally perpendicular orientation from a corresponding side of the plate, with the two straight notch guide walls being generally collinear with one another. A spacer, for use in cutting metal studs, is formed with a guide cutting tool located at each longitudinal end of a connector member.
US09149868B2
A steel product or thin steel cast strip comprised of, by weight, less than 0.25% carbon, between 0.20 and 2.0% manganese, between 0.05 and 0.50% silicon, less than 0.01% aluminum, and at least one of niobium between 0.01% and 0.20% and vanadium between 0.01% and 0.20%, and having a microstructure of a majority bainite and acicular ferrite, and more than 70% niobium and/or vanadium in solid solution. The steel product may have an increase in elongation and an increase in yield strength after age hardening. The age hardened steel product may have niobium carbonitride particles with an average particle size of 10 nanometers and less, and may have substantially no niobium carbonitride particles greater than 50 nanometers. The steel product may have a yield strength of at least 380 MPa or a tensile strength of at least 410 MPa, or both. The steel product or thin cast steel strip may have a total elongation of at least 6% or 10%.
US09149857B2
A method for reinforcing, baffling or sealing a vehicle structure, comprising the steps of providing one or more materials having a horizontal axis, at least one terminating edge, and an initial length, forming openings in the one or more materials, and applying the one or more materials to location requiring reinforcement, baffling, sealing or any combination thereof.
US09149844B2
Method and system for arranging cigarette packs according to the position of the filters of the cigarettes contained in the packs, each pack being provided on its outside with a detectable indicator (5), the position of the indicator on the pack (1) in relation to the filters of the cigarettes contained in the packs being predefined, in which the packs are successively delivered in the form of a first stream (7) of the packs travelling on a conveyor (6) to a detection station (8) for detecting the indicators (5) where the position of the indicator on each particular pack is detected, the packs being subsequently arranged depending on the position of the indicator (5) detected thereon by the driving means (12) controlled basing on the information concerning the position of the indicators received from the detection station (8). The arranging consists in dividing the first stream (7) of the packs into at least two separate streams of the travelling packs.
US09149829B2
An adjustable inside applicator including an attachment body to attach the applicator to a source of compound to be applied to a joint, the attachment body having a bore including an inlet and at least two outlets, a pair of faces angularly disposed relative to one another with at least one outlet located in each of the pair of faces, and a pair of floating application guide heads mounted pivotably to the attachment body and biased towards a straight angle between the floating application guide heads but movable against the bias into an angle which is less than straight, each floating application guide head having an opening therein in communication with a respective at least one outlet of the body.
US09149820B2
The device (10) utilizes a standard reversible airless tip (12). The air cap (18) is provided with four air passages (20) which aim radially inwardly at 45° from the centerline of the housing (30). The passages (20) have a 12° angle from being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (24) of the assembly (10). The four jets (20) provided by these passages are guided by four channels (28) in the surface of the housing (30) (also having the 12° ramp angle) so as to guide the air flow to the center of the oval orifice (14a) in the carbide (14). Two pairs of opposing air jets (22) are also provided in the air cap (18) directed perpendicularly to the fan (26) of paint or other atomized material and these jets (22) are angled at about 20.5° relative to the plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (24) of the assembly (10). Each pair is directed at one another and is spaced laterally from the longitudinal axis (24) to help in removing tails from the pattern.
US09149808B1
In a ball and socket closure for opening and closing an intake port for a hollow fluid container including bicycle mounted bottles such as water or other kind of fluids which refreshes the user or provides nourishment, The ball and socket closure may be used on water bottles or adaptors for sports water bottles used in place of the original bottle cap, Such original bottle caps have no quick fill capability or a selectively open and closed ball and socket intake cap as is in the present invention, which permits introduction of water through the cavity within a spherical ball valve, received by a cylindrical socket for supporting the ball in an intake port of the fluid container. A tab on the edge of the hole in the ball permits manipulation of the ball between an open and a closed position as required by the user.
US09149805B2
A microfluidic fluid separator for separating target components of a fluid by filtration is described. Methods for separating target components of a fluid by filtration and methods for processing blood on a large scale with the microfluidic fluid separator are provided.
US09149795B2
Ceramic catalyst carriers that are mechanically, thermally and chemically stable in a ionic salt monopropellant decomposition environment and high temperature catalysts for decomposition of liquid high-energy-density monopropellants are disclosed. The ceramic catalyst carrier has excellent thermal shock resistance, good compatibility with the active metal coating and metal coating deposition processes, melting point above 1800° C., chemical resistance to steam, nitrogen oxides and acids, resistance to sintering to prevent void formation, and the absence of phase transition associated with volumetric changes at temperatures up to and beyond 1800° C.
US09149794B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing a formyl group-containing porous base matrix, comprising the steps of introducing a spacer in a formyl group-containing porous particle; and then oxidizing the spacer with periodic acid and/or a periodate, to transform the part of the spacer into a formyl group; wherein the formyl group content in the porous particle after introduction of the spacer is not more than 3 μmol per 1 mL of the porous particle. Also, the present invention relates to a method for producing an adsorbent, comprising the step of immobilizing an amino group-containing ligand on the formyl group-containing porous base matrix. According to the present invention, a formyl-group containing porous base matrix and an adsorbent produced from the porous base matrix of which adsorption amount is high and which is has high strength and of which ligand is difficult to be leaked are provided.
US09149778B2
A device and method for dispensing catalyst pellets from a hopper to a chemical reactor. The hopper receives and holds the catalyst pellets at an elevation above the elevation of the chemical reactor. The flow of the catalyst pellets is controlled so they flow into and through a conduit in a widely spaced-apart arrangement to the chemical reactor. This controlled, spaced-apart flow is created by providing a sieve between a hopper and the conduit having openings small enough that the catalyst pellets form bridges above the openings, and then repeatedly breaking up the bridges in a controlled manner.
US09149771B2
There are disclosed a ceramic porous membrane formed with less membrane formation times and having less defects, a small and uniform thickness and a high flux, and a ceramic filter. A silica membrane is formed on a titania UF membrane as an ultrafiltration membrane (a UF membrane) formed on a porous base member which is a microfiltration membrane (also referred to as an MF membrane) and having an average pore diameter smaller than that of the porous base member, and the silica membrane has an average pore diameter smaller than that of the titania UF membrane, and does not substantially permeates the titania UF membrane.
US09149766B2
Impurities in exhaust gas from oxyfuel combustor are removed using simple equipment to reduce installation cost. Compressor-based impurity removal system for compressing exhaust gas mainly composed of carbon dioxide from combustor before supply to carbon dioxide liquefier for removal of impurities in exhaust gas has impurity separators with compressors for compressing exhaust gas from combustor stepwisely to target pressure for liquefaction of carbon dioxide and with aftercoolers for cooling exhaust gas compressed by compressors, water condensed by cooling being discharged as drain, and alkaline agent supply unit for supplying alkaline agent to at least upstream side of aftercooler in first impurity separator. Impurities in exhaust gas are discharged through drain including alkaline agent.
US09149765B2
Provided are impurity separators which have compressors for supplying exhaust gas comprising carbon dioxide from oxyfuel combustor to target pressure stepwisely before supply to carbon dioxide liquefier and have aftercoolers for cooling exhaust gas compressed by the compressors stepwisely to target pressure, water condensed by cooling being discharged as drain; alkaline agent supply unit which supplies alkaline agent to upstream side of aftercooler in last impurity separator to discharge drain containing alkaline agent having removed impurities in exhaust gas from aftercooler in last impurity separator; and circulation line for supplying of drain from aftercooler in last impurity separator to upstream side of aftercooler in first impurity separator.
US09149758B2
Provided are a continuous oxygen adsorption and desorption device and an continuous oxygen adsorption and desorption method using the device, and more particularly, an continuous oxygen adsorption and desorption device for producing high-purity oxygen products by using a plurality of adsorption and desorption towers filled with an oxygen-selecting adsorption and desorption agent selected from BaMg(CO3)2 particles or particles in which either MgCO3 or Mg(OH)2 has been attached to the outside of BaMg(CO3)2, and also a continuous oxygen adsorption and desorption method using the device.
US09149756B2
A device for adsorption treatment of a fluid or fluid stream, comprising a container for receiving adsorber material, wherein the container has a fluid inlet opening and a fluid outlet opening, and two fluid connection devices, wherein one of the fluid connection devices is provided at the fluid inlet opening and the other one of the fluid connection devices is provided at the fluid outlet opening, wherein the fluid connection devices are locked in a fluid-tight manner and are designed in such a way that they can each be connected to a fluid line connector and unlocked and, if they are connected to the respective fluid line connector they can be unlocked or are unlocked.
US09149749B2
Fiber webs that may be used as filter media are provided. In some embodiments, the filter media may include multiple layers. Each layer may be designed to have separate functions in the filter media. For example, a first layer may be provided for improving dust holding capacity, a second layer for improving efficiency, and a third layer for providing support and strength to the media. By designing the layers to have separate functions, each layer may be optimized to enhance its function without negatively impacting the performance of another layer of the media.
US09149744B2
A filtration method, that includes: (A) filtering a liquid having particles with a resin media filter; and (B) applying ultrasonic waves at a frequency of at least 30 kHz to the resin media filter during the filtering (A) or after completion of the filtering (A) to regenerate the resin media filter, where: i) a material of the resin media filter is nylon, polycarbonate, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polysulfone, polyether sulfone, and/or cellulose, ii) for the regeneration of the resin media filter, the applying results in a filter regeneration ratio of at least 0.40; iii) on a surface of the resin media filter, a support material comprising a mesh resin layer is disposed; and iv) the resin media filter is present in a filter housing having a three-dimensional shape and an ultrasonic vibrator, which generates the ultrasonic waves, is present on a lateral side of said filter housing.
US09149743B2
An apparatus for dewatering slurry utilizes a vertical skeletal retainer framework, having a top end and a bottom end, into which rigid filter plates, a geotextile filter bag, and/or other filter is installed. The vertical orientation employs gravity to induce maximum drainage, with water in the slurry filtering through the plates or bag and falling downwardly. At the bottom end of the framework, doors or gates facilitate selective holding, and emptying of, dewatered solids. A support structure permits a transport vehicle or hopper to be positioned under the framework for collection and removal of dewatered solids. After removal of its contents, the bag can be pressure washed from the outside and potentially reused. The apparatus may be portable, with the framework being pivotable on a wheeled base.
US09149740B2
A separator (10) comprises a housing (12) and a separator chamber (14) contained within the housing (12), an inlet (16) and outlet (18) to the separator chamber and a dividing member (20) for substantially dividing the separator chamber (14) into a first chamber (22) and a second chamber (24). A flow path is provided between the first and second chambers (22), (24) for allowing flow to circulate between the first and second chambers, and obstruction means (74) is provided in the second chamber (24) for slowing flow through the second chamber (24).
US09149737B2
Disclosed is a method for preparing a composition enriched for receptors (typically molecular impringet polymers, MIPs) that bind an agent, where said receptors each specifically bind at least two discrete sites on said agent, by subjecting a sample of receptors to a first step of affinity purification with the agent where one binding site on the agent is non-accessible for binding to the receptors and subsequently subjecting the purified receptors to at least one further step of affinity purification with the agent where a second binding site on the agent is non-accessible. Also disclosed is a method for treatment, amelioration or prophylaxis of a disease selected from the group consisting of phenylketonuria (PKU, Følling's disease), hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA), alcaptonuria (black urine disease), tyrosinemia, hypertyrosinemia, myasthenia gravis, histidinemia, urocanic aciduria, maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), isovaleric acidemia (isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency), homocystinuria, propionic acidemia, methylmalonic acidemia, and glutaric aciduria Type 1 (GA-I), galactosemia, comprising administering to the gastrointestinal tract of a patient in need thereof an effective amount of a composition of molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs), said composition being capable of binding a symptom provoking agent of said disease.
US09149733B2
A toy brick comprising: a body part with one or more sidewalls extending around the outer periphery of the toy brick which at least partially define an interior of the toy brick and extend from a bottom face to a top portion of the body part, and an elongated rib arranged interiorly on one of the one or more sidewalls. The elongated rib extends at least partially between the bottom face towards the top portion of the body part and the elongated rib is, upon interconnection with another toy brick, configured to be in abutment on coupling means with the other toy brick, the width of the elongated rib, in a central portion in-between the bottom face and the top portion and parallel to the sidewall accommodating the elongated rib, is greater than the width of the elongated rib near its ends parallel to the sidewall accommodating the elongated rib.
US09149720B2
In order to attain the object described above, a game apparatus is able to use display means and coordinate input means such as a touch panel, and positions a virtual camera Ca in a virtual space. Whether the coordinate input means is in an inputted state in which a player is performing a coordinate input (touch operation) on the coordinate input means, or in a non-inputted state in which a player is not performing coordinate input on the coordinate input means, is determined. When it is determined that the coordinate input means is in the non-inputted state, the game apparatus changes the imaging direction of the virtual camera Ca, based on change of an input coordinate position that is designated on the coordinate input means immediately before the coordinate input means enters the non-inputted state.
US09149718B2
A reference character is generated by combining part objects prepared for each site. At least one candidate character object is generated by changing at least one part object among the part objects used in the reference character object. The reference character object and the candidate character object are displayed by a display device, and an input for selection from a user is accepted. Next, a site for which different part objects are used between the selected character object and the reference character object is determined. A new character object is generated by changing the part object used for the determined site with priority. The selected character object is displayed as the reference character, and the newly generated character is displayed as the candidate character.
US09149717B2
A method of interactive game play is provided wherein a seemingly magical wand toy is provided for enabling a trained user to electronically send and receive information to and from other wand toys, a master system and/or to actuate various play effects within a play environment. The toy wand or other seemingly magical object is configured to use a send/received radio frequency communications protocol which provides a basic foundation for a complex, interactive entertainment system to create a seemingly magical interactive play experience.
US09149706B2
An adaptable training putter head for use in a training putter includes an outer alignment guide, an inner alignment guide, and a sighting bar, all mounted to a conventional style putting head, to which is also attached a hosel, allowing for both right-handed and left-handed operation of a putting club. The adaptable training putter head allows a golf player to visually ensure that a putting club is oriented correctly during a putting swing, and is designed to improve accuracy during practice and recreational golf games. The adaptable training putter head can be used in a regulation conformant mode, with all alignment guides and sighting bar detached. A golf putter training clip-on device can include one or more alignment guides, a bridge, an elongator, and a clip, such that the golf putter clip-on device can be attached to a putter, with the elongator allowing for position and height adjustment.
US09149700B1
An athletic aid specially designed for track and field participants. Design intent is to provide a simple yet effective tool in improving starting techniques and increasing speed when coming out of starting blocks. Resistance means is provided. Further, proper muscle memory is promoted via a chin.
US09149695B2
An improved projectile throwing apparatus is described comprising a handle, an elongate shaft, and a throwing head for throwing a projectile, such as a golf ball. The throwing head may be interchangeable with golf shafts of varied lengths, with lacrosse shafts, or other shafts to achieve accurate, long distance golf ball throws. The throwing head may be shaped to achieve throws of different distance, launch angle, and trajectory, optionally imparting spin with a retrograde ramp at the distal end of the throwing head. The throwing apparatus is useful for golf-type game play, including for those with physical disabilities, as well as for a training and instructional aid for golf, lacrosse, and other sports.
US09149688B2
Multi-layer golf balls comprising a center, intermediate layer, and cover are disclosed. The center is formed from a highly-neutralized acid copolymer composition.
US09149676B2
An exercise device having a base that forms a ring, and at least one connection point. A resistance band is connected to the connection point, and an anchor. The base may be moved in varying directions against resistance from the resistance band to provide exercise for a user.
US09149674B2
A trampoline arena includes a framework assembly having a plurality of frame elements defining an outwardly sloping outer wall, and a deck, a plurality of voids being defined between the framework elements. The arena also includes a plurality of trampolines connected to the frame elements along peripheries thereof and extending across the plurality of voids to further define the outwardly sloping outer wall and deck, and a padding assembly including a plurality of pads overlying the frame elements and the peripheries of the trampolines.
US09149668B2
Applicators provide heat shields for uncovered skin, in particular the face, hands, and other body parts that may not be clothed such as arms, legs, or torso. In one embodiment, a continuous heat shield is applied the entire face and ears. In another embodiment, a heat shield is applied to portions of the face and neck. In yet another embodiment, a heat shield is applied by multiple applicators. Sets of applicators apply a portions of a contiguous heat shield. Books contain multiple sets of applicators. Camouflage is used for military concealment. Other uses include firefighting, iron working, glass blowing and cooking. Entrained ceramic particles provide heat reflection and insulation.
US09149656B2
A radiation therapy apparatus including a robot supporting a robot head; a therapeutic radiation source attached to the robot head; a collimator for adjusting a radiation field shape of therapeutic radiation radiated from the therapeutic radiation source; a first therapeutic radiation detector attached to the robot head; a couch configured to support a patient lying supine thereon; a second therapeutic radiation detector for detecting the therapeutic radiation, disposed opposite the first therapeutic radiation detector with the couch disposed therebetween; at least two X-ray sources and detectors for position detection of a marker and/or a treatment target; an image processor for reconstructing an image of the treatment target; and a CPU that computes the intensity, irradiation direction, dose, and dose distribution of the therapeutic radiation, and dose absorbed by the treatment target, radiation field shape, and position of the treatment target in real time for feedback to a next irradiation.
US09149648B2
Systems, devices, methods, and compositions are described for providing an actively controllable shunt configured to, for example, monitor, treat, or prevent an infection.
US09149643B2
A communications bridge device communicates between a consumer electronics device, such as a smart telephone, and an implantable medical device. The bridge forwards instructions and data between the consumer electronics device and the implantable medical device. The bridge contains a first transceiver that operates according to a communication protocol operating in the consumer electronics device (such as Bluetooth®), and second transceiver that operates according to a communications technique operating in the implantable medical device (e.g., Frequency Shift Keying). A software application is installed on the consumer electronics device, which provides a user interface for controlling and reading the implantable medical device. The software application is downloadable using standard cellular means. The bridge is preferably small, and easily and discreetly carried by the implantable medical device patient. The bridge is preferably also simple to operate, and may have only a simple user interface, or no user interface at all.
US09149642B2
The present invention concerns phrenic nerve activation detection algorithms for characterization of phrenic nerve activation and phrenic nerve activation avoidance in cardiac pacing therapy.Various embodiments concern receiving a respiration signal indicative of respiratory activity of the patient, identifying respiratory phases based on the respiration signal, delivering cardiac pacing pulses within each of the identified respiratory phases, receiving a phrenic nerve activation signal indicative of activation of the patient's phrenic nerve, analyzing the phrenic nerve stimulation signal to determine if one or more of the pacing pulses activated the phrenic nerve of the patient, and determining if at least one of the delivered pacing pulses activated the phrenic nerve of the patient based on the phrenic nerve activation signal indicating activation of the patient's phrenic nerve associated with delivery of the at least one cardiac pacing pulse.
US09149635B2
This disclosure describes techniques for generating stimulation current pulses that have differing pulse shapes in a medical device. A circuit architecture is described that is configured to charge a capacitor to an initial amount of charge, modulate the amount of charge stored in the capacitor based on a control signal, and generate a stimulation current pulse that has an amplitude based on the amount charge stored in the capacitor. The circuit architecture may be configured to generate complex pulse shapes, such as, e.g., steps, ramps, bursts, and combinations thereof.
US09149632B1
Exemplary techniques, devices, and systems relating to implantable medical devices (IMDs) and IMD features pertaining to imaging and charge induction are described. One IMD includes means for receiving a first signal relating to a magnetic resonance imaging process. The IMD further includes means for generating a second signal effective to reduce or cancel charge induced upon a lead of the IMD by the magnetic resonance imaging process.
US09149629B2
Systems for stimulating one or more esophageal muscle contractions are provided. The systems, which are designed to evoke esophageal motion to promote the downward movement of material, include an elongated member for placement in a patient's esophagus and at least one mechanical or electrical stimulator coupled to the elongated member. Methods for stimulating and contracting an esophageal muscle using electrodes and a generated signal sequence are also provided.
US09149610B2
Methods for more uniformly delivering drugs or other treatment agents locally to the vasculature of a mammal are disclosed. These methods use one or more strategies to facilitate rapid mixing with the blood flowing past a device or otherwise improve the uniformity of drug delivery. Some of these strategies employ medical devices with diffusion members.
US09149597B2
An apparatus and method of controlling the delivery of therapeutic gas delivered to a patient undergoing positive airway pressure therapy is described. The method includes providing a flow of gas to a patient's airway at a pressure, obtaining information from the range of 0 to 25 Hz of the frequency domain of the flow, and adjusting the pressure based on the information. The apparatus includes a blower for providing a flow of gas to a patient's airway at a pressure, a sensor to measure a characteristic of the flow, a controller to obtain information from the range of 0 to 25 Hz of the frequency domain of the characteristic, and a pressure regulator for adjusting the pressure based on the information.
US09149579B2
An apparatus includes a movable member and a valve coupled to the movable member. The movable member is configured to be disposed within a housing of a medical device and has a first end portion and second end portion. A portion of the first end portion is configured to define a portion of a boundary of a gas chamber. The first end portion defines an opening configured to be in fluid communication between the gas chamber and an area outside the gas chamber. The second end portion is configured to be coupled to a needle configured to deliver a medicament into a body. The valve is configured to selectively allow fluid communication between the gas chamber and the area outside the gas chamber through the opening defined by the first end portion of the movable member.
US09149578B2
A cartridge with injection needles for an injection device. The cartridge includes a plurality of injection needle assemblies, each including a hub, mounted to be shiftable in cavities of a needle assembly support. A hub ledge having a drive member engageable push surface projects within a gap between a first hub portion and a second hub portion. Driving engagement of the push surface by an injection device drive member shifts the needle assembly from a retracted position to an injection position, during which shifting the second hub portion moves relative to the first hub portion. A pull surface on the second hub portion is engagable with the drive member for lifting the needle assembly from the injection position.
US09149573B2
A blunt cannula includes a distal portion and a proximal portion. The distal portion has a non-uniform taper defined by a plurality, such as four, differently tapered segments. The proximal portion may additionally or alternatively have a non-circular, such as oval, cross-section. At least the major diameter (D.sub.MAJ) of the proximal portion my taper toward the distal portion.
US09149557B2
A process for preparing a bioabsorbable sheet preparation holding thrombin is provided. A process for preparing a bioabsorbable sheet preparation holding thrombin which comprises immersing a bioabsorbable sheet consisting of polyglycolic acid in a thrombin solution containing thrombin as an active ingredient, glycerol as a softening agent, Tween 80 as a permeating agent, and optionally histidine and trehalose as a stabilizing agent followed by drying to hold thrombin on said bioabsorbable sheet, and a bioabsorbable sheet preparation holding thrombin prepared by said process.
US09149555B2
The present invention relates to a lens care solution having 0.001 to about 5 weight percent of a low molecular weight amine of the general formula: where R1, R2, R3 and R4 are —H or low molecular weight radicals, and R5 is a low molecular weight radical, or salt thereof; an effective amount of a tonicity agent; and the balance water.
US09149553B2
A transducer type liquid sprayer in that mist can be dispersed widely even when the liquid sprayer is dispersed in a relatively low position. The liquid sprayer contains a storage tank for storing spray liquid that can be easily replaced together with a core for soaking up the spray liquid from the storage tank. The liquid sprayer includes a spray liquid storage unit and a main body for supporting the spray liquid storage unit and a power supply unit. A spray hole is formed in the lid member and a transducer is also disposed inside the lid member and electrically connected to the power supply unit. The transducer is in contact with a front side of a tip end portion of the core with the front face of the transducer oriented forward and upward.
US09149552B1
Described are modulating coatings that are configured to provide an improved release profile of a volatile composition from a base material, wherein the modulating coating includes a barrier substance that is configured to hinder a release of the volatile composition through the modulating coating, and a hygroscopic substance that is configured to facilitate the release of the volatile composition through the modulating coating.
US09149549B2
Sanitizing seat surfaces in a location being related to a mass assembly areas, such as a public mass transportation vehicle includes a passenger assembly area related to the location. There are multiple rows of seats. A sanitization device includes a mobile body configured to travel along the aisle of the area. An arm extends from the sanitization device laterally from the mobile body across the seats, and a source of UV radiation mounted on the sanitization device is directed across the seats exposing surfaces in the passenger area to UV radiation.
US09149537B2
Compositions and methods for the inhibition and/or prevention of traumatic brain injury and the symptoms associated with it are provided.
US09149535B2
Methods for forming, modifying, and drug loading of a copolymer are provided, along with the resulting products. The method can include polymerizing 2-(pyridin-2-yldisulfanyl)ethyl acrylate with poly(ethylene glycol)methacrylate via free radical polymerization to form the copolymer. The molar ratio of 2-(pyridin-2-yldisulfanyl)ethyl acrylate to poly(ethylene glycol)methacrylate is about 100:1 to about 1:100. After polymerizing, the copolymer can be reacted with a thiol monomer that contains a carbon-bonded sulfhydryl to modify end groups on a first portion of the 2-(pyridin-2-yldisulfanyl)ethyl acrylate repeating units. Thereafter, the copolymer can be crosslinked, and a drug can then be loaded into the crosslinked copolymer.
US09149534B2
Disclosed are compositions comprising crosslinked hyaluronic acid gels, preferably vinyl sulfone cross-linked hyaluronic acid known as hylan B gel, for use in topical cosmetic and dermatological formulations. The hylan B gel in these formulations provides prolonged delivery of incorporated substances to the surface of the skin, to provide a hydrated film on the surface of the skin, and to provide a substantive and compatible film on the skin.
US09149530B2
Compositions and methods for enhancing the absorption of active agents across the mucosa of animal subjects are provided. Methods of administration and appropriate dosage forms are also provided.
US09149529B2
Compositions comprising thrombin and collagen and methods of preparation thereof are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a composition comprises thrombin and collagen in an aqueous buffer solution, wherein the buffer solution includes at least one of a first compound represented by Formula I: R1—C(O)—O−M+, wherein R1 is —CH3, —CH2CH2C(O)OH, or —CH2CH2C(O)O−M+, and wherein M+ is a monovalent ion; or a second compound represented by Formula II: R2—C(O)—O−M2+−O—C(O)—R2, wherein R2 is —CH3 or —CH2CH3, and wherein M2+ is a divalent ion. In one embodiment, the buffer solution includes sodium acetate, calcium propionate, and sorbitol.
US09149515B2
A novel dendritic cell type has been identified within bone marrow, termed myelos interferon dendritic cells (miDC). These novel cells possess the high IFN-alpha producing activity of pDC, but they also display a wide TLR responsiveness along with T-cell stimulation capacities that more closely resemble the conventional DC populations. Moreover, these cells appear less prone to apoptosis upon activation stimuli, including viruses. These cells constitute a novel bone marrow innate immune cell type, ideally geared to linking innate and adaptive immune responses via their potent IFN-alpha production and high cell stimulatory capacity.
US09149513B2
Methods for treating male sub-fertility by administering a pharmaceutical composition to a subject in need thereof are provided. The pharmaceutical compositions include an agent that causes a reduction in an effect of extracellular DNA on sperm cells. The agent may be, for example, an enzyme that degrades DNA such as DNase, a substance that blocks the interaction between cell free DNA and sperm cell surface receptors, a substance that binds to DNA, a substance that inhibits endogenous sperm cell DNase, a substance that inhibits a member of a signal transduction pathway mediated by DNA binding to sperm cell surface receptors, or an agent that stimulates production of an endogenous substance that causes a reduction in an antifertility effect of cell free DNA on sperm cells.
US09149510B2
The present invention relates to a combination of two or more Somatostatin (SRIF) peptidomimetics (also referred to as Somatostatin- or SRIF-analogs) which have different selectivity for the five human somatostatin receptor subtypes, the use of such combination in the treatment of a disease mediated by activation of somatostatin receptors, and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such a combination.
US09149508B1
Methods and compositions are disclosed for improving vaccination in a subject with preexistent antibodies to the antigenic component of the immunizing vaccine. By temporarily sequestering, disabling, and/or suppressing preexistent antibodies and/or Fc-mediated mechanisms according to the various example embodiments, the target antigenic component of a vaccine has an increased opportunity to enter antigen-presenting cells through the same pathway that it would use in seronegative subjects. A balanced immune environment is thereby restored and B cells are properly activated to produce antigen-specific antibodies following vaccination.
US09149503B2
This invention relates, e.g., to a virus-like particle (VLP) composition assembled from a chimeric polypeptide comprising a papilloma virus (e.g., human papillomavirus, or HPV) L1 major capsid protein, into which is inserted a surface-displayed peptide comprising a neutralizing epitope of a papillomavirus L2 protein. Vaccine compositions comprising the VLP are described, as well as methods for inducing an immune response (e.g., vaccinating) a subject against papilloma virus, using the VLP, and kits comprising the VLP, for carrying out a method of the invention.
US09149499B1
The present invention is a compound comprising a cannabis portion and at least one of a progestin portion and a progesterone portion. The compound may optionally also include an NSAID component. The compound may take for instance the form of a pill or pellet (for oral internal use or for subdermal implantation), an injectable solution, or a suppository. The compound is intended for use in treating subjects having or being at increased risk—especially genetically determined risk—of developing endometriosis. The compound may also be used for treating other disorders or as a contraceptive.
US09149497B2
Methods and systems for regenerating damaged tissue rely on direct injection of selected therapeutic cells into a tissue at or near the site of tissue damage. Direct injection is accomplished using an intravascular catheter having a deployable needle, and injection is usually targeted into the adventitial and peri-adventitial tissues surrounding the blood vessel from which the needle is deployed.
US09149483B2
The present disclosure relates to methods of treating a range of diseases or conditions. The methods involve administration of a superoxide dismutase mimetic.
US09149482B2
A chewable tablet comprising Cefixime having a mean particle size between 20μ and 120μ wherein the said composition demonstrates bioequivalence to a suspension of Cefixime trihydrate. The process of preparation of the chewable tablet comprises the steps of optionally micronizing Cefixime such that the mean particle size of the Cefixime particles is between 20μ and 120μ, blending with other excipients, roll compaction, milling to form granules, blending to form a secondary blend and compression of the secondary blend to form tablets.
US09149479B2
Compounds of the formula Ia***** in which the substituents have the definitions provided in the specification, are novel, effective PDE4 inhibitors, useful in the treatment of psoriasis.
US09149476B2
The present invention relates to novel compounds, methods, and compositions capable of decreasing HIF hydroxylase enzyme activity, thereby increasing the stability and/or activity of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF).
US09149467B2
The present invention relates to a sustained-release composition containing 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-2,8-dimethyl-5-[2-(6-methyl-3-pyridyl)ethyl]-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient, preparation thereof and the compound. The composition is suitable for oral administration by one time per day, and achieves the peak plasma concentration at 1.0 to 3 hours after oral administration. The composition is suitable for manufacturing a medicament for treatment of cognitive dysfunction syndrome, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, or senile dementia.
US09149460B2
The present invention relates to coated particles and pharmaceutical dosage forms comprising the active substances sensitive to environmental influences. The coating of the present invention provides stability and protection of the active substance to environmental influences and in particular from oxidation and/or environmental humidity by coating.
US09149458B1
A method for treating hypertriglyceridemia with a composition containing wedelolactone, luteolin, and apigenin. Also provided is a method for reducing the risk of developing hypertriglyceridemia by administering the composition to a subject at risk thereof. The composition can be an extract of Wedelia chinensis.
US09149450B2
The invention provides for ischemia/reperfusion protection compositions having one or more ketone bodies and melatonin. The invention also provides for methods of using such compositions to reduce or prevent ischemia/reperfusion injury due to blood loss, stroke or cardiopulmonary arrest or surgery.
US09149444B2
C1q is shown to be expressed in neurons, where it acts as a signal for synapse elimination. Methods are provided for protecting or treating an individual suffering from adverse effects of synapse loss. These findings have broad implications for a variety of clinical conditions, including Alzheimer's disease.
US09149442B2
The invention relates to a transdermal therapeutic system for applying an active ingredient or several active ingredients to the skin. Elongate hollow bodies are incorporated into one of the layers of the TTS, said hollow bodies containing a filling medium or several filling mediums. The invention also relates to the production and use of said type of systems.
US09149440B2
This invention relates to polymeric nanoparticles useful for drug delivery with target molecules bonded to the surface of the particles and having sizes of up to 1000 nm, preferably 1 nm to 400 nm, more preferably 1 nm to 200 nm, that are dispersed homogeneously in aqueous solution. The target drug/target substance is covalently bonded to the novel polymeric nanoparticles to secure them from outer intervention in vivo or cell culture in vitro until they are exposed at the target site within the cell. This invention also relates to microemulsion polymerization techniques useful for preparing the novel nanoparticles.
US09149436B2
Disclosed in certain embodiments is a dosage form comprising a plurality of extruded particles comprising an adverse agent or antagonist and a layer disposed about the particles.
US09149435B2
Disclosed is a low impurity content caspofungin pharmaceutical composition and a method for preparing the low impurity content caspofungin pharmaceutical composition. The caspofungin pharmaceutical composition comprises the compound of formula I and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with a saccharide protective agent(s) and an amino acid(s). The caspofungin pharmaceutical composition is prepared by dissolving the saccharide protective agent and the amino acid into water or a suitable buffer solution; adding the caspofungin compound and dissolving it; filtering the solution and lyophilizing.
US09149434B2
The present invention provides a core particle for a pharmaceutical preparation which features the requisite properties of a core particle, and which has enough chemical stability, and in which reactivity with the drug (an active pharmaceutical ingredient) is limited or prevented. More specifically, the present invention relates to a core particle wherein a film containing an active pharmaceutical ingredient can be formed on the surface thereof, and (1) the core particle comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic material, (2) the inorganic material is poorly soluble in water, and (3) pH of a solution of the inorganic material is 5 to 8.
US09149427B2
The invention provides nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences encoding antibody based scaffolds such as full antibodies, antibody Fab fragments, single chain antibodies, soluble VEGF receptor-Fc fusion proteins, and/or anti-angiogenic PDGF receptors. Also encompassed are cell lines encoding such anti-angiogenic antibody scaffolds, VEGF receptors, and/or PDGF receptors. The invention also provides encapsulated cell therapy devices that are capable of delivering such anti-angiogenic antibody scaffolds, VEGF receptors, and/or PDGF receptors as well as methods of using these devices to deliver the anti-angiogenic antibody scaffolds, VEGF receptors, and/or PDGF receptors to medically treat disorders in patients, including ophthalmic, vascular, inflammatory, and cell proliferation diseases.
US09149417B2
A dissolving strip for tooth whitening the strip having at least a first tooth contacting layer and a second outer layer. The first tooth contacting layer has a solid tooth whitening active in an amount which reacts within a predetermined time when placed on a tooth. The second outer layer has a blend of polymers having different molecular weights; the blend of polymers being selected to dissolve after the predetermined time has elapsed. The outer layer contains the tooth whitening active on said tooth until the active is substantially used up. A method of forming a dissolving tooth whitening strip is also provided, in which the outer layer is formed on a backing layer followed by the inner layer being formed on the outer layer.
US09149406B2
A patient positioning device is provided for restraining movement of a body lying over a top surface of a table and includes a rigid support frame extending transversely over the top surface of the table. A cervical-thoracic notch restraint is securely fixed to the upper support surface of the support frame, via a repositionable fastener, to thereby inhibit movement of the cervical-thoracic notch restraint along the longitudinal axis of the table. The repositionable fastener comprises a holding strength per unit of surface area that is sufficient to support the weight of the body on the table when in an inclined position relative to a ground surface. In one example, a head stabilizer is used to inhibit lateral movement of the head. In another example, a lateral stabilizing pillow is used to inhibit torsional movement of the body.
US09149399B2
A stair climbing vehicle that is able to stably climb stairs is provided. In order to keep the balance of the stair climbing vehicle at the time of climbing the stairs, the ratio between a gravity center moving control gain for the stair climbing vehicle and a turning control gain for first wheels and second wheels is changed by controlling the rotation of a first motor of each first turning actuator. Thus, it is possible to slightly turn the first wheels and the second wheels based on the posture of an occupant seated on the stair climbing vehicle when the occupant climbs the stairs with the stair climbing vehicle, thereby preventing the posture of the occupant from being unstable. Thus, the stair climbing vehicle is able to stably climb the stairs.
US09149397B2
A wheelchair lift includes a platform assembly to receive a wheelchair and a power control assembly to control a movement of the platform assembly between an unfolded configuration and a folded configuration. The platform assembly includes an inner plate and an outer plate, wherein the inner plate is pivotably coupled to a holding arm by a hinge element and the outer plate is pivotably coupled to the inner plate. The wheelchair lift further includes a linkage assembly having a first end coupled to the outer plate and a second end (52), and a fixing element being coupled to the inner plate such that the fixing element is moved with a rotational movement of the inner plate around the hinge element, when the inner plate is moved between the folded and the unfolded configuration, wherein the second end of the linkage assembly is coupled to the fixing element.
US09149386B2
NMES systems and methods for stimulating muscle tissue, and in some embodiments deep muscle tissue. The impedance near the surface of the skin is controllably increased to increase the percentage of energy delivered to a subject that stimulates muscle tissue.
US09149378B2
The inventions relate generally to expandable medical implants for maintaining support of a body lumen and, in particular, to an axially nested, diametrically expandable, slide and lock vascular device for enlarging an occluded portion of a vessel. The axially nested vascular device desirably achieves both competitive crossing profiles while maintaining other key features, such as, for example, radial strength and luminal patency. The collapsed profile can also be made very thin without compromising radial strength. Thus, the vascular device can advantageously be deployed in small and difficult to reach areas or vessels. The axial nesting substantially eliminates radial overlap between mating structural elements thereby desirably allowing for a low, uniform profile.
US09149377B2
A stent (1) comprises a central section (2), a first intermediate section (3), a first end section (4), a second intermediate section (5), and a second end section (6). The stent (1) is movable between a collapsed delivery configuration and an expanded deployment configuration. In the delivery configuration the central section (2), the first intermediate section (3), the first end section (4), the second intermediate section (5), and the second end section (6) are all cylindrically shaped. In the deployment configuration the central section (2) is helically shaped, while the first end section (4) and the second end section (6) remain cylindrically shaped. Each intermediate section (3, 5) acts as a blended region to provide a smooth transition from the helical shape of the central section (2) to the cylindrical shape of the unstented blood vessel. The radial stiffness of the stent (1) varies gradually along part of the length of the stent (1). The radial stiffness of the end region of the stent (1) is less than the radial stiffness of a first region located further in from the end of the stent (1). The variation in radial stiffness reduces the area of blood vessel wall which has low wall shear stress, reduces the possibility of recirculation, and reduces the risk of neointimal hyperplasia.
US09149370B2
A knee prosthesis comprises an agonist-antagonist arrangement of two series-elastic actuators in parallel, including a knee joint, flexion and extension actuators connected to the joint in parallel with a leg member, and a controller for independently energizing the actuators to control the movement of the knee joint and leg. The flexion actuator comprises the series combination of a flexion motor and a flexion elastic element and the extension actuator comprises the series combination of an extension motor and an extension elastic element. Sensors provide feedback to the controller. The flexion actuator and the extension actuator may be unidirectional, with the flexion and extension elastic elements being series springs. The extension actuator may alternatively be bidirectional, with the extension elastic element being a set of pre-compressed series springs. Alternatively, the flexion elastic element may be a non-linear softening spring and the extension elastic element may be a non-linear hardening spring.
US09149368B1
A spondylolithesis reduction spinal insert fusion cage reduces spondylolithesis. The cage includes a first beam and a second beam each abutting one of a pair of adjacently positioned vertebral bodies. Spaced bars extend from the first beam and a threaded drive shaft is rotatably coupled to the first beam extending between the spaced bars. A second perimeter rim extends from the second beam. The bars are inserted into sleeves extending between the second beam and the second perimeter rim. At least one bridge extending between the sleeves has a medial section engaging the shaft wherein the bridge is moved along the shaft when the shaft is rotated. Each of a pair of connectors couples an associated one of the first beam and the second beam to an associated one of the vertebral bodies.
US09149367B2
An implant for therapeutically separating bones of a joint has two endplates each having an opening through the endplate, and at least one ramped surface on a side opposite a bone engaging side. A frame is slideably connected to the endplates to enable the endplates to move relative to each other at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the implant, in sliding connection with the frame. An actuator screw is rotatably connected to the frame. A carriage forms an open area aligned with the openings in the endplates. The openings in the endplates pass through the carriage to form an unimpeded passage from bone to bone of the joint. The carriage has ramps which mate with the ramped surfaces of the endplates, wherein when the carriage is moved by rotation of the actuator screw, the endplates move closer or farther apart.
US09149365B2
The present application generally relates to orthopedic systems, and in particular, to systems including independent plates and spacers. A plating system can include a spacer and a plate that is independent from the spacer. A number of locking mechanisms can be provided to secure the plate to the spacer. In some cases, the spacer includes a pair of notches that extend on an outer surface of the spacer. The plate can include a pair of lateral extensions that can engage the notches to secure the plate to the spacer. In other cases, the spacer includes an opening including a pair of inlets. The plate can include an enclosed posterior extension that can be received in the pair of inlets to secure the plate to the spacer.
US09149357B2
An implantable prosthetic valve assembly includes a radially expandable frame including an inflow portion and a second portion. The inflow portion is configured, in an expanded state, to bear against a native cardiac annulus in a manner so as to resist migration. The second portion extends from the inflow zone in an outflow direction, and is configured, in an expanded state, not to bear against the native cardiac annulus and an ascending aorta. The valve assembly also includes a prosthetic valve coupled to the frame substantially within the second portion.
US09149353B2
A method of treating incontinence includes implanting the incontinence treatment device having a sling connected between first and second anchors into a patient, and moving an adjustment device through a channel from a first position to a second position that locates the second anchor between the adjustment device and the sling, thus tightening the sling by shortening an effective distance of the device between the first and second anchors.
US09149350B2
A pendant mounted track lighting system includes an electronic display for use in an operatory environment. In particular, the invention is directed towards a pendant mounted track lighting system that incorporates and integrates intraoral illumination for illuminating a patient's mouth area, general room or ambient lighting in the operatory environment for patients and practitioners, directional task lighting for work surface areas, and electronic display for patient stimulation. The track lighting system includes a housing assembly attached to one or more elongated members for attachment within the operatory environment, one or more ambient lighting assemblies, an intraoral light assembly having a carriage mechanism, an electronic display, and one or more directional task lighting assemblies in a single track lighting system.
US09149346B1
The present invention discloses a synthetic polymer tooth replacement for replacing a missing tooth. The synthetic tooth replacement is a periodontic implant suitable for natural and reconstructed periodontic in the geometric/topographic construct similar to that of a natural tooth's dentin below the gumline. The synthetic polymer tooth replacement is made of a composition comprising a moldable resin and weighted particular additives. The replacement is formed by centrifuging the composition and pouring into a mold. The mold is customized to the recipients missing tooth, resulting in a replacement that has an exterior that is configured to bow out over a period of time, such that when the partially cured replacement is placed in a recipient's dental cavity, the replacement locks into the place while fully curing over a period of time. The advantages are the natural feel and noninvasive nature of the polymer dentin, which does not disturb the natural state of the dentin cavities. The synthetic polymer tooth replacement allows for replacement teeth without the need for bone grafting.
US09149345B2
A dental implant has a body and a plurality of distinct roots that extend outwardly from the main portion that generally define a coronal-apical axis. A porous tantalum metal portion is disposed at the body for engaging bone and the plurality of distinct roots are configured to resist a torsional force that is applied to the dental implant and around the coronal-apical axis.
US09149340B2
An ophthalmic surgical system includes a display device and a user interface. The display device generates a display on an image of a patient's eye comprising a plurality of non-overlapping display sectors. Each display sector displays one of a plurality of user-selectable surgical parameters. A user interface receives a user selection of one or more of the user-selectable surgical parameters to be displayed.
US09149331B2
Methods and apparatuses are provided for reducing sweat production via, for example, the removal, disablement, and incapacitation of sweat glands in the epidermis, dermis and subdermal tissue regions of a patient. In one embodiment, a method of treating a patient is provided which involves identifying a patient having a condition of excessive sweating, positioning an energy delivery device proximate to a skin tissue of the patient and delivering energy to sweat glands to halt secretion of sweat. The energy delivery device may include microwave delivery devices, RF delivery devices, and cryogenic therapy devices. Some embodiments may include using a cooling element for avoiding destruction of non-target tissue and/or a suction device to localize treatment at specific portions of the skin fold.
US09149323B2
A method of fusing biomaterial and tissue using radiofrequency energy includes the steps of: providing a vessel sealing instrument having opposing jaw members which are movable relative to one another to compress tissue therebetween. The vessel sealing instrument includes at least one stop member affixed thereto for regulating the distance between the opposing jaw members. The method also includes the steps of: providing a biomaterial; positioning the biomaterial in abutting relation to tissue; approximating the biomaterial and tissue between the jaw members; compressing the biomaterial and tissue between the jaw members under a working pressure within the range of about 3 kg/cm2 to about 16 kg/cm2; and energizing the jaw members with radiofrequency energy to effectively fuse the biomaterial and the tissue such that the biomaterial and the tissue reform into a single, fused mass.
US09149308B2
A tool is provided for use with a bone anchor, wherein the bone anchor has an anchoring section and a receiving portion for receiving a rod to be connected to the anchoring section and a locking element, the tool comprising a tip portion for engaging the locking element; a mechanism to apply torque to the tip portion comprising a drive shaft and a driven shaft coupled by a gear unit, where the drive shaft has a different axis than the driven shaft, and where the driven shaft comprises an engagement portion configured to connect the driven shaft to the gear unit; and a counter-holding portion for engaging the receiving part, wherein the counter-holding portion is rotatable with respect to the tip portion.
US09149296B2
A clamp includes an opening structurally arranged to receive a fixation element with a cam driven jaw. The clamping assembly includes a first jaw and a second jaw disposed relative to the first jaw. The first and second jaws may be cooperatively positioned to receive the fixation element. A sliding cam is configured to displace relative the first and second jaws. The sliding cam may be associated with the first and second jaws to force the first jaw to vertically displace relative to the second jaw. In one aspect, the sliding cam is structured to vertically displace the first jaw enough to permit an external fixation element to be received between the first and second jaws.
US09149294B2
A hybrid cannula may comprise a first portion formed from a first material, a second portion formed from a second material overmolded to the first portion, a third portion formed from a third material and a fourth portion formed from a fourth material overmolded to the third material. The third portion is coupled to the first portion. The first portion may prevent the proximal end of the hybrid cannula from being pushed through a portal. The second portion may include a membrane and the fourth portion may include a dam, the dam defining interior spaces thereof between the proximal and distal ends of the hybrid cannula. The membrane and/or dam may prevent liquid from projecting during insertion or removal of instruments. The distal end of the hybrid cannula may comprise a variety of features.
US09149286B1
Devices and methods for orthopedic support are disclosed. The device can have a first rigid section hingedly attached to a second rigid section. A tunnel through the bone near the implantation target site can be created. The device can be inserted into and pass through and out of the tunnel to the target site.
US09149281B2
An improved apparatus and method of securing body tissue may be performed with a robotic mechanism. The robotic mechanism may be utilized to tension a suture with a predetermined force and urge a suture retainer toward body tissue with a predetermined force. Ultrasonic vibratory energy may be transmitted to the suture retainer to effect a gripping of the suture by the suture retainer. The body tissue may be secured with a staple. Legs of the staple may be bonded together to secure the staple. The legs of the staple may be bonded together by transmitting ultrasonic vibratory energy to the legs of the staple. A tissue positioning assembly may be used to hold the body tissue in a desired position. Images of the body tissue being secured may be obtained using various known devices including one or more endoscopes, a fluoroscope, a magnetic resonance imaging device, and/or other known imaging devices.
US09149273B2
A method of making a packaged antimicrobial suture comprising the steps of providing a containment compartment that is substantially free of an antimicrobial agent; positioning a suture within the containment compartment, said suture comprising one or more surfaces having an antimicrobial agent disposed thereon, said antimicrobial agent being selected from the group consisting of halogenated hydroxyl ethers, acyloxydiphenyl ethers, and combinations thereof; placing the containment compartment having the suture in an outer package; and subjecting the outer package, the containment compartment and the suture to time, temperature and pressure conditions sufficient to transfer an effective amount of the antimicrobial agent from the suture to the containment compartment, while retaining an effective amount of said antimicrobial agent on the suture, thereby substantially inhibiting bacterial colonization on the suture and the containment compartment.
US09149258B2
A collection device with double outputs and a method of using the same are provided. The collection device comprises an accommodating chamber comprising an upper chamber opening, a lower chamber opening and a chamber body therebetween; an inlet member comprising an upper inlet opening, a lower inlet opening and an inlet passage therebetween, said lower inlet opening being connected and communicated with said upper chamber opening; an outlet member comprising an outlet body, a protrusion depending from a lower surface of said outlet body, a first output positioned at a lower end of said protrusion and a second output provided at said lower surface of said outlet body, said lower chamber opening of said accommodating chamber being connected and communicated with said outlet member; a collecting section comprising a handle detachably engageable with said inlet member and a collecting stick attached to the handle, a lower portion of said collecting stick entering into said accommodating chamber through said inlet passage upon engagement of said handle with said inlet member, and a sealing assembly for sealing said first output and said second output.
US09149252B2
An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes plural ultrasound transducers which perform transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves toward a target site of a subject containing a puncture needle. A method of transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave uses the ultrasound transducers. The apparatus and the method form an ultrasonic beam to be transmitted from a transmit aperture set on the ultrasound transducers, acquire information relating to a specular-reflective component of the ultrasonic beam in the puncture needle, set a first receive aperture different from the transmit aperture set on the ultrasound transducers on the basis of the information relating to the specular-reflective component of the ultrasonic beam, and process an ultrasonic echo signal received by the ultrasound transducers using the first receive aperture.
US09149249B2
An ultrasound image diagnosis apparatus that can display image data acquired at a plurality of measuring positions in panoramic image data and display measured results of diagnosis parameters for each of the measuring positions of the panoramic image data The panoramic image data is generated by combining a plurality of reference image data generated at a plurality of diagnosis target positions. The plurality of measuring positions is designated based on the latest reference image data composing the panoramic image data. Based on Doppler signals acquired through ultrasound transmissions and receptions to and from the plurality of measurement positions, image data is generated.
US09149244B2
A myocardial blood flow analysis scan includes incorporating a pharmacological kinetic model with the standard factor analysis model where each time activity curve is assumed to be a linear combination of factor curves. Pharmacological kinetics based factor analysis of dynamic structures (K-FADS) model can be applied, whereby a means for estimating factor curves in the myocardium that are physiologically meaningful is provided. Additional optional aspects include performing a discretization to transform continuous-time K-FADS model into a discretetime K-FADS model and application of an iterative Voxel-Resolution myocardial blood flow (V-MBF) algorithm. A V-MBF algorithm based on a model that accounts for the fact that the shape of TACs due to ischemic and normal tissue are different can be included.
US09149243B2
A medical image diagnosis apparatus and an image data processing apparatus that diagnoses vascular invasion status of a tumor and decides the most appropriate therapy method for the tumor by extracting tumor candidate regions and vascular regions based on extensive volume data derived from covering a therapy target organ, and specifying an adjacent vascular region existing within a prescribed scope from a gravity center of a tumor. The tumor candidate regions and vascular regions are generated as 3D image data or MPR image data for submitting a recommended therapy method for the tumor by adding branch data of the adjacent vascular.
US09149237B2
A system and method for evaluating a patient status from sampled physiometry for use in heart failure assessment is presented. Physiological measures, including at least one of direct measures regularly recorded on a substantially continuous basis by a medical device and measures derived from the direct measures are stored. At least one of those of the physiological measures, which relate to a same type of physiometry, and those of the physiological measures, which relate to a different type of physiometry are sampled. A status is determined for a patient through analysis of those sampled measures assembled from a plurality of recordation points. The sampled measures are evaluated. Trends that are indicated by the patient status, including one of a status quo and a change, which might affect cardiac performance of the patient, are identified. Each trend is compared to worsening heart failure indications to generate a notification of parameter violations.
US09149232B2
A physiological monitoring system may determine physiological information, such as physiological rate information, from a physiological signal. The system may receive a calculated value indicative of a physiological rate. Based on the value, the system may select pairs of values of the physiological signal that are particularly spaced. The system may determine a state for each pair of values. The state may correspond to a set of criteria such as, for example, equalities, inequalities, logical operators, or other criteria. The system may determine a number of state transitions based on the determined states, and qualify or disqualify the calculated value based on the number of state transitions.
US09149220B2
Systems and methods for processing sensor data and self-calibration are provided. In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided which are capable of calibrating a continuous analyte sensor based on an initial sensitivity, and then continuously performing self-calibration without using, or with reduced use of, reference measurements. In certain embodiments, a sensitivity of the analyte sensor is determined by applying an estimative algorithm that is a function of certain parameters. Also described herein are systems and methods for determining a property of an analyte sensor using a stimulus signal. The sensor property can be used to compensate sensor data for sensitivity drift, or determine another property associated with the sensor, such as temperature, sensor membrane damage, moisture ingress in sensor electronics, and scaling factors.
US09149217B1
For repeatedly measuring signals from a fixed position of a tissue to monitor the blood composition, a subject adaptor is used to secure the subject position and a position fixing device uses a remote sensing tool to detect the subject position. The subject adaptor and the position fixing device are used to guide the moving of the subject relative to a position of the last measurement of a first signal analyzer. The signals can be from an aggregate of the designated composition with the other ingredients of the blood.
US09149214B2
An annoyance judgment system includes: a biological signal measurement section configured to measure an electroencephalogram signal of a user; a database retaining a plurality of monosyllabic speech sounds such that, for each speech sound, the speech sound and a reference latency of an electroencephalogram negative component corresponding to the speech sound are retained in association; a presented-speech sound determination section configured to determine a monosyllabic speech sound to be presented by referring to the database; and an annoyance judgment section configured to judge annoyance of the output speech sound by comparing a peak latency of a negative component of the electroencephalogram signal in a range from 50 ms to 350 ms from a starting point, the a starting point being a point in time at which the determined speech sound is presented, against the reference latency corresponding to the determined speech sound that is retained in the database.
US09149201B2
A TWA measuring apparatus includes: a grouping section which is configured to group electrocardiogram waveforms of a subject in increments of a first beat number, to generate a plurality of first groups; a storage section which is configured to store the electrocardiogram waveforms; a testing section which is configured to test a statistical intergroup difference of measurement values of the electrocardiogram waveforms of the first groups; a heartbeat condition determining section which is configured to determine that a heartbeat condition is unstable, when a significant statistical difference exists between the first groups; and a TWA measuring section which is configured to measure variation in heartbeat by using the stored electrocardiogram waveforms, when it is determined that the heartbeat condition is unstable.
US09149188B2
A patient monitor system synchronizes patient data acquired by a plurality of sensor modules. Patient data from the sensor modules are synchronized by transmitting, from a patient monitor host, a start message that each newly connected sensor module uses to determine when to begin transmitting patient data to the patient monitor host. At a predetermined count interval, the patient monitor host also broadcasts an incrementing sequence count value to each of the connected sensor modules. The sensor modules use the sequence count values and the start message to determine when the patient monitor host expects each sensor module to transmit data packets. Each data packet sent by the sensor modules includes a sequence count value that the patient monitor host uses to align the various waveforms for display.
US09149187B2
A method, system, and computer program product for performing remote monitoring of a patient during a routine checkup is provided. A local server is adapted for receiving instructions from a medical professional and processing the instructions into commands for remote broadcast. A network device is in remote communication with the local server. At least one modular diagnostic tool is communicable with the network device over a standardized communications link. The at least one modular diagnostic tool is operable by the medical professional based on a second portion of the commands for remote broadcast to obtain the diagnostic information. Upon a communications connection between the modular diagnostic tool and the network device, an automated process is executed to upload the diagnostic information from the modular diagnostic tool to the local server for collection and analysis.
US09149171B2
A lever-type mop has a base, a cleaning unit, a connecting seat and a rod. The cleaning unit is attached on the bottom of the base. The rod is connected pivotally to the base through the connecting seat. The base has notches and the rod has a corresponding limiting protrusion. A bucket operated in coordination with the lever-type mop has an inclined surface and a straining board mounted under the inclined surface. When straining the cleaning unit, the base and the cleaning unit are put on the straining board and the rod is pivoted downward. With the abutting forces from the limiting protrusion and the inclined surface on opposite sides, the cleaning unit is squeezed. Therefore, the mop and the bucket have simple structures to achieve the purpose of squeezing the cleaning unit without touching the cleaning unit directly by the user's hand.
US09149164B2
A window cleaning implement (10) comprises a tubular body divided into rear (12) and front (14) segments inserted telescopically one inside the other and connected by a threaded ring nut (16); the front segment supports a cleaning head (24) fitted with hooking devices for a cloth in microfiber or other suitable material. Said implement comprises, in addition, a removable reservoir (20) for the washing liquid which is drawn from it by means of a manual pump incorporated in said implement, channelled along a flexible hose (32) and dispensed through at least one nozzle (30) placed next to said cleaning head (24).
US09149162B2
A rolled sheet dispenser (100) includes a first housing member (601) that is hingedly coupled to a second housing member (602). A pair of feed rollers (501,502) are disposed within the rolled sheet dispenser (100), with one of the feed rollers (501) disposed within the first housing member (601) and the other feed roller (502) disposed within the second housing member (602). A mounting stem (503), which is capable of accommodating both cored and coreless paper rolls of different widths, is disposed within one of the housings. When the first housing member (601) is pivoted to a closed position, the feed rollers (501,502) abut. When the first housing member (601) and the second housing member (602) are pivoted to an open position, the feed rollers (501,502) separate. Also, an end (608) of the mounting stem (503) becomes exposed and accessible.
US09149160B2
The present invention relates to a bath seat. The bath seat has a top and a pair of centrally disposed and spaced-apart drainage holes in communication with the top. The top of the seat includes a channel extending between the drainage holes. The channel has an enlarged first end, an enlarged second end and a connecting portion connecting the ends of the channel together. Fluid entering into the channel is directed to the drainage holes and thereby drains from the seat.
US09149148B2
A beverage preparation machine is disclosed that includes a base and at least one module. The base conditions and delivers a fluid to the at least one module that houses an ingredient to be mixed with the fluid. The base is controlled by a control unit that is configured to control the flow and the pressure of the liquid delivered to the module, during the preparation of a beverage, according to a command selected from a plurality of commands suitable for different types of ingredients and/or for different preparation processes of a given ingredient.
US09149137B2
Described is a dual-paneled bedding system that includes a fitted sheet, a bed sheet, and one or more pillowcases. The bed sheet is rectangular and includes a first panel attached to a second panel by means of a line of stitching. The first panel is composed of a first material, and the second panel is composed of a second material, wherein the first material is warmer or more insulating than the second material. The fitted sheet is similar in construction to the bed sheet but includes an elastic band around the perimeter thereof. A first pillowcase is be composed of the first material, while a second pillowcase is composed of the second material. The present invention allows two users to share a single sheet set wherein a first user can be covered by the warmer first panel and a second user can be covered by the lighter second panel.
US09149132B2
A product management display system for merchandising product on a shelf includes using a trackless pusher mechanism that travels along a surface on which product is placed and one or more dividers for separating product into rows. The one or more dividers may be engaged to a front rail in two different conditions, locked and unlocked. In a locked condition, the relationship between the divider and the front rail resists alteration in any direction with respect to each other. In the unlocked condition, the dividers may be freely slid laterally along the front rail, while remaining perpendicular to the front rail. The one or more dividers may lock to the front rail through the use of corresponding teeth, resilient surfaces, a locking tab, a locking bar and/or a cam.
US09149125B2
An adjustable support apparatus for a user includes a cover defining a user-facing surface, at least a portion of the user-facing surface defining a plurality of raised members each defining a distal end, wherein the distal end of each raised member defines a planar surface. The apparatus includes an adjustment mechanism at least partially enclosed by the cover. The adjustment mechanism is structured to be urged toward or away from the user so as to urge the user-facing surface and plurality of raised members toward or away from the user, respectively, so as to increase or decrease, respectively, the spacing between the distal ends of the raised members to thereby increase or decrease, respectively, the force exerted by the raised members against the user so as to impart a stretching or lengthening effect or contraction effect, respectively, on the vertebral column and intervertebral discs of the user.
US09149121B2
A gliding reclining seating unit includes: a base; a frame with opposed arms; a gliding mechanism attached to the frame and the base, the gliding mechanism configured to enable the frame to glide longitudinally relative to the base; a seat; a backrest; an ottoman; a reclining mechanism comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links and attached to the frame, seat, backrest and ottoman, the reclining mechanism being configured to move the seating unit between an upright position, an intermediate TV position, and (c) a fully reclined position; and a glide stop unit that prevents the frame from gliding rearwardly relative to the base when the seating unit is in the TV and fully reclined positions. The seating unit is actuated for movement from the upright position to the TV position via an occupant of the chair pushing on the arms of the frame.
US09149109B2
A fluid delivery system having a two fluid reservoirs interconnected by a valved conduit to deliver an amount of fluid from each of a first fluid reservoir and a second reservoir to a user.
US09149099B2
A portable storage enclosure is presented. The enclosure is a substantially rectangular enclosure formed of wood, having fixed ends and sides. The enclosure may have a back formed of slats held by grooves in the ends and/or sides. The enclosure has two sliding doors, each configured with an aperture, so that the apertures may be used both to manipulate the doors, and as handles to lift and transport the enclosure. The sliding doors have two closed positions, so that the apertures are oriented together at the center of the enclosure, or apart at the ends of the enclosure. The enclosure may also have handles on the ends and/or sides to facilitate carrying the enclosure in several orientations.
US09149095B2
A wristband for wear upon the wrist of a wearer includes a band member having a continuous length configured to encircle the wrist of a wearer, the band member having an outer surface oriented away from the wearer's body and an opposed inner surface oriented against the wearer's body. The wristband includes at least a first ornament selectively and interchangeably coupled to an outer surface of the band member.
US09149093B2
A clasp for a bracelet enabling the bracelet length to be adjusted with the clasp closed. The clasp has first and second leaves pivotably connected relative to one another at a first end. A cover pivotably connects a second end of the first leaf to be connected to a first strand of the bracelet. A mobile tip is arranged on a second end of the second leaf to connect to a second strand of the bracelet. The clasp has an indexing mechanism for adjusting the length of the bracelet and a release arranged such as to enable the mobile tip to move from one indexed position to another. The second leaf ends in two rectilinear rails along which the mobile tip can slide. The indexing mechanism is located on a rail of the second leaf while the release mechanism is arranged to move together with the mobile tip.
US09149091B2
A buckle has a pair of side frame portions; first and second crossbars extending between the pair of side frame portions; a fastening portion disposed on at least one portion of the buckle for fastening a belt-like body. The fastening portion includes a clamping member rotatably supported in the side frame portions, and sandwiching the belt-like body between a free end portion and the first crossbar in a rotating position wherein the free end portion is most closely contacting with the first crossbar from the front surface side of the buckle; and holding devices generating an elastic deformation against a rotation in the clamping member relative to the rotation of the clamping member in a direction of separating the free end portion from the first crossbar.
US09149089B2
Lacing systems can be used for tightening a shoe or other article. Some embodiments include a lace guide that includes a lace channel that is disposed below a portion of the shoe such that the lace channel is hidden from view, and an exposed end piece that is positioned on the exterior of the article such that the end piece is visible during use. The end piece can be generally bell-shaped and can provide a curved sliding surface for a lace to slide on when being tightened or loosened.
US09149087B2
A shoe sole can comprise one or more resiliently compressible elements received in a foundation and located by the foundation to underlie a portion of a foot, such as metatarsal heads, when the shoe is worn. The resiliently compressible element or elements can be shaped to reduce coupling of compression of adjacent regions of the resiliently compressible element. One or more plate elements can be positioned between the resiliently compressible elements and the foot, e.g. under the metatarsal heads. The plate elements can be separated from each other by spaces, such as slots, to reduce coupling of movement of adjacent plate elements. The plate elements can be elastically interconnected at the spaces between them. A plurality of lugs configured to contact the ground can be located on a lower surface of the foundation such that they are generally aligned with the plate elements. The plurality of lugs can be elastically interconnected.
US09149083B1
Eyelash extensions and a method for applying the same are described. The eyelash extensions comprise a first filament having both a proximal end and a distal portion with a distal end. The method for applying the eyelash extensions comprises acts of fastening the user's eyelashes against the user's face and attaching multiple layers of eyelash extensions (the proximal end) to the user's eyelashes. Each of the multiple layers is applied one layer at a time, thereby providing a user with eyelashes having eyelash extensions attached thereto.
US09149075B2
A product and process for providing customized garments. The garment comprises a main body having inner and outer surfaces. At least one pocket having a first inner surface and a first outer surface defines a slot between the outer surface of the main body and the first inner surface of the pocket. The pocket is affixed to the outer surface of the main body, with the pocket having an opening there into. An insert is selectively slidably receivable within and removable from the slot. The insert has a flap portion at one end thereof and protruding outside of and at least partially over the pocket and containing inscriptions thereon. The insert is secured within the pocket such that it is easily removable there from. An inventory process of manufacture and product of the process utilizing this product allows for rapid customization with existing inventory.
US09149072B2
A cigarette includes lighting and mouth ends. It may include a smokable segment disposed at the lighting end. It also includes a mouth-end segment; an aerosol-generation system disposed between the lighting and mouth ends, which includes (i) a heat-generation segment adjacent the smokable segment, including a heat source and an insulation layer and (ii) an aerosol-generating segment including a substrate, which may include tobacco pellets and aerosol-forming material disposed in a substrate cavity between the heat generation segment and the mouth end; a piece of outer wrapping material that provides an overwrap around at least a portion of the aerosol-generating segment, the heat-generation segment, and at least a portion of the smokable segment and includes a foil strip laminated thereon; those segments being connected together by the overwrap to provide a cigarette rod; that is connected to the mouth-end segment using tipping material.
US09149067B2
Supported catalyst particles, which can be incorporated in the tobacco cut filler, cigarette wrapper and/or cigarette filter of a cigarette, are useful for low-temperature and near-ambient temperature catalysis of carbon monoxide and/or nitric oxide. The supported catalyst comprises catalyst particles that are supported on particles of an electrically conductive support selected from the group consisting of graphitic carbon and a partially reduced oxide.
US09149061B2
The invention relates to a salt substitute mixture containing NaCl, KCl and sodium gluconate. The ratio by weight of KCl to sodium gluconate ranges from 1.5:1 to 1:1.5 and the proportion of NaCl is at least 45% by weight. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of the mixture in the food industry and as a spice mixture.
US09149045B2
An oil-in-water emulsion that is environmentally friendly and also exhibits antimicrobial activity is provided. More specifically, the oil phase of the emulsion includes a botanical oil derived from a plant (e.g., thymol, carvacrol, etc.). Because the botanical oil tends to leach out of the emulsion during storage and before it is used in the desired application, a water-dispersible polymer is also employed in the aqueous phase of the emulsion to enhance long term stability of the oil and, in turn, antimicrobial efficacy. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that the water-dispersible polymer can effectively encapsulate the botanical oil within the emulsion and inhibit its premature release. Once the emulsion is formed, water can then be removed so that it becomes a substantially anhydrous concentrate. In this manner, the water-dispersible polymer will not generally disperse before use and prematurely release the botanical oil. When it is desired, moisture may simply be re-applied to the concentrate to disperse the polymer and activate the release of the botanical oil. Of course, to provide the optimum degree of biocompatibility, the water-dispersible polymer is also a “biopolymer” that is biodegradable and/or renewable.
US09149043B2
The disclosure relates to compositions for treating and/or preventing fire blight in plants or parts thereof, to their methods of production, to concentrates for producing said compositions and to uses and methods based on said compositions.
US09149029B2
A spinning reel includes a handle, a reel unit, a rotor, a spool, a spool shaft, and an oscillating mechanism. The oscillating mechanism includes a traverse cam and a slider including a slider body, a through hole, an engaging member, a first bearing, and a retainer member. The slider body is coupled to the spool shaft. The engaging member has a shaft part and an engaging part. The engaging part is mounted to a tip end of the shaft part to be engaged with helical grooves. The first bearing has a fitted part, a protruding part, and a support hole. The fitted part is fitted into the through hole. The protruding part has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the fitted part. The fitted part includes a stepped surface on an end thereof abutting the protruding part. The retainer member retains the first bearing at the stepped surface.
US09149026B2
Methods and compositions are described for making phenotypically female fertile animals from XY donor cells and suitable host embryos. Culture media and methods are provided for maintaining XY donor cells in culture that after introduction into a host embryo and gestation in a suitable host will result in fertile XY female animals. Methods and compositions are described for making fertile female animals in an F0 generation from a donor XY cell and a host embryo, as are methods for making F1 progeny that are homozygous for a modification from a heterozygous F0 fertile male and a heterozygous F0 fertile female sibling.
US09149023B2
A system for attaching to the top end of a pole, such as a power pole supporting at least one power line. The system can include an extension bracket engaged to a top end of the pole and an extension bayonet extending from said extension bracket. A raptor perch assembly can be engaged to a top end of the extension bayonet. One or more accessories, such as a wireless antenna, can be attached to the extension bayonet below the raptor perch assembly. The accessories can be engaged to the extension bayonet via one or more accessory mounting brackets. A deflecting assembly can be positioned between the raptor perch assembly and the accessory to prevent debris dropped from the raptor perch assembly from lodging on the accessory. The deflecting assembly can be engaged to the extension bayonet and/or to the raptor perch assembly.
US09149016B1
A novel maize variety designated X03D530 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X03D530 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X03D530 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X03D530, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X03D530. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X03D530.
US09149014B2
The present invention provides an inbred corn line designated ID2516, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line ID2516 with plants of another corn plant. The invention further encompasses all parts of inbred corn line ID2516, including culturable cells. Additionally provided herein are methods for introducing transgenes into inbred corn line ID2516, and plants produced according to these methods.
US09149007B2
A blow molded nursery container is disclosed that includes a substantially circular side wall, a closed bottom end, an open top end, and a projecting lip positioned on the outer circumference of the open top end with a radial flange and recessed portion with a substantially hollow cross-section. At least two handles are connected to the container. Each handle includes a flexible member with a portion that is located above and spaced apart from the lip. The spacing of the flexible member permits access by a user's fingers. The flexible member extends through at least two holes in the side wall or flange and is restrained on the opposite side of the side wall or flange from the portion above the lip so as to connect the handle to the container. The two flexible members are preferably secured to one another.
US09149005B2
A plant growth system is provided in which an irrigation device provides water and/or nutrients to a plant growth substrate. The plant growth substrate comprises an MMVF slab and a single MMVF block on a first surface of the MMVF slab. The MMVF slab comprises a drain hole which is disposed at one end of the surface, and the irrigation device provides water and/or nutrients to the substrate at a position more than 50% of the length of the slab away from the drain hole. This improves the control of water an nutrients in the slab as a whole.
US09149004B2
A method for operating a baler with a pressing chamber which serves for the pressing of a straw-like crop includes compacting the crop using an adjustable pressing pressure and binding the crop through a holding material. The pressing pressure is limited to a maximum value and controlled through a control circuit. A control circuit reference variable is a load variable of the holding material. The load variable is adjustable and is smaller than or equal to the maximum value.
US09149001B2
A threshing mechanism is formed with a first threshing drum and a second threshing drum disposed one behind the other in a direction of crop flow. A first concave encloses the first threshing drum and the second threshing drum in sections in a circumferential direction. A second concave encloses the second threshing drum in sections in the circumferential direction. The concaves are displaceable in a radial direction of the threshing drums and are formed with at least one crop-processing device disposed at the first concave. The first concave and the second concave are swivellable about a common axis connecting the concaves. The enclosure of the second threshing drum by the first concave and the second concave is approximately identical.
US09148998B2
A header height control system having an operator input device for selecting a desired height of travel of an agricultural harvesting head above the ground, and wherein the system controls the agricultural harvesting head height based at least upon a header height control algorithm that is selected based at least upon the desired height of travel.
US09148994B1
An apparatus for planting is disclosed. The apparatus includes a nozzle and a delivery tube in communication with the nozzle. The delivery tube includes an auger within the delivery tube. The auger is configured for moving a seed gel mixture through the nozzle. The seed gel mixture includes at least seeds and gel. The apparatus also includes a hopper configured for holding the seed gel mixture, the hopper in communication with the delivery tube.
US09148990B2
An exemplary agricultural implement includes a plurality of units configured to inject particulate material into a ground surface and a plurality of metering modules. Each metering module is configured to receive a supply of particulate material and to meter the particulate material to a set of the plurality of units. A distribution assembly is configured to receive particulate material from a source and to distribute the particulate material to the plurality of metering modules.
US09155236B2
Provided are a composition for an anisotropic conductive adhesive, a method of forming a solder bump and a method of forming a flip chip using the same. The composition for an anisotropic conductive adhesive includes a low melting point solder particle and a thermo-curable polymer resin. The anisotropic conductive adhesive includes forming a mixture by mixing a polymer resin and a curing agent, and mixing a deforming agent, a catalyst or a reductant with the mixture.
US09155234B2
An electrical device, includes electrical pins that protrude from an enclosing metal housing. A compressible protrusion around the pins is formed out of the material of the metal housing. The protrusion is formed such that (1) an EMI shield does not exist around the pins when the pins are not engaged to an electrical coupler, and (2) the EMI shield is formed around the electrical pins when the protrusion is compressed by an electrical coupler engaging the electrical pins.
US09155232B2
An under voltage lockout circuit configured to set a minimum turn-on voltage for a load is provided. The circuit includes an input terminal configured to receive an input voltage. The circuit includes a first transistor configured to become conductive to supply the input voltage to the load when an input voltage to the under voltage lockout circuit exceeds a threshold, and a second transistor coupled to the first transistor, the second transistor configured to become conductive to supply the input voltage to a first resistor and not to the load when an input voltage to the under voltage lockout circuit falls below the threshold.
US09155230B2
Embodiments of the disclosure may include a system for cooling a computer server including a plurality of server modules. The system may include a first cooling system configured to remove heat from the plurality of server modules, the first cooling system including a first plurality of conduits for circulating a first cooling medium through the first cooling system, a second cooling system configured to remove heat from the first cooling system, the second cooling system including a second plurality of conduits for circulating a second cooling medium through the second cooling system, and a manifold configured to couple the first cooling system and the second cooling system, wherein the first plurality of conduits is removably connected to the manifold.
US09155215B1
An electronic device including a display supported by a substrate is described. A plurality of electrochemical cells are embedded in the substrate to provide power without increasing the size and weight of the electronic device.
US09155209B2
A flex-rigid printed wiring board is provided which can retain flexibility of a flexible portion while increasing durability of the flexible portion against folding, and can ensure conduction in a rigid portion, and a method of manufacturing the printed wiring board. The flex-rigid printed wiring board includes a conductor layer provided on at least one face of a base film, one region of the wiring board containing the base film being a rigid region, an another region containing the base film being a flexible region. The average thickness “tf” of the conductor layer on the base film formed in the flexible region and the average thickness “tR” of the conductor layer on the base film formed in the rigid region satisfy the relationship of tf
US09155201B2
Conductive articles and devices have conductive micro-wires formed by curing a photocurable layer on a transparent flexible substrate that has a distortion temperature of less than 150° C. The photocurable layer has a viscosity <5,000 Pascal-seconds at the temperature micro-channels formation and the micro-channels having an average width of less than or equal to 4 μm and an average depth to average width ratio that is greater than or equal to 1. The photocurable layer is exposed to curing ultraviolet radiation to form a pattern of photocured micro-channels and a conductive composition comprising metal nano-particles is formed in the photocured micro-channels. The conductive composition is cured in the pattern of photocured micro-channels to provide a pattern of conductive micro-wires in the pattern of photocured micro-channels on the transparent flexible substrate. Each of at least 50% of the conductive micro-wires has a sheet resistance of less than 0.025 ohms/sq.
US09155200B2
A method of fixing reflowable elements on electrical contacts. The method includes providing a strip having a number of electrical contacts, each contact including a contact body and a tail portion extending away from the contact body. The tail portions of the contacts are then disposed adjacent an elongate reflowable member. The elongate reflowable member is pushed onto the tail portions of the plurality of contacts. Subsequently, the elongate reflowable member is cut into a plurality of separate reflowable elements, each reflowable element corresponding to one of the tail portions. The electrical contacts with the reflowable element attached thereto are separated from the strip.
US09155195B2
A method of fabricating a wiring board includes forming a resist layer, such as a solder or plating resist layer, defining an opening portion on a support board such that a portion of the support board is exposed. An electrode is formed directly on the support board within the opening portion, and the plating resist layer, when used, is removed. An insulating layer is formed on the electrode, as well as the support board or solder resist layer, and a wiring portion connected to the electrode at the insulating layer is also formed. A solder resist layer having an opening portion is then formed on the wiring portion, and the support board is removed to expose a surface of the electrode or a surface of the electrode and insulating layer. Another solder resist layer having an opening portion may then be formed on the exposed surface of the insulating layer.
US09155193B2
A flexible circuit board and a method for production thereof in which in cases where elastic wiring in movable parts is required, the wiring can be made to expand and contract with a simple arrangement, and the circuit board is excellent in weight and size reduction, and breaking or disconnection and exfoliation of a wiring layer do not take place easily, even in cases where the circuit board is deformed in a repeated manner. The flexible circuit board which has an insulating film made of a thermoplastic resin, a wiring layer formed on the insulating film, and an insulating layer made of a thermoplastic resin and formed on the wiring layer. A spiral part shaped into a spiral shape is provided in at least a part of the flexible circuit board, and the flexible circuit board is constructed to be expandable and contractable, and/or torsionally deformable in the spiral part.
US09155189B1
A multi-layer printed circuit board structure, a connector module and a memory storage device are provided. The multi-layer printed circuit board structure includes a first layout layer and a second layout layer. The first layout layer includes a shielding element and at least one pad. The shielding element provides the grounding voltage. The second layout layer is disposed corresponding to the first layout layer and includes at least one wire, and one end of each wire is coupled to one of the pads. A predefined proportion of the wire is covered by a projection plane of the shielding element projected on the second layout layer.
US09155185B2
Systems, methods, and devices with improved electrode configuration for downhole nuclear radiation generators are provided. For example, one embodiment of a nuclear radiation generator capable of downhole operation may include a charged particle source, a target material, and an acceleration column between the charged particle source and the target material. The acceleration column may include several electrodes shaped such that substantially no electrode material from the electrodes is sputtered onto an insulator surface of the acceleration column during normal downhole operation.
US09155184B2
Plasma generation source employing dielectric conduit assemblies having removable interfaces and related assemblies and methods are disclosed. The plasma generation source (PGS) includes an enclosure body having multiple internal surfaces forming an internal chamber having input and output ports to respectively receive a precursor gas for generation of plasma and to discharge the plasma. A dielectric conduit assembly may guide the gas and the plasma away from the internal surface where particulates may be generated. The dielectric conduit assembly includes a first and second cross-conduit segments. The dielectric conduit assembly further includes parallel conduit segments extending from the second cross-conduit segment to distal ends which removably align with first cross-conduit interfaces of the first cross-conduit segment without leaving gaps. In this manner, the dielectric conduit assembly is easily serviced, and reduces and contains particulate generation away from the output port.
US09155181B2
A plasma source includes a ring plasma chamber, a primary winding around an exterior of the ring plasma chamber and multiple ferrites, wherein the ring plasma chamber passes through each of the ferrites. A system and method for generating a plasma are also described.
US09155177B2
A data communication system and a radiation image capturing system are described. According to one implementation, a data communication system includes a wireless terminal; an access point; and a channel determination section. The channel determination section carries out calculation processing for calculating an influence rate as a score for each of a plurality of channels, and determines a channel having the smallest calculated score to be a channel used, and classifies the influence rate by the interfering radio wave into a plurality of zones, sets the score in each of the zones so that the value of the score is higher as transmission/receiving of the data between the wireless terminal and the access point of the system becomes more difficult when the interfering radio wave having the strength of the zone exists, adds the scores of each zone, and calculates the score.
US09155170B2
Technologies are described herein for a conductive magnetic coupling system. The system includes a signal supply component that provides electrical and/or data signals to a signal consumption component that utilizes the signal to provide an output. The two components are magnetically coupled together such that the magnetic coupling mechanisms not only provide the bonding mechanism for securing the components to one another, but also provide the electrical and communicative continuity that allows for the transfer of electrical and/or data signals between the two components. Aspects provide for the repositioning of the signal consumption component along any section of a signal supply component configured as a magnetic track system. Aspects further provide for a flexible, fluid impermeable signal supply component in which a signal consumption component is repositionable along its length.
US09155167B2
A replaceable fluorescent lamp starter unit of a fluorescent light fixture has a built-in RF transceiver, and communicates wirelessly with a motion-detecting master unit. The starter unit can be controlled to turn off and turn on the fluorescent lamp of the fixture. The starter unit is registered to the master unit so that the starter unit will not respond to wireless communications from other sources. During registration, registration information is loaded into the starter unit and stored in non-volatile memory. The stored registration information is later usable to determine whether subsequently received wireless communications are for the starter unit. Systems of existing light fixtures are retrofitted with such wireless starter units, and thereby made controllable by a master unit so that the master unit can turn off the lights to conserve energy if room occupancy is not detected. The master unit can control lamp fixtures individually or as a group.
US09155162B2
A two-wire lighting control device, may include a controllably conductive device, a signal generation circuit, and a filter circuit. The controllably conductive device may apply an AC line voltage to a load, being conductive for a first duration of time and non-conductive for a second duration of time within a half-cycle of the AC line voltage. The signal generation circuit may generate a non-zero-magnitude signal. And, the filter circuit may receive a signal from the controllably conductive device during the first duration of time and the non-zero-magnitude signal from the signal generation circuit during the second duration of time. The non-zero-magnitude signal may, in effect, fill-in or complement the signal from the controllably conductive device, and any delay variation as a function of the firing angle of the controllably conductive device through the filter circuit may be mitigated by the presence of the non-zero-magnitude signal.
US09155159B2
A QD protecting material having high compatibility with a binder component in a luminescent layer. The luminescent layer contains, as a part of its chemical structure, a compound containing a moiety A having a sum atomic weight MA of 100 or more and quantum dots protected by a protecting material, the protecting material contains, as a part of its chemical structure, a linking group connected to a quantum dot surface and a moiety B that has a sum atomic weight MB of 100 or more, satisfies a relationship between MB and MA represented by |MA−MB|/MB (2, and satisfies the requirement that the sum atomic weight MB is larger than one-third of the molecular weight of the protecting material, and a solubility parameter SA of the moiety A and a solubility parameter SB of the moiety B satisfy a relationship represented by |SA (SB| (2.
US09155157B2
An electroluminescent device (9) for emitting light (7) whose color point is able to be set variably, comprising at least two electroluminescent regions (41, 42) that, to allow the same operating voltage to be applied, are arranged to be connected in parallel electrically, wherein the electroluminescent regions (41, 42) comprise—at least one first electroluminescent region (41) of a first electroluminescent material for emitting light in a first spectral band in accordance with a first luminance vs. voltage characteristic (81), and—at least one second electroluminescent region (42) of a second electroluminescent material for emitting light in a second spectral band that is not the same as the first spectral band, in accordance with a second luminance vs. voltage characteristic (82) that is not the same as the first luminance vs. voltage characteristic (81).
US09155151B2
A light emitting diode (LED) dimming module includes an energy storage circuit, a load interface circuit, and a switch circuit. The energy storage circuit provides a substantially continuous current in response to a converter current. The load interface circuit provides a modulated load current in response to the continuous current. The switch circuit, which is operatively coupled to the load interface circuit, switches in accordance with a duty cycle. The modulated load current is based on the duty cycle.
US09155135B2
A display device includes: an element substrate on which light-emitting elements are arranged, the light-emitting elements being arranged in a display region of the element substrate; a sealing resin layer located over the light-emitting elements arranged on the element substrate; and an opposite substrate located opposite the element substrate with the sealing resin layer therebetween. The sealing resin layer includes: a first sealing portion formed along an outer periphery of the display region so as to have a frame-like shape; a second sealing portion formed so as to cover the display region within the first sealing portion; and a dendritic portion being a branched extension of the second sealing portion that extends into the first sealing portion. A tip of the dendritic portion is located within an outer periphery of the first sealing portion.
US09155125B1
A location validation system comprising a communication interface configured to receive an asserted location of a wireless communication device and a processing system configured to determine a trusted location of the wireless communication device, receive the asserted location from the communication interface, compare the asserted location to the trusted location, and generate a notification if the asserted location differs from the trusted location.
US09155117B2
A method for directly transferring data between devices includes, with a first computing system that is able to wirelessly associate with a computer network, establishing a direct data-link layer connection to a second computing system that is acting as a data sink, and with the first computing system transmitting data to the second computing system over the connection without transferring the data over the network.
US09155112B2
The disclosure discloses a method for querying group's dispatching area information, which comprises: a user sending a request for querying group's dispatching area information to a base station through a user terminal; and the base station querying the group's dispatching area information according to request for querying the group's dispatching area information, and returning a response to the group's dispatching area information query to the user terminal. The disclosure also discloses a query system for the querying group's dispatching area information correspondingly. The present invention can improve the validity, the dispatching reliability and accuracy of the group call.
US09155089B2
A method of wireless communication is provided which includes determining a first cell identification (ID) for scrambling a first reference signal of a first enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH) and determining a second cell ID for scrambling a second reference signal of a second EPDCCH. The second cell ID is based at least in part on the first cell ID. The first reference signal and the second reference signal are mapped to a same set of resources. The method also includes transmitting the first EPDCCH and second EPDCCH.
US09155086B2
Provided are a communication device and an SRS transmission method capable of reducing the possibility of a difference in recognition between the presence or absence of an SRS transmission between a base station and a terminal or of an SRS resource so as to prevent degradation of system throughput. At a terminal (200), a reception processing unit (203) detects control information indicating whether or not to request transmission of a sounding reference signal (SRS), whereupon a transmission signal forming unit (207) transmits an A-SRS by way of control by a transmission control unit (206) on the basis of control information. The transmission control unit (206) determines whether or not to execute SRS transmission on the basis of an “SRS Transmission Execution Rule” and the reception status of trigger information.
US09155081B2
Provided are a method and apparatus for scheduling in a carrier aggregation system. The method includes: transmitting information for indicating a plurality of secondary cells to be scheduled through a joint coded control channel by using a higher layer signal; transmitting a separate coded control channel for scheduling a primary cell; and transmitting one joint coded control channel for scheduling the plurality of secondary cells, wherein the separate coded control channel is a control channel for scheduling one data channel transmitted through the primary cell, and the joint coded control channel is a control channel for scheduling the plurality of data channels transmitted through the plurality of secondary cells.
US09155080B2
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for executing a CSI report in a wireless communication system, and a device therefor, the method comprising the steps of: composing a CSI report set having a first serving cell and a second serving cell, wherein each of the serving cells includes a plurality of independently consisting subframe subsets; receiving, at the predetermined subframe, a PDCCH signal requesting an aperiodic CIS report on the CSI report set; transmitting a PUSCH signal including a first CSI on the corresponding subframe subset in the first serving cell and a second CSI on the corresponding subframe subset in the second serving cell, wherein the first CSI and the second CSI are calculated on the basis of the subframe subset given by a predetermined method.
US09155071B2
Systems and methodologies are described that effectuate establishment of an IPSec tunnel for utilization in a wireless communication environment. IPSec establishment procedures on home base stations can be used to establish IPSec tunnels between home base stations situated on open access sectors of wireless communication environments and packet data interworking function components positioned at the contiguity of secured segments of the wireless communication environments. Moreover, high rate packet data point-to-point protocol challenge-handshake authentication protocols can be directed through the IPSec tunnels to facilitate authentication of access terminals associated with the home base stations in order to facilitate further communications with components dispersed within secure areas of wireless communication environments. Further, international mobile subscriber identities (IMSI) affiliated with access terminals associated with home base stations can be used to identify packet data serving nodes with which to establish communications between home base stations and packet data serving nodes.
US09155069B2
The present invention relates to a method and device for receiving a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) in a mobile communication system. The method for receiving the MBMS of a terminal in the mobile communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that it includes: determining whether service area ID (SAI) information on a serving cell is broadcast during the MBMS; receiving the SAI information on the serving cell when it is determined that the SAI information is broadcast; determining, by using the received SAI information of the serving cell, whether an SAI of the MBMS matches the SAI of the serving cell; and changing the cell reselection priority of the frequency of the serving cell to the highest priority if it is determined that the SAI of the MBMS matches the SAI of the serving cell. According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently receive MBMS services by enabling a terminal to select a proper frequency or cell when an MBMS service of interest starts.
US09155067B2
A method and apparatus are provided for activating a communication terminal situated in a wireless communication network including a plurality of access nodes. The method includes: receiving, by an access node of the communication network, termed an anchor access node, at least one datum to be transmitted to the communication terminal; identifying, by the anchor access node, at least one access node to which the communication terminal was previously attached, termed a last known access node, on the basis of the datum to be transmitted; and transmitting to the at least one last known access node at least one activation datum destined for at least one communication interface of the terminal, making it possible to activate the terminal.
US09155064B2
The present invention discloses a method and device for processing paging message when Idle State Signalling Reduction (ISR) is active. The method includes the following step: a Mobility Management Entity (MME) determines that a Mobile Switching Center (MSC)/Visited Location Register (VLR) is a default MSC/VLR and the paging message is used for a Short Message Service (SMS), the MME does not send the paging message to a Serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Node (SGSN). The present invention can reduce the unnecessary paging signalling in an Evolved Packet System (EPS) and the 2nd Generation (2G)/3rd Generation (3G), therefore avoiding the network resource waste occurred in the interface of the MME and the SGSN, in the air interface of a General Packet Radio Service/Enhanced Data Rate for Global System for Mobile communication Evolution Radio Access Network (GERAN)/Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), and in the MSC/VLR.
US09155062B2
In one aspect, a method of determining a geographical location of a base station is provided. The base station is within a coverage area of a master base station and requests geographical location information from the master base station through a first Precision Time Protocol (PTP) management message. The base station receives the geographical location information from the master base station through a second PTP management message. In addition, the base station determines the geographical location of the base station from the geographical location information included in the second PTP management message.
US09155059B2
Method for performing deregistration with content retention mode in broadband wireless access system
The present invention relates to a broadband wireless access system, and more specifically, to a deregistration with content retention mode operation procedure initiated by a base station. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the present invention provides a method for, a mobile station, performing a deregistration with content retention (DCR) mode by a request of a base station in a broadband wireless access system, and the method comprises the steps of: receiving a first broadcast message for indicating entry into the DCR mode from the base station; transmitting a second message for requesting the entry into the DCR mode to the base station; receiving a third broadcast message that includes acknowledgement (ACK) information for indicating whether the second message is detected, and entering the DCR mode if the ACK information indicates a successful detection of the second message.
US09155049B2
There are provided measures for power reduction control in a home network environment, which may be applicable in an interworking of a home network area and a macro network area. Such measures for power reduction control may for example include, upon receipt of an initial power reduction command from a network element of a macro network area, reducing a transmit power in a home network area by a predetermined power reduction amount and starting a timer with a predetermined time period, and upon receipt of a further power reduction command from a network element of a macro network area as long as the timer is not expired, discarding the further power reduction command.
US09155046B2
Devices and methods for optimizing semi-active workloads are described herein. A network interface device may be configured to offload data packet acknowledgment responsibilities of a host platform by transmitting, to the sender of the packets, acknowledgements of packets received throughout a time duration. Upon completion of the time duration, the network interface device may trigger the host platform to perform batch processing of the data packets received during the time duration.
US09155042B2
A method for operating in an idle mode and a machine-to-machine (M2M) apparatus are provided. The M2M apparatus receives a deregistration-response (DREG-RSP) message from a base station, and the M2M apparatus in the idle mode monitors a paging advertisement (PAG-ADV) message from the base station. Comprised is a fixed M2M deregistration identifier (FMDID), and the FMDID is a 16-bit identifier for identifying the M2M apparatus in a region of the base station.
US09155033B2
A user equipment device, removable storage module and method for accelerating network selection by a wireless user equipment (UE) device without having to perform a full band scan (FBS). In one exemplary embodiment, the UE device sends location information of the wireless user equipment device to a home network node. The UE device receives appropriate network list information and associated frequency data from the home network node, the network list information comprising network identities comprising a combination of a core network with at least one of an access network and a service network, and locates a network using at least one of the appropriate network list information and associated frequency data without having to do a full band scan.
US09155031B2
A method, system, and device for network selection are provided. The method for network selection includes the following steps. After network selection is triggered, a network selection list stored in a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) and a network selection list stored in a Mobile Equipment (ME) are read, where the UICC is embedded in the ME and accessible to the ME. Network selection is performed according to the network selection list stored in the UICC and the network selection list stored in the ME. Also, a method for network selection through a network selection policy is added and methods for implementing a type and a data structure of a network selection policy as well as a method for network selection based on a network selection policy are provided, so that network selection can be controlled more flexibly, a terminal can locate a target network faster, and time consumed for the network selection is reduced.
US09155015B2
A radio terminal (100) according to a present invention stores a handover threshold in association with an application being executed, when the communication quality of the application is degraded, the handover threshold being based on a piece of radio state information equivalent to that at a time when the communication quality is determined to be degraded. The radio terminal (100) stores the amount of variation of the radio state information in association with the radio communication system. The radio terminal (100) executes handover to a different radio communication system on the basis of the radio state information, the stored handover threshold and the stored amount of the variation.
US09155004B2
A method and mechanism for operating user equipment to enable efficient reselection from a first cell conforming to a first wireless standard to a second cell conforming to a second wireless standard. The second standard may require a higher transmission rate for packet-switched data than the first standard. While camping on the first cell, the user equipment makes measurements of received power from the second cell. A reselection timer is started when a measurement is detected that is sufficiently strong. In response to an access state transition to a non-active protocol state (such as UMTS-PCH), the UE saves the timer value. When data becomes available for transmission, an additional measurement is made on the second cell, and reselection to the second cell may be performed immediately if the additional measurement and the saved timer value pass one or more reselection criteria.
US09155002B2
A method and apparatus for performing a handover during a device-to-device communication in a wireless access system are disclosed. More particularly, the method comprises: a first device sensing a handover state by considering a link quality with a second device while performing device-to-device communication with the second device; the first device measuring channel quality with respect to neighboring devices by using a reference signal that is transmitted from the neighboring devices; the first device transmitting a handover request message to a relay device in order to start handover the relay device selected from the neighboring devices based on measuring channel quality; the first device receiving from the relay device a handover completion message indicating the completion of resource allocation; and the first device performing the device-to-device communication with the second device by using a resource that is allocated by the relay device.
US09154996B2
A method includes receiving link quality information associated with multiple wireless connections in a wireless network. The method also includes identifying at least one asymmetric communication path in the wireless network using the link quality information. The link quality information could include a statistical value for each of the wireless connections. Identifying the at least one asymmetric communication path could include identifying a first and a second of the statistical values associated with a first and a second of the wireless connections, respectively, and determining whether a difference between the first and second statistical values exceeds a threshold. The method could further include applying a heuristic to indicate that the first and second wireless connections do not form an asymmetric communication path even if the difference between the first and second statistical values exceeds the threshold.
US09154993B1
Systems and methods are provided for an optimized mobile-IPv6 encapsulation. A mobile node sends packets to a correspondent node by encapsulating a packet using an IPv6 routing extension header, and reverse tunneling the packet to a home agent. The home agent modifies the packet and forwards it to the correspondent node. When the correspondent node sends packets to the mobile node's home address, the home agent intercepts the packet, encapsulates the packet with an IPv6 routing extension header, and tunnels the packet to the mobile node. Consequently, because packets are tunneled using IPv6 routing extension headers, the amount of overhead in each encapsulated packet is reduced, thus increasing the available bandwidth in a network.
US09154991B2
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method performed by a policy and charging rules node (PCRN) of updating a policy and charging control (PCC) rule. The method includes: receiving a filter update request comprising a new filter and a reference filter; matching the reference filter with a previously requested PCC rule; determining a set of filters associated with the service data flow; determining whether any filter of the set of filters is removed; and authorizing quality of service (QoS) information based on the remaining filters of the set of filters. Various exemplary embodiments relate to a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium encoded with instructions executable by a processor for performing the method.
US09154982B2
A system for collecting traffic information that includes at least one first mobile node; at least one second mobile node; at least one data collection node; and a central processing station. At least one packet is transmitted between the first mobile node and the second node. The data collection node includes a packet search analyzer to determine an identifier that identifiers the first mobile node or the second mobile node from the at least one packet. The central processing station is linked to the data collection node and communicates traffic information associated with the identifier.
US09154979B2
A system for scalably simulating multiple LTE UE devices includes an LTE multi-UE simulator. The simulator includes a common public radio interface (CPRI) module for receiving downlink data from an evolved node B (eNode B) under test and a downlink signal chain processing module including a common section for performing UE agnostic processing of the downlink data and a UE specific section for performing UE specific processing of the downlink data. The simulator further includes a control digital signal processor (DSP) for receiving the downlink data from the common section of the downlink signal chain processing module, for processing downlink data to obtain control information, and for forwarding the control information to the downlink signal chain processing module. The UE specific portion of the downlink signal chain processing module performs the UE specific processing using the control information.
US09154973B1
A method of testing a mobile phone maintenance channel is provided. The method comprises transmitting a plurality of mobile phone activation set-up messages to an open mobile alliance (OMA) platform, the OMA platform storing activation set-up information in a data store, and generating test activation request messages. The method further comprises transporting the activation request messages over a mobile phone maintenance channel, the OMA platform retrieving activation set-up information from the data store, the OMA platform transmitting activation response messages, the activation response messages comprising at least a portion of the mobile phone activation set-up information associated with the test activation request, transporting the activation response messages over the maintenance channel, and the computer, in response to receiving the activation response messages, determining a first test result based on comparing the plurality of activation request messages to the activation response messages.
US09154971B2
Disclosed are systems, methods and devices for obtaining round trip time measurements for use in location based services. In particular implementations, a fine timing measurement request message wirelessly transmitted by a first transceiver device to a second transceiver device may permit additional processing features in computing or applying a signal round trip time measurement. Such a signal round trip time measurement may be used in positioning operations.
US09154967B2
An apparatus and a method for beam selection and inter-beam scheduling using beam scanning in a beamformed wireless communication system are provided. A method for transmitting a signal in a transmitting stage includes transmitting a reference signal through at least one transmission beam, receiving channel information of at least one transmission beam from a receiving stage, selecting a first transmission beam for sending a signal to the receiving stage, by considering the channel information of the at least one transmission beam provided from the receiving stage, and performing inter-beam scheduling for the receiving stage by considering ID information of the first transmission beam.
US09154964B2
Techniques are generally described for determining locations of a plurality of communication devices in a network. In some examples, methods for creating a location discovery infrastructure (LDI) for estimating locations of one or more of a plurality of communication nodes may comprise one or more of determining a plurality of locations in the terrain to place a corresponding plurality of beacon nodes, determining a plurality of beacon node groups for the placed beacon nodes, and determining a schedule for the placed beacon nodes to be active. Additional variants and embodiments are also disclosed.
US09154960B2
A wireless communication network construction terminal includes: a vibration generating module configured to generate vibration; a wireless communicator; a construction unit configured to construct a wireless communication network; a selector configured to select one of a plurality of wireless communication protocols; a vibration controller configured to cause the vibration generating module to generate vibration indicating a wireless communication protocol selected by the selector; and a communication controller configured, when a communication connection request message corresponding to the wireless communication protocol selected by the selector is wirelessly received by the wireless communicator after an operation in accordance with the wireless communication protocol selected by the selector is started, to cause the wireless communicator to wirelessly transmit a message of permitting a communication connection request to a wireless communication network participation terminal that has wirelessly transmitted the communication connection request message.
US09154956B2
Disclosed are a system and method for managing access to a mobile telecommunication account by disabling use of a mobile device associated with a mobile telecommunication account or sub account when the mobile network detects that a restriction contained in a restriction database is violated.
US09154954B2
[Structure] A mobile phone (10) includes a touch panel (38) and a touch control circuit (36) detecting a touch operation, and can set a lock state that a telephone function or the like is restricted. If the lock state is set and a key operation is performed, a message urging to long-depress a touch is displayed on a display (30), and when the touch is detected, a changing object representing an elapse of time is displayed on the display (30). If five (5) seconds elapse in a touched state, a completion image is displayed on the display (30). Then, if a finger is released from the touch panel (38) within three (3) seconds after the completion image is displayed, the lock state is canceled.
US09154949B1
A method of authenticating a communication device for accessing premium communication services via an untrusted network. The method comprises receiving a request message from a communication device, wherein the request message comprises an identification of a delegated premium service delivery service and a mobile directory number of a mobile communication device, wherein the mobile communication device is different from the communication device. The method further comprises transmitting a code word to the mobile communication device associated with the mobile directory number, receiving a request authentication payload message from the communication device, wherein the request authentication payload message comprises the code word, and sending an authentication payload message to the communication device based on the code word.
US09154941B2
A mobile computing device hosts an operating system and mobile applications. A provisioning application communicates with a secure element and near field communication (NFC) subsystem. It causes display of an interface for users to enter personal attributes for storage in the secure element. Users discriminately select items from their personal attributes for transmission to a third party recipient so only attributes relative to the third party are sent. Software, interfaces, methods, and apparatus typify the embodiments.
US09154931B2
A wearable emergency cellular device for use in a medical emergency alert situation includes an application containing synoptic medical information and other user data, a call module for mobile communication with a call center and a display for selectively controlling information displayed on the cellular device. Only the call center is able to input the synoptic medical and selected other information to the device. The cellular device is usable for emergency situations other than medical, such as for personal security at home or for mobile use. Various access methods are described using panel displays for medical or other emergency personnel to access the stored cellular device information. Initiation of user communication with the call center can be activated manually or by the user's voice. Also described are an electronic emergency call system and methods for handling an emergency alert using the emergency cellular device.
US09154921B2
The disclosed embodiments provide methods and apparatus for detecting or announcing presence and/or location information in a wireless communication network. In one aspect, a method for sharing user information in a wireless communication network includes sending an alert from an originator to a target, the alert including information about the originator and requesting information about the target, receiving information by the originator from the target in response to the alert, and updating information in the originator about the target, based on the received information. In another aspect, a method includes sending at least one alert from an originator, requesting information about at least one target user; receiving information by the originator in response to the alert; and updating information by the originator about the target user, based on information received.
US09154920B2
A vehicle system and method is provided for detecting the location of a portable wireless device. The vehicle system includes the portable device and a plurality of base stations positioned about a vehicle. The portable device is configured to transmit a first wireless signal and a second wireless signal indicative of motion data of the portable device. A main base station of the plurality of base stations is configured to determine a first final position of the portable device in response to each of the plurality of base stations successfully receiving the first wireless signal. The main base station is further configured to determine a second final position of the portable device using the first final position and the motion data of the second wireless signal as received at the first base station and after determining that the second base station has not successfully received the second wireless signal.
US09154915B2
Provided is a process and system for ascertaining the operating hours of a business. The process includes obtaining wireless-environment data indicative of the location of business and a timestamp; determining that a user device is located at the business responsive to both the wireless-environment data and wireless-environment data from checked-in user devices that have checked-in to the business via a social network; storing the timestamp in a timestamp data store; estimating operating hours of the business responsive to stored timestamps; and storing the estimated operating hours in a business-hours data store.
US09154910B2
This provides a terminal location obtaining method, device, and system. The method includes: a first terminal transmitting a location-obtaining request to a second terminal; the second terminal starting a positioning function to obtain the current location information of the second terminal, and transmitting the obtained location information of the second terminal to the first terminal; the first terminal using the location information of the second terminal as the location information of the first terminal, and performing a location-based application operation based on the location information. This can obtain relatively accurate location information of a terminal when the terminal is incapable of determining its own location when location determination is needed. This can also transmit the location information to a corresponding application server to avoid inaccuracy issues with determining a location based on the IP address of a terminal. This can facilitate an accurate location-based push message service.
US09154909B2
A server system configured to communicate with a device that is installable in a vehicle, such as a portable or in-built navigation device, comprises a communications resource for receiving vehicle data indicative of a parameter of the vehicle; and a processing resource operable to obtain weather data and to process the weather data and the vehicle data to determine at least one weather-related condition in dependence on both the weather data and the vehicle data.
US09154905B2
A short-range wireless communication apparatus is disclosed. The short-range wireless communication apparatus comprises: multiple connection devices and a control device. The connection devices are capable of simultaneously connecting multiple communication interfaces to a communication counterparty apparatus to enable sound data transfer. When the control device determines that, in cases where the communication interfaces are communicably connected, there arises a request to start outputting the sound data transferred by one of the communication interfaces, the control device disconnects another one of the communication interfaces while keeping the one of the communication interfaces connected and causes a sound data output device to output the sound data transferred from the communication counterparty apparatus by the one of the communication interfaces.
US09154904B2
A method and system is provided for estimating proximity and accurately calculating the straight line distance between the communicating Bluetooth enabled portable communication devices. Particularly, the invention provides a method and system for capturing the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) values form at least one target communication device (204) by the reference communication device (202); calculating the constant values of properties of communication environment of the devices by utilizing captured received signal strength indicator (RSSI) values; and deriving accurate straight line distance between the reference communication device (202) and the target communication device (204) by utilizing calculated constant values of properties of communication environment of the devices.
US09154900B1
In accordance with one embodiment, a system and method are provided for translation services to facilitate interoperation between mobility schemes. In other embodiments, the system and method may provide transport and network services for legacy applications, and adaptive coding for message, packet, link and physical layers.
US09154899B1
A wireless communication device optically receives an image that is associated with a user device and processes the received image to generate image data. The wireless communication device transfers user information and the image data to a communication network. The communication network processes the user information and the image data to generate configuration data to allow the user device to access the communication network. The communication network transfers the configuration data to a communication transceiver. The communication transceiver receives a communication from the user device, and in response to the configuration data, the communication transceiver transfers the communication to the communication network.
US09154897B2
A depth processing system can employ stereo speakers to achieve immersive effects. The depth processing system can advantageously manipulate phase and/or amplitude information to render audio along a listener's median plane, thereby rendering audio along varying depths. In one embodiment, the depth processing system analyzes left and right stereo input signals to infer depth, which may change over time. The depth processing system can then vary the phase and/or amplitude decorrelation between the audio signals over time to enhance the sense of depth already present in the audio signals, thereby creating an immersive depth effect.
US09154896B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for processing an audio sound source to create four-dimensional spatialized sound. A virtual sound source may be moved along a path in three-dimensional space over a specified time period to achieve four-dimensional sound localization. The various embodiments described herein provide methods and systems for converting existing mono, 2-channel and/or multi-channel audio signals into spatialized audio signals have two or more audio channels. The incoming audio signals may be down-mixed, up-mixed or otherwise translated into fewer, greater or the same number of audio channels. The various embodiments also describe methods, systems and apparatus for generating low frequency effect and center channel signals from incoming audio signals having one or more channels.
US09154895B2
An apparatus of generating a multi-channel sound signal is provided. The apparatus may include a sound separator to determine a number (N) of sound signals based on at least one of a mixing characteristic and a spatial characteristic of a multi-channel sound signal when receiving the multi-channel sound signal, and to separate the multi-channel sound signal into N sound signals, the sound signals being generated such that the multi-channel sound signal is separated, and a sound synthesizer to synthesize N sound signals to be M sound signals.
US09154894B2
A frequency characteristics determination device that can prevent generation of a frequency response curve having an unnatural shape is provided. A CPU 11 sets pass points Pi and Pi+1 through which the frequency response curve of an audio signal should pass. Pi+1 of a frequency Xpi+1 which is higher than a frequency Xpi of the pass point Pi. The CPU 11 determines a direction point ai of a Bezier curve Ci for connecting the pass points Pi and Pi+1 based on the pass points Pi and Pi+1. The CPU 11 determines whether a frequency Xai of the direction point ai is within a reference range between not less than the frequency Xpi and not more than the frequency Xpi+1. When the frequency Xai is out of the reference range, the CPU 11 moves the direction point ai so that the frequency Xai is within the reference range.
US09154888B2
The selection of hearing aids can be based on many factors which are beyond a simple compensation for the hearing impairment of the user. The process of selecting hearing aids can be time consuming and resource intensive. By rapidly and effectively providing the necessary context to hearing-impaired individuals to evaluate the benefit provided by various hearing aids, without the traditional time consuming fitting trial, the purchase of a device can be expedited and provide the necessary correction to negate the effects of auditory deprivation. A system an method for enabling improved hearing aid appraisal and selection processes is provided.
US09154883B2
A speaker assembly includes an enclosure having an acoustic chamber and an acoustic output opening and a speaker driver. The speaker driver includes a sound radiating surface and a first voice coil and a second voice coil positioned along opposite faces, respectively, of the sound radiating surface. The speaker driver further includes a first magnet assembly including an elongated gap in which part of the first voice coil is positioned to vibrate and a second magnet assembly having an elongated gap in which part of the second voice coil is positioned to vibrate. The first magnet assembly elongated gap is orientated lengthwise toward the acoustic chamber, and the second magnet assembly elongated gap is oriented lengthwise toward the acoustic output opening. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US09154880B2
A first filter coefficient and a second filter coefficient are calculated by using spatial transfer characteristics from a first speaker and a second speaker to a first control point and a second control point, and a first sound increase ratio na at the first control point and a second sound increase ratio nb at the second control point, so that, when the first filter coefficient is a through characteristic, a first composite sound pressure from the first speaker and the second speaker to the first control point is na times a first sound pressure from the first speaker to the first control point, and a second composite sound pressure from the first speaker and the second speaker to the second control point is nb times a second sound pressure from the first speaker to the second control point.
US09154879B2
A Method for processing an audio signal to use a beamforming technique in a three-dimensional (3D) space is disclosed. The method may include generating a beamforming signal on a horizontal plane related to a sound source in a three-dimensional (3D) space and modulating the beamforming signal to head for a listener in the 3D space from the sound source.
US09154875B2
A device (200) for processing an audio data stream, the device (200) comprising a transient detection unit (201) adapted to detect a transient portion of an audio input data stream (202), and a harmonics generator (203) adapted to generate an audio output data stream (204) based on the audio input data stream (202), the audio output data stream (204) comprising a sequence of harmonics (205) generated only from a non-transient portion of the audio input data stream (202).
US09154874B2
A howling detection device capable of detecting the occurrence of howling with a higher degree of accuracy is provided. The howling detection device includes a signal level calculating unit calculating, from the input signal, an input signal level being the signal level of an input signal at each given time, a level fluctuation estimated value calculating unit calculating, from the input signal level, a level fluctuation estimated value being a value gradually increasing or decreasing by a given amount with time, a threshold value calculating unit calculating, from the level fluctuation estimated value, a level threshold value changing in accordance with the level fluctuation estimated value, and a howling determination unit which determines that howling occurs in an input signal under the condition that the input signal level being higher than the level threshold value continues for a given time.
US09154869B2
A portable electronic device having an enclosure having a top wall, a bottom wall, at least one sidewall connecting the top wall to the bottom wall, an acoustic output opening and a back volume defined by the top wall, the bottom wall and the at least one sidewall. A speaker driver is positioned within the enclosure, the speaker driver including a sound radiating surface having a top face and a bottom face for emitting sound waves therefrom. A frame member is attached to the speaker driver, the frame member forming a front volume chamber acoustically coupling the top face of the sound radiating surface to the acoustic output opening and a back volume chamber that overlaps a side of the speaker drive and acoustically couples the bottom face of the sound radiating surface to the back volume.
US09154868B2
An earphone comprises an earphone body, containing a speaker, and a projection, extending from a first surface of the earphone body, for location in the entrance to the user's ear canal. The earphone body comprises a sound outlet in the first surface, for allowing sounds generated by the speaker to leave the earphone body. The projection extends from the first surface of the earphone body, adjacent to the sound outlet, and contains a sound inlet port, connected to a microphone for detecting sounds entering the ear canal. A noise cancellation system includes noise cancellation circuitry, for applying a frequency dependent filter characteristic and applying a gain to an input signal representing ambient noise, at least one of the frequency dependent filter characteristic and the gain being adaptive. The earphone then has an ambient noise microphone, and an error microphone connected to the sound inlet port.
US09154866B2
Fibers may be intertwined to form structures for electronic devices and other parts. Fibers may be intertwined using computer-controlled braiding, weaving, and knitting equipment. Binder materials may be selectively incorporated into the intertwined fibers. By controlling the properties of the intertwined fibers and the patterns of incorporated binder, structures can be formed that include antenna windows, sound-transparent and sound-blocking structures, structures that have integral rigid and flexible portions, and tubes with seamless forked portions. Fiber-based structures such as these may be used to form cables and other parts of headphones or other electronic device accessories, housings for electronic devices such as housings for portable computers, and other structures.
US09154856B2
Methods and apparatus for creating in-video objects for a video file include identifying a number of segments of the video file, creating a metadata file containing attributes of the segment for each of the segments, and creating a table of contents for the video content, the table of contents including visual representations of each of the segments.
US09154851B2
A method and computing device that provides a tunable RF filter for a two-way communication system. The method receives a downstream video signal, and filters the downstream video signal into at least one downstream bandwidth band, each downstream bandwidth band related to desired upstream/downstream bandwidth splits. The method performs an energy detection on each downstream bandwidth band, and determines a lowest frequency of said at least one downstream bandwidth band that contains downstream video content. The method sets a diplex filter upstream/downstream frequency cutoff to a maximum upstream bandwidth that does not conflict with the lowest frequency of said at least one downstream bandwidth band that contains downstream video content.
US09154847B2
Content scheduling may be provided. First, a media guide may be displayed. Next, a plurality of asset selection input data respectively corresponding to a plurality of assets selected from the displayed media guide may be received. Then the plurality of asset selection input data may be stored in a playlist database. The playlist database may then be executed.
US09154845B1
An example system includes: storing, in a data object, data corresponding to electronic communication, where the data object has an object element associated therewith, and the object element initially resides on a first area of a portal; recognizing movement of the object element from the first location to a second location on the portal, where the second location is different from the first location; detecting that the object element has been moved to the second location; in response to the detecting, triggering execution of a function to obtain the data from the data object; and generating a display of the electronic communication based on the data, where the display is rendered over at least part of the second location.
US09154842B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a method and system comprising a remote control device, an output device, and a media control station that receives an initiating command from the remote control device to initiate a forward function or a backward function, provides a display at the output device in response to the initiating command, receives a user selection command based on the display, and adjusts the function based on the user selection commands.
US09154838B2
Data indicative of first and second members of a social group, a media content accessed by the first and second members of the social group, and a time at which the media content was accessed by the first and second members of the social group is collected. A system then compares the received data to determine if the second member of the social group accessed the same media content as the first member of the social group and if the second member of the social group accessed the same media content within a predetermined amount of time. When the second member of the social group accessed the same media content as the first member of the social group within the predetermined amount of time the first member of the social group is identified as a social influencer.
US09154834B2
Disclosed are various embodiments that facilitate fast switching of synchronized media using time-stamp management. A first media stream and multiple second media streams are obtained. The second media stream is time synchronized to the first media stream. The first media stream and one of the second media streams are decoded. Time-stamp management without decoding is performed for another one of the second media streams to facilitate fast switching to the other one of the second media streams when desired.
US09154832B2
Various arrangements for determining a frame number of a video frame are presented. A decoded video frame may include a test image and a numerical color pattern. A first color present within the color pattern of the video frame at a first predefined location may be identified. A second color present within the color pattern of the video frame at a second predefined location may be identified. The frame number of the video frame may be identified using at least the first color and the second color.
US09154828B2
A method for controlling a television device comprises the following steps. A portable device with a wireless power receiver module is provided. A display control module of the television device receives a parental control signal from a remote control module of the portable device. A feedback detector unit of a wireless power transmitter module of the television device detects whether the wireless power receiver module is located within a predetermined range so as to generate a first detection result. The display control module selectively enables a parental control function according to the parental control signal and the first detection result. The feedback detector unit again detects whether the wireless power receiver module is located within the predetermined range so as to generate a second detection result. Finally, the television device is controlled to turn on, turn off or enter into a standby mode based on the second detection result.
US09154825B2
A set top/back box and system and method for providing a remote control device are disclosed. In one embodiment, one or more wireless transceivers are located within a housing, which also interconnectively includes television input/output, a processor, and memory. The set top/back box may establish a pairing with a programmable device, such as a proximate wireless-enabled interactive handheld device having a touch screen display, whereby formatted parallel audiovisual experience instructions, including virtual buttons, may be transmitted to the programmable device for display on the touch screen display to create an experience parallel to the experience on the television. The set top/back box receives and processes virtual remote control functionality input instructions from the programmable device to control amenities associated with the set top/back box.
US09154819B2
In one embodiment, a method includes assigning at a server, priority levels to channels associated with video broadcast content, transmitting the assigned priority levels to a network device transmitting the video broadcast content to receivers, and updating the assigned priority levels based on channel information received at the server. A policy is applied to the video broadcast content based on the assigned priority levels when network congestion occurs. An apparatus is also disclosed herein.
US09154817B2
A digital broadcasting system and a data processing method are disclosed. The data processing method includes receiving a broadcast signal in which main service data and mobile service data are multiplexed, demodulating the broadcast signal to acquire fast-information-channel signaling information including reference time information for a system clock, and outputting demodulation time information of a specific position of a frame of the broadcast signal, decoding the fast-information-channel signaling information, and establishing the reference time information as the system clock at a demodulation time according to on the outputted demodulation time information and decoding the mobile service data according to the system clock.
US09154816B2
A garbled closed captioning detector analyzes closed captioning data at predetermined intervals to determine whether a metric derived from the closed-captioning data exceeds a threshold. If the metric exceeds the predetermined threshold, the closed captioning data is presumed to be garbled. For example, the metric may be the percentage of words in the closed captioning data having a desired word length observed in a particular interval compared to all words in the closed captioning data observed in the interval. If the percentage of words having a desired word length exceeds a predetermined threshold, the closed captioning data is presumed to be garbled.
US09154812B2
A stream transmitting system for transmitting a data stream, which has first layer including base data and second layer including data supplementing the base data, includes a transmitting device and a receiving device. The transmitting device includes: a transmission control unit for packetizing the data of the first layer and the data of the second layer to output a data packet of the first layer and a data packet of the second layer; first transmitting unit for transmitting the data packet of the first layer to the receiving device through first transmission path; and second transmitting unit for transmitting the data packet of the second layer to the receiving device through second transmission path. The receiving device includes: first receiving units for receiving the data packet transmitted through the first transmission paths; and a reception control unit for reconstructing a hierarchically-encoded data stream.
US09154807B2
In one example, an encoder may apply a plurality of pre-defined interpolation filters to units of video data, such as frames of reference video, in order to generate a plurality of different interpolated prediction data. The encoder may also at times determine that a new interpolation filter or set of interpolation filters might improve coding quality by either improving video compression or improving reconstructed image quality. The encoder may also signal to a video decoder whether one of the pre-defined interpolation filters was used or a new set of interpolation filters was used. The encoder may also signal to a video decoder whether to continue using the new set of interpolation filters, or whether to revert back to using the pre-defined set of interpolation filters. A video decoder can decode video data based on data received from the video encoder.
US09154805B2
An apparatus, computer readable medium, and method of compressing images generated on an image generating device, the method including responsive to a generated image and position and orientation data associated with an image generating device which generated the image, selecting a previously generated image having a similar position and a similar orientation as the generated image; and if a comparison between the selected previously generated image and the generated image indicates the difference between one of the previously generated images and the generated image is less than a threshold difference, then compressing the generated image using the previously generated image. The method may include generating the generated image from light incident to the image generating device, and generating the position and orientation associated with the image generating device.
US09154796B2
This disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for encoding and decoding video data. In an example an intra-mode for predicting a current block of video data and most probable intra-modes (MPMs) for predicting the current block of video data may be determined. MPMs for predicting the current block of video data may be determined. An index for each of the MPMs based on an order in which the intra-mode for predicting the current block is compared to the MPMs may be determined. When one of the MPMs for predicting the current block matches the intra-mode for predicting the current block, the index of the matching MPM.
US09154794B2
A picture coding method of the present invention codes a picture signal and a ratio of a number of luminance pixels and a number of chrominance pixels for the picture signal, and then one coding method out of at least two coding methods is selected depending on the ratio. Next, data related to a picture size is coded in accordance with the selected coding method. The data related to the picture size indicates a size of the picture corresponding to the picture signal or an output area, which is a pixel area to be outputted in decoding in a whole pixel area coded in the picture signal coding.
US09154793B1
The apparatus for processing an image recorded in a black box for a vehicle includes an information collector, a mode determiner, an encoder and a controller. The information collector is configured to collect information on a road on which a vehicle is being driven. The mode determiner is configured to determine an inter mode when the road information collected by the information collector indicates a suburban road and determine an intra mode when the road information indicates a city road. The encoder is configured to encode the image recorded in the black box. The controller is configured to control the encoder to encode the image with an encoding mode determined by the mode determiner.
US09154783B2
The image coding method includes: determining a context for a current block to be processed, from among a plurality of contexts; and performing arithmetic coding on the control parameter for the current block to generate a bitstream corresponding to the current block, wherein in the determining: the context is determined under a condition that control parameters of neighboring blocks of the current block are used, when the signal type is a first type, the neighboring blocks being a left block and an upper block of the current block; and the context is determined under a condition that the control parameter of the upper block is not used, when the signal type is a second type, and the second type is one of “mvd_l0” and “mvd_l1”.
US09154769B2
A measurement apparatus for automatic three-dimensional measurement of space includes a camera sensor array that is configured to generate low-resolution video recordings. The camera sensor array is further configured to automatically generate high-resolution images at geometrically suitable positions in the space. Automatic recording of the high-resolution images is based on a three-dimensional real-time reconstruction of the video recordings. A measurement system includes the measurement apparatus and a corresponding method is implemented for the automatic three-dimensional measurement of the space.
US09154763B2
Systems and methods are provided for resolving artifacts in view-dependent components. The system and method apply a different stereo camera pair to view-dependent versus non-view-dependent or independent rays. In this way the lighting components may be independently dialed to art direct specular components versus diffuse components.
US09154762B2
A stereoscopic image system is provided. The stereoscopic image system comprises: a depth detection unit, for receiving a two-dimensional image and a corresponding depth image, and generating a depth level map according to the two-dimensional image and the corresponding depth image; a stereoscopic image generator, for generating a stereoscopic image pair corresponding to the two-dimensional image according to the two-dimensional image and the depth level map; and a stereoscopic image adjusting apparatus, for generating a depth level range map according to the depth level map, and performing a pixel shifting process and an interpolation process to objects within a plurality of depth levels in the stereoscopic image pair to generate an output stereoscopic image pair according to the stereoscopic image pair and the depth level range map.
US09154758B2
A digital signal processor and a digital image processing apparatus adopting the same. The digital signal processor comprises a data converter, which converts digital image data in red, green, and blue form to digital image data in luminance and chrominance form, such that when photograph-image data is captured by photographing, the data converter processes the photograph-image data during each period of time from the time when processing of one frame data of live-view is completed to the time when processing of next frame data begins.
US09154756B2
A projection apparatus has a hologram recording medium configured to be capable of diffusing coherent light beams, an irradiation unit configured to irradiate coherent light beams to the hologram recording medium so that the coherent light beams scan the hologram recording medium, a light modulator that is illuminated by coherent light beams incident on and diffused at respective points of the hologram recording medium from the irradiation unit, a projection optical system configured to project a modulated image generated by the light modulator onto a scattering plane, and an imaging optical system provided between the hologram recording medium and the light modulator, configured to converge the coherent light beams diffused at respective points of the hologram recording medium to illuminate the light modulator.
US09154746B2
An apparatus including a video control circuit is configured to receive a first video signal from a first camera and a second vide signal from a second camera. The video control circuit is configured to provide the first video signal or the second video signal in response to a control signal. The control signal is indicative of whether a trailer plug is connected to a vehicle plug.
US09154729B2
A television receiving apparatus includes: a transmitting unit which transmits, to a peer apparatus, first audio information received by a microphone and first video information captured by a camera; a receiving unit which receives, from the peer apparatus, second audio information and second video information; a telephone control unit which outputs the second audio information to a speaker; a display unit segmented into a first display area in which the first video information is displayed, a second display area in which the second video information is displayed, and a third display area; and a shared information control unit which causes shared information to be displayed in the third display area, and causes the transmitting unit to transmit the shared information so that the shared information is displayed by the peer apparatus.
US09154728B2
An exemplary image processing apparatus generates an interpolation frame to be inserted between a first frame and a second frame, contiguous with each other, of a moving picture obtained by an image capturing apparatus. The image processing apparatus includes: a motion vector calculation section configured to calculate a motion vector of an object by performing a block matching operation between the first and second frames; and an interpolation frame generation section configured to generate the interpolation frame through a process performed based on a magnitude of motion of the image capturing apparatus from a point in time when the first frame is obtained to a point in time when the second frame is obtained.
US09154715B2
A method for estimating a fly screen effect of an image capture unit is described, having a plurality of image sensors for providing an item of light intensity information. The method includes a step of determining an image property of an item of image information, based on a plurality of items of light intensity information and on a plurality of parameters, each of the plurality of parameters being associated with each of the plurality of image sensors. This method also includes a step of ascertaining a plurality of parameter values for the plurality of parameters, in which the image property is at least made to approximate an ideal image property, the plurality of parameters representing the fly screen effect in a model of the image capture unit.
US09154700B2
An apparatus for capturing an image using an image stored in a camera includes a lens system for optically receiving an image, an image signal processor for converting the received image into a preview image and generating a first-resolution image using the received image at predetermined periods, a first buffer for receiving the first-resolution image from the image signal processor and temporarily storing the received first-resolution image, a display for displaying the preview image received from the image signal processor and the first-resolution image received from the first buffer, and a controller for controlling the image signal processor to display the first-resolution image temporarily stored in the first buffer on the display upon receiving an image capturing signal.
US09154695B2
A digital image of the object is captured and the object is recognized from plurality of objects in a database. An information address corresponding to the object is then used to access information and initiate communication pertinent to the object.
US09154694B2
A digital image of the object is captured and the object is recognized from plurality of objects in a database. An information address corresponding to the object is then used to access information and initiate communication pertinent to the object.
US09154693B2
A photographing control apparatus for controlling a shooting direction of a camera determines as to whether the shooting direction of the camera is controlled or not according to a designation of a position in a display area in which an image captured by the camera is displayed, based on a parameter derived by the camera.
US09154691B2
An image capturing apparatus extracts frequency components from image data of a newly captured photograph, divides them into divided sections, compares the frequency components of each of the divided sections of the newly captured photograph and frequency components of corresponding divided sections of a database, obtains a maximum vicinity area, and replaces first extraction components, which are a portion of components extracted from among frequency components outside the maximum vicinity area of each of the divided sections of the newly captured photograph, with second extraction components, which are a portion of components extracted from among frequency components outside the maximum vicinity area of corresponding divided sections of the database, at positions of the frequency components of the newly captured photograph corresponding to the positions of the second extraction components.
US09154690B2
An image search device includes: a shooting unit configured to photographically shoot a subject; a display unit; a control unit configured to display a search key for image search on the display unit according to a shooting situation at the time of a shooting mode whereby the subject can photographically be shot by the shooting unit; a specifying unit which is used for specifying the search key displayed on the display unit; and a searching unit configured to search, in the event of the search key being specified via the specifying unit, an image based on the search key thus specified; with the control unit displaying, in the event of the image being searched by the searching unit, this search result on the display unit.
US09154685B2
An image capture apparatus includes an image sensor having a pixel that photo-electrically converts an object image, a readout unit that reads out a signal for image forming and a signal for focus detection from the pixel, and a control unit that controls which one of a first readout mode to read out both the signal for focus detection and the signal for image forming from the pixel and a second readout mode to read out only the signal for image forming from the pixel is to be used to operate the readout unit.
US09154677B2
An electronic device may have front and rear surfaces. A front-facing camera may be formed on the front surface and a rear-facing camera may be formed on the rear surface. A display may be mounted on the front face of the electronic device. The cameras may nominally point along axes that run parallel to surface normals for the front and rear surfaces. A removable camera accessory with reflector structures may be mounted over a camera to deflect light and thereby point the camera in an off-axis direction. The removable camera accessory may be supported in a stand or other support structure. Magnetic structures and other structures may be used in coupling the electronic device to the support structures and may be used in coupling the camera accessory to the electronic device.
US09154674B2
There is provided a camera module including: a lens barrel including at least one lens disposed on an optical axis; a housing having the lens barrel disposed therein; a circuit board disposed below the housing; and a shield-can coupled to the housing and enclosing an outer surface of the housing, wherein the circuit board is provided with a ground pad, and a contact surface of the shield-can contacting the ground pad is formed to have a convex-concave shape.
US09154662B2
A method and apparatus for managing a memory at an electronic device is provided. A first number of new media files that can be stored in the memory in a current format is determined. It is determined if a memory management condition is met. If the memory management condition is met, the current format is setting to a second format such that the memory can store a second number of new media files, if acquired, a given new media file in the second format occupying less of the memory than if the given new media file is in the current format, such that the second number is greater than the first number.
US09154658B2
In an image reading apparatus, an image reading unit performs a reading operation to generate image data defined by the reading region. The reading region includes a first region and a second region. The image data includes first data and second data. The first data corresponds to the first region. The second data corresponds to by the second region. The original document passes through the first region and not passes through the second region. A displacing unit displaces the opposing member farther away from the image reading unit when the original document is present in the reading region than a position of the opposing member when the original document is not present in the reading region. A controller determines that an edge reaches the reading position when the second data satisfies a prescribed condition.
US09154656B2
An image reading device comprising: a document placing portion; a conveyor; a reading unit configured to read an image of the document, wherein the reading unit includes: an image sensor; a support which supports the image sensor, wherein in the case of reading the image of the document conveyed by the conveyor, the support is to be stopped at a predetermined reading position; a guide; and a driving unit, wherein the reading unit further includes: a release unit configured to release the contact with the guide by separating the support from the guide when the support is moved toward the predetermined reading position; and a contact portion configured to contact with the support separated from the guide by the release unit when the support is moved toward the predetermined reading position.
US09154653B2
A numerical value inputting device includes a touch panel and a digit number changing part. The touch panel includes a display face to display a numerical value display area and detects simultaneously two pressed positions onto the display face. The digit number changing part changes the number of digits of a numerical value displayed on the numerical value display area in accordance with separation or approach of the two pressed positions.
US09154652B2
A display input device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes display portion, piezoelectric element, drive portion, and detection portion. The display portion includes touch panel that detects touched position on display surface. The piezoelectric element is provided on touch panel and vibrates touch panel. In response to touch panel being touched, drive portion applies a voltage to piezoelectric element to vibrate piezoelectric element. The detection portion detects the voltage value of a voltage generated in piezoelectric element by a pressure being applied to piezoelectric element when touch panel is touched. The smaller the voltage value detected by detection portion is, the larger the voltage applied to piezoelectric element by drive portion for vibrating piezoelectric element is. The larger the voltage value detected by detection portion is, the smaller the voltage applied to piezoelectric element by drive portion for vibrating piezoelectric element is.
US09154650B2
The invention relates to a method for reading data (120) from a document (104) using a reader (102), wherein the reader forms the primary side of a transformer (110), wherein the document has an electronic memory (118) for storing the data, processor means (114) for reading the data from the memory and at least one electrical load (128, 130, 132) which can be actuated by the processor means, wherein the document forms the secondary side of the transformer, and wherein the processor means and the at least one load are coupled to the secondary side for the purpose of supplying power, having the following steps: a primary-side voltage (U) is applied to the primary side for the purpose of injecting power into the secondary side, the at least one load is actuated by the processor means, as a result of which a time-variant secondary-side load is formed which prompts the primary-side voltage to undergo modulation, the modulation of the primary-side voltage is evaluated by the reader in order to execute read access for the purpose of reading the data on the basis of a result of the evaluation.
US09154646B2
An image forming system includes a first image forming apparatus configured to form an image according to first setting information that is set to a first user; a second image forming apparatus configured to form an image according to second setting information that is set to a second user; and an administration apparatus that holds the first setting information and the second setting information and administers the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus according to the first setting information and the second setting information thus held. The administration apparatus includes a determining unit configured to determine whether a substitute apparatus for the first image forming apparatus is necessary; and an information setting unit configured to obtain the first setting information according to a determination result of the determining unit, and add the first setting information to the second setting information.
US09154642B2
A computer-implemented method includes receiving a container image including container content characteristic information. The illustrative method further includes analyzing the container content characteristic information and determining the identity of the container contents based on the container characteristic information. Also, the method includes transmitting container content identity information for printing a bar code relating to the container content identity information. The method additionally includes generating a bar code based on the container content identity information. The illustrative method also includes printing a label including the bar code relating to at least the container content identity information.
US09154637B2
A system and method of seizing a landline is disclosed. In seizing the landline, a first device may identify that a switch has been toggled by a second device; receive an alarm signal from the second device via a landline based on identifying that the switch has been toggled; determine a particular processing instruction, of one or more processing instructions, based on information included in the alarm signal; and execute the particular processing instruction to provide the alarm signal to a third device.
US09154636B2
A determination is made as to whether a first channel is communicatively coupled to a communication network. The first communication channel is configured to preferentially transmit emergency messages to the communication network. When the first communication channel is not communicatively coupled to the communication network, a second communication channel and at least one configuration parameter to configure the second communication channel are determined. The second communication channel is configured with the determined at least one parameter. An emergency message is transmitted over the configured second communication channel.
US09154621B2
A method receives a call from a device of a caller destined to a device of a subscriber of a communication network. The method connects the call to the device of the subscriber and then receives from the device of the subscriber an indication that the call is an undesirable call. The indication further includes a description of the call. The method then provides a reward to the subscriber when the indication further includes the description of the call.
US09154617B2
Approaches for recording and playing back a portion of a telephone call are provided. An approach includes establishing a subscriber of a recording and play back service. The approach includes recording, by a computing device, a portion of a conversation of the subscriber that occurs in a call between a first telephone and a second telephone. The approach additionally includes storing, by the computing device, the portion of the conversation when the call ends. The approach further includes analyzing, by the computing device, the stored portion of the conversation to detect predefined keywords. The approach also includes automatically providing the subscriber with an option to play back the stored portion of the conversation when at least one of the predefined keywords is detected during the analyzing.
US09154612B2
Information or items that otherwise might be carried in a person's wallet or purse may be managed and stored on a mobile phone. Embodiments include a software application loaded on a mobile phone and an Internet website through which certain information can be transmitted to the phone by the user, third parties, or both. A user may be alerted to certain information or changes in information that meet certain criteria. The website may provide secure storage for information, filter information, and send encrypted and compressed nuggets or fractions of information to the phone for storage based on topic. E-mails may be searched for information, information may be sent to different parties, and signals may be sent locally to exchange information. Personal information may include account information or travel information, for example.
US09154607B2
An apparatus, system, and method for facilitating communication handing of a terminating communication, terminating or originating, at a mobile station. User preferences are entered and stored at a database. When a terminating communication is subsequently initiated, the stored preferences are accessed, and instructions are provided to the mobile station to cause communication termination in conformity with the stored preferences.
US09154606B2
A computer-implemented user notification method includes displaying, in a status area near a perimeter of a graphical interface, a notification of a recent alert event for a mobile device, receiving a user selection in the status area, and in response to the receipt of the user selection, displaying, in a central zone of the graphical interface, detail regarding a plurality of recent messaging events for the mobile device.
US09154604B2
Apparatus and methods are described herein for sorting messages sent and received, for example in a wireless Personal Area Network (PAN), according to whether the receiving device is within a radially defined region of space. The space may be defined by one or more parameters set by the sending device. A wireless PAN may define the range of peer-to-peer transmission and reception of radio waves between at least two wireless devices. Location and orientation information may be transmitted by a communication device and combined with user and/or software defined boundary limits to filter short range wireless messages.
US09154600B2
A method and apparatus for hold function control in a mobile terminal are disclosed. The hold function control apparatus includes a controller including a general purpose input/output (GPIO) port, a constant voltage power unit for supplying a preset constant voltage, and a hold key for generating a voltage change at the GPIO port by making an instantaneous electrical contact between the GPIO port and the constant voltage power unit, wherein the controller senses the voltage change generated at the GPIO port. As a result, a hold function cancellation command can be directly recognized through a hardware mechanism, thus reducing the time necessary to cancel the hold function setting.
US09154588B2
Robust Header Compression (ROHC) offers a way to compress packet header information for more efficient transmission of data. The compression is achieved through various confidence modes set up by the transmitter and the receiver. The Initialization and Refresh state (IR) is the first state of the compressor. This provides a complete, uncompressed context of the data that is being transmitted. In typically operation, the ROHC compressor will periodically transmit IR packets providing context information allowing the ROHC decompressor to decompress one or more packets following the IR packet. However, under certain conditions such as decompressor start-up, it is possible for the decompressor to miss an IR packet. Exemplary methods and apparatus are described in which a decompressor uses a later-received IR packet to decompress earlier packets for which the decompressor had not received context information.
US09154587B2
A method, network device and system for remote direct memory access (RDMA) over Converged Ethernet (RoCE) packet sequence acceleration are disclosed. The network device comprises one or more functionality components for communicating with a host system. The host system is configured for implementing a first set of functionalities of a network communication protocol, such as RoCE. The one or more functionality components are also operable to implement a second set of functionalities of the network communication protocol.
US09154586B2
Methods and systems are provided for enabling existing or legacy network devices to recognize and parse packets defined in accordance with future-defined standards, without having to be re-configured to be compatible with such standards. A transmitting network device may generate packets such that to enable receiving network devices to bypass, when processing the packets, unknown or newly-inserted fields, such as tag headers, in the packets, and to continue processing the remainder of the packet. This may be achieved by, for example, incorporating in the packets, when such unknown or newly-inserted are included in the packets, corresponding indication fields (e.g., tag header type fields) which may indicated that the unknown or newly-inserted are inserted. Further, indication fields may enable a receiving device to skip over these unknown or newly-inserted. For example, each tag header type filed may be associated with a particular tag header length of the corresponding tag header.
US09154583B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a network device for implementing a host-based network policy mechanism, having a port for receiving packets wherein each packet identifies a host and a destination, and a processing engine configured to inspect packets received on the port, wherein if at least one of the packets matches a predetermined pattern, a rule regulating packet transmission originating from the host is defined and applied against subsequent packets received on the port.
US09154579B2
A method for transmitting keyboard, video, mouse (KVM) data includes converting, by a service board, KVM data into a KVM packet; sending the KVM packet to a switch board through a BASE channel, so that the switch board forwards the KVM packet to a remote console. The embodiments of the present invention are mainly applied to a process for implementing KVM data transmission based on ATCA architecture.
US09154576B2
A system and process for communicating between at least two different objects, such as vehicles is disclosed. The system can include a portable communication device, as well as a central communication server. This system can also include a plurality of databases which are disposed on or in communication with the servers. The databases can include a plurality of tables with the tables being used to monitor the activities and track the habits of the objects.
US09154570B2
The disclosure provides a device for preventing CSRF attacks, in which the device provides functions comprising: intercepting request sent from a client browser to a server; generating a token; generating a response to the request; inserting the token into the response to the request; and sending the response to the request to the client browser with the token inserted into the response. With the device of the disclosure, it is assured that a token is inserted into all the requests made by a user through a client browser for accessing a resource. And it can be assured that the request is issued by the user himself by verifying whether the token in the request is valid, thereby preventing a CSRF attack.
US09154569B1
Method and system for a first network device communicating with a second network device are provided. A first duration is compared with a stored maximum pause delay value and the first duration is set as a new maximum pause delay value when the first duration is greater than the maximum pause delay value. The new maximum pause delay value is compared with a programmed pause delay threshold value that indicates a duration after which the first network device will stop sending frames, after the pause frame is received by the first network device. A pause threshold value and the programmed pause delay threshold value are adjusted based on the comparison between the new maximum pause delay value and the programmed pause delay threshold value.
US09154555B2
Systems and methods are disclosed herein to allow a service provider supporting applications running on a client device to remotely disable the applications, features of the applications, or sessions of the applications running on the client device. The service providers may initiate the disable action automatically upon the detection of certain events on or through the client device without requiring user input. The disable action is specific for the client device. In one embodiment, the service provider collects information associated with the application and with the remote client device that runs the application to conduct one or more transactions with the service provider. The service provider determines from the collected information a feature set of the application to disable on the client device. The service provider disabling remotely the feature set of the application on the client device without affecting any other client devices that run the application.
US09154546B1
A system and method for re-serving shared content are provided. The system includes a first impression detection unit to detect a user's consumption of the shared content via the metering data; a user detection unit to detect a device associated with the user; a shared content retrieval unit to retrieve the shared content based on the user and the device; and a shared content communication unit to transmit the shared content to the detected device.
US09154543B2
An aspect provides a method, including: ascertaining, at a source device, an area of a storage device inclusive of multiple selected files for transfer to a sink device; copying, at the source device, files resident in the area of the storage device inclusive of the multiple files selected for transfer to a sink device into a transfer file; creating, at the source device, a control file comprising information necessary to identify the multiple selected files for transfer included in the transfer file; and transmitting, from the source device, the transfer file to the sink device. Other aspects are described and claimed.
US09154514B1
Systems and methods for analyzing electronic messages for phishing detection are disclosed. In one example embodiment, whether a received email message is a phishing message is determined based on the outcome of a comparison of a recipient background information to a email characteristic wherein the recipient background information is obtained from an online social network. In some embodiments, whether the received email message is a phishing message is determined by comparing a new received email message profile to an email characteristic profile to determine whether the new received email message profile is similar to the email characteristic profile. In some embodiments, whether the received email message is a phishing message is determined by comparing the email characteristics of the new received email message with pattern characteristics. In some embodiments, the determination is made by comparing a email characteristics of the received message with a historical email characteristic.
US09154511B1
Detecting infectious messages comprises performing an individual characteristic analysis of a message to determine whether the message is suspicious, determining whether a similar message has been noted previously in the event that the message is determined to be suspicious, classifying the message according to its individual characteristics and its similarity to the noted message in the event that a similar message has been noted previously.
US09154508B2
A method of providing permissions to consume content objects within a domain includes creating a domain and a domain membership rights object for each member. The domain facilitates the sharing of content objects amongst the members of the domain. The domain membership rights objects for each member include permissions for each member in the domain to consume content objects in the domain.
US09154505B2
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to a simplified login for mobile devices. In aspects, on a first logon, a mobile device asks a user to enter credentials and a PIN. The credentials and PIN are sent to a server which validates user credentials. If the user credentials are valid, the server encrypts data that includes at least the user credentials and the PIN and sends the encrypted data to the mobile device. In subsequent logons, the user may logon using only the PIN. During login, the mobile device sends the PIN in conjunction with the encrypted data. The server can then decrypt the data and compare the received PIN with the decrypted PIN. If the PINs are equal, the server may grant access to a resource according to the credentials.
US09154502B2
A hosted storage service stores a virtual data object that corresponds to data. The virtual data object includes metadata that enables access to the data in a delegated storage service but does not include the data. A delegate storage service stores the data. The hosted storage service receives a request for access to the virtual object and sends a response that includes metadata to access the data in a delegated storage service. The delegate storage service receives a request for access to the data based on the metadata. In response to receiving the request for access to the data object, the delegate storage service sends the data to the client application.
US09154493B2
A method and a system for managing login using a cookie are described. The method includes receiving from a respective client system a request for document information, and receiving from the respective client system a cookie that identifies a plurality of user names logged into the server system from the respective client system. The plurality of logged-in user names includes a first user name and a second user name distinct from the first user name. The method also includes redirecting the received request to a location associated with a selected user name of the plurality of logged-in user names, and receiving the redirected request. The method furthermore includes, in response to the redirected request, processing the request as a request from the selected user name and sending to the respective client system document information corresponding to the request from the selected user name.
US09154491B1
A method and computing system for establishing a broadcast account for a user of an internet-based broadcasting system. An initial trust level is assigned to the broadcast account. The initial trust level is chosen from a plurality of predefined trust levels. A trust score is determined for the broadcast account. The trust score is based, at least in part, upon one or more activities of the user. The initial trust level is adjusted based, at least in art, upon the trust score.
US09154484B2
In one implementation, identity based security features and policies are applied to endpoint devices behind an intermediary device, such as a network address translation device. The access network switch authenticates an endpoint based on a user identity and a credential. A hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) packet is generated or modified to include the user identity in an inline header. The HTTP packet including the user identity is sent to a policy enforcement device to look up one or more policies for the endpoint. The access switch receives traffic from the policy enforcement device that is filtered according the user identity. Subsequent TCP connections may also include identity information within the TCP USER_HINT option in a synchronization packet thus allowing identity propagation for other applications and protocols.
US09154482B2
One or more first servers may receive a token, generated by a second server based on the second server validating an authorization parameter received by a third server; receive, from the second server, a token parameter, associated with the token and being associated with the authorization parameter and identifying a credential associated with the third server; receive, from the third server, a request to update the credential, the request including the token; validate the token; form an updated credential based on the token parameter and based on validating the token; and provide the updated credential to the third server. The credential may be replaced, by the third server, with the updated credential without interaction with a user of the third server.
US09154481B1
Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for decrypting a protected resource on a cryptographic device are provided herein. A method includes decrypting encoded information under a first cryptographic key to access a protected resource, wherein the first cryptographic key is read from a first cryptographic device subsequent to authenticating to the first cryptographic device using a first authentication key, randomly selecting a second cryptographic key, encrypting the protected resource under the second cryptographic key, and writing the second cryptographic key onto the first cryptographic device subsequent to authenticating to the first cryptographic device.
US09154479B1
Methods and systems are provided herein to enable secure proxying of network traffic between trusted and untrusted environments. In particular, a secure proxy may be provided that includes a set of security layers and a secure endpoint resolver, either of which may be provided and/or updated by a service provider. The security layers may be associated with policies that may be applicable to various network protocol layers (e.g., application layer). The security layers may be used to inspect, restrict and/or modify traffic between the trusted and untrusted environment to ensure data and network security. The secure endpoint resolver may be used, for example, by an application in the trusted environment, to obtain current service-related information such as the list of IP addresses currently associated with a service or service endpoint. Such endpoint information may be used, in turn, to update security layer policies such as a white list.
US09154475B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for distributed security system authorization. Client device authentication instructions are executed on a client device to determine if authentication data accessible by the client device authentication instructions are stored at the client device. If the authentication data are stored at the client device, the client device authentication instructions generate authenticated user data and store the authenticated user data at the client device. If the authentication data are not stored at the client device, the client device authentication instructions generate a login environment that allows a user of the client device to input login data. The login data are provided to a verification process that in response to verification provide the authentication data to the client device.
US09154467B1
A system and method for generating a plurality of personas for an account of a user is disclosed. The present invention uses an account engine to receive information for the plurality of personas and to associate the information for the plurality of personas to the account. The information for each of the plurality of personas includes a visibility level. A persona engine receives a selection from the user and transmits the selected persona to the user based on the selection. An authority engine determines an appearance of the selected persona based on the visibility level.
US09154454B1
Techniques are provided to allow for efficient data packing under certain coding schemes, e.g., when an enhanced 64/66 encoding scheme is employed. The traditional 64/66 encoding scheme uses idle bytes to pad packets to obtain a packet of fixed size, thereby adding idle overhead to transmitted packets. Accordingly, the techniques eliminate padding bytes and provide for receiving packets by way of a first data link at forwarding device. The packets are transmitted using a scheme that pads the packets to achieve a predetermined packet length. The padding is removed from the received packets to obtain unpadded packets. Data segments of the unpadded packets are concatenated for forwarding in a continuous data stream with a packet delimiter separating each of the unpadded packets. The continuous data stream is encoded using enhanced physical coding sub layer for forwarding over a second data link.
US09154453B2
A method and system for efficient direct DMA for processing connection state information or other expediting data packets. One example is the use of a network interface controller to buffer TCP type data packets that may contain connection state information. The connection state information is extracted from a received packet. The connection state information is stored in a special DMA descriptor that is stored in a ring buffer area of a buffer memory that is accessible by a host processor when an interrupt signal is received. The packet is then discarded. The host processor accesses the ring buffer memory only to retrieve the stored connection state information from the DMA descriptor without having to access a packet buffer area in the memory.
US09154451B2
Described are systems and methods for communication between a plurality of electronic devices and an aggregation device. An aggregation device processes instructions related to a configuration of an electronic device in communication with the aggregation device. One or more virtual devices are generated in response to processing the instructions. The electronic device enumerates a configuration space to determine devices for use by the electronic device. The aggregation device detects an access of the configuration space by the electronic device. The one or more virtual devices are presented from the aggregation device to the electronic device in accordance with the instructions.
US09154449B2
The present invention discloses an inter-board communication apparatus and a method for transmitting and receiving a message of inter-board communication. The apparatus includes: a message distribution layer module (110) configured to route an application message; a data link layer module (120) comprising a link protocol sub-layer module (122) able to be set selectively, the link protocol sub-layer module (122) providing an interface to mount to external concrete communication protocols; a physical layer module (130) configured to physically transmit the application message; a link information registration module (140) configured to register link attribute information, determine whether to set selectively the link protocol sub-layer module (122) in the data link layer module (120) based on the link attribute information, and determine the specific communication protocols mounted to the link protocol sub-layer module (122), which is configured to submit the application message to the specific communication protocols for processing when set selectively.
US09154444B1
A multi-stage switching system comprises a first stage including a plurality of groups of switching devices. Each group of switching devices includes more than one switching device, and each group of switching devices is associated with a corresponding single device identifier (ID). A second stage includes a plurality of switching devices. The switching devices of the first stage are coupled to the switching devices of the second stage via a plurality of uplinks. Switching devices of the first stage are configured to associate a target device ID and a target port ID to a data unit received via a front port of the switching system. The switching devices of the first stage and the switching devices of the second stage are configured to direct the data unit through the switching system using the target device ID and a target port ID.
US09154441B2
Aspects of adaptive buffer allocation management are described. In one embodiment of adaptive buffer allocation management, data is received by a network component for communication to a network address. While awaiting transfer to the network address, the data must be stored or distributed to a buffer. In one embodiment, the data is distributed evenly about banks of the buffer when an amount of utilization of the buffer is low. In another embodiment, the data is distributed to certain banks of the buffer when the amount of utilization of the buffer is high. In other aspects, the amount of utilization of the buffer is monitored while data is distributed to the banks of the buffer, and the manner of data distribution among the banks is adapted based on the utilization. According to aspects the of adaptive data distribution, a buffer of reduced size may be used.
US09154436B2
Systems and methods are described for optimizing resource utilization in a communications network while also optimizing subscriber engagement with media content over the communications network. Requested content objects can be identified as delayable objects that can be queued for opportunistically delayed communication to both requesting and non-requesting subscribers. Queued delayed content objects are scored with an eye toward optimizing both subscriber engagement and utilization of opportunistically available communications link resources. For example, a storage manager calculates a likelihood that each subscriber will engage with the content if it is opportunistically delivered, and a scheduler calculates a priority order in which to queue each requested delayable content object. Content objects can then be multicast to the subscribers in priority order and with associated information that can be used by the subscribers to determine whether to locally store the content objects as they are opportunistically received.
US09154432B2
A method includes selecting upstream and downstream aggregated MAC service data unit (AMSDU) sizes for communications between a client device, an access point, and an controller in a network system. The upstream and downstream AMSDU sizes may be separately selected based on the maximum transmission unit (MTU) size for communications in a secure tunnel between the controller and the access point to avoid fragmentation and reassembly of AMSDUs transmitted in a single MTU. The upstream and downstream AMSDU sizes may be selected to be less or equal to the MTU size.
US09154427B2
One or more modules include a first portion that teams together multiple physical network interface ports of a computing system to appear as a single virtual network interface port to a switch to which the physical ports are linked. A second portion determines a receive port upon which a packet of a TCP session was received. A third portion assigns a transmit port to be the receive port, wherein the transmit port is used by the computing system to transmit packets of the TCP session. The third portion assigns the transmit port prior to a TCP offload engine (TOE) being enabled to offload from the system CPU processing of packets of the TCP session transceived on the assigned transmit/receive port. If a subsequent packet for the TCP session is received on a different second port, the transmit port is reassigned to be the second port.
US09154422B2
Apparatus and methods for policing flows of data units (15) along a path in a data network in dependence on congestion indications associated with said data units indicating whether or not said data units have experienced, or are expected to experience, congestion on the path, said apparatus and methods allowing for a high but not unlimited short-term burst rate (wST) of data units having congestion indications associated therewith, the short-term burst rate being high when compared with a long-term average rate (wLT) at which data units having congestion indications associated therewith may be forwarded without the data units being subjected to a policing action such as dropping, delaying or marking for possible sanction.
US09154414B2
An apparatus configured to route packets over networks may be configured to determine whether a packet is valid prior to routing a received packet. The apparatus may receive the packet on one of a plurality of interfaces. The apparatus may identify the interface on which the packet is received and also a source of the packet. Additionally, the apparatus may access a bundle of acceptable interfaces on which a packet from the source may be received. The number of acceptable interfaces may be greater than a single interface, but less that all of the interfaces of the apparatus configured to receive packets from over the networks. If the interface on which the packet is received is an acceptable interface identified by the bundle, then the packet is valid and routed to a next location. Otherwise, the packet is determined to be invalid and dropped.
US09154410B2
A method and apparatus for optimizing the resilience of a network using a combination of in-band and out-of-band signaling is disclosed. The metric used in the embodiment's algorithm to determine resilience is the maximum number of protected neighbors. Nodes closer to the controller are assigned a higher weight than those further from the controller because if their connection to the network is interrupted, all their downstream nodes will be affected and disconnected. Therefore, when determining a path to the controller, switches with alternate paths to the controller are preferred. Dedicated connections using out-of-band signaling are assigned to convert unprotected nodes to protected nodes thus improving the resilience of the network.
US09154404B2
A method for an access network device to access a network is disclosed, which comprises: powering on an access switch, and setting in its internal downlink protocol packet address table that all downlink protocol packets are to be oriented to a CPU module; receiving, by the access switch, a downlink protocol packet sent from a node server and orienting the downlink protocol packet to the CPU module of the access switch, and generating, by the CPU module, an uplink protocol packet and sending the uplink protocol packet to the node server, wherein the downlink protocol packet contains an access network address that is to be allocated; sending, by the node server, a network access command to the access switch, wherein the network access command contains an access network address of the access switch, and the access network address is the access network address to be allocated; and updating, by the access switch, its internal downlink protocol packet address table, as orienting only a protocol packet with a destination address being its own access network address to the CPU module. The present invention can guarantee a stable transmission rate of the data packet transmission and avoid time delay, thereby guaranteeing the quality of the network transmission.
US09154403B2
In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining a first packet included in a flow to be forwarded to a border router, and replicating the first packet to create a duplicate. The first packet is forwarded onto a first set of links, and the duplicate is forwarded onto a second set of links, to the border router. First information relating to the first packet and the first set of links, and second information relating to the duplicate and the second set of links, is obtained. The first information and the second information are used to determine whether to forward the flow on the first set of links. The first set of links is used to forward the flow if it is determined that the first set of links is to be used to forward the flow, otherwise the second set of links is used to forward the flow.
US09154391B2
A control/monitor signal transmission system that employs a transmission synchronization scheme in which a master station connected to a single control unit and a plurality of slave stations corresponding to a plurality of controlled apparatuses synchronize with each other through a transmission clock and data is transmitted therebetween over a common data signal line, a transmission line disconnection detection method that enables a disconnection of a transmission line to be detected precisely; and a slave station that is used for this method. A continuous pulse signal that the master station outputs to the common data signal line is provided with a management data region that includes a plurality of pulse signals and that differs from a control/monitor data region including data of a control data signal and data of a monitor data signal.
US09154385B1
An administrator selects a logical server for deployment. In response, a logical-server management program displays representations of potential real-server targets for said logical server. The representations include respective ratings for the real-server targets. The representations further include indications of a real-server technology involved in deploying said logical server to a respect real-server target.
US09154381B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for designating a network device as a primary device for probing a virtual IP address and designating a second network device as a standby device for probing the virtual IP address. Results of probe requests may be shared with a plurality of network devices within a mesh.
US09154377B1
A computer-implemented method to manage a device is described. Communications with an endpoint device are established. A management profile for the endpoint device is received. Information about the endpoint device is acquired based at least in part on the management profile. At least a portion of the acquired information is provided to an upper layer server.
US09154372B2
A user is enabled to edit a table defining a view of a network object database, for example, a MIB. The user can select from among a plurality of network object types and select from among a plurality of columns of the table. At least one column of the table is specified by the user and edited to represent a network object type specified by the user. The view definition can be extracted from the application and transported to another device where it can be edited and/or viewed using a suitable application. Such portable view definition may be defined as part of a document, for example, a document formatted in accordance with a markup language, such as XML. Such document may include information for requesting objects to populate the view, which may be used to construct requests (e.g., SNMP requests) to retrieve objects from one or more network devices.
US09154371B1
An apparatus includes a first edge device configured to receive a data unit destined to a peripheral processing device that is operatively coupled to a network interconnect via a LAG associated with a second edge device and a third edge device. The first edge device is configured to select an edge device set that includes the third edge device and excludes the second edge device, from a group of edge device sets. Each edge device set from the group of edge device sets is directly coupled to the peripheral processing device. The first edge device is configured to send an instance of the data unit to each edge device from the edge device set such that the third edge device sends an instance of the data unit to the peripheral processing device based on a selection method that omits ports on the second edge device as potential selections.
US09154367B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving a plurality of requests from a plurality of client devices sent to a public internet protocol address; routing the requests to one or more internal Internet protocol addresses, where the one or more internal Internet protocol addresses correspond to one or more compute nodes, and where the one or more compute nodes process the routed requests; determining a particular compute node is offline, where the particular compute node is assigned one or more internal Internet protocol addresses; in response to the determination that the particular node is offline, reassigning the one or more internal Internet protocol addresses corresponding to the particular compute node to one or more different compute nodes, where requests communicated to the reassigned internal Internet protocol addresses are communicated to the one or more different compute nodes for processing.
US09154365B1
Embodiments of the invention provide novel systems, methods and software for replaying one or more events occurring on a monitored computer (or elsewhere). Such solutions can provide the ability for an operator to easily determine the exact user behavior that produced the event and can, in some cases, and provide evidence of what the user did, and the order in which the user performed the various activities. Various embodiments of the invention organize various pieces of information captured from the user's client workstation behavior, reassemble of the pieces into a complete session of the users' activities and/or replay the exact user behavior for the observer, in some cases using a web browser and JavaScript to replay the activities just as they were performed by the original user.
US09154357B2
Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) low noise amplifiers (LNAs) supporting carrier aggregation are disclosed. In an exemplary design, an apparatus (e.g., a wireless device, an integrated circuit, etc.) includes a MIMO LNA having a plurality of gain circuits, a drive circuit, and a plurality of load circuits. The gain circuits receive at least one input radio frequency (RF) signal and provide at least one amplified RF signal. Each gain circuit receives and amplifies one input RF signal and provides one amplified RF signal when the gain circuit is enabled. The at least one input RF signal include transmissions sent on multiple carriers at different frequencies to the wireless device. The drive circuit receives the at least one amplified RF signal and provides at least one drive RF signal. The load circuits receive the at least one drive RF signal and provide at least one output RF signal.
US09154351B2
Degree of hierarchical modulation can be varied as a function of satellite position, where such hierarchical modulation can be a combination of phase and amplitude shifts. As each satellite in a multiple satellite system moves towards a D-node or an A-node position, the offset angle of a phase-based hierarchical modulation scheme can be varied. Starting with the lowest satellite position in the sky an offset angle for overlay bits can progressively increase as the position of the satellite in the sky increases. At a satellite's highest point in the sky, the overlay offset angle can be at its maximum. The value of a varying overlay offset angle (for each satellite) can be embedded in an Overlay Identification Marker (OIM) in the broadcast. The receiver can then appropriately correct MRC weightings (weighting more heavily the (higher lying) satellite).
US09154345B1
A machine implemented method includes determining a signal modulation for each of a plurality of profiles; generating a first indicator indicating a signal modulation determined for a first profile in the plurality of profiles; generating a second indicator indicating a relationship between the signal modulation for the first profile and the signal modulation for each of the other profiles; notifying at least one node of the first and second indicators.
US09154341B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for transmitting and receiving encoded data. A codeword is generated by encoding an information word. Some parity bits are punctured in the generated codeword. A frame including the punctured codeword is transmitted. Additional parity bits for decoding the information word are transmitted in one or more other frames.
US09154339B2
Techniques for efficiently choosing a desired decoder in the presence of varying Doppler and/or mobility are disclosed. In one aspect, a method for selecting a filter for decoding forward-link (FL) information in a wireless communication network comprises the acts of decoding reverse-link (RL) information by a plurality of decoders, each being optimized based on a different parameter, and comparing a plurality of outputs from the decoders, based on a metric, to determine a desired decoder or parameter for reporting to an access terminal.
US09154336B2
Methods and apparatus to implement voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) phones are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes detecting removal of a first user-replaceable network interface from a first port of a phone, the first network interface to communicate with a gateway using a first VOIP; detecting insertion of a second user-replaceable network interface into the first port of the phone, the second network interface to communicate with the gateway using a second VOIP, the second VOIP being different from the first VOIP; receiving a driver for the second network interface via a second port defined in the housing of the phone, the driver to enable the second network interface to communicate with the gateway using the second VOIP, the driver being received after a boot procedure to initialize the phone; and initializing the second network interface based on the driver.
US09154335B2
Systems and methods are provided for a network unit for transmitting packets on a network that includes a computer-readable medium encoded with an array data structure that is populated by plurality of entries, each entry corresponding to a packet in a queue of packets to be transmitted, a particular entry including a value that is based on a sum of packet sizes stored in a neighboring entry and a packet size of a packet corresponding to the particular entry. A search engine is configured to receive a gate size and to search the array to identify a particular entry in the data structure that has a value nearest to but not greater than the gate size as a transmission entry. A transmission engine is configured to transmit packets from the beginning of the queue up to a particular packet associated with the transmission entry.
US09154305B2
Some embodiments of a system and a method to verify compliance in a connected system have been presented. For instance, a system management server provided by a software vendor is installed in a customer's network to manage a set of computer systems belonging to the customer. The system management server can provide cryptographically timestamped hashes of states of the system management server to the software vendor periodically to allow the software vendor to verify compliance information from the customer.
US09154304B1
Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for using a token code to control access to data and applications in a mobile platform are provided herein. A method includes processing authentication information via a cryptographic operation to generate an output, partitioning the output into (i) a component that identifies the authentication information and (ii) an encryption key component, encrypting an item of cryptographic information via the encryption key component, and storing the component that identifies the authentication information and the encrypted item of cryptographic information.
US09154301B2
Location information is provided with an authenticator in order to enable future providing of an authentication to a service or application making use of the location information. The authenticator is based on a cryptographic method known by a provider and recipient of and also optionally based on position data provided by the location information. The authenticator is carried as a watermark in the location information so that the location information can be used by prior existing systems and enables the authentication of the location information in compatible authentication enabled systems. On receiving the location information, an authentication enabled recipient obtains the authenticator from the location information and checks using the authenticator whether use of the location information may be allowed.
US09154298B2
A method to securely store a data file in a dispersed storage network (DSN) in a manner to increase difficulty in hacking the data file begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module encoding the data file into a plurality of data portions. The method continues with the DS processing module dispersed storage error encoding a first data portion to produce a set of encoded data slices, generating a set of DSN addresses, and sending the set of encoded data slices to a first set of storage units using the set of DSN addresses. The method continues with the DS processing module dispersed storage error encoding a second data portion to produce a second set of encoded data slices, generating a second set of DSN addresses, and sending the second set of encoded data slices to a second set of storage units using the second set of DSN addresses.
US09154291B2
A differential signal skew adjustment method includes: outputting a differential data signal including a first polarity signal and a second polarity signal from a transmission circuit in synchronization with a cycle of a reference clock; adjusting a phase of a detection clock obtained by dividing the reference clock in accordance with a phase of the first polarity signal; and adjusting a phase of the second polarity signal in accordance with an adjusted phase of the detection clock to adjust skew between the first polarity signal and the second polarity signal.
US09154286B2
A method of signaling in a wireless communication system (300) comprising a first network element (310) serving a wireless communication unit (325) with at least one packet data network (PDN) connection. The method comprises transmitting, by the first network element (310) to the wireless communication unit (325), a signaling message relating to a wireless communication unit (325) uplink (UL) PDN transmission, where the signaling message comprises a parameter indicative of at least one aggregate maximum bit rate (AMBR) value.
US09154284B1
A method, system, and medium are provided for approximating an uplink sounding reference signal for a secondary radio-frequency channel associated with an eNodeB in a long-term-evolution (LTE) network deploying carrier aggregation. This is useful when the eNodeB does not have an uplink channel associated with the secondary RF channel. The approximated uplink sounding reference signal is utilized by the eNodeB to determine downlink beamforming weights for the secondary RF channel.
US09154280B2
In a communications device a grouping unit uses channel state information when mapping data bits to a plurality of different constellation groups. Each constellation group is assigned to another modulation scheme. A plurality of sub-carriers is assigned to none or one of the constellation groups and each modulation uses another one of the constellation groups. The communications device includes at least one scalable interleaver unit, wherein each interleaver unit is assigned to one of the constellation groups and interleaves the assignment of data bits mapped to each constellation group and the sub-carriers that carry a symbol information derived from the data bits. As an example, the interleaver unit performs frequency interleaving by interleaving, at constellation level, the sub-carriers that carry the symbol information.
US09154272B2
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are disclosed for facilitating indicating and detecting control region sizes. A multi-carrier communication between a wireless terminal and a base station is facilitated by a first carrier having a first control region size and a second carrier having a second control region size. Embodiments are disclosed in which control region sizes are ascertained from a control signal, wherein the control is generated by either scrambling an aspect of the control signal based on the second control region size, or relating the second control region size with the first control region size. Other disclosed embodiments for ascertaining control region sizes include a reverse interleaver embodiment, wherein a set of modulation symbols is mapped beginning from a last data symbol and ending with a first available data symbol.
US09154266B2
A method for transmitting uplink control information of a user equipment in a multi-carrier system is provided. The method includes: transmitting each of acknowledgement/not-acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) for downlink data transmitted by a base station through multiple downlink component carriers; and transmitting channel state information indicating a state of a downlink channel to the base station, wherein each of the ACK/NACK and the channel state information are allocated to the same uplink control channel resource in a subframe, and if each of the ACK/NACK and the channel state information are reserved to be transmitted on the same subframe, each of the ACK/NACK only is transmitted. Accordingly, a user equipment can transmit uplink control information while preserving a single-carrier property of an uplink signal in a multi-carrier system using carrier aggregation.
US09154264B2
Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of wireless communication between circuits. For example, an integrated chip may include a plurality of wirelessly interconnected electronic circuits to communicate wireless pulse-position-modulation (PPM) signals over a common wireless communication channel during a predefined sequence of time slots; and a monitor circuit connected to the plurality of electronic circuits via a plurality of wired feedback links, the monitor circuit is to monitor the wireless channel, and to feedback via the feedback links a sequence of event feedbacks corresponding to the sequence of time slots.
US09154256B2
A digital signal processor (DSP) may receive samples of a signal from an analog-to-digital converter (ADC); convert the samples from a time domain to a frequency domain; determine a clock phase error of the samples while in the frequency domain; and provide a voltage corresponding to the clock phase error. The voltage may be provided to reduce timing errors associated with the samples.
US09154255B2
A latent space switch based on a single rotator and an array of memory devices is disclosed. The switch interfaces with external nodes through a set of access ports. The rotator has a set of inlets and a set of outlets with each inlet connecting to each outlet during a time frame organized into time slots. During each time slot, an inlet alternately connects to an access port and a memory device while a transposed outlet of the inlet alternately connects to the same memory device and another access port. Multiple temporal multiplexers submit upstream control messages from the access ports to a multi-port master controller. Multiple temporal demultiplexers distribute downstream control messages sent from the master controller to the access ports.
US09154254B2
In order to connect a path and a transponder with low loss, reduce an apparatus cost, reduce an apparatus size, and improve a reliability of an apparatus, a wavelength path multiplexing/demultiplexing apparatus comprises multiplexing/demultiplexing unit having a multiplexing port through which a wavelength multiplexed light is inputted and outputted and a demultiplexing port in which the wavelength multiplexed light is demultiplexed into the lights included in the wavelength multiplexed light based on the wavelength and through which the light is inputted and outputted and first switch unit which have a first port to which the demultiplexing port is connected and a second port and connect the second port to one of the first ports; and the demultiplexing port is connected to the first port of each of the first switch unit and the first port is connected to the demultiplexing port of each of the multiplexing/demultiplexing unit.
US09154253B2
Disclosed herein are methods, structures, and devices for optical communications systems operating through turbulent media. More specifically, a spatial division multiplexing photonic integrated circuit is used in conjunction with digital signal processing systems to mitigate the effects of the turbulent media.
US09154244B2
In accordance with some embodiments, methods for controlling the second order intercept point in a receiver are provided, the methods comprising: generating an amplitude modulated test tone; causing the test tone to be received by a receiver; determining a characteristic of a second order intercept point of the receiver based on the received test tone; and based on the characteristic, adjusting a parameter of the receiver. In accordance with some embodiments, systems for controlling the second order intercept point in as receiver are provided, the systems comprising: a test tone generator that generates an amplitude modulated test tone; a receiver that receives the test tone; a correlator that determines a characteristic of a second order intercept point of the receiver based on the received test tone; and digital logic that, based on the characteristic, adjusts a parameter of the receiver.
US09154240B2
A wireless device is described. The wireless device includes a high precision power/peak detector. The wireless device also includes a reference signal source. The high precision power/peak detector and the reference signal source are on an integrated circuit. The reference signal source provides a precision reference signal used to calibrate the high precision power/peak detector.
US09154239B2
System (201) for mitigating co-site interference includes a co-site filter bank (208) containing filters (2061, 2062, . . . 206n) which can be optionally selectively inserted in an antenna input/output path (2051, 2052, . . . 205n) of two or more transceivers (2041, 2042, . . . 204n). A control system (900) receives information concerning the transceivers. Based on the information, the control system determines whether optional RF filtering should be used to limit RF signals which are communicated to or from the transceivers so as to mitigate co-site interference.
US09154236B2
A system may be provided and may include a first transmitter; a first antenna, coupled to the first transmitter; wherein the first transmitter is arranged to transmit via the first antenna first radio frequency (RF) signals; a first receiver; a second antenna, coupled to the first receiver; the second antenna differs from the first antenna; an RF acquisition module that is arranged to acquire second RF signals that are representative of the first RF signals; and an RF suppression module, arranged to receive the second RF signals and to generate RF suppression signals for suppressing an effect of a transmission of the first RF signals on the first receiver, and to provide the RF suppression signals to the first receiver.
US09154235B2
The present disclosure describes an optically powered transducer with a photovoltaic collector. An optical fiber power delivery method and system and a free space power delivery method are also provided. A fabrication process for making an optically powered transducer is further described, together with an implantable transducer system based on optical power delivery.
US09154228B2
A free space communications apparatus includes a first receiving element configured to receive a communication signal and an ambient noise signal and to generate a first current as a function of any and all received signals, a second receiving element electrically coupled with the first receiving element to receive the ambient noise signal and to generate a second current as a function of any and all received signals, and an output signal produced as a function of the communication signal received by the first receiving element. The first and second receiving elements are electrically connected in a circuit that cancels at least a portion of the first current as a function of the second current to produce the output signal.
US09154225B2
A method may include determining a total data demand distribution for a plurality of subscribers associated with a link between a gateway router (GWR) and an optical line terminal (OLT) in a network. The method also includes identifying a maximum link capacity of the link between the GWR and the OLT. The method further includes identifying a speed tier for which a speed test is to be executed, and determining a speed test throughput distribution based on the speed tier, the total data demand distribution and the maximum link capacity in an identified time interval.
US09154224B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a method and an apparatus for testing an optical network, which may be applicable to an integrated OTDR and the field of optical network technologies. The method includes obtaining a maximum test time of a single group test; dividing a total test time into at least two groups of single group test time that is not greater than the maximum test time when the total test time is greater than the maximum test time of the single group test; performing the single group tests in sequence according to each single group test time; and instructing optical network equipment to restore to a normal working state when the single group test time corresponding to each single group test ends.
US09154215B2
A data transmission method and device are provided in a wireless communication system. A user equipment transmits uplink data using a first physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) resource, allocated to a first component carrier (CC) among a plurality of CC's, in a sounding reference signal (SRS) subframe. The plurality of CC's in said SRS subframe includes a single carrier-frequency division multiple access (SRS SC-FDMA) symbol, which is reserved for transmitting SRS.
US09154214B2
Devices and methods are provided for directionally receiving and/or transmitting acoustic waves and/or radio waves for use in applications such as wireless communications systems and/or radar. High directional gain and spatial selectivity are achieved while employing an array of receiving antennas that is small as measured in units of the wavelength of radio waves being received or transmitted, especially in the case of spatially oversampled arrays. Frequency/wavenumber, multi-dimensional spectrum analysis, as well as one-dimensional frequency spectrum analysis can be performed.
US09154211B2
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed that determine whether to feedback, and the amount of feedback, with respect to eigenbeam information based upon channel resources. Additionally, methods and apparatuses are disclosed that determine whether to feedback, and the amount of feedback, with respect to eigenbeam information based upon channel information and changes in channel information.
US09154207B2
A communication apparatus which communicates data with plural other communication apparatuses by performing wireless communication includes: plural antennas; a communication level obtainment unit which obtains communication levels for the antennas obtained when the communication apparatus performed the wireless communication with the other communication apparatuses; a count unit which counts, for each of the antennas, the number of established communications that is the number of one or more of the other communication apparatuses which successfully established communication through the antenna; an antenna selection unit which selects, when the total number of antennas whose numbers of established communications are greatest is more than one, one of the antennas corresponding to a communication level that is highest among communication levels of plural antennas of the other communication apparatus corresponding to the lowest communication level; and a transmission unit which broadcasts predetermined data to the other communication apparatuses through the selected antenna.
US09154206B2
A method includes transmitting reference signals to user equipment from an active antenna array system including a multiple of antennas arrayed in at least a vertical direction. The active antenna array system is configured to perform the transmitting of the reference signals using multiple vertical beams having vertical patterns designed to provide desired vertical patterns after codebook feedback from a codebook is applied on transmissions from logical ports of the antenna array. The method includes receiving codebook feedback from the user equipment in response to transmitting the reference signals. The method includes transmitting information to the user equipment at least by applying selected entries of the codebook corresponding to the codebook feedback to the logical ports of the antenna array, wherein application of the selected entries causes the active antenna array system to perform transmitting information using multiple beams having the desired vertical patterns. Apparatus and program products are disclosed.
US09154205B2
A method for downlink beamforming in a wireless access system and a device therefor are disclosed. Specifically, the method comprises the following steps: transmitting, by an eNB, a reference signal to a UE through only a first antenna set from among whole antennas; receiving, by the eNB, channel state information (CSI) for the first antenna set from the UE; and transmitting, by the eNB, beamforming a downlink channel by using a precoding matrix for the whole antennas, wherein CSI for a second antenna set by which the reference signal has not been transmitted from among the whole antennas is calculated using the CSI for the first antenna set.
US09154197B2
In a method for generating a preamble of a data unit for transmission via a communication channel, an indication of a first number of spatial or space-time streams is included in a first field of the preamble. The first number of spatial or space-time streams corresponds to transmission of the data unit to a first receiver. One or more training sequences are included in a second field of the preamble. The preamble is formatted such that the first field of the preamble will be transmitted prior to the second field of the preamble being transmitted.
US09154195B2
A method of connecting base stations by a one-way cooperative channel forming a beam is provided. Since it is possible to determine directions of beams and to distribute power components by small amounts of calculations, it is possible to realize the base stations in a one-way cooperative situation with small expenses. In addition, the base stations according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may minimize the influence of interference generated by signals transmitted by other base stations through the one-way cooperative channel and the influence of interference generated by signals transmitted to other terminals.
US09154194B2
For coordinated multipoint transmission arrangements there is provided a device, including a controller module, configured to control a plurality of transmission points, each constituted by a set of at least one transmit antenna, to transmit data to another device in a coordinated transmission from at least a subset of the plurality of transmission points, wherein each subset with resources allocated thereto defines a respective coordinated transmission scheme, wherein the controller module is configured to transmit information on resources pertaining to multiple coordinated transmission schemes, and send at least one biasing parameter associated to at least one of the transmission schemes, to be applied for biasing a channel quality parameter. Another device includes a controller module, configured to report feedback responsive to such coordinated transmission, and the controller module is, among others, configured to apply the at least one biasing parameter to derived channel quality parameters.
US09154191B2
Technologies are presented for securing NFC exchange through movement of at least one of the communicating devices. In some examples, a first device, utilizing a communication module and a processor, may transmit an initial NFC handshake signal as the first device is being moved relative to a second device. The second device, utilizing a communication module, two or more antennae, and a processor, may receive the initial NFC handshake signal from the first device. Each device may record a movement of the first device. The second device may transmit a message to the first device that includes a recording of the movement at the second device and a temporary secret. Once the first device determines that the movement recorded at the second device matches the movement recorded at the first device, the first device may use the temporary secret to encrypt further communication with the second device.
US09154182B2
A system configured to generate a signal with a random or pseudo-random frequency may include an oscillator and a signal generator. The oscillator may be configured to generate an oscillator signal. A frequency and a phase of the oscillator signal may be random or pseudo-random and may be based on a value of a received control signal. The signal generator may be configured to generate the control signal based on the oscillator signal and a seed state. The value of the control signal may be random or pseudo-random.
US09154180B2
A signal conditioning device for conditioning bi-directional radiofrequency (RF) signals in a telecommunications network are provided. The signal conditioning device can allow for the separate conditioning of both downstream and upstream signals in a telecommunication system using a single signal conditioning device disposed at a single location. The signal conditioning device can include first and second line connections and can divide a bi-directional communication signal into downstream and upstream signals. The signal conditioning device can independently condition the downstream and upstream signals using plug-in signal conditioning circuits received into external plug-in sockets.
US09154176B2
This wireless communication terminal can reduce power consumption required for channel change, and a channel information output unit detects communication channel information included in information represented by a signal received through an antenna and outputs the communication channel information. A wireless communication unit has a first operation mode and a second operation mode having relatively higher operational power consumption than the first operation mode, and transmits communication data to an external terminal through the antenna using a communication channel represented by the communication channel information output by the channel information output unit when the wireless communication module operates in the second operation mode.
US09154172B1
A method delaying a pulse domain signal using a time encoder circuit and a time encoder based beamformer method and apparatus for use in receiving and/or transmitting applications.
US09154171B2
A reconfigurable radio frequency circuit is arranged for receiving at least one carrier in a wireless communications terminal arranged to receive at least two carriers, each of the two carriers being transmitted in a different one of a plurality of operating frequency bands, and each of the plurality of operating frequency bands occupying a part of a first or a second frequency range. The circuit includes a combiner for connecting the output of a first receiver filter at a first operating frequency band within the first frequency range to the input of an amplifier and for connecting the output of a second receiver filter at a second operating frequency band within the second frequency range to the input of the amplifier. The amplifier has a selectable operating frequency range, the operating frequency range being selectable at least between the first frequency range and the second frequency range.
US09154168B2
A method of reducing a peak to average power ratio (PAR) of a signal may include generating an in-band error signal indicating in-band distortion of a compressed signal and generating an out-of-band error signal indicating out-of-band distortion of the compressed signal. The method may further include applying an in-band gain to the in-band error signal to generate an adjusted in-band error signal and applying an out-of-band gain to the out-of-band error signal to generate an adjusted out-of-band error signal. The method may also include combining the compressed signal with the adjusted in-band error signal and the adjusted out-of-band error signal to generate an output signal. The compressed signal may be combined with the adjusted error signals, and the in-band gain and the out-of-band gain may be based on the output signal such that distortion of the output signal is reduced with respect to distortion of the compressed signal.
US09154164B2
An interleaver (ER) is dedicated to interleaving of interleaving units representing a selected number of services grouped into periodic frames within a long period time interleaving radio communication network. The said interleaver (ER) comprises processing means (MT1) responsible for decomposing each frame into a chosen number of group(s) of service of constant respective durations, and then for distributing the interleaving units of each group into so-called spreading time intervals of constant respective durations spaced apart within a time interleaving period according to a period equal to the period of the frames.
US09154159B2
A deserializer includes an input interface configured to receive an N-bit serialized stream at a source clock frequency; a modified-tree deserializing architecture that receives the first N−1 bits of the serialized stream from the input interface and generates N−1 parallel outputs corresponding to the first N−1 bits; and a last-bit flip-flop that directly samples the input interface to obtain an Nth bit, such that all N bits are available within one source clock cycle after the Nth bit arrives at the input interface.
US09154151B1
An analog-to-digital converter circuit includes a digital-to-analog converter circuit, a voltage stabilization circuit, and a comparator circuit. The digital-to-analog converter circuit generates an analog signal based on digital signals and a reference voltage. The voltage stabilization circuit reduces variations in the reference voltage in response to at least one of the digital signals. The comparator circuit generates a comparison output based on the analog signal. The digital signals are generated based on the comparison output.
US09154149B2
An input stage for an A/D converter includes a transconductance element adapted to receive, at a first input of the transconductance element, an analog input signal that is to be converted to a digital signal by the A/D converter, a feedback path for providing an analog feedback signal to a second input of the transconductance element, the analog feedback signal being based on a digital output signal of the A/D converter, and an integrator for integrating an output current of the transconductance element, wherein the integrating element is adapted to generate an integrator output signal representative of the integrated output current. The input stage may be included in an A/D converter. A plurality of such A/D converters may be included in a system.
US09154144B2
A phase-locked loop includes a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer spaced apart from the first semiconductor layer. The first semiconductor layer has formed thereon a phase frequency detector circuit having a reference frequency input, a feedback frequency input, an up output and a down output, a charge pump circuit having a first input coupled to the up output and a second input coupled to the down output, and an output, and a loop filter circuit coupled to the charge pump. The second semiconductor layer has formed thereon a voltage controlled oscillator having an input and an output, and a feedback frequency divider circuit having an input coupled to the output of the voltage controlled oscillator and an input. A first interlayer via couples the loop filter circuit to the input of the voltage controlled oscillator circuit. A second interlayer via couples the output of the feedback frequency divider circuit to the feedback input of the phase frequency detector.
US09154139B2
A crystal controlled oscillator of the present disclosure includes: an oscillator circuit for oscillator output, a first oscillator circuit, a second oscillator circuit, a heating unit, a pulse generator, a frequency difference detector, an addition unit, a circuit unit, a frequency measuring unit, a determination unit, and a signal selector. The signal selector is configured to: select a control signal where electric power supplied to the heating unit is smaller than supplied electric power in the detection range in a case where a frequency in a set period at the train of pulses is out of the detection range at the high temperature side; select a control signal where electric power supplied to the heating unit becomes a preset value in a case where a frequency in the set period at the train of pulses is out of the detection range at the low temperature side.
US09154136B2
A programmable logic device that includes a storage device having smaller area and lower power consumption is provided. The programmable logic device includes a logic block including a storage device. The storage device includes a plurality of groups each including at least a first switch, a transistor that is turned on or off in accordance with a signal including configuration data input to a gate of the transistor through the first switch, and a second switch controlling the electrical connection between a first wiring and a second wiring together with the transistor when the second switch is turned on or off in accordance with the potential of the first wiring. In the logic block, the relationship between the logic level of a signal input and the logic level of a signal output is determined in accordance with the potential of the second wiring.
US09154135B1
Spare gate cells for inclusion in an integrated circuit have multiple inputs and outputs and are capable of selectively performing, concurrently, multiple logic functions on signals appearing at the inputs. Selection of required logic functions depends on the connections of at least one of the inputs of the spare cell. One of the outputs is fed back to an input of the spare gate cell to provide certain functionality while other outputs are set to a fixed logical value. The spare gate cell may be configured to perform NOR, OR and inverter operations on inputs simultaneously.
US09154134B2
Some embodiments provide a configurable integrated circuit (IC) having a routing fabric that includes configurable storage element in its routing fabric. In some embodiments, the configurable storage element includes a parallel distributed path for configurably providing a pair of transparent storage elements. The pair of configurable storage elements can configurably act either as non-transparent (i.e., clocked) storage elements or transparent configurable storage elements. In some embodiments, the configurable storage element in the routing fabric performs both routing and storage operations by a parallel distributed path that includes a clocked storage element and a bypass connection. In some embodiments, the configurable storage element perform both routing and storage operations by a pair of master-slave latches but without a bypass connection. The routing fabric in some embodiments supports the borrowing of time from one clock cycle to another clock cycle by using the configurable storage element that can be configure to perform both routing and storage operations in different clock cycles. In some embodiments, the routing fabric provide a low power configurable storage element that includes multiple storage elements that operates at different phases of a slower running clock.
US09154131B2
Digital memory devices and systems, including memory systems and methods for operating such memory systems are disclosed. In the embodiments, a memory system may include a processor and a memory controller communicatively coupled to the processor. A memory bus communicates with at least two memory units through the memory bus. At least one divider unit may be interposed between the memory bus and the at least two memory units that is configured to approximately equally divide levels of received signals while matching an impedance of the memory bus to an impedance of the memory units.
US09154129B2
A tilt switch includes a housing defining a chamber and including a frusto-conical inner wall surface having a cone angle which is less than or equal to 90 degrees, and a tapered bottom inner wall surface that defines a bottom end of the chamber, that tapers downwardly from a bottom end of the frusto-conical inner wall surface and that forms a cone angle which is greater than 90 degrees. A light emitter and a light receiver are disposed respectively at two opposite sides of the chamber. A rolling element is rollable in the chamber between blocking and unblocking positions, where the rolling element blocks and unblocks light emitted from the light emitter, respectively.
US09154120B2
An electronic circuit includes: a pair of first transistors in which a first control signal is inputted to at least one of a first control terminal; a comparator circuit that sets electric potentials of a pair of differential output terminals based on an electric current flowing through the pair of first transistors; second transistors that are coupled in series in a path between an electric power source and a node from at least one of the pair of differential output terminals and between the corresponding pair of first transistors, and having a second control terminals to which a second control signal is inputted; first switches that are respectively coupled in series to the second transistors in the path and that are turned ON in synchronization with a clock signal; and a generation circuit that generates the second control signal based on the clock signal.
US09154115B2
A system and method to efficiently use a plurality of ‘receivers’ to monitor a larger plurality of ‘sources’ for audio content. Upon identifying that a source is active, one of the plural receivers is assigned to convey the content to a destination. All other receivers are prevented from monitoring that specific source for the duration of its activity, but continue to monitor the remaining sources. ‘Source’ includes any source of information containing audio content. ‘Receiver’ includes any device capable of selectively conveying such content, including physical switches, hardware or software multiplexers, microphones, radio receivers, or any other means of obtaining such content.
US09154114B2
An acoustic wave device is provided with a low-frequency side filter having a low-frequency side passband, a high-frequency side filter having a high-frequency side passband, and first and second balanced terminals. The low-frequency side filter is connected to a first unbalanced terminal. The low-frequency side passband is a frequency band from a first minimum frequency to a first maximum frequency. The high-frequency side filter is connected to a second unbalanced terminal. The high-frequency side passband is a frequency band from a second minimum frequency to a second maximum frequency. The low-frequency side filter includes a first longitudinally-coupled acoustic wave resonator and a first one-terminal pair acoustic wave resonator connected in series to the first longitudinally-coupled acoustic wave resonator. An antiresonant frequency of the first one-terminal pair acoustic wave resonator is set to be higher than the first maximum frequency and lower than the second minimum frequency.
US09154111B2
A method of forming a double bulk acoustic resonator structure comprises forming a first electrode on a substrate, forming a first piezoelectric layer on the first electrode, forming a second electrode on the first piezoelectric layer, forming a second piezoelectric layer on the second electrode, and forming a third electrode on the second piezoelectric layer. The first and second piezoelectric layers are formed by a sputter deposition process using at least one sputter target comprising a combination of scandium and aluminum.
US09154106B2
For broadband applications of a balun in a magnetic field, the balun includes at least three line transformers each having two transformer sides. At least two transformer sides of the balun that belong to different line transformers of the at least three line transformers are embodied for the same voltage drop at least in terms of magnitude. The at least two transformer sides of the balun are also embodied with an identical number of turns. Two transformer sides connected in parallel are replaced by a single coil, with the result that the balun may be produced from a five-wire structure.
US09154099B2
In a method for optimizing music using an electronic device, music genres and optimization parameters of each of the music genres are preset. The method classifies songs stored in a storage device of the electronic device according to the music genres. When a song is playing using a music player of the electronic device, a music genre of the song is determined. The method further optimizes the song using an equalizer of the music player according to the optimization parameters corresponding to the determined music genre.
US09154097B2
An audio system includes a level controller receiving an input audio signal from an audio medium. The level controller includes a gain adjust module producing an output audio signal based on the input audio signal. A filter arrangement is communicatively coupled to the level controller. The filter arrangement receives the output audio signal and divides the output signal into a plurality of filtered signals. Each of the filtered signals corresponds to a respective frequency band. A multiband dynamics controller is communicatively coupled to the filter arrangement. The multiband dynamics controller receives the filtered signals and applies a respective gain characteristic to each of the filtered signals to thereby produce a plurality of gain adjust signals. The gain adjust signals are combined into a multiband dynamics controller output signal.
US09154089B2
Amplifier circuits implemented with a buffer amplifier with a voltage gain substantially equal to one. In one example, a continuous-time amplifier is implemented by applying the input source across the input and the output terminals of the buffer amplifier. In another example, a discrete-time amplifier is implemented. During the sampling phase at least one input voltage is sampled, and during the transfer phase at least one capacitor is coupled across the input and the output terminals of a buffer amplifier to effectuate an amplification.
US09154086B2
The disclosure provides an operational amplifier circuit, in which a power supply of an amplifying circuit is coupled to a first voltage clamping circuit, and the first voltage clamping circuit clamps a supply voltage of the amplifying circuit when the supply voltage exceeds a normal-operation allowable voltage of the amplifying circuit. The disclosure also provides a method for implementing the operational amplifier circuit. According to the disclosure, the operational circuit may be avoided from subject to an excessive supply voltage, which may damage devices in the amplifying circuit of the operational amplifier.
US09154083B2
An amplifier includes a front-end gain stage and an AC-coupled push-pull output stage. The AC-coupled push-pull output stage includes a first transistor, having a source, a drain and a gate, wherein the source of the first transistor is coupled to a first voltage level. The AC-coupled push-pull output stage further includes a second transistor, having a source, a drain and a gate, wherein the source of the second transistor is coupled to a second voltage level, the gate of the second transistor is coupled to the front-end gain stage, and the drain of the second transistor is coupled to the drain of the first transistor to form an output terminal of the amplifier. Further, the AC-coupled push-pull output stage includes an AC-coupled capacitor, which is a passive two terminal electrical component coupled between the front-end gain stage and the gate of the first transistor.
US09154080B2
A mixer with calibration circuit includes a first gm stage unit, a second gm stage unit, a first detecting unit, a second detecting unit, a comparison block, a control unit and a compensator. The first detecting unit and the second detecting unit are respectively connected to different gm stage unit, and the comparison block compares voltage signals of the first detecting unit and the second detecting unit. The control unit adjusts a current signal of the comparison block according to the comparative result of voltage signals of the first detecting unit and the second detecting unit. Further, the compensator adjusts the first gm stage unit and the second gm stage unit according to the current signal. Thereafter, the improvement of the LO leakage of the mixer can be achieved.
US09154074B2
A photovoltaic (PV) module framing and coupling system enables the attachment of PV modules to a roof or other mounting surface without requiring the use of separate structural support members which attach directly to and span between multiple PV modules in a formed PV array. The apparatus provides a parallel coupling for securely interlocking the outside surfaces of parallel frame members together in a side to side arrangement to form an array with improved structural load distribution. The coupling may attach to a slot in the frame at substantially any position along the length of the frame thereby enabling the interconnection of adjacent PV modules along both an x and y axis. The apparatus may further provide a rotating portion and locking portion, mounting brackets for direct connection to a mounting surface, grounding teeth, and a twist-lock engagement means for interlocking and aligning PV modules in the array.
US09154052B2
A power inverter circuit 1 is a bridge power inverter circuit comprising first and second switching elements 11, 12 sequentially connected in series between input terminals on higher and lower voltage sides and third and fourth switching elements 13, 14 sequentially connected in series between the input terminals on the higher and lower voltage sides and alternately turning on a set of the first and fourth switching elements 11, 14 and a set of the second and third switching elements 12, 14 so as to convert a DC power fed between the input terminals on the higher and lower voltage sides into an AC power. One of the sets of the first and third switching elements 11, 13 and the second and fourth switching elements 12, 14 is subjected to switching control at a frequency higher than that of the other.
US09154047B2
A rectifier system, e.g., for a generator, includes a bridge system having a predefined number of rectifier elements, at least one rectifier element being a rectifier element having at least one reverse-voltage dependent characteristic curve in a predefined range, and one of the negative diodes having a higher reverse saturation current than the associated positive diode, and at least one of the negative diodes being placed at a location in the rectifier in which the temperature is increased.
US09154046B2
A rectifier assembly and method are provided. The rectifier assembly includes an annular bus bar including an electrically conductive material, and an insulator ring receiving the annular bus bar. The insulator ring defines radially-extending resistor pockets and diode pockets therein. The rectifier assembly also includes resistors disposed in the resistor pockets and electrically connected with the annular bus bar, and diodes disposed in the diode pockets and electrically connected with the annular bus bar. The rectifier assembly also includes an outer housing receiving the annular bus bar and the insulator ring, such that the insulator ring is positioned radially between the annular bus bar and the outer housing.
US09154045B2
Distributed power conditioning with DC-DC converters implemented in heterogeneous integrated circuit
A flat panel active electronically scanned array (AESA) (1) includes heterogeneous integrated circuit DC-DC voltage converters (3) periodically placed on array elements (2). A heterogeneous integrated circuit (100, 400, 500, 600) includes a voltage converter (101) configured to receive an input voltage (VI), and to convert the input voltage to an output voltage (VO) that is different from the input voltage, the voltage converter (101) comprising an analog and/or digital PWM circuit (104). The heterogeneous integrated circuit (100, 400, 500, 600) also includes a feedback circuit (103) configured to receive the output voltage (VO), and to generate a control signal used to vary a pulse width of a PWM signal generated by the analog and/or digital PWM circuit (104). The digital PWM circuit (104) is implemented in a heterogeneous integrated circuit (100, 400, 500, 600) fabricated on a common substrate (606) using CMOS and GaN fabrication processes.
US09154044B2
An apparatus for estimating capacitance of a DC link capacitor in an inverter is provided. The apparatus for estimating capacitance of a DC link capacitor selects a unit power cell in which capacitance of a DC link capacitor is to be estimated, from unit power cells, and estimates capacitance of the DC link capacitor by correcting a reference voltage that controls a plurality of unit power cells.
US09154041B2
A power converter controller includes a drive signal generator coupled to generate a drive signal to control switching of a power switch to regulate a flow of energy to a power converter output in response to an energy requirement of a load. A voltage supply rail is coupled to supply a voltage to the drive signal generator. The supplied voltage is used by the drive signal generator to generate the drive signal. A control circuit is coupled to generate a power down signal that stops the supply of the voltage to the drive signal generator to stop the generation of the drive signal and the control of the switching of the power switch for a period of time. Timer circuitry determines a duration of the period of time and triggers the control circuit to restart the supply of the voltage by the supply rail to the drive signal generator.
US09154036B2
Various embodiments of the invention provide extend the switching frequency range of DC/DC multiphase switching regulators in order to overcome prior art frequency limitations in the number of available phases, for example, in low input to output ratio applications. In certain embodiments, this is accomplished by enabling partial overlap between multiple phases using asynchronous logic. The invention is easily scalable without introducing significant silicon area penalties.
US09154034B2
The present invention discloses a voltage control method. At first, the load voltage of the load is divided to generate a feedback voltage. The feedback voltage and a triangular wave of a triangular wave periodic signal, including the positive voltage and negative voltage, are combined to generate a sum signal. The sum signal is compared with a target voltage, and when the sum signal is less than the target voltage signal, a control signal is generated to control the switches to turn on or off. Finally, the switch receives the control signal and accordingly providing an input voltage to update and stabilize the load voltage.
US09154032B1
A maximum power point tracking (MPPT) device is provided that includes a converter, having a switched mode topology, where the switched mode topology includes a boost topology that establishes a variable transfer ratio between a variable input voltage and a variable output voltage of the converter, where the switched mode topology changes according to a power load on a power generator. The MPPT device further includes a control section, where the control section maximizes an output power of the power generator by controlling the variable transfer ratio, where the MPPT device optimizes an electrical operating point of the power generator.
US09154021B2
A power transmission device for an electrically driven vehicle basically includes a power transmission mechanism, a sliding contact brush, a brush case cover, and a brush protective jig. The power transmission mechanism includes a case element, an axle element and a power transmission element. The sliding contact brush is mounted on an axle end of the axle element. The brush case cover is selectively mounted to the case element to enclose the axle end of the axle element in the case element. The brush protective jig is mounted to cover the brush contact when mounting the sliding contact brush to the axle end. The brush protective jig is dimensioned to contact the brush case cover and to prevent the brush case cover from being mounted to the case element while the brush protective jig is in an attached state that covers the brush contact.
US09154020B2
An axial gap rotating-electric machine includes a stator, a rotor arranged via an air gap in the direction of an axis of rotation of a rotating-electric machine with respect to the stator, and a housing configured to accommodate the stator and the rotor, and the stator includes a plurality of stator cores arranged in the circumferential direction, coils configured to wind the peripheries of the respective stator cores, and a resin for molding the plurality of stator cores wound with the coils, and the stator cores each include a protruding portion protruding partly from the coil in the direction of axis of rotation, and a conductive member is provided so as to come into contact with peripheral surfaces of the protruding portions of the stator cores, and grounding is achieved by the conductive member.
US09154015B2
A pressure angle of the worm is set to be greater than a pressure angle of the worm wheel so that a maximum number of meshing teeth becomes smaller than or equal to n (where n is a natural number) with respect to the speed reduction mechanism in which a number of meshing teeth is always n+1 or changed between n+1 and n by rotation under a condition in which the pressure angles of the worm and the worm wheel are the same with respect to each other.
US09154014B2
A device for mounting and driving a tiltable part of a gantry of a computed tomography system with respect to a pedestal of the gantry around a system axis of the pedestal, has a magnetic bearing that magnetically supports the tiltable part relative to the pedestal, and an electromagnetic drive that electromagnetically tilts the tiltable part of the gantry relative to the pedestal.
US09154011B2
An integrated drive generator includes a housing having generator. Center and input housing portions are secured to one another. The center housing portion is sealed relative to the generator input housing portion with seal plates. A hydraulic unit is mounted to the center housing portion. The center housing portion includes first and second parallel surfaces. A machined surface is parallel to and recessed into one of the first and second surfaces in an area of the hydraulic unit. A method of assembling an integrated drive generator includes the steps of providing a bore in a center housing portion, pressing a bearing liner into the bore, with a portion of the bearing liner extending proud of a surface of the center plate, and machining the surface around and adjacent to the bearing liner to provide a machined surface parallel to the surface.
US09154010B2
An armature includes an insulator mounted on a tooth portion around which a conducting wire is wound. A pair of a first member and a second member, which are combined so as to abut each other, is provided. The first member includes a first end wall which covers an upper side end in the axial direction of the tooth portion and a pair of first side walls which partially cover both side portions of the tooth portion. A first overlap portion is provided on a tip portion of the first side wall. A plurality of ribs extending so as to be parallel or substantially parallel to the winding direction of the conducting wire is disposed on an outer surface of the first overlap portion.
US09154005B2
A cylindrical rotor core 10 for a rotating electrical machine having magnetic steel plates integrally connected by laminating in an axial direction, and having magnet insertion holes 24, 26 formed for inserting permanent magnets inside, wherein the magnet insertion holes 24, 26 are formed extending in the axial direction in a core inner section in the vicinity of an outer peripheral surface 11c of the rotor core 10, and with openings formed in axial direction end sections of the rotor core 10, and a plurality of magnetic steel plates, including magnetic steel plates at outermost sides in the axial direction in which the openings are formed, are fixed by welding at inner wall surfaces 42 of the magnet insertion holes 24, 26.
US09154001B2
An energy management device providing a series of user interface enhancements that enable the creation and modification of energy management schedules. The energy management device may provide these user interface enhancements in connection with a touch screen interface, as the user interface receives and processes a variety of touch screen gestures from users intended to create and manipulate the energy management schedules. The user interface enhancements may include calendar views with customizable periods of interest, calendar views with overlays of scheduling and pricing information, and clocks providing runtime indications of specific energy consuming systems.
US09154000B2
In this uninterruptible power supply apparatus, even after electric power supply to a load stops due to prolonged power failure time, the operation of an inverter is continued, a DC power supply voltage is generated based on an output of the inverter, and a control circuit is driven by the DC power supply voltage. Therefore, when electric power supply from a commercial AC power supply is resumed during the stop of electric power supply to the load, electric power supply to the load is automatically resumed by the control circuit.
US09153993B2
According to one disclosed embodiment, a smart charging system includes a power conversion unit having a communication module and a charging integrated circuit that can convert mains power into a managed charging power used to charge any of several electronic devices. In one embodiment, a power conversion unit can manage a charging process by communicating with a connected electronic device and exchanging a charge profile representing ideal characteristics of the charging power. In one embodiment, an electronic device receives a charge from a power conversion unit through a wired power conduit. In another embodiment, an electronic device receives a charge from a power conversion unit through a wireless power conduit. In one embodiment, the smart charging system includes a battery usable to charge an electronic device when a mains adapter of the smart charging system is not powered.
US09153989B2
A power monitoring system includes an in-vehicle system that monitors a power state of a storage battery of an electric vehicle, and an out-of-vehicle system that is mounted on an out-of-vehicle apparatus and monitors power supply to the electric vehicle. The electric vehicle includes a first power feed port for supplying and receiving AC power to and from the out-of-vehicle apparatus, and a second power feed port for supplying and receiving DC power to and from the out-of-vehicle apparatus. The in-vehicle system includes first power feed port power measurement means for measuring a first amount of fed power supplied from the out-of-vehicle apparatus via the first power feed port, second power feed port power measurement means for measuring a second amount of fed power supplied from the out-of-vehicle apparatus via the second power feed port, vehicle side communication means, storage battery power measurement means, and a monitoring section.
US09153986B1
A plug-and-play addition to a traditional electrical outlet that upgrades it to a universally compatible charging station. The unit can be plugged directly into an ordinary electrical outlet or can be secured to the wall with a screw. A removable pod module couples to a docking module plugged into the wall. A positive interface between the two modules holds them together, and an internal battery in the pod module is automatically charged. The interface may be frictionally enhanced with rubberized contact surfaces and magnetic latches. Both modules include integrated flexible charging cables with a variety of connectors for external devices.
US09153984B2
There is provided a charging device which can rapidly charge, with a single charger, portable devices of a plurality of charging specifications.A plurality of available power indicating circuits included in a USB module 10 notify, through a data line, a portable device coupled to the charging device of a signal indicating suppliable amount of current. A CPU 4 obtains, from a portable device coupled thereto, information identifying the portable device, at the time of adjustment. A memory 6 has a table stored therein, for a plurality of portable devices, defining a correspondence between information identifying a portable device and an available power indicating circuit. Referring to the table based on the obtained information, the CPU 4 selects an available power indicating circuit and, at the time of actual operation, activates only the selected available power indicating circuit.
US09153979B2
A method and apparatus for supplying cordless power to a remotely-located load device. A first power supply unit of a portable power supply system is configured to operate in a charge receive mode and/or a charge supply mode. When the first power supply unit is in the charge receive mode, a first energy storage device of the first power supply unit is configured to receive electrical energy via a first switch from one of a second power supply unit or an external power source. When the first power supply unit is in the charge supply mode, the first energy storage device of the first power supply unit is configured to supply electrical energy via a second switch to one of a third power supply unit or a remotely-located load device.
US09153977B2
The present invention discloses a bi-directional switching regulator and a control circuit thereof. The bi-directional switching regulator includes a power stage, an operation circuit controlling the power stage, and a power path management circuit. The power path management circuit includes a power path switch electrically connected between the output terminal and the battery, and a power path controller controlling the power path switch. The operation circuit generates the operation signal according to the output voltage or a battery voltage of the battery, and the charging current, so that: (1) a voltage difference between the output voltage and the battery voltage is ICHG*R, wherein ICHG represents the charging current and R represents a conduction resistance when the power path switch is fully conductive; or (2) the output voltage is determined by a higher one of a predetermined voltage level and the sum of ICHG*R plus the battery voltage.
US09153975B2
An alternating current conversion method and system are disclosed that can adapt to varying voltages of the direct current sources. An exemplary system includes a first and second connection arrangements for the voltage sources such that the direct current can be supplied to the DC/AC converter selectively in the first connection arrangement or the second connection arrangement. The selection between the first and second connection arrangements is made on the basis of the voltage levels of the voltage sources such that a proper voltage is supplied to the DC/AC converter. The numbers of the voltage sources in the connection arrangements are selected such that the first and second connection arrangements have different numbers of the voltage sources connected in series, the voltage sources being also grouped in parallel groups.
US09153973B2
A battery cell balancing system includes N switching circuits connected to first terminals and second terminals of N battery cells, respectively, where N is an integer greater than one. A first transformer includes a first core and N sets of windings wound around the first core. The N sets of windings are connected to the N switching circuits, respectively. A first control module controls switching of the N switching circuits to reverse first connections between the first terminals and the second terminals of the N battery cells and the N sets of windings, respectively, at a first frequency to balance charge levels of the N battery cells.
US09153967B2
A battery system and an energy storage system including a battery module. The battery system includes at least one battery module that may perform charging and discharging, and a battery management unit that controls the charging and the discharging of the battery module. The battery management unit varies a charge limit value for stopping the charging of the battery module and a discharge limit value for stopping the discharging of the battery module. Accordingly, a lifetime of the battery module is extended.
US09153962B2
A motor control device includes a DC motor, a power source configured to supply power to each of the DC motor and a load unit, and a controller configured to control power supply to the DC motor and the load unit. When reducing the power to be supplied to the DC motor, the controller increases the power to be supplied to the load unit during a predetermined period of time including a timing at which the power to be supplied to the DC motor is reduced.
US09153951B2
An apparatus for detecting surge voltage and a method thereof are proposed, by which a surge voltage can be detected to prevent damage to output parts by using a shunt regulator, when a surge voltage exceeding a maximum voltage limitable by a zener diode is applied, and trouble shooting and system maintenance/repair of a system can be more effectively performed, the apparatus including a voltage distributor configured to output a driving voltage, when an applied surge voltage exceeds a reference surge voltage, a signal output unit configured to generate an output signal by being driven by a driving voltage outputted by the voltage distributor, and a surge voltage detection signal output unit configured to output a surge voltage detection signal indicating that a surge voltage exceeding the reference surge voltage in response to a signal outputted by the signal output unit.
US09153946B2
A power distribution contactor mount, and a power distribution system incorporating the same, include a plurality of electrically and thermally conductive contactor posts operable to connect a contactor lead to a bus bar, a mounting panel face, wherein each of the contactor posts is received in the mounting panel face and extends through the mounting panel face, and a first heat dissipation component mounted on the mounting panel face and thermally connected to each of the contactor posts. The thermal connection is via a thermally conductive and electrically insulative polymer insert, and each of the posts protrudes through the first heat dissipation component.
US09153945B2
The present disclosure relates to a frame piece for a rack, comprising a hollow profile which extends along its longitudinal axis and is brought into its cylindrical profile shape by shaping a substantially flat starting material. The hollow profile on two opposite lateral edges, has a connecting zone for closing the hollow profile at least one tab-type projection being formed on at least one of the lateral edges, said projection extending away from the lateral edge of the hollow profile and being shaped such that it can be brought into engagement with at least one corresponding receptacle on the respective other lateral edge in a clamping or positive manner.
US09153943B2
A method is described for producing a light source, in particular a light source for optically exciting a laser device, for example a laser device of a laser ignition system of an internal combustion engine, including a diode laser having a plurality of emitters and a fiber optic device. The fiber optic device includes a plurality of optical fibers, each fiber having a first end and a lateral surface area. The first ends are situated relative to the emitters in such a way that light generated by the emitters is injected into the first ends of the optical fibers. The optical fibers are situated in abutment along their lateral surface areas, at least in the region of the first ends of the optical fibers. The method is characterized by the following steps: arranging a plurality of optical fibers which form a fiber section in a subregion, the fiber section being situated between two opposite pressing surfaces; heating the fiber section; and exerting a force on the heated optical fibers with the aid of the pressing surfaces. The force and the heating initially result in deformation of the heated optical fiber. The exerted force and/or a temperature of the optical fibers is/are selected in such a way that the deformation ceases when the optical fibers for the first time fill, at least largely, a region between the pressing surfaces.
US09153940B2
An electro-optic modulator including a semiconductor region, a first reflecting region over the semiconductor region and an anti-reflecting region on an opposite surface of the semiconductor region from the first reflecting layer. The semiconductor region includes a first doped region and a second doped region.
US09153939B1
A system and method for triggering data acquisition in a semiconductor laser system including outputting electromagnetic energy from the semiconductor laser over a range of wavelengths according to a signaling path. The signaling path includes a plurality of discrete data inputs to the semiconductor laser for outputting electromagnetic energy over a range of wavelengths and the signaling path includes one or more perturbances in transitioning from one wavelength to another wavelength along the signaling path. A series of triggering signals are generated for input to a measurement system by the semiconductor laser. The series of triggering signals include a non-uniform period between at least a first triggering signal and an adjacent second triggering signal, and the non-uniform period corresponds to at least one perturbance. The electromagnetic energy output from the semiconductor laser is detected based on the series of triggering signals.
US09153937B2
This description relates to an apparatus, a method of manufacturing, and a method of tuning optical and/or electrical parameters of semiconductor devices and materials, thin film materials, or other devices. In one example, a laser is tuned to produce an adjustable output wavelength by coupling the laser to a tuning material or base such as, for example, a piezoelectric base using a suitable attachment method. The laser includes of a tunable material that is sensitive to stress and/or strain. Stress and/or strain applied to the laser from the tuning material results in an electronically variable output wavelength. As an example, applying a voltage to a piezoelectric base that serves as a tuning material can cause the base to expand or contract, and the expansions and contractions from the base are coupled to the tunable material of the laser, thus varying the wavelength of the output light from the laser. Additionally, other devices that are sensitive to stress and/or strain can be adjoined in a similar manner and can result in an electronically variable output of the devices. Examples of other embodiments are also disclosed herein.
US09153930B2
A laser light source includes an optical resonator and a first optical filter. The first optical filter is provided outside the optical resonator, and does not constitute an optical resonator structure. For example, antireflection coating is performed on the optical resonator side of the first optical filter and on a surface on the opposite side thereto, and a reflection structure in which light after passing through the first optical filter is reflected in the direction to the optical resonator is not present on an optical path of the light.
US09153928B2
The invention relates to scanning pulsed laser systems for optical imaging. Coherent dual scanning laser systems (CDSL) are disclosed and some applications thereof. Various alternatives for implementation are illustrated. In at least one embodiment a coherent dual scanning laser system (CDSL) includes two passively modelocked fiber oscillators. In some embodiments an effective CDSL is constructed with only one laser. At least one embodiment includes a coherent scanning laser system (CSL) for generating pulse pairs with a time varying time delay. A CDSL, effective CDSL, or CSL may be arranged in an imaging system for one or more of optical imaging, microscopy, micro-spectroscopy and/or THz imaging.
US09153919B2
An audio jack for an audio plug for use in an electrical device, comprising a non-conductive enclosure having a front side and defining a cavity having an aperture within the front side for receiving the audio plug, the aperture having a first diameter, the cavity extending along a longitudinal axis; a conductive shielding formed from sheet metal folded over at least five sides of the enclosure including the front side, the shielding defining a shielding aperture centered on the enclosure aperture and having a second diameter larger than the first diameter; and a ground contact connected to the conductive shielding.
US09153917B2
A connector coaxial cable connector comprising a connector body having an outer ramped surface, a post, engageable with the connector body, a coupling member, axially rotatable with respect to the post, and a compression portion structurally integral with the connector body, the compression portion having a ramped inner surface, wherein the inner ramped surface is configured to cooperate with the outer ramped surface during compression of the compression portion onto a portion of the connector body. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided.
US09153910B2
A fitting operation lever includes rotation fulcrum holes rotationally engaged with boss portions on a first connector housing, boss guiding grooves which enable an engagement or disengagement between the boss portions and the rotation fulcrum holes, and action point projecting portions which move from engagement starting positions on projecting portion guide grooves 25 inside a second connector housing 20 as the rotation of the fitting operation lever to be engaged with projection engagement projecting portions 27 within the second connector housing to thereby apply a force acting in a fitting direction to the second connector housing. The rotation fulcrum holes are formed into an elliptic shape which allows a contact positions thereof with the boss portions to move when the fitting operation lever is rotated in a returning direction when the connector housings are fitted together completely.
US09153909B2
A slide lever of a lever-type connector is a long plate-like member, inserted into a lever accommodation space of a main body side connector with a free longitudinal end thereof in the lead and arranged to be movable back and forth along an extending direction of the lever accommodation space. This slide lever includes a cam groove engageable with a cam pin projecting on a mating side connector. The cam groove includes an open end at an end surface of the slide lever extending in an inserting direction of the slide lever. A first path is connected to the open end portion and extends toward the free end with distance from the end surface. A second path extends away from the free end part with distance from the end surface and is connected to a deepest portion of the cam groove.
US09153904B2
An electrical connector includes a female connector (10) and a male connector (20). The female connector (10) includes a female connector body (11) and a vertical wall (12) that define an accommodating space (17), a positioning block (13) disposed in the accommodating space (17), a latch edge (121) and a blocking wall (122) protruded from the vertical wall (12), and a latch space (18) defined by the latch edge (121) and female connector body (11). The male connector (20) having front, rear, and side end surfaces (211, 212, 213) is plugged into the accommodating space (17) and includes a male connector body (21), an extension plate (22), and a hook (23) latched to the latch edge (121), and the rear end surface (212) abuts the blocking wall (122), and the side end surface (213) has a positioning notch (217) for positioning the positioning block (13).
US09153902B1
Certain embodiments herein relate to mounting configurations for transferring forces or loads away from connectors for a device. A mounting element may be secured to a connector and, in response to the connector receiving a certain amount of force, may move the connector to a surface or an element associated with the device that may be more suitable for withstanding the force. Various positions of a mounting element with respect to a connector, and/or geometric variations of the mounting element, may allow the mounting element to move the connector in multiple planes, such as vertical, horizontal, and/or diagonal.
US09153899B2
An electrical connector assembly is provided. The assembly includes a terminal, a housing, and a seal. The seal is configured to create a moisture barrier between the housing and a mating connector. The seal defines a retainer portion that cooperates with the housing to retain the terminal to the housing.
US09153896B2
A spacer (20) which is inserted and installed into a spacer accommodating space (12) of a housing body (10) includes a temporary locking protrusion (25) which is equipped on an outer wall surface (21a) of an outside wall (21) and which engages with first component locking means (15) of the housing body (10) when the spacer (20) is moved to a temporary locking position to regulate the movement of the spacer (20) in the insertion direction, and a principal locking protrusion (26) which is equipped on an inner wall surface (21b) of the outside wall (21) and which engages with second component locking means (16) when the spacer (20) is moved to a principal locking position to regulate the movement of the spacer (20) in the insertion direction.
US09153883B2
Provided is a terminal, including: a ground metal part made of a first metallic material; an intermediate layer made of a second metallic material having a smaller value of standard electrode potential than that of the first metallic material, and plated thin on at least a part of a surface of the ground metal part; and a surface layer made of a third metallic material having a smaller value of standard electrode potential than that of the second metallic material, and plated thin on at least a part of a surface of the intermediate layer.
US09153882B2
An LED connector assembly having a LED module, a base. and a connector. The LED module includes a substrate provided with a conductor pattern and an LED device disposed on a surface of the substrate and connecting to the conductor pattern. The base includes an attachment side larger than the LED module and attaching with the LED module such that a bottom surface of the LED module faces the attachment side. The connector that includes a housing fixed to the base, wherein the housing includes a cylindrical section with a conductor receiving passageway at a tip thereof to which the cylindrical section penetrates the base from the attachment side there through, and a contact having one end that connects to the conductor pattern and extend inside the cylindrical section for connection with an electrical wire insertable into the cylindrical section.
US09153881B2
The invention relates to a flexible tunnel for connection terminal, made by cutting and bending a metal strip to form a flexible frame delimiting an opening. Said opening is delimited by a first and a second lateral branch extending parallel to one another from a bottom, the first branch being extended by an upper branch closing the one-piece structure of the tunnel. When the tunnel is in an untightened state, the upper branch through which the clamping screw is intended to pass in a perpendicular manner forms a first angle of deformation with a longitudinal axis of the tunnel parallel to the first and second lateral branches. The bottom forms a second angle of deformation with the longitudinal axis of the tunnel.
US09153880B2
A ground connection body (1) includes a first ground terminal (10), a second ground terminal (20) and a third ground terminal (30). The first ground terminal (10) includes a wire-side terminal portion (4) to be mounted on an end of a ground wire (E1) and a ground-side terminal portion (5) with a first bolt connection hole (6) connectable to a first bolt (G1) and a second bolt connection hole (7) connectable to a second bolt (G2). A second wire-side terminal portion (21) of the second ground terminal (20) is oblique to the first wire-side terminal portion (4) so that a second ground wire (E2) extends toward the first ground wire (E1). A third wire-side terminal portion (31) of the third ground terminal (30) is oblique to the first wire-side terminal portion (4) so that a third ground wire (E3) extends toward the first ground wire (E1).
US09153876B2
A system and method for implementing transmission parameter control at a transmitting station is described. The exemplary system and method comprises querying a transmission parameter control module for a transmission schedule. The transmission schedule comprises at least one schedule entry defining a set of transmission parameter controls as they pertain to a destination address. At least one packet of data is then transmitted to the destination address according to the transmission parameters controls of at least one schedule entry from the transmission schedule. A system and method for selecting an antenna configuration corresponding to a next transmission of packet data is also disclosed.
US09153864B2
A vehicle pole antenna fixed to an antenna support base includes: a rod 10, a helical antenna element 20, a joint 30, and a mast cover 40. The rod 10 has flexibility and insulation property and has a concave portion 11 at its base end surface. The helical antenna element 20 has a coated wire wound around the rod 10. A winding density of the helical antenna element 10 adjacent to a bending start point of the rod is lower than that at the other portions. The joint 30 has a convex portion 31 to be fitted to the concave portion 11 formed at the base end surface of the rod 10. The joint 30 is electrically connected with the helical antenna element 20 and connected to the antenna support base.
US09153862B2
An antenna apparatus includes a horizontal polarization antenna element, and the horizontal polarization antenna element includes a radiation conductor that includes two conductor plates subjected to bending work and arranged to be opposite to each other with a specific interval therebetween and has a tube shape extending in a vertical direction in whole, a ground conductor that is arranged in an inner space surrounded by the two conductor plates of the radiation conductor and is electrically grounded, and a feeding element that is arranged in the inner space, is arranged along inner walls of the conductor plates in a top view, operates as a reverse L antenna when electrical power is fed between one end thereof and the ground conductor, and feeds power to the radiation conductor by electromagnetic coupling.
US09153852B2
A coaxial resonator includes a first outer conductor connected to a reference potential; a dielectric block which is provided with a through hole formed so as to pass therethrough from a first side surface to a second side surface opposed to the first side surface, and is so disposed that a first main surface abuts on the first outer conductor; an inner conductor disposed in an inside of the through hole; and a second outer conductor which is shaped like a rectangular box having its one face which is opened toward the first outer conductor, the second outer conductor having an inside dimension such that the dielectric block can be housed therein so as to be spaced from its second main surface, third side surface, and fourth side surface, and being connected to the reference potential.
US09153851B2
A waveguide converter includes a waveguide including a hollow section through which a signal is transmitted and a first opening formed on a cross section of the hollow section in a direction orthogonal to a transmission direction of the signal, and a circuit board including on a same surface a signal line, a conductor patch connected to the signal line, and a second opening surrounding the conductor patch. The waveguide is fixed onto the circuit board. The first opening surrounds the second opening. The conductor patch includes a rectangular section which has short sides in parallel with short sides of the first opening, and has a first long side and a second long side connected to the signal line in parallel with long sides of the first opening, and protruding portions which are provided so as to touch the short sides near both ends of the second long side, respectively.
US09153846B2
A battery pack and a method for controlling charge-and-discharge of the battery pack by its thermoelectric property are provided, in which the battery pack has a plurality of thermal regions divided by different ranges of temperature. The battery pack includes a plurality of parallel-connected battery groups and a plurality of variable resistances. The parallel-connected battery groups are located in the thermal regions respectively, and each of the parallel-connected battery groups includes batteries connected in parallel. The variable resistances are disposed between two parallel-connected battery groups.
US09153841B2
Provided is a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery which, even in the case of using a low-viscosity solvent having a narrow potential window, can increase the electrochemical stability of the nonaqueous electrolyte solution and suppress side reactions of the nonaqueous electrolyte solution during charge and discharge to reduce the degradation of the battery characteristics and has an excellent storage characteristic in high-temperature environments and a nonaqueous electrolyte solution for the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery. The nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes: a positive electrode containing a positive-electrode active material; a negative electrode containing a negative-electrode active material; and a nonaqueous electrolyte solution containing a solute dissolved in a nonaqueous solvent, wherein the nonaqueous electrolyte solution further contains benzotrifluoride and a diisocyanate compound and the content of benzotrifluoride is 5% by volume or more in the nonaqueous electrolyte solution except the solute.
US09153840B2
Provided is a lithium ion conductive composite electrolyte that can prevent leakage of electrolyte solution, and that have excellent cycle performance and lithium ion conductivity, and a lithium ion secondary battery. A lithium ion conductive composite electrolyte 1 is formed so that a lithium ion conductive polymer gel electrolyte is held in a porous body 2 formed from lithium ion conductive inorganic solid electrolyte particles and an organic polymer. The lithium ion conductive inorganic solid electrolyte particles are formed from a composite metal oxide that has a garnet structure, and is represented by the chemical formula Li7−yLa3−xAxZr2−yMyO12 (wherein 0≦x≦3, 0≦y ≦2, A is one of Y, Nd, Sm, and Gd, and M is Nb or Ta). A lithium ion secondary battery 11 includes the lithium ion conductive composite electrolyte 1 between a positive electrode 12 and a negative electrode 13.
US09153832B2
Disclosed herein are improved electrochemical cell stacks having at least one protective channel on an end of the stack. Redox flow batteries (RFBs) containing the “protected” electrochemical cell stacks, and methods of operating such RFBs, are also provided.
US09153825B2
A fuel cell includes: a membrane electrolyte assembly which includes a polymer electrolyte membrane and a pair of catalyst electrodes between which the polymer electrolyte membrane is held and separators between which the membrane electrolyte assembly is held. The first separator includes first gas flow channels and second gas flow channels which are adjacent to the first gas flow channels, the first and second gas flow channels supplying an oxidizing gas or a fuel gas to the membrane electrolyte assembly. The first and second gas flow channels are parallel to each other and are alternately arranged, the first gas flow channels are larger in cross sectional area than the second gas flow channels. The second separator includes first gas flow channels parallel to the first and second gas flow channels of the first separator, and second gas flow channels which are adjacent to the first gas flow channels, the first and second gas flow channels supplying an oxidizing gas or a fuel to the membrane electrolyte assembly. The first and second gas flow channels are parallel to each other and are alternately arranged and the oxidizing gas or fuel gas supplied in the first and second gas flow channels of the first separator flows in an opposite direction to the oxidizing gas or fuel gas supplied in the first and second gas flow channels of the second separator.
US09153823B2
A method of forming a catalyst structure includes providing a catalyst support structure having a core and an inner carbide film on the core, depositing catalyst nanoparticles on the catalyst support structure, and forming an outer carbide film on the catalyst support structure after the step of depositing catalyst nanoparticles. The outer carbide film is preferentially formed on the catalyst support structure compared to the catalyst particles.
US09153822B2
In one embodiment, a catalyst assembly includes a substrate including a base and a number of rods extending from the base; a catalyst layer including a catalyst material; and a first intermediate layer including a first coating material disposed between the substrate and the catalyst layer, the first coating material having a higher surface energy than the catalyst material. In certain instances, the number of rods may have an average aspect ratio in length to width of greater than 1. The catalyst assembly may further include a second intermediate layer disposed between the catalyst layer and the first intermediate layer, the second intermediate layer including a second coating material having a higher surface energy than the catalyst material. In certain instances, the first coating material has a higher surface energy than the second coating material.
US09153812B2
A cylindrical battery comprises a cylindrical battery electrode assembly having two ends, which comprises a core bar, a positive plate and a negative plate coiled on the core bar, and a diaphragm separating the plates. The cylindrical battery also comprises a positive electrode lead-out terminal, disposed at one end of the electrode assembly and having an inner end surface facing the same. The inner end surface of the positive electrode lead-out terminal is directly connected with the entire end of the positive plate at the corresponding end of the electrode assembly. The cylindrical battery further comprises a negative electrode lead-out terminal, disposed at the other end of the electrode assembly and having an inner end surface facing the same. The inner end surface of the negative electrode lead-out terminal is directly connected with the entire end of the negative plate at the corresponding end of the electrode assembly.
US09153809B2
A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly includes first and second electrode non-coating portions exposed from respective sides of an electrode assembly, first and second collecting plates in contact with and fixed to the respective first and second electrode non-coating portions, a retainer including first and second fixing slits that accommodate the first and second collecting plates connected to the electrode assembly, respectively, and a case that accommodates the retainer accommodating the electrode assembly and the first collecting plate. The retainer includes a first side part including the first fixing slit, a second side part facing the first side part and including the second fixing slit, and a bottom part connecting the first and second side parts to each other.
US09153805B2
Provided is a cylindrical secondary battery, comprising an electrode assembly having a cathode plate, an anode plate, and a separator interposed therebetween; a case for receiving the electrode assembly; a cap assembly for sealing an open-end of the case; and a gasket interposed between the case and the cap assembly, wherein the gasket is made of a polymer resin having a melting point of 200° C. or higher and a hardness of 100D or less.
US09153793B2
In an organic light-emitting display apparatus for improving image quality and a method of manufacturing the same, the organic light-emitting display apparatus comprises a substrate, a first electrode disposed on the substrate, an intermediate layer disposed on the first electrode and including an organic emission layer, a second electrode disposed on the intermediate layer, and a reflective unit disposed near the intermediate layer and reflecting visible light emitted from the intermediate layer.
US09153783B2
A method for manufacturing an organic device includes the steps of applying a photoresist onto at least an active first region arranged on a substrate of the organic device, and removing the photoresist from the substrate in a second region adjacent to the active first region. Additionally, the method includes the steps of applying a passivation layer onto the first and second regions and removing the photoresist and the passivation layer in the active first region.
US09153766B2
A multi-layer piezoelectric element includes a stacked body in which piezoelectric layers and internal electrode layers are alternately laminated and a stress relaxing layer is disposed at part of portions between the piezoelectric layers, and an external electrode that is bonded to a side face of the stacked body so as to make electrical connection with the internal electrode layers, the internal electrode layers being not exposed on the side face of the stacked body, but the stress relaxing layer being exposed on the side face of the stacked body.
US09153765B2
The invention relates to a piezoelectric multi-layer component with a plurality of piezoelectric layers (1) lying one above the other and with electrode layers (2a, 2b) arranged between the piezoelectric layers, wherein an absorption layer (4) of absorbing mechanical vibration energy is arranged in the layer stack.
US09153763B2
Thermoelectric material, method for preparing the same, and thermoelectric module including the same
Disclosed herein is a thermoelectric material having a plate type layered structure where each layer has a thickness of 30 nm or less, a method for preparing the same, and a thermoelectric module using the same.According to the present invention, as for a thermoelectric material having a nanometer-sized layered structure, crystallinity of each layer is excellent, electric conductivity of electron is improved, and phonon diffraction is induced at a grain interface between layers, and thus, a thermoelectric module having excellent thermoelectric properties can be provided.
US09153759B2
A manufacturing method of a light emitting diode (LED) and a manufacturing method of an LED module are provided. The manufacturing method of the LED may include manufacturing a plurality of LED chips, manufacturing a phosphor pre-form including a plurality of mounting areas for mounting the plurality of LED chips, applying an adhesive inside the phosphor pre-form, mounting each of the plurality of LED chips in each of the plurality of mounting areas, and cutting the phosphor pre-form to which the plurality of LED chips are mounted, into units including individual LED chips.
US09153756B2
A light-emitting device, a method of fabricating the light-emitting device, a light-emitting device package and a lighting system are provided. The light-emitting device may include a substrate 105; a first conductivity type semiconductor layer 12 disposed on the substrate 105; an active layer 114 disposed on the first conductivity type semiconductor layer 12; a second conductivity type semiconductor layer 16 disposed on the active layer 114; a first electrode 131 disposed on the first conductivity type semiconductor layer 112; a second electrode 132 disposed on the second conductivity type semiconductor layer 116; a first light extraction pattern P provided on a top surface of the substrate 105; and a second light extraction pattern 150 provided on sides of the substrate 105.
US09153755B2
A silicone resin sheet is formed from a resin composition containing a thermosetting silicone resin and microparticles. The complex viscosity thereof at a frequency of 10 Hz is 80 to 1000 Pa·s and the tan δ thereof at a frequency of 10 Hz is 0.3 to 1.6 obtained by a dynamic viscoelastic measurement at a frequency of 0.1 to 50 Hz at 30° C.; a rate of frequency increase of 10 Hz/min; and a distortion of 1% in a shear mode.
US09153736B2
The invention provides a light-emitting diode device and a method for fabricating the same. The light-emitting diode device includes a metal substrate. A light-emitting diode structure is bonded on the metal substrate. The light-emitting diode structure includes a first type semiconductor substrate and a second type semiconductor layer. The first type semiconductor layer has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The second type semiconductor layer is in contact with the metal substrate. A light-emitting layer is disposed between the first type semiconductor substrate and the second type semiconductor layer. A portion of the second surface and a sidewall adjacent to the second surface are uneven roughened surfaces.
US09153716B2
A window opening in a semiconductor component is produced on the basis of a gate structure which serves as an efficient etch resist layer in order to reliably etch an insulation layer stack without exposing the photosensitive semiconductor area. The polysilicon in the gate structure is then removed on the basis of an established gate etching process, with the gate insulation layer preserving the integrity of the photosensitive semiconductor material.
US09153715B2
A silicon photonic photodetector structure, a method for fabricating the silicon photonic photodetector structure and a method for operating a silicon photonic photodetector device that results from the photonic photodetector structure each use a strip waveguide optically coupled with a polysilicon material photodetector layer that may be contiguous with a semiconductor material slab to which is located and formed a pair of electrical contacts separated by the polysilicon material photodetector layer. Alternatively, the pair of electrical contacts may be located and formed upon separated locations of the polysilicon photodetector layer. Within the foregoing silicon photonic photodetector structure and related methods the polysilicon material photodetector layer includes defect states suitable for absorbing an optical signal from the strip waveguide and generating an electrical output signal using at least one of the electrical contacts when the optical signal includes a photon energy less than a band gap energy of a polysilicon material from which is comprised the polysilicon material photodetector layer. Alternatively, the silicon photonic photodetector structure may include appropriate photodetection circuitry. The silicon photonic photodetector structure and related methods avoid the use of germanium and indium phosphide-based materials.
US09153712B2
Conductive contacts for solar cells and methods of forming conductive contacts for solar cells are described. For example, a solar cell includes a substrate. A conductive contact is disposed on the substrate. The conductive contact includes a layer composed of a first metal species having a plurality of pores. The conductive contact also includes a second metal species disposed in the plurality of pores. Portions of both the first and second metal species are in contact with the substrate.
US09153704B2
A nonvolatile memory device includes a memory gate including a memory layer provided over a substrate and a gate electrode provided over the memory layer, the memory gate having first and second opposing sidewalls disposed on first and second sides of the memory gate, respectively; first and second select gates disposed on the first and second sidewalls of the memory gate; a source region formed in the substrate proximate to the first side of the memory gate; a drain region formed in the substrate proximate to the second side of the memory gate; and a gate contact coupled to the gate electrode of the memory gate and to the first select gate, or the second select gate, or both.
US09153700B2
A method of manufacturing a thin-film transistor includes: forming an oxide semiconductor pattern including a first region and a second region on a substrate; forming an insulation film on the substrate to cover the oxide semiconductor pattern; removing the insulation film on the second region through patterning; increasing carrier density of the first region of the oxide semiconductor pattern through an annealing process; forming a gate electrode on the insulation film so that the gate electrode is insulated from the oxide semiconductor pattern and overlaps the second region; and forming a source electrode and a drain electrode to be insulated from the gate electrode and contact the first region.
US09153689B2
A semiconductor device (10), comprising a first semiconductor portion (32) having a first end (34), a second end (36), and a slit portion (30), wherein the width of the slit portion (30) is less than the width of at least one of the first end (34) and the second end (36); a second portion (38) that is a different material than the first semiconductor portion (32), a third portion (40) that is a different material than the first semiconductor portion (32), wherein the second (38) and third (40) portions are on opposite sides of the slit portion (30), and at least three terminals selected from a group consisting of a first terminal (12) connected to the first end (34), a second terminal (14) connected to the second end (36), a third terminal (16) connected to the second portion (38), and a fourth terminal (17) connected to the third portion (40).
US09153682B2
A semiconductor device protects against concentration of electric current at a front end portion of one of the electrodes thereof. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a compound semiconductor layer formed on the substrate and having a channel layer based on a hetero junction, a first main electrode formed on the compound semiconductor layer, a second main electrode formed on the compound semiconductor surrounding the first main electrode and having a linear region and an arc-shaped region, a control electrode formed on the compound semiconductor layer and disposed opposite to the first main electrode and the second main electrode, an electric current being made to flow between the first main electrode and the second main electrode, and an electric current limiting section formed between the first main electrode and the arc-shaped region of the second main electrode.
US09153678B2
There is provided a power semiconductor device including a contact formed in an active region, a trench gate extendedly formed from the first region into a first termination region and formed alternately with the contact, a first conductive well formed between the contact of the active region and the trench gate, a first conductive well extending portion formed in the first termination region and a part of a second termination region, and a first conductive field limiting ring formed in the second termination region and contacting the well extending portion.
US09153673B2
In a current-prioritized IGBT, a collector conductive layer is connected to one collector active region included in a collector region by a plurality of contacts. The number of contacts through which the collector conductive layer is connected to the one collector active region is larger than the number of contacts through which the emitter conductive layer is connected to one base active region included in a base region.
US09153668B2
A fin field effect transistor (FinFET) having a tunable tensile strain and an embodiment method of tuning tensile strain in an integrated circuit are provided. The method includes forming a source/drain region on opposing sides of a gate region in a fin, forming spacers over the fin, the spacers adjacent to the source/drain regions, depositing a dielectric between the spacers; and performing an annealing process to contract the dielectric, the dielectric contraction deforming the spacers, the spacer deformation enlarging the gate region in the fin.
US09153667B2
A method for making a thin film transistor, the method comprising: applying a gate electrode on an insulating substrate; covering the gate electrode with an insulating layer; forming a carbon nanotube layer on a growing substrate, wherein the carbon nanotube layer comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes; transfer printing the carbon nanotube layer from the growing substrate onto the insulating layer, wherein the insulating layer insulates the carbon nanotube layer from the gate electrode; and placing a source electrode and a drain electrode spaced from each other and electrically connected to two opposite ends of at least one of the plurality of carbon nanotubes.
