US09169140B2
Catalyst comprising graphitic carbon and methods of making thereof; said graphitic carbon comprising a metal species, a nitrogen-containing species and a sulfur containing species. A catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction for an alkaline fuel cell was prepared by heating a mixture of cyanamide, carbon black, and a salt selected from an iron sulfate salt and an iron acetate salt at a temperature of from about 700° C. to about 1100° C. under an inert atmosphere. Afterward, the mixture was treated with sulfuric acid at elevated temperature to remove acid soluble components, and the resultant mixture was heated again under an inert atmosphere at the same temperature as the first heat treatment step.
US09169137B1
A filtering system with electrolytic action and method is disclosed which is adapted for filtering the water in swimming pools, spas, saunas, hot tubs, whirlpools and the like with circulatory flow or single-flow. The filtering system may include a pump for drawing water from a body of water and circulating this water through an electrolytic filter including a layer of electrolytic filter media of dissimilar metal particles or granules and returning this filtered water to the body of water. The filtering system not only removes sand and sediment but also prevents algae and fungus growth, kills bacteria, and eliminates the need for adding chlorine, bromine, and algaecide to the water.
US09169133B2
A water vapor collector assembly consists of a transparent cover and a box which will float on a water surface. The transparent cover allows sun rays to evaporate some water in the box which confines and collect the vapor condensates. The condensates will be conveyed away by a tube under the box. A water wave operated shaker, a wind operated knocker, inserts to increase the water condensation surfaces, and various kinds of the box are also introduced.
US09169127B2
A method for preparing a composition of metal nanocrystals from at least one organometallic precursor in a solvent medium in the presence of a PEG ligand, including a carbon chain, at least one end of which is functionalized by a coordination grouping including at least one hetero atom, and having at least one [OCH2CH2]n grouping, n being an integer higher than 1, so as to be soluble both in the solvent medium and in water. The water-compatible and organic-compatible composition of metal nanocrystals thus obtained is also described.
US09169120B2
An aluminum phosphate or polyphosphate-based pigment product is made by a process comprising contacting phosphoric acid with aluminum sulfate and an alkaline solution to produce an aluminum phosphate based product; and optionally calcining the aluminum phosphate based product at an elevated temperature, wherein the process is substantially free of an organic acid. The aluminum phosphate or polyphosphate-based pigment is amorphous. The amorphous aluminum phosphate or polyphosphate characterized by a bulk density of less than 2.30 grams per cubic centimeter and a phosphorus to aluminum mole ratio of greater than 0.8. The composition is useful in paints and as a substitute for titanium dioxide.
US09169118B1
A hydrogen purification method that is used to separate hydrogen gas from a source gas. A hydrogen separator is provided that has at least one hydrogen permeable tube. A support tube is provided for each hydrogen permeable tube. A support tube is coaxially aligned with the hydrogen permeable tube, wherein a micro-channel exists between the hydrogen permeable tube and the support tube in an area of overlap. A tubular wire structure is placed within the micro-channel. The tubular wire structure is coated with catalyst material. The source gas is introduced into the micro-channel. The source gas spreads thinly past the tubular wire structure in the micro-channel. The restrictions of the micro-channel cause the source gas to embody turbulent flow characteristics as it flows. The turbulent flow causes the hydrogen separator to separate hydrogen from the source gas in a highly efficient manner.
US09169109B2
A stacker crane has an upper frame, which connects upper portions of front and rear support rods standing from both front and rear end portions of a lower frame, respectively, is connected to the front and rear support rods by bolts. The upper frame includes a main part comprising a first plate following along a vertical direction and having front and rear extensions being extended in the front and rear directions of the crane and mast connecting portions being extended downward from both the front and rear ends of the front and rear extensions. The upper frame has a reinforcing part comprising a second plate following along a horizontal direction projecting from the main part in a width direction and being extended in the front and rear directions. The mast connecting portions of the main part are urged against the side surfaces of the front and rear support rods, respectively.
US09169107B2
The present disclosure relates to a method for mounting lift components of a lift system in a vertical shaft of a building with the aid of a mounting system which can be moved in the shaft, wherein the lift system has at least one cage which can travel along guide rails in the shaft. In order to develop the method to achieve shorter fitting times and less dependency upon how advanced the construction of the building is, according to the invention a mounting system is positioned in the shaft, having a support platform and a mounting platform, which are disposed one above the other, and having a lifting and pulling device, the support platform and the mounting platform being alternately fixed in position in the shaft and the platform which is not fixed in position at any one time is displaced in the vertical direction by means of the lifting and pulling device relative to the platform fixed in position. In addition, the invention relates to a mounting system for carrying out the method.
US09169103B1
A reel apparatus includes an axle having a generally hollow fluid inlet connection and a generally hollow fluid outlet connection. A generally hollow drum is coupled to the axle, the drum having a generally circular-shaped sidewall about an elongate axis and further having a pair of generally open, opposing ends, the drum comprising a tubular element. The fluid outlet connection of the axle extends through an opening in the sidewall of the drum, and the reel apparatus is rotatable upon the axle.
US09169096B2
A roller system can include: a rear rolling member configured for rolling contact with a surface; a front rolling member rotating in an opposite direction to the rear rolling member and the front rolling member configured to be elevated above the surface during use; and a chassis coupling the rear rolling member to the front rolling member.
US09169095B2
A method and apparatus for winding fiber webs, particularly paper and board webs, in which partial web rolls (R1, R2) are wound in a winding device having at least two winding stations (21, 22), where partial webs (W1, W2) are guided to rolls (R1, R2) via a nip between a winding roll(s) (12, 41, 42) and the partial web rolls (R1, R2). The partial webs (W1, W2) are guided on the surface of the winding roll(s) (12, 41, 42) before entering the nips creating a wrap angle (A1, A2) on the winding drum(s) (12, 41, 42). The wrap angles (A1, A2) of the partial webs onto the surface of the winding roll (12, 41, 42) is at least 120° and the wrap angle ratio, i.e. the relation of the larger wrap angle to the smaller wrap angle, is at least 1 and at most 1.25.
US09169093B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a first guide, a switchback roller, a second guide, and a corrugation member. The corrugation member has a shape for producing a recessed portion and a ridge portion in a sheet. The second guide has a first guide surface and a second guide surface disposed to contact the recessed portion and the ridge portion of the sheet, respectively. As viewed from a downstream side of the switchback roller in a sheet ejection direction along a tangent to the switchback roller at a nip position, a distance between an end of the first guide closest to the switchback roller and an end of the second guide surface closest to the switchback roller is greater than a distance between the end of the first guide closest to the switchback roller and an end of the first guide surface closest to the switchback roller.
US09169084B2
Apparatus for singulating load items, with first conveyor means working in a delivery direction and having a first conveying surface for delivering load items, with second conveyor means disposed adjacent to a transfer region of the first conveyor means and having a second conveying surface for receiving the load items delivered by the first conveyor means and for conveying the load items away therefrom. The first conveying surface slopes downwards in the delivery direction and towards the second conveyor means, with a guide means disposed between the transfer region of the first conveyor means and the receiving region of the second conveyor means for the controlled transfer of load items from the first to the second conveyor means. The guide means has a guiding surface running along the transfer region, which projects at a height that declines in the delivery direction above an extension plane of the first conveying surface.
US09169079B2
The conveyance rollers are arranged at a predetermined roller pitch in the conveyance direction and arranged in rows so as to be capable of supporting at least the side ends of an object being conveyed. The conveyance rollers are formed along the conveyance direction by a repetition unit composed of the drive rollers and the free rollers. The roller pitch of the conveyance rollers is set based on the dimension of the object, and the smaller of distances from respective ends in the conveyance direction of the object to the position of the center of gravity of the object. The arrangement ratio of the drive rollers in the conveyance rollers is set based on the smaller of the distances from the respective ends in the conveyance direction of the object to the position of the center of gravity of the object, and the roller pitch.
US09169071B2
Extendable conveyors with lights are disclosed herein. An example extendable conveyor disclosed herein includes a base unit and a mechanically extendable section, which is adjustably positionable between a nested position within the base unit and an extended position telescoped forwardly from the base unit. The conveyor includes a conveying surface to convey articles extending at least partially on an upper side of the mechanically extendable section. A light source is positioned at a lower side of the mechanically extendable section to illuminate at least an area below the mechanically extendable section.
US09169064B2
A bag reloading garbage unit includes a base with a compartment therein for containing a plurality of separably interconnected garbage bags. The base includes a slot through which the garbage bags can be pulled into position for use. The base includes at least two articulable guide arms with guide channels therein for engaging with a garbage bag being pulled into position. When the garbage bag top arrives at the top of each articulable guide arm, the top of the garbage bag is secured in position within the unit. The guide arms operate to open and close the garbage bag. When the garbage bag is full, it is closed and removed by pulling upward and pulling with it a connected garbage bag into position in the garbage unit.
US09169058B1
Improvements have been made to one or more of a lid, cover, and base of a tri-fold egg carton, the improvements allowing the secure and easy loading and protection of jumbo sized eggs, in cartons that can be processed and packaged with standard equipment and in standard case sizes. Further, in one or more embodiments the improvements provide improved processability with automated labeling equipment. In one or more embodiments, the improvements allow for improved de-nesting of multiple empty cartons, prior to filling.
US09169046B2
A ball display case has base and a cover that is securable to the base. The cover and base at least partially enclose a space for holding a ball when the cover is secured to the base. The cover can be moved to a position in which the cover cannot be non-destructively removed from the base without moving the cover relative to the base away from this position. A lock is adapted for selective application to at least one of the base and the cover. The lock prevents non-destructive movement of the cover away from the position. The lock is adapted for selectively and irreversibly converting the display case from an unlocked condition in which the cover is releasably secured to the base to a locked condition in which the cover cannot be non-destructively removed from the base.
US09169044B2
Methods and apparatus for containing a hazardous material according to various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with a container having two compartments. The first compartment is configured to contain the hazardous material within a non-rigid bladder and the second compartment contains a hazard control material within a two-piece container configured to enclose the first compartment. The container may further comprise a wall separating the first compartment from the second compartment that is configured to open upon occurrence of a trigger event to release the hazard control material.
US09169041B2
Mating engagement surfaces on the bottom panel and lid on each of two or more containers permit the containers to be helically stacked on an axis. As stacked, a front face of one container is displaced from front faces of adjacent ones of the containers by a predetermined angle preselected to be more than zero but less than ninety degrees.
US09169032B2
A system for remotely indicating the level of grain being loaded into a grain trailer. Plural vertically oriented sensing strips are affixed to a trailer's hopper(s) sidewall of the trailer's hopper(s) at spaced locations. Signals from transducer elements on the strips are delivered to an electronics module on the trailer's forward wall. The electronics module includes a multiplexer for sampling the state of the strip transducers and a wireless transmitter for relaying the state data to a receiver and microprocessor in the cab of a towing vehicle. The microprocessor presents a visual display of height reached by the grain in a hopper as loading continues. Following system calibration where a pixel count of the load being displayed and a measured net weight of the load are determined using a scale, a calibration factor corresponding to the weight-per-pixel is stored for use in computing the weight and volume of subsequent loads.
US09169023B2
A cabin supply bracket for a cabin supply duct assembly is provided. The cabin supply bracket includes a base plate with a first, second, and third mounting hole distributed in a substantially triangular arrangement. The first mounting hole has a centerline defined therethrough. A coupling socket extends from the base plate. The coupling socket includes a first and second tie rod coupling support having a tie rod coupling hole formed therethrough and a first and second outer edge. The first outer edge is proximate the second mounting hole, and the second outer edge is proximate the third mounting hole. The coupling socket has a socket width defined between a first socket edge proximate the first outer edge and a second socket edge proximate the second outer edge. A ratio of the socket width to a thickness of the base plate is between 6.31 and 7.84.
US09169021B2
A bulkhead for dividing passenger seating classes, and a passenger seating arrangement including a bulkhead, the bulkhead configured for attachment to the back of a first row of premium class passenger seats, wherein a backside of the bulkhead is fitted with amenities that serve an aft positioned second row of economy class seats, wherein the first row of seats includes a lesser number of seats than the second row of seats.
US09169019B2
A fastening system for overhead storage bins on a supporting structure, having at least one pair of suspension eye lugs attached to a supporting structure or the overhead storage bins. The suspension eye lugs are detachably interconnected by a main pin, with receivers for the main pin being in alignment in a mounting position of the overhead storage bin. The main pin is spring-loaded in a main pin guide toward the other suspension eye lug and has, with the overhead storage bin not yet mounted, an end position in which the main pin is deployed from the main pin guide. A portion of the suspension eye lugs has a sloping ramp that allows the main pin to be deployed in the receiver of the other suspension eye lug by action of preload during upward movement of the overhead storage bin and its suspension eye lug into the mounting position.
US09169018B2
An aircraft radio system comprising a plurality of radios interconnected by a digital communications network, each radio having a transceiver and a dedicated processor platform, the aircraft radio system being configured to cause the dedicated processor platforms to constitute a virtual processing environment for the aircraft radio system. There is also an aircraft radio system comprising a plurality of discrete radios interconnected by a digital communications network, each radio having a transceiver, a dedicated processor platform and a server configured to support communications over the network using PPPoE, Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet, to provide a common digital interface between an aircraft domain and the radios for plural types of communication.
US09169013B2
A method involves operating an aerial vehicle to travel along a first closed path on a tether sphere while oriented in a crosswind-flight orientation. A tether is connected to the aerial vehicle on a first end and is connected to a ground station on a second end. Further, the tether sphere has a radius corresponding to a length of the tether. The method further involves while the aerial vehicle is in the crosswind-flight orientation, operating the aerial vehicle to travel along a second closed path on the tether sphere, such that a speed of the aerial vehicle is reduced. And the method involves after or while the speed of the aerial vehicle is reduced, transitioning the aerial vehicle from traveling along the second closed path while in the crosswind-flight orientation to a hover-flight orientation.
US09169012B2
A system and method to tilt coaxial counter-rotating rotor hub assemblies relative to a fuselage. The system includes a first rotor hub assembly and a second rotor hub assembly spaced apart from the first hub assembly and carried by the fuselage. The method includes pivotally attaching the first rotor hub assembly and the second rotor hub assembly to a pivot joint and thereafter tilting the first rotor hub assembly and the second rotor hub assembly about the pivot joint with a driver.
US09169007B2
The invention relates to a method of managing parking braking in a braking system for a vehicle fitted with at least one electric brake including at least one electric actuator having a pusher actuated by an electric motor for selectively applying a force against friction elements of the brake, the method comprising the steps of: establishing a series of direct adjustment tables for parking braking, corresponding to braking situations at different energy levels; when applying parking braking, selecting a direct adjustment table corresponding to a braking situation preceding the application of parking braking; and directly adjusting a parking braking force in application with the selected direct adjustment table.
US09169004B2
A motorizing system is provided for powering a wheel associated with a suspension of an aircraft, so that the aircraft can be moved around on ground. The motorized system includes a motor unit, a drive member that is structured to be secured to the wheel, and a clutch device that connects an output shaft of the motor unit to the drive member. The motor unit is structured to be secured to a sprung part of a suspension strut. A positive transmission occurs between the motor unit and the drive member.
US09169003B2
An aircraft landing gear self-orients so to align itself within a plane parallel to the plane defined by the aircraft's roll and yaw axis. A nose gear of a tricycle landing gear configuration includes the ability to not only caster 360 degrees but also self-orient itself to be aligned parallel with the plane defined by the aircraft's roll and yaw axis once removed from any interaction with the ground. A simple and efficient mechanical design provides the landing gear with a substantially constant centering torque that neither impedes nor impairs ground movement yet returns the nose gear to a proper alignment for retraction and stowage.
US09169001B2
The present disclosure relates to isolation and reconfiguration schemes, architectures and methods for use in aircraft hydraulic systems. The main hydraulic system of each hydraulic section of the aircraft hydraulic system can be isolated from one or more consumers in the event of a leak without the use pressure from the backup system. Further, in some embodiments, the main hydraulic system of each hydraulic section of the aircraft hydraulic system can be isolated from one or more consumers in the event of a leak without the use pressure from the backup system and the main system.
US09168981B2
A boat includes a hull having an aft stern hatch located in an inner aft compartment of the aforesaid hull, the hatch having a body with opposing flanks or sides pivoted on the hull, and upper and lower edges. The hatch includes pivot members associated with the flanks or sides in the proximity of the upper edge and in the proximity of the lower edge, the pivot members being movable towards the inside and towards the outside of these flanks so they can protrude from the flanks in combination or alternatively to each other, thereby allowing the hatch to assume, alternatively, a position in which it is closed on to the compartment, a first position of opening to an upper part of the hull, or a second position of opening to a lower part of the hull.
US09168972B2
A control device, for the rear shock absorber of a bicycle, includes a first air chamber, a second air chamber, a third air chamber, an auxiliary air chamber, and a sliding rod. An air piston is arranged inside one of the first, second and third air chambers. However, those air chambers are respectively provided with an air hole communicating with the auxiliary air chamber. The sliding rod is configured with air tight rings, which are arranged top-to-bottom and tightly touch the inner wall of the auxiliary air chamber. Moreover, the sliding rod is provided with grooves between the air tight rings, so that the axially movement of the sliding rod may manage the first, second and third air chambers to be disconnected or to communicate with one other via the grooves to adjust the damping coefficient of the rear shock absorber.
US09168971B2
An accelerator operating device for electrically controlling the output of a power unit on the basis of the manipulated variable of a controller, by achieving the generation of a frictional resistance using a simple configuration. An accelerator operating device includes an extended portion turned upon the operation of a throttle grip; a torsion coil spring biasing the extended portion in a returning direction while the extended portion is turned; and a friction generating mechanism adding a frictional resistance to the turning movement. The friction generating mechanism includes a compression coil spring applying a pressing force to the extended portion, and a friction member brought into sliding contact with the extended portion by being pressed by the compression coil spring. The torsion coil spring and the compression coil spring are placed coaxially with the extended portion and overlap each other at least partially along the axial direction of the extended portion.
US09168968B2
A detachable top tube assembly includes inner and outer tube members telescopically received by one another. Each inner and outer tube member includes one or more of an elliptical cross-sectional shape or is arced along a longitudinal axis thereof to prevent rotation of the inner and outer tube members relative to one another. Each of a pair of yoke assemblies is disposed at opposite ends of the inner and outer tube members and include a rotatable gate assembly for opening and closing the yoke assemblies. A pair of spring biased members is provided for engagement with the rotatable gate assemblies to maintain the gate assemblies in a closed position. A pair of button covers is provided for depressably engaging each spring biased member so to allow the gate assemblies to be rotated relative to a respective inner and outer tube member.
US09168959B2
This invention provides a foldable/retractable and unfoldable/deployable, rearwardly tapered aerodynamic assembly for use on the rear trailer bodies and other vehicles that accommodate dual swing-out doors. The aerodynamic assembly includes a right half mounted on the right hand door and a left half mounted on a left hand door. Each half is constructed with a side panel, top panel and bottom panel, which each form half of an overall tapered box when deployed on the rear of the vehicle, the bottom panels and top panels being sealed together at a pair of overlapping weather seals along the centerline. The panels are relatively thin, but durable, and are joined to each other by resilient strip hinges. The top and bottom panels are also hinged to form two sections along diagonal lines to facilitate folding of all panels in a relatively low-profile stacked orientation. This low profile allows the doors to be swung through approximately 270 degrees to be secured to the sides of the body in a manner that does not interfere with adjacent doors or bodies in, for example a multi-bay loading dock. A swing arm assembly and gas spring biases the panels into a deployed position that can be refolded by grasping the side panel and rotating it inward toward the door surface. The top and bottom panels are partly inwardly folded when deployed to define external valleys using a stop assembly. This ensures that the panels fold readily when desired without the two sections of the panels “locking up”.
US09168957B2
A vehicle body rear structure includes an upper back cross-sectional portion which forms a skeleton frame cross member that is elongated in a vehicle width direction, a bracket package tray which is located on a vehicle rear side of the upper back cross-sectional portion and joined to the upper back cross-sectional portion, a roof side inner which is located on a vehicle top side of a wheel house, a roof side outer which is located outside an extended portion and the roof side inner in a vehicle width direction and which has a front end portion which is joined to the upper back cross-sectional portion and a rear end portion which is joined to a bracket package tray, and a bulk connector which couples the roof side outer and the upper back cross-sectional portion.
US09168952B2
A steering angle sensor for motor vehicles for determining the steering angle of a steering element of a steering wheel assembly, which is rotatable during a steering movement is provided. The steering angle sensor comprises a rotatably mounted drive element which during a rotary movement of the steering element likewise performs a rotary movement, and a rotatably mounted driven element which is in engagement with the drive element and is driven by the same. The steering angle is determined by detecting the rotary movement and/or the angle of rotation of the driven element. The drive element and/or the driven element include elastic means via which the drive element and the driven element are braced against each other.
US09168949B2
A steering system clatter mitigation apparatus and method. The clatter mitigation apparatus excites the steering system at a frequency within a range of an existing engine noise. The excitation of the steering system at a different frequency than the clatter sound greatly reduces the clatter sound. The sound produced by the excitation of the steering system is masked by the existing sound of the engine.
US09168947B2
A power steering system has: a steering shaft; a pinion shaft; a torque sensor; a rack housing communicating with inside of the sensor housing; a rack shaft provided in the rack housing; a motor housing communicating with inside of the rack housing; an electric motor provided in the motor housing; an ECU housing communicating with inside of the motor housing; a motor control unit housed in the ECU housing; and a respiration valve provided at any of the sensor housing, the rack housing and the motor housing and located at an upper side with respect to an upper end of the ECU housing in vehicle-mounted state. The respiration valve has function by which air passes through each house and between inside and outside of the ECU housing so as to absorb change of expansion/contraction of the air in the ECU housing while suppressing entry of water from the outside.
US09168941B2
A stroller assembly includes a cushion below the seat fabric connected between the pair of primary rear legs and the pair of lower front legs, the cushion having a pair of straps on an upper side when the stroller assembly is an open configuration. The pair of handle bars are pivotable about the pair of upper hinges to rest against the primary rear legs. The pair of lower front legs are pivotable about the pair of lower hinges to rest against the pair of primary front legs. The cushion is detachable about a pivot axis and configured to be rotated about the pivot axis to such the lower side of the cushion can be rested against lower front legs rested against the pair of primary front legs.
US09168940B1
A device has four legs each leg having a plurality of teeth. The device further includes a body which has four gears wherein each of the four gears meshes with the teeth of a different leg. A first gear is connected to a second gear by a first shaft, and a third gear is connected to a fourth gear by a second shaft. The first gear meshes with the third gear, and the second gear meshes with the fourth gear. The legs can be selectively positioned to a retracted position adjacent to the body or to an extended position projecting away from the body. A biasing mechanism urges the four legs to the extended position. A locking mechanism locks the legs in either the retracted position or the extended position.
US09168939B2
The invention discloses a baby carriage comprising a frame, a seat disposed on the frame, and a front wheel assembly and a rear wheel assembly arranged at the bottom of the frame. The frame comprises a push rod, a front wheel bracket with an upper portion being rotatably connected with the push rod and a lower end being provided with the front wheel assembly, a rear wheel bracket with a lower end being provided with the rear wheel assembly; and a seat rod with a front portion being connected with the front wheel bracket and a rear portion being rotatably connected with the rear wheel bracket. The seat is located above the seat rod. A sliding element is is slidably disposed on the push rod along the push rod, and the sliding element is rotatably connected with the rear wheel bracket. The push rod has a first working position and a second working position, in the first working position, an upper portion of the push rod is located above the seat at it's back side, and in the second working position, the upper portion of the push rod is located above the seat at it's front side. During the conversion of the push rod, the push rod is rotated relative to the front wheel bracket, the sliding element on the push rod is moved under the traction of the rear wheel bracket, and the rear wheel bracket is rotated relative to the seat rod under the traction of the sliding element. The baby carriage of the invention has simple configuration, and the folding of the frame will not be hindered by any parts.
US09168938B2
A folding ball trolley having a minimized volume has a frame, a bag and multiple resilient elements. The frame has four stand rods, four top seats, four sliding seats, four wheels, four connecting rod assemblies and four mounting rods. The bag connects to the mounting rods, and the mounting rods pivotally connect to the stand rods. Accordingly, the mounting rods can be rotated relative to the stand rods, such that the mounting rods do not protrude upward to occupy too much space when the ball trolley is folded. Besides, the frame is braced by the resilient elements so a user does not have to stretch his hands between the rods when folding the ball trolley, thereby preventing the hands from being clamped.
US09168931B1
A recreational apparatus is provided having an elevated railway system with a vehicle suspended therefrom. The vehicle includes a drive mechanism that is responsive to energy input in order to advance the vehicle along the elevated railway system. The drive mechanism is capable of efficiently motivating the vehicle along straight and curved sections of the elevated railway system with minimal stress on moving parts, and minimal frictional losses.
US09168924B2
A lane controller system installed on a vehicle may include components for self-diagnosing malfunctions on the vehicle. The system may include a desired path generator for generating a desired path that keeps the vehicle within a road lane; a steering controller for providing steering a steering correction to keep the vehicle within the road lane; a vehicle state estimator for estimating the state of the vehicle; a lane marking detector for detecting position of road lane markings; a path predictor for predicting a path actively followed by the vehicle; a virtual dynamics module for modeling the anticipated path of the vehicle following input of the steering controller; a comparer that compares the results of actual steering corrections applied with those predicted by the virtual dynamics module, and a diagnostic system that determines a root cause of malfunctions, based on the comparison by the comparer.
US09168923B2
A system and method of maintaining a vehicle on a driver intended path is disclosed. The method includes steps of detecting a failure in a power steering system and controlling a braking system to maintain the motor vehicle approximately on a driver intended path. The driver intended path can be a straight path or a curved path.
US09168919B2
A hybrid vehicle includes a combustion engine (2) with a driveshaft (4) for driving the wheels of at least one axle (7), at least one electrical machine (11, 12) for driving the wheels of this axle or at least one other axle (10), with the at least one electrical machine capable of being operated as a generator during a braking process and as a motor during an acceleration process, and a further electrical machine (18) which is coupled to the at least one electrical machine and includes a flywheel store which has a rotor (14) and is chargeable during a braking operation and dischargeable during an acceleration process. The rotor (14) can be mechanically coupled via at least one shiftable clutch (23) to the driveshaft (4) of the at least one axle (7) which can be driven by the combustion engine.
US09168917B2
A cooling system circulates a coolant between an engine, an inverter and a radiator to cool the engine and the inverter. A driving mode of the vehicle can be changed between an EV-mode in which the vehicle is driven only by the motor and an HV-mode in which the vehicle is driven by at least one of the motor and the engine. When a driving mode is EV-mode, a coolant temperature is increased to cool the inverter. In the EV-mode, a vehicle is driven by motor only. When the inverter temperature is increased, the allowable current of the inverter can be increased and an allowable output of a motor can be increased.
US09168915B2
A vehicle includes: a motor generator for generating driving power for traveling thereof; an ECU for controlling the motor generator; and an inclination detecting unit for detecting inclination of a road surface. The ECU performs power changing driving in which the vehicle is traveled while switching the motor generator between a first state (high output state) and a second state (low output state). In the first state (high output state), driving power of a first level is generated. In the second state (low output state), the driving power is made smaller than that in the first state. When it is recognized that the vehicle is traveling on an uphill road based on the inclination detected by the inclination detecting unit, ECU sets the driving power in the first state to be larger than that set when the vehicle is traveling on a flat road.
US09168912B2
A process for operating a fuel cell system (2), which is arranged in a vehicle (1) having a tachograph (6) and an internal combustion engine (3), and used for power supply of at least one electrical component (10) of the vehicle (1) with the internal combustion engine (3) switched off. With the fuel cell system (2) switched off, the control device (4) receives from the tachograph (6) a foreseeable break start time of an operating break following a drive mode, which is legally prescribed and/or planned by the driver of the vehicle (1), at which the internal combustion engine (3) is switched off. The control device (4) determines a start time such that a start procedure of the fuel cell system (2) ends at the break start time and the fuel cell system (2) is ready for operation, when the fuel cell system (2) is started at the start time.
US09168907B2
A method for testing a reservoir warning apparatus of a fluid reservoir for a hydraulic motor vehicle brake system, with the reservoir warning apparatus comprising a switching unit with at least one reed contact as the switching element. In order to find all possible faults in the reed contact, a dynamic contact resistance and a transient response of the reed contact are measured at the preassembled switching unit.
US09168896B2
A vehicle driving control system and method for selecting a driving pattern using a predetermined program (or application) and for operating vehicle driving via a terminal that provides driving information of the selected driving pattern. The vehicle driving control system may include a terminal configured to transmit a selected driving pattern mode and driving pattern control information on the selected driving pattern mode to a vehicle controller when a predetermined vehicle driving pattern control program is executed. A vehicle controller is configured to operate an object of a vehicle related to driving based on the driving pattern mode and the driving pattern control information transmitted by the terminal. A transceiver is configured to transmit and receive signals between the terminal and the vehicle controller.
US09168895B2
A vehicle computing system configured to program a mobile device as a key fob. The vehicle computing system includes a processor and a user interface. The user interface is configured to receive input from a user. The processor is configured to detect a valid key fob configured to control one or more vehicle control functions. The processor may transmit vehicle security codes for programming a connected mobile device to implement the one or more vehicle control functions based on a request to create a mobile device key fob via the user interface and a detected valid key fob. Once programmed, the mobile device may implement one or more vehicle control functions on the mobile device when the valid key fob is not present.
US09168893B1
A system, method, and apparatus for disabling and/or enabling a vehicle. In one embodiment, the invention can be a method for disabling and/or enabling a vehicle, the method comprising: receiving, with an electronic apparatus, a disable starter command, the electronic apparatus operably coupled to a starter circuit of the vehicle to enable and/or disable the starter circuit; the electronic apparatus disabling the starter circuit of the vehicle in response to the disable starter command; the electronic apparatus sending a test signal via a wireless network to a remote server when the vehicle is in a parked state and the starter circuit is disabled; and upon the electronic apparatus determining that the test signal was not successfully sent to the remote server, the electronic apparatus enabling the starter circuit of the vehicle.
US09168891B2
A retractor for a seat belt is disclosed, including a frame, a spool that is mounted rotatably to the inside of the frame, a webbing that is wound on the spool to be pulled-in constantly to the inside of the frame and pulled-out freely from the inside of the frame to the outside thereof, a controller for recognizing vehicle information and controlling the pulling-in of the webbing, a motor for generating a driving force to rotate the spool in accordance with the control of the controller and a clutch for receiving the driving force from the motor and transmitting the driving force to the spool wherein the clutch includes; a driven gear that receives the driving force from a driving gear provided on a rotation shaft of the motor; a plate that is provided facing to one end of the driven gear and inter-connected with the driven gear; a braking disk that is provided to be engaged with the other face opposing one face of the plate, facing to one end of the driven gear, and is in friction with the plate to stay temporally the plate when the plate is inter-connected with the driven gear; and a locking pole that is mounted pivotably to the plate and pivoted by a rotation of the driven gear when the plate is stayed temporally by the braking disk to be meshed with a pinion gear provided on a rotation shaft of the spool thereby transmitting the driving force transmitted from the driven gear to the spool.
US09168883B1
A rail assembly for a frame of a vehicle includes a rail defining a cavity. The cavity extends along an axis for receiving an energy absorbing member of a bumper assembly. A brace is fixed to the rail and includes a side wall extending along the axis in the cavity. The brace includes an end wall extending from the side wall in the cavity transversely to the axis adjacent to the energy absorbing member in the cavity. The rail defines a hole and the brace defines a hole aligned with the hole of the rail for receiving a fastener to engage the energy absorbing member.
US09168881B2
Automotive electrical system for a motor vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle; the electric vehicle system comprising a series of electric vehicle loads, an electric battery, and an alternator generating a supply voltage of the electric vehicle loads and of the electric battery; the alternator comprising an inductive electric circuit adapted to be crossed by an electric control current; the electric vehicle system comprises an alternator electronic control system configured so as to determine a series of battery parameters (pam_bat) indicating the state of operation of the electric battery; determine at least a first vehicle parameter indicating the acceleration of the motor vehicle; determine the operative state of the internal combustion engine; determine an electric regulation voltage according to the operative engine station, to the vehicle parameter and to the battery parameters; vary an electric control current circulating in the inductive electric circuit of the alternator according to the electric regulation voltage.
US09168878B2
A multi-piece molding retainer assembly including a female stud engagement latch which is held in floating snap-fit relation within a molding engagement clip adapted to engage and retain the overlying molding. The stud engagement latch and the molding engagement clip are moveable in relation to one another in both the longitudinal and lateral directions after attachment. The retainer assembly accommodates variations in stud position and height such that the attached molding may be properly positioned despite variations in the studs.
US09168877B2
An airbag unit includes an airbag, a cover part which covers the airbag, a fitting member which is fitted on a front side of the cover part, and a fastening member which fastens the fitting member on a back side of the cover part. The fastening member includes a first fastening part which is inserted from a side into a first locking part provided on the fitting member, in a state in which the first locking part penetrates the cover part to a back side of the cover part, a second fastening part which is inserted from the side into a second locking part provided on the fitting member, in a state in which the second locking part penetrates the cover part to the back side of the cover part, and a connecting part which connects a base end part of the first fastening part and a base end part of the second fastening part, and external shapes of the first fastening part and the second fastening part are mutually different.
US09168869B1
The vehicle with a multi-function auxiliary control system and heads-up display includes a plurality of telematics units integrated into a road vehicle. Telematics units are connected to allow communication with an occupant of the vehicle, communication among the telematics units, and communication to a Smart heads-up display (HUD) positioned on the driver's side to project vehicle and environmental information onto the vehicle's windshield. The HUD projects the display image for heads-up view by the driver using either a reflector lens in back of, or a transparent film applied to, the windshield. Side view cameras and rear-facing radars are combined to alert the driver of blind spots of approaching vehicles from the rear. Forward-looking infra-red cameras are connected to the HUD to assist the driver's forward view under poor visibility conditions. A central controller in the vehicle assists driver input to the multi-function auxiliary control system devices.
US09168858B2
The invention relates to a method for transporting two or three pre-bend wind turbine blades for a wind turbine and to a wind turbine blade transport unit, the wind turbine blades each having a length extending from a first end, e.g. a root end describing a first end plane, to a second end, e.g. a tip end, where the length is at least 35 meters, the wind turbine blades each having a central longitudinal axis extending perpendicular from the first end plane and towards the second end, the wind turbine blade additionally having an aerodynamically shaped body having a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge and a trailing edge. The wind turbine blades are fixed in specific positions in relation to one or two other wind turbine blades as a single transport unit.
US09168855B2
A composite component such as a seat back for a vehicle comprises a support portion and at least one reinforcing composite layer. The support portion comprises a thermoplastic material and the reinforcing composite layer comprises a polymeric material impregnating a plurality of fibers. The polymeric material of the reinforcing composite layer is integrated with the thermoplastic of the support portion. A method of forming the composite component includes placing the composite layer into a mold, heating the thermoplastic material to a molten state, and disposing the thermoplastic material in the molten state into contact with the composite layer. The method further includes promoting interaction between the thermoplastic material and the polymeric material to integrate the support portion and the reinforcing composite layer. The thermoplastic material supports the reinforcing composite layer and the reinforcing composite layer reinforces the thermoplastic material to prevent failure when subjected to a load.
US09168854B2
A vehicle seat base is provided with a foam bun that includes a protective cloth that is molded into the foam bun and attached with the seat cover material to the seat frame. A suspension mat is attached to the protective cloth below the foam bun to add support.
US09168851B1
A foldable head restraint assembly, including: a bracket assembly adapted for fixed disposition in a seat back; a head restraint support for mounting a bun assembly above the seat back, the head restraint support pivotally mounted to the bracket assembly so as to be pivotally movable relative to the bracket assembly in at least first and second directions between upright and folded positions; at least one biasing element biasing the head restraint support into one of the upright and folded positions; and at least one rotary damper which retards the motion of the head restraint support during at least a portion of the head restraint support's pivotal movement in at least one of the first and second directions.
US09168850B2
A vehicle seating assembly is provided which includes a second row center seating unit including a seatback and a seat that includes a front and a rear. A slide assembly is coupled with the rear of the seat, and the seating unit is operable between a first position wherein a seat is proximate the slide assembly and a second position wherein the seat is slid forward and rotated upward such that the seatback is proximate the slide assembly. A support surface extends over the seat and is openable to expose a storage compartment when the seating unit is in the second position. A retaining feature is disposed in the front of the seat in order to secure items extending through the vehicle over the seating unit.
US09168849B2
A child car safety seat includes: a base having a shell body that defines an inner space therein and that is formed with a viewing window for permitting a user to view therethrough into the inner space; a seat body detachably mountable on and engageable with the base; and an indicator disposed in the inner space in the shell body and having an indication. The indicator is operatively associated with the base and the seat body such that the indication is disposed at the viewing window upon engagement between the seat body and the base so as to permit the user to see the indication through the viewing window and is not disposed at the viewing window upon disengagement between the seat body and the base.
US09168847B2
A seat tilt mechanism comprising a cam connected to a lever wherein the lever moves horizontally from a first position to a second position to actuate the cam; a latch configured to engage with the at least one detent and disengage with the cam when the lever is in the first position and configured to engage with the cam and disengage with the at least one detent when the lever is in the second position; said detent includes at least two positions which can be selectively engaged by the latch; and a seat rod configured for attachment between a seat frame and the at least one detent such that when the latch is engaged with the selected position, the tilt of the seat is defined.
US09168845B2
Disclosed is a method of controlling an operation mode of a fuel cell in a fuel cell vehicle wherein, (a) when a driver-demanded torque is lower than a first torque, and a current state of charge (SOC) in a battery is higher than a first SOC, the operation mode of the fuel cell is converted to a stop mode, and (b) when the driver-demanded torque is higher than a second torque, or the current SOC in the battery is lower than a second SOC, the operation mode is converted to a start mode, wherein the second torque is higher than the first torque and the second SOC is lower than the first SOC.
US09168833B2
An indicating instrument has a pointer rotatable about a pointer axle. A coupling part, a pointer vane and at least one pointer section are arranged between the pointer and the axle. Between the pointer coupling part and the pointer vane at least one pointer section is held in a base structure.
US09168832B2
Disclosed is a system and method for controlling a speed of a vehicle on a curved road according to the present invention. The system for controlling a speed of a vehicle on a curved road according to the present invention includes: a trace corrector configured to correct a trace of a curved road on which the vehicle is to be driven; a curvature calculator configured to calculate a curvature based on feature points of the corrected driving trace; a proper speed calculator configured to calculate a proper speed for each feature point of the driving trace based on the calculated curvature; and a curved road goal acceleration calculator configured to determine a speed control point for controlling a speed based on the calculated proper speed, and to calculate a curved road goal acceleration of the determined speed control point.
US09168827B2
An active grille system which is mounted to a fascia, grille, or carrier, or is part of the carrier of an automobile. Two sets of louvers are rotatably mounted to a frame, and a camming mechanism provides selective actuation of both sets of louvers, and an actuator controls the camming mechanism such that the actuator moves the camming mechanism between a first position, a second position, and a third position. When the camming mechanism is in the first position, both the first set and second set of louvers are in a closed position, when the camming mechanism is in the second position, the first set of louvers are in an open position and the second set of louvers are in a closed position, and when the camming mechanism is in the third position both the first set and second set of louvers are in an open position.
US09168826B2
A hybrid power train for a vehicle may include an input shaft, an engine side driving gear mounted at the input shaft, an output shaft, an engine side driven gear fixedly mounted at the output shaft and meshed with the engine side driving gear, a motor side driving gear and mounted to rotate by the motor, a motor side driven gear fixedly mounted at the output shaft and meshed with the motor side driving gear, an output gear rotatably mounted at the output shaft, a one way clutch mounted between the output gear and the output shaft, a clutch device mounted on the output shaft, and a planetary gear apparatus engaging between the output shaft and the output gear.
US09168823B2
A transmission system of a hybrid electric vehicle may include an input shaft connected to an engine, first and second motors/generators disposed on a transmission housing, a planetary gear set disposed on the input shaft and having three rotation elements, of which one rotation element is connected to the transmission housing, another rotation element is connected to the input shaft, and the other rotation element is connected to the first motor/generator and operated as an output element, a first output gear disposed on the input shaft without rotational interference therebetween and connected to the second motor/generator, a second output gear disposed on the input shaft without rotational interference therebetween, and a first clutch selectively connecting the second output gear to the input shaft.
US09168814B2
A sound dampening system having at least two acoustic deflection pads separated by a distance and an actuator operable to alter the distance in response to a stimulus. In some embodiments, the actuator is a shape memory alloy wire. The system is capable of alternating between a compact mode and a superior sound blocking mode. A door of an automotive vehicle incorporating such a system and a method of fabricating such a system.
US09168813B2
A door assembly (40) for a vehicle, including a vehicle door (12) for opening and closing a door opening in the vehicle body. The door comprises a door body (15), an outer cover member (27) which covers at least a part of the outer surface (53) of the door outer panel (21) of the door body, and a seal member (28). The outer cover member comprises an outer cover body (165) which covers the outer surface of the door outer panel, an extension section (164) which is extended further toward the outside than an edge (163) of the door body, and a closed cross-section section (166) which is formed in a closed cross-sectional shape on the rear surface (177) of the extension section. The seal member is attached to the closed cross-section section.
US09168811B2
A blower unit for a vehicle heating, venting, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit is disclosed. The blower unit includes a case member that defines at least one exterior air intake aperture and at least one interior air intake aperture. The blower unit also includes a sealing member, a first door, and a second door. The first and second doors can move independent of each other. The first and second doors can be positioned in a mixture position to allow air flow into the blower unit through both the exterior and interior air intake apertures. The first door, in the mixture position, is sealed against the sealing member. As such, the first door and the sealing member cooperate to reduce air flow out of the blower unit through the interior air intake aperture.
US09168808B2
The present invention is related to a damper device (1). More in particular, the present invention is related to a damper device for which the damping force can be varied using a magnetically actuated closing member (33) with which a bypass channel (15) can be closed or opened. According to the present invention, the magnetic reluctance of the magnetic loop for guiding the magnetic field (8) is configured such that a too strong of an upward bending of the magnetic force versus closing member displacement curve is prevented. This prevents the system from obtaining multiple settling points for the closing member for a given current value. Consequently, the damper device is more stable and the damping force offered by it can be controlled more accurately.
US09168795B2
A sensor device adapted to be associated with a vehicle wheel includes a package enclosing at least one sensor and an electronic data processing apparatus and at least one antenna arranged on the package for at least one among the wireless transmission of data generated by the electronic apparatus and the wireless reception of data to be provided to the electronic apparatus. The at least one antenna is shaped to adhere to surfaces of the package.
US09168788B2
Proposed is a pneumatic tire having excellent durability, handling stability and uneven wear resistance even if weight reduction is achieved by improving a belt.The pneumatic tire according to the present invention having a carcass layer 5 toroidally extending from a tread portion 3 through a side wall portion 2 to a bead portion 1, and a belt layer 6 disposed at the outer side of the carcass layer 5 in the tire radial direction, in which the carcass layer 5 includes one or more carcass plies 5a, the belt layer 6 includes a first belt 7 having a first cord 7a inclined with respect to a tire equator S at an angle in the range of 15° to 75° and a second belt 8 having a second cord 8a extending in parallel to the tire equator S, said first belt 7 having a tensile strength smaller than that of the second belt 8.
US09168787B2
Provided is a steel cord for reinforcing rubber articles which has both rubber penetration and productivity and which allows to reduce the weight of a tire without compromising the strength of the tire when applied to a tire, and a pneumatic tire using the same.The steel cord for reinforcing rubber articles of the present invention is a steel cord for reinforcing rubber articles comprising a core formed by arranging two core filaments in parallel without twisting the filaments together, and six sheath filaments twisted around the core. Letting the diameter of the core filament dc (mm), the diameter of the sheath filament ds (mm) and sheath filament twist pitch p (mm), an average sheath filament interval D represented by the following Formula (I): D=[L−6ds{1+(L/p)2}1/2]/6 (I), (where L=(π+2)dc+πds) is from 25 to 80 μm.
US09168783B2
A pivot hanger assembly adapted to being mounted to a structural supporting location associated with a vehicle lift. A clamp subassembly includes a plurality of assembleable and inter-adjustable brackets adapted to being affixed around a rectangular tubular perimeter corresponding to the structural supporting location of the vehicle lift. A selected one of the brackets exhibits at least a first hinge collar support extending along a vertically extending edge, with an elongated arm exhibiting at least a second hinge collar support along a proximal end which aligns with the first collar support in order to define a continuous channel. A hinge pin inserts through the continuous channel and in order to hingedly mount the arm to the clamp subassembly in a load bearing permitting fashion.
US09168779B2
A clipboard is defined by a planar support having a back surface that retains at least one magnet, thereby permitting releasable attachment of the clipboard to a metallic supporting surface. A dry-erasable steel surface is secured to the front of the support and a hinge clip attached enables at least one paper to be secured to the front side of the clipboard as well as at least one magnet.
US09168777B2
The present invention relates to a cliche for offset printing for forming a mesh pattern, and more specifically, to a cliche for offset printing comprising a mash pattern with a plurality of intersection units, wherein the plurality of intersection units are formed in a curved shape with a radius of curvature 0.6 to 4 times that of a mesh line width.When the cliche for offset printing of the present invention is used, line width reductions generated around the intersection units during mesh pattern printing may be reduced. As a result, when a final product is manufactured by using the cliche for printing of the present invention, the surface resistance properties of the product may be improved.
US09168773B2
A printing apparatus sequentially prints a plurality of images on a first surface of a sheet, and then sequentially prints a plurality of images on a second surface that is a back surface of the first surface. When a state of a printing unit is determined not to be normal when printing on the first surface, the printing apparatus executes processing for maintenance by using a sheet different from the sheet used for printing on the first surface.
US09168771B2
This disclosure discloses a printer comprises a roll storage part, a platen roller, a printing head, a separation plate, a first discharging exit, a pinch roller, a second discharging exit, and a first rib member. The platen roller contacts and feeds a print-receiving tape. The printing head is provided above the platen roller. The separation plate is provided on the other side than the platen roller and loops back a separation material layer toward a downward side and peel the print-receiving layer and the adhesive layer from the separation material layer. The first rib member is provided to a first section of a feeding path of the print-receiving tape and contacts the print-receiving tape from above, the first section being between a sandwiching position by the platen roller and the printing head and a support position of an end part of the separation plate.
US09168769B2
A recording apparatus includes a first accommodating section, a transporting mechanism configured to transport the recording medium in order of a first path to a fourth path and which includes a separating mechanism, and a recording section. The separating mechanism includes a feeding roller and a separating member. The first accommodating section, the second path, and the fourth path are arranged to overlap with each other in a vertical direction.
US09168767B2
In a row of lottery tickets each ticket has variable image printing game data printed onto a base layer on a substrate and a series of covering layers including at least one sealing layer and at least one scratch-off layer. Simultaneously game information is printed as a multi-color digital image for each ticket using a variable image printing system. The game information graphics can indicate different values for different ones of the tickets. The tickets in the row can be of different series for sale to different retailers. The printing system automatically correlates the game data and game information to ensure no registration errors thus allowing much improved variability and allowing the game to take into account both game data and game information in determining a winning ticket.
US09168764B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes (A) a carriage that moves a nozzle ejecting a liquid which is cured by irradiation of an electromagnetic wave in a moving direction, (B) a first irradiation section that is installed on the carriage and irradiates electromagnetic waves on dots formed by landing the liquid which is ejected from the moving nozzle, on a medium, and (C) a second irradiation section that is installed on the carriage and irradiates electromagnetic waves on the dots which are irradiated by the electromagnetic waves from the first irradiation section, in which an irradiance level of the electromagnetic waves from the second irradiation section is different from that of the electromagnetic waves from the first irradiation section.
US09168763B2
A recording apparatus includes: a holding unit that holds a liquid receptacle containing a liquid; a recording head that ejects, onto a recording medium, the liquid supplied from the liquid receptacle held by the holding unit; a heating unit that heats the recording medium; and a suction unit that includes a suction port for sucking air to the heating unit. Here, the suction port is disposed in a location that enables the atmosphere around the liquid receptacle to be sucked.
US09168759B2
A method, apparatus, and computer program product are described herein for controlling a printing device. In an example embodiment, a print line is divided into frames and frame dot states are determined based on neighboring frame dot states. Maximum motor speeds of the printing device may be adjusted so that actual motor speeds change gradually during printing. The print engine may detect a printhead type by sending a signal to the printhead and receiving a response.
US09168757B2
Color separation processing is performed on the input image data to generate material amount data representing the recording amount of each recording material. Halftone processing of generating binary data for each recording scan in an image recording apparatus is performed based on the material amount data. A discharge of a colored material in a first recording scan of recording the colored material and a discharge of a high transmissivity material in a second recording scan of recording the high transmissivity material are represented by the binary data for each recording scan. The high transmissivity material is recorded at a predetermined thickness on a recording layer of the colored material after the first recording scan.
US09168754B2
A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid ejection unit including a nozzle formation surface in which an opening of a nozzle for ejecting liquid is formed; a wiper disposed so that the wiper can come in contact with the nozzle formation surface; and a liquid collection portion, which is capable of collecting liquid adhered to the wiper, disposed on an end side of the nozzle formation surface of the liquid ejection unit so as to be spaced apart from the nozzle formation surface in a wiping direction. The liquid collection portion includes a scraper having a scraping surface that scrapes off the liquid adhered to the wiper by coming in contact with the wiper, and a liquid absorbing material disposed at a position that does not come in contact with the wiper and at a position that comes in contact with an end portion of the scraping surface.
US09168753B2
A maintenance device for a fluid ejection head has a small, compact switching mechanism that can appropriately switch drive force from a drive source and drive a suction pump and a wiper.A maintenance device 40 has caps 64 (1) to 65 (4) and wipers 75 (1) to 75 (4), a suction pump 94 that suctions waste ink from the caps 64 (1) to 65 (4), a cap drive transfer mechanism 80 that moves the caps 64 (1) to 65 (4) in a cap movement direction V, a wiper-pump drive transfer mechanism 90 that moves the wipers and drives the suction pump 94, and a drive switching mechanism 100 that switches driving by the wiper-pump drive transfer mechanism 90 to drive the suction pump 94 or move the wipers according to the position of cap movement.
US09168744B2
An electromechanical transducer element includes a substrate; a first electrode formed on the substrate as a common electrode; an electromechanical transducer membrane formed on the first electrode; a second electrode formed on the electromechanical transducer membrane as an individual electrode; a first insulation protection membrane formed on the first and the second electrode; a third electrode electrically connected to the first electrode; a fourth electrode electrically connected to the second electrode; a second insulation protection membrane including a common electrode pad formed on the third electrode and plural individual electrode pads formed on the fourth electrode; and a fifth electrode formed so as to surround a vicinity of at least one of the individual electrode pads disposed at end parts.Further, the fifth electrode is formed on the first insulation protection membrane and is electrically connected to the first electrode.
US09168737B1
A method for controlling an inkjet printing system including calculating a pigment concentration of ink ejected by the inkjet printhead relative to an initial pigment concentration of the ink based on a determined height of ink in an ink reservoir and a determined period of time since a last printhead activation. A firing pattern for the inkjet printhead is determined based on the determined height, the determined period of time and the calculated relative pigment concentration to account for settling of ink stored in the ink reservoir.
US09168716B2
An acoustic-attenuating wall panel for a nacelle of a turbine engine may include a radiused portion. The radiused portion may include an airflow surface having a concave configuration and which may be exposed to an airflow passing through the nacelle. The radiused portion may include an acoustic attenuating section.
US09168714B2
Methods for making paperboard blanks and paperboard products therefrom are provided. In one aspect, a method for making a paperboard blank can include burning a paperboard substrate to form at least one aperture therethrough. The method can also include securing a film onto a first side of the paperboard substrate to produce a paperboard blank.
US09168712B2
A pelletizing press for producing pellets from material to be pressed, preferably from biomass, for use as fuel in fire places, wherein the biomass consists of cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic fibers, chips or shreds. In the pelletizing press, a dispersion chamber is formed by at least one die having a plurality of bores for pressing the biomass and at least by a lateral wall, and at least one roller rolling on a rolling surface of the die is arranged in the dispersion chamber. A pelletizing press of this method for producing pellets enables the formation of a dispersion chamber that, by means of at least one lateral wall, is as compact and sealed as possible relative to the prior art. At least two lateral wall parts are arranged to form a lateral wall; at least the first lateral wall part is arranged to be movable in relation to the second lateral wall part for carrying out a relative movement.
US09168711B2
A long fiber reinforced plastic strand production device is provided with: a rotary type haul-off machine which forms a long fiber reinforced plastic strand by drawing out a reinforcing fiber bundle which has been impregnated with a plastic from an impregnation head while rotating the reinforcing fiber bundle around the axis thereof to apply twists in the reinforcing fiber bundle, and draws in the formed long fiber reinforced plastic strand; and a rotary type winding-up machine which introduces the long fiber reinforced plastic strand drawn from the rotary type haul-off machine to a winding bobbin while rotating the long fiber reinforced plastic strand around the axis of the strand in the same direction as the rotation direction of the reinforcing fiber bundle rotated by the rotary type haul-off machine, and winds the rotated long fiber reinforced plastic strand around the winding bobbin. The rotary type winding-up machine is constituted to be capable of rotating the long fiber reinforced plastic strand at a number of rotation smaller than the number of rotation of the reinforcing fiber bundle by the rotary type haul-off machine.
US09168709B2
Building a carcass structure of a tire for vehicle wheels includes associating, at each end edge of a carcass ply laying on a forming support, at least one respective annular reinforcing structure obtained by depositing at least one respective reinforcing element. The deposition process includes feeding a continuous reinforced band-like element at a cutting unit, cutting to size at least one first reinforcing element from the continuous reinforced band-like element, moving the first reinforcing element from the cutting unit toward a first end edge of the carcass ply, positioning the first reinforcing element on the first end edge, cutting to size at least one second reinforcing element from the continuous reinforced band-like element, moving the second reinforcing element from the cutting unit toward a second end edge of the carcass ply opposite said first end edge, and positioning the second reinforcing element on the other end edge.
US09168708B2
A method of forming a closed cell thermoplastic foam duct and a method of forming a duct and attaching it to an aircraft environmental control system. The environmental control system includes a duct made of closed cell thermoplastic foam, such as polyvinylidene fluoride foam.
US09168702B2
A method of manufacturing a composite structural member (1), comprising the step of laying up a stack of fiber reinforced laminate plies (12), wherein at least one of the plies is laid up as discrete first (13) and second ply (14) portions, and the fibers of the second portion (14) have a different characteristic from those of the first portion (13). Also, a composite structural member (1) manufactured according to the method.
US09168693B2
A self supporting curved laminate product resulting from curving of a planar precursor, wherein the planar precursor is a self supporting laminate of two sheets of an acrylic thermoplastic, or of sheets including an acrylic thermoplastic, spaced by, but attaching to, an interposed thermoset polyester system, and wherein curving has involved heating of the laminate sufficient to allow its curving without any substantial degradation of the lamination or its component layers.
US09168692B2
Disclosed herein is a cover sheet supply apparatus having variable clamps for a thermoforming machine. The apparatus includes a support frame (100); longitudinal guides (200) which are disposed in the support frame and each of which includes a longitudinal rail (210) and a longitudinal fixed unit (220); lateral guides (300) which are disposed in the support frame on opposite sides of the longitudinal guides, and each of which includes a lateral rail (310) and a lateral fixed unit (320); longitudinal movable clamps (230) which are installed on each longitudinal rail and are connected to each other by a longitudinal link (400); lateral movable clamps (330) which are installed on each lateral rail and are connected to each other by a lateral link (500); a lateral moving means (600) which moves the longitudinal guides in the lateral direction; and a longitudinal moving means (700) which moves the lateral guides in the longitudinal direction.
US09168688B2
There is provided an injection molding device in which the film cutoff and the injection molding can be conducted in one process without fine positional adjustment of the stopper and the shape of the edge surface of the member is not limited to the shape of the cutting blade.Resin is injected between a film (8) arranged on a cavity (1) as a metallic mold including a depression-shaped portion and a core (2) as a metallic mold including a projection-shaped portion to be inserted in the depression-shaped portion of the cavity (1), to thereby form a member; the cavity (1) includes a cutting blade (7) in an outer edge of the depression-shaped portion to cut off the film (8) arranged to project toward an outside plane of the depression-shaped portion; the core (2) includes an edge (3) in an outer edge of the projection-shaped portion to form an edge surface of the member; and when the core (2) is inserted in the cavity (1), the film (8) nipped by the cutting blade (7) and the edge (3) is cut off.
US09168664B2
In one aspect, coated cutting tools are described herein. In some embodiments, a coated cutting tool comprises a substrate and a refractory layer deposited by PVD adhered to the substrate, the refractory layer comprising M1−xAlxN wherein x≧0.4 and M is titanium, chromium or zirconium, the refractory layer having a thickness greater than 5 μm, hardness of at least 25 GPa and residual compressive stress less than 2.5 GPa.
US09168657B2
A parallel link robot (10) includes an additional actuator (13d) which is arranged between two driven links (22b, 23b) in parallel with these driven links, a power transmission shaft part (39) which extends coaxially from the additional actuator and transfers the rotational drive force of the additional actuator to a posture changing mechanism part (15), a universal joint (38) which links the shaft part (14) which extends from the posture changing mechanism part and a power transmission shaft part, and a linking/reinforcing part (61) which bypasses the universal joint and links together and reinforces the two ends of the cutaway part of the casing of the moving part (12).
US09168654B2
A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) is provided including a manually positionable articulated arm having opposed first and second ends. The arm includes multiple connected arm segments. Each arm segment has a longitudinal axis. Each arm segment includes a generally tubular core, an outer sleeve surrounding at least a portion of a length of the core, and at least one position transducer for producing a position signal. The outer sleeve is a cylindrical tube having a first portion at a first end and a second portion that extends from the first portion to an opposite end. The first portion is coupled to an end of the core. The first portion is shorter than the second portion and the second portion is configured to move relative to the core.
US09168651B2
A hand-held machine tool includes a gear unit and a torque clutch that has a torque-limiting coupling allocated to the gear unit and that is assigned at least one spring element which is clamped between a limit-transfer element and a spring-holding element, and which is designed to apply a predefined spring force to the limit-transfer element axially in the direction of the torque-limiting coupling. The spring-holding element includes at least one opening, through which the at least one spring element reaches, at least sectionally.
US09168648B2
A hammer that includes a handle and a head is provided. The head disposed on an upper end of the handle. The handle includes a core member; a rigid material layer molded on the core member; and a grip member molded on at least a portion of the rigid material layer. The grip member includes a first elastomeric material layer molded on the rigid material layer and a second elastomeric material molded on the first elastomeric material layer. The head has an eye portion extending through the head. The handle has at least a portion of its upper end extending into the eye portion. An epoxy resin material is positioned within the eye portion and is at least partially disposed between the handle and the head to secure the handle to the head. An elastomeric portion is at least partially disposed between the handle and the head.
US09168647B2
Methods and apparatus for removing a dent from an automobile rim are described herein. A hammer having a hammer head containing lead, antimony and aluminum is applied to pound an automobile rim. The dent is removed from the rim without breaking the rim. Different compounds of lead for the hammer head are provided. In one embodiment the hammer weighs between 10 and 12 pounds. In another embodiment the hammer head has a cylindrical shape. The hammer head may chip away during hitting the rim.
US09168644B2
A fastening and loosening device is provided with a device main body (101) having an upper portion supported along an arrangement direction of stud bolts (65) in a freely movable manner by a conveyance device (73), a bolt tensioner (102) freely ascendable/descendable with respect to the stud bolts (65) together with the device main body (101) by a lift device (74), a guide device (103) coupled with the device main body (101) in a freely relatively movable manner via a cylinder (121) and having right and left guide members (123 and 124) contactable with an outer periphery of a nut (66) from both the right and left sides of a moving direction of the device main body (101), and a guide position adjustment device (105) capable of moving an inner guide member (123) in a horizontal direction intersecting with the moving direction of the device main body (101).
US09168639B2
A flexible sanding apparatus includes a thin, relatively flat spring member and one or more coil spring members coupled to a first side of the flat spring member along a length of the flat spring member. A sanding surface may be coupled to a second side of the flat spring member. The flat spring member and the coil spring members may be elongated members coupled together lengthwise. The coil spring member may be a closed coil spring member that allows concave flexing of the sanding surface and inhibits convex flexing of the sanding surface.
US09168637B2
A vitrified superabrasive grain grinding stone includes superabrasive grains including a CBN abrasive grain as a main abrasive grain and a diamond abrasive grain as an auxiliary abrasive grain bonded together by use of a vitrified bond. The auxiliary abrasive grain has an average grain diameter equal to ½ to 1/10 of that of the main abrasive grain, and the auxiliary abrasive grain has a toughness value of 0.4 to 1 when that of the main abrasive grain is given as 1.
US09168626B2
A tool sharpening assembly suitable for sharpening cutting tools. In accordance with some embodiments, the apparatus has a rotatable abrasive surface, and a tool support structure which contactingly supports a body portion of a tool while a cutting surface of the tool is presented against the abrasive surface during a sharpening operation. A cooling mechanism operates to reduce a temperature of the tool.
US09168604B2
The present invention relates to a device for thermally treating workpieces that are equipped with electrical and electronic components, including at least one process chamber in which at least one heating or cooling zone is formed or disposed, wherein a temperature-controlled gaseous fluid can be introduced into said heating or cooling zone, wherein the workpieces pass through the heating or cooling zone and heat is transferred in a convective manner between the workpieces and the temperature-controlled fluid, and including at least one temperature measuring element disposed in the process chamber, wherein at least one sensor element that has a defined mass is disposed in the process chamber, such that heat is convectively transferred between the sensor element and the fluid, and an apparatus is provided for cooling and/or heating the sensor element, wherein the temperature of the sensor element can be measured by the temperature measuring element.
US09168602B2
The actual axial center position of a helical gear relative to the axial center position of a rotary table is calculated on the basis of input gear dimensions and information from a touch probe. Correction values for the positions and motions of the rotary table and a grindstone are calculated on the basis of the actual axial center position of the helical gear.Operation values for the rotary table, a column, a saddle, and a grindstone head are calculated by adding the correction values to reference values for the positions and motions of the rotary table and the grindstone. Motors are controlled in such a way that operation is carried out at the operation values to thereby carry out form grinding.
US09168601B2
A multi-flute reamer includes a cutting portion having a forward end and a rearward end, and a chip flute with a chip gash opening, and a cutting insert mounted on the cutting portion. A leading edge is formed at an intersection between a top surface and a radially-outward side surface, and a front edge is formed at an intersection between the top surface and a forward side surface. The cutting insert includes a rounded lead cutting edge formed at the intersection between the leading edge and the front edge, and the top surface includes a chip breaker having a bottom surface formed with a radius, R.
US09168591B2
Disclosed is a core drilling machine, comprising a stand part for fixing the core drilling machine to a component, and comprising, on the stand part, a guide along which a core drilling unit is carried in a movable manner, the stand part having a stand housing, on an outside face of which the guide is carried, and the core drilling unit having an elongate machine housing, which is carried so as to be movable along the guide by means of a slide, and comprising a cable, which, together with a protective sleeve, is routed from the stand part to the core drilling unit, the cable being routed from the stand housing to the core drilling unit via a flexible protective sleeve and being carried on the core drilling unit by means of a swivelling rotary joint.
US09168587B2
Provided are fine coated copper particles, which are fine with a narrow particle size distribution and superior storability, and which can be sintered at low temperatures. Specifically provided is a method for producing fine coated copper particles which is characterized by including: a step of mixing a copper-containing compound and a reducing compound to form a composite compound that is capable of thermal decomposition to generate copper in an alkylamine; and a step of heating the composite compound in the alkylamine to produce fine copper particles coated with the alkylamine.
US09168580B2
A forming system includes first and second tools, moving assemblies, and a control unit. The moving assemblies move the first tool and the second tool relative to the sheet. The control unit is configured to control movement of the first tool and the second tool by the one or more moving assemblies by moving at least one of the first tool or the second tool in a first deformation direction to deform the sheet, then moving the first and second tools laterally relative to the sheet to a subsequent location while engaging the sheet, then moving at least one of the first tool or the second tool in the first deformation direction or an opposite second deformation direction to deform the sheet, and then continue moving the first and second tools to deform the sheet in order to create a three-dimensional component from the sheet.
US09168578B2
A hot stamping mold apparatus may include a bottom part equipped on a bolster and a top part equipped on a slider, wherein the bottom part and the top part each include a cooling mold including a plurality of coolant chambers formed therein, a heating mold installed at a side of the cooling mold to form a formed surface together with the cooling mold and provided with a heating cartridge installed at a side of the heating mold, and a plurality of insert blocks interposed between the cooling mold and the heating mold.
US09168576B2
A tower (C) production method is developed with the present invention, comprising a first production stage including the steps of unrolling and bringing into a planar state a sheet metal (B) wound around a coil (A); bending the planar sheet metal (B) at the lateral direction at varying bending radii (d); and winding the bent sheet metal (B′) into a conical coil (A′), as well as a final production stage yielding the tower and including the steps of feeding the sheet metal (B′) unwound from the conical coil (A′) to at least one winding machine (8), and bending and winding the bent sheet metal (B′) in the winding machine around a central bending axis (T) parallel to one surface (B1) thereof so that a defined initial winding radius and the angle between a longer edge (B3) thereof and the axis (T) are kept constant and the longer edge (B3) of the sheet metal is joined over itself.
US09168575B2
A method of recycling a one-piece rail having a base portion and a head portion spaced from each other by a substantially flat web portion. The steps include: heating the rail to a plastic state; feeding the heated rail through a first reduction pass to reduce a cross section of the rail without slitting the rail; feeding the bar through a second reduction pass in which the cross section of the bar is further modified; feeding the bar through a third reduction pass in which the cross section of the bar is further modified and then slitting the bar along the web portion into two bar pieces, one containing the former head portion and one containing the former base portion, as the bar leaves the third reduction pass; and rolling the two bar pieces through a series of reduction passes to produce a desired final cross section of the pieces.
US09168573B2
A product comprises a combination of a plurality of recovered materials, and at least one precursor material, an interaction between biomass and at least one fluid providing the plurality of recovered materials, the biomass being of animal or human origin, the at least one fluid in interaction with the biomass provides at least one of degradation of a plurality of organic molecules comprised by the biomass, and breakage of a plurality of protein bonds comprised by the biomass, and the combination of the plurality of recovered materials and the at least one precursor material forms the product into a solid object.
US09168565B2
Well treatment particulates are coated with polyionic material and a composite is formed comprising multiple layers of polyelectrolyte, each layer composed of polyionic material counter to the polyionic material of the polyelectrolyte layer to which it is adjacent.
US09168562B2
A syringe-assist device including a housing portion, an actuator portion, and a syringe-supporting member. The housing portion includes body defining an axial passage. The actuator portion is connected to and is partially disposed within the axial passage of the body. The syringe-supporting member is movably-disposed within the axial passage. The syringe-supporting member fluidly separates the axial passage into a first, proximal passage portion and a second, distal passage portion. The actuator portion is movably-disposed within the second, distal passage portion of the axial passage. The syringe-supporting member defines a fluid-flow passage that fluidly-connects the first, proximal passage portion of the axial passage to the second, distal passage portion of the axial passage. A method is also disclosed.
US09168560B2
A feeding mold including a runner and a gate structure is provided. The runner is adapted to be filled with a liquid-like material. The gate structure includes a storage cavity, a running passage and a filling cavity. The storage cavity communicates with the runner and is adapted to store the liquid-like material filled by the runner. The running passage communicates with the storage cavity. The running passage is adapted to carry the liquid-like material from the storage cavity so as to evenly distribute the liquid-like material. The running passage has a protruding buffering cavity which is located between the storage cavity and the filling cavity and is adapted to change the velocity of the liquid-like material in the running passage, and lower the temperature of the liquid-like material flowed onto a surface of a workpiece.
US09168557B2
Certain embodiments provided a coating apparatus includes an applicator, material supply unit, and first, second, and third moving mechanisms. The applicator includes a meniscus pillar forming portion configured to form a meniscus pillar of the material in conjunction with a surface to be coated of the object to be coated and a recess. The material supply unit supplies the material to the applicator. The first moving mechanism moves the position of the applicator relative to the surface along the surface. The second moving mechanism moves the position of the applicator relative to the surface so that the meniscus pillar between the surface and the recess. The third moving mechanism moves the position of the applicator relatively toward and away from the surface.
US09168551B2
Discharging apparatus for liquid, pasty or pulverulent media having a housing, a discharging opening, a reservoir for storing the medium prior to being discharged, and a handle which causes medium to be delivered from the reservoir to the discharging opening, wherein the discharging apparatus has an electric load and a converter for converting the mechanical energy introduced at the handle into electrical energy for supplying the electric load.Mechanical energy introduced at the handle is fed to the converter by a transmission unit. The linear movement of the handle or of a stressing member of a spring energy store, which can be subjected to stressing by means of the handle, is converted into a non-rotary oscillating movement of a pendulum member, wherein the converter is designed for converting the mechanical energy of the oscillating pendulum member into electrical energy.
US09168546B2
A system for cold gas dynamic spraying of particulate material has a de Laval nozzle and two or more radial particle inlets located between the throat and the outlet of the nozzle, the two or more particle inlets arranged symmetrically around a linear flow path of the nozzle. Blocking of the inlets is reduced by controlling pressure of particle carrier gas to provide a stable particulate material injection pressure before and during introduction of working gas into the nozzle, and/or by clearing the particle inlets of residual particles after a spraying process. Such a system and associated method combines benefits of both downstream and upstream cold gas spray systems. Further, a nozzle for spraying particulate material having a cross-sectional shape that is narrower in a middle section compared to edge sections provides coatings with superior cross-sectional profiles.
US09168544B2
A fluid jet system providing a hydraulic induction manifold for at least two valves. The manifold is positioned “upstream” of an abrasives holding tank, so that no abrasive material flows through the valves and the manifold. The valves and the manifold provide pressurized fluid for at least two different flows: (1) a primary fluid flow and (2) an abrasive material flow through the abrasives holding tank. The two flows are merged again at a junction to provide a fluid flow having a predetermined abrasive-to-fluid mixture ratio. The manifold balances the pressure of the two different flows using a preset geometric relationship between the two different output flow paths associated with the valves.
US09168542B2
A water-ejection-angle adjustable shower head includes a main body, and a swing rod, a water dispenser disk, an upper plate, and a lower plate built in the main body from top to bottom. An upper end of the lower plate passes through the upper plate and is hinged onto the water dispenser disk. A center of the swing rod is hinged onto a center of the water dispenser disk. The water-ejection-angle adjustable shower head can be operate to make the water outage holes on a lower surface of the lower plate to swing to various different directions, to form the dispersion water ejections or converging and merging water ejections. As such, the form and intensity of water ejections can be varied, to meet the demands of various customers.
US09168540B2
An outlet mechanism with pulsatile splash has a main waterway comprising an inlet waterway, two branch waterways and two back-flow waterways; the two branch waterways communicate with the outlet end of the inlet waterway and are arranged symmetrically with respect to the inlet waterway. The outlet directions of the outlet ends of the two branch waterways intersect; the two back-flow waterways are arranged symmetrically with respect to the inlet waterway, and one end of the back-flow waterway communicates with the branch waterway. Another end of that communicates with the inlet end of the inlet waterway. Part of water in the branch waterway is returned to the inlet end of the inlet waterway by the back-flow waterway. The remain water in the two branch waterways intersect when water comes out of the outlet, so that the left-and-right-swing outlet effect, and then the pulsatile splash outlet effect are generated.
US09168536B2
A sluice box separator apparatus having a curved partition wall to shape the water flow into a horizontal vortex, inducing lighter material to exit the vortex with the water, and the denser materials to settle into a well located beneath the location of the induced vortex, including a selectively openable gate between the well and a valuable material recovery chamber.
US09168530B2
A microplate for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) comprises a substrate having a metallic material for heating PCR samples, and a barrier layer disposed adjacent to the substrate. In some cases, the barrier layer is formed of a first polymeric material. The microplate includes one or more wells for containing PCR samples. The one or more wells are formed of a second polymeric material sealed to the barrier layer. In some cases, the substrate can provide a PCR ramp rate of at least about 5° C./second.
US09168523B2
Systems and methods for processing sample processing devices. The system can include a sample processing device comprising a detection chamber, a motor configured to rotate the sample processing device about an axis of rotation, and an optical module operatively positioned relative to the sample processing device and configured to determine whether a selected volume of material is present in the detection chamber of the sample processing device. The method can include rotating the sample processing device about an axis of rotation, and determining whether a selected volume of material is present in the detection chamber, while rotating the sample processing device. In some embodiments, determining whether a selected volume of material is present can be performed by optically interrogating the detection chamber for an optical property of the material.
US09168519B2
In a process for forming a bulk hydroprocessing catalyst by sulfiding a catalyst precursor made in a co-precipitation reaction, up to 60% of the metal precursor feeds do not react to form catalyst precursor and end up in the supernatant as metal residuals. In the present disclosure, the metals can be recovered in a chemical precipitation step, wherein the supernatant is mixed with at least one of an acid, a sulfide-containing compound, a base, and combinations thereof to precipitate at least 50% of metal ions in at least one of the metal residuals, wherein the precipitation is carried out at a pre-select pH. The precipitate is isolated and recovered, yielding an effluent stream. The precipitate and/or the effluent stream can be further treated to form at least a metal precursor feed which can be used in the co-precipitation reaction. The process generates an effluent to waste treatment containing less than 50 ppm metals.
US09168515B2
The invention relates to a catalyst for selective synthesis of high-quality gasoline fractions from syngas and the preparation method of the catalyst. This catalyst consists of cobalt, a promoter and molecular sieve, wherein cobalt is presented in an amount of 1-30%, the promoter is represented in an amount of 0.01-5% and the balance is molecular sieve based on the weight of the catalyst. This catalyst provides superior selectivity for C5-C11 isoparaffins and relatively lower selectivity for wax-type hydrocarbons with more than 20 carbon atoms. Thereof, this catalyst can be used for the synthesis of high-quality gasoline and is good at preventing catalyst coking. Besides, the invention provides a preparation method of the catalyst.
US09168511B2
The invention provides a catalyst for the production of hydrogen by steam reforming. The catalyst is a porous catalyst which is based on at least aluminum oxide and preferably magnesium oxide, and further comprises boron and nickel. The porous catalyst comprises pores having an average pore size in the range of 0.1-50 nm. The activity of the catalyst may be further enhanced by addition of a noble metal such as Rh, Ru, Pd, Ir or Pt. The catalyst can be broadly used in hydrogen production processes, and is especially suitable for reforming using a membrane which is selective for a predetermined reaction product. Such process can be operated at relatively low temperatures of about 450-700° C.
US09168510B2
A catalyst for reforming hydrocarbons may include a catalytically active amount of nickel or nickel oxide dispersed on a metal oxide support. The metal oxide support may be of a single-metal oxide of a first metal or a complex-metal oxide of the first metal and a second metal. A co-catalyst of magnesium oxide (MgO) may anchor the nickel or nickel oxide onto the metal oxide support.
US09168503B2
The invention relates to a reaction system and process for continuously preparing polymethoxy dimethyl ether (DMM3-8) by a continuous acetalization reaction between an aqueous formaldehyde solution or paraformaldehyde and methanol in the presence of a functionalized acidic ionic liquid as a catalyst. The reaction system of the invention preferably comprises a formaldehyde-concentrating unit, a vacuum-drying unit, an acetalization reaction unit, a product-separating unit and a catalyst-regenerating unit. The process of the invention uses aqueous formaldehyde solution as an initial raw material, which is concentrated in the formaldehyde-concentrating unit to a concentrated formaldehyde of 50˜80 wt. %, and vacuum-dried to paraformaldehyde, or uses paraformaldehyde as raw material directly, then obtains DMM3-8 by an acetalization reaction. The raw materials of the reaction used in the invention are cheap and available easily, and the utilization rate of formaldehyde is high; an efficient separation between the catalyst and product, as well as the reuse of the catalyst and raw materials, are realized by a separation mode of combining extraction and rectification together.
US09168479B2
A plugged honeycomb structure includes a honeycomb structure section having porous partition walls, the plurality of cells including large cells and small cells having different open areas in a cross section perpendicular to an extending direction of the cells; inflow side plugged portions arranged in inflow side end portions of the predetermined cells including the large cells and the small cells among the plurality of cells; and outflow side plugged portions arranged in outflow side end portions of the remaining cells including the large cells and the small cells among the plurality of cells. The predetermined cells are outflow cells having the plugged inflow side end portions and the open outflow side end portions in the honeycomb structure section, and the remaining cells are inflow cells having the plugged outflow side end portions and the open inflow side end portions in the honeycomb structure section.
US09168476B2
Filter media including a microperforated film with tapered microperforations, and a nonwoven web positioned upstream of the microperforated film. Framed air filters incorporating such filter media, and methods of using such filter media.
US09168469B2
A fiber reaction process whereby reactive components contained in immiscible streams are brought into contact to effect chemical reactions and separations. The conduit reactor utilized contains wettable fibers onto which one stream is substantially constrained and a second stream is flowed over to continuously create a new interface there between to efficiently bring about contact of the reactive species and thus promote reactions thereof or extractions thereby. Co-solvents and phase transfer catalysts may be employed to facilitate the process.
US09168468B2
In a system for recycling a high-boiling-point waste photoresist stripper generated in processes of manufacturing LCDs or semiconductor devices, wherein an expensive high-boiling-point stripper solvent can be easily recycled at high yield and high-purity electronic grade. This system includes a first distillation device for removing low-boiling-point impurities, a second distillation device for recycling a stripper solvent composition while removing high-boiling-point impurities, a third distillation device for removing trace water, thus recovering the stripper solvent composition, a fourth distillation device for additionally recycling a stripper solvent, thus additionally recovering a high-boiling-point stripper solvent, and a fifth distillation device for sequentially and separately recovering the stripper solvent composition recovered by the second distillation device and the high-boiling-point stripper solvent additionally recovered by the fourth distillation device.
US09168463B2
A toy track set includes a vehicle path defined by a track and a gap disposed between a first gap end and a second gap end. The toy track also includes a carriage assembly configured to carry a toy vehicle across the gap such that the toy vehicle travels from the first gap end to the second gap end on the carriage assembly, the carriage assembly being moved from the first gap end to the second gap end by an assembly having an arm rotatable about an axis of rotation and that rotates through an angle equal to or greater than 360 degrees as it carries the toy vehicle from the first gap end to the second gap end.
US09168453B2
A puzzle having a plurality of jigsaw puzzle elements; the jigsaw puzzle element having a first pressure cutting member, a second pressure cutting member, and a fracturing member which is arranged between the first and second pressure cutting members and the first and second pressure cutting members being mounted to opposing face of the fracturing member.
US09168451B2
This game-piece launching toy, which is a toy used while playing games in which game-pieces such as marbles are launched, includes a toy body; a flipping member installed on the toy body; a pushing member configured to move a game-piece placed on the toy body toward a tip of the flipping member; and a restriction member installed on the toy body to be movable with respect to the toy body and operated by a user to restrict the flipping member. The game-piece loaded into the toy body is launched from the toy body using a restriction force acting on the flipping member.
US09168437B2
A set of progressive golf clubs with an elliptical pad construction on the back of the striking face that corresponds to a location, shape and size of a predetermined golfer's impact pattern for the lofts and lengths of each of the golf clubs in the set. The elliptical pad progressively changes in location, shape and size from the long irons, to the mid irons, to the short irons, and to the wedges, based on the location, shape and size of a predetermined golfer's impact pattern for each of the long irons, mid irons, short irons, and wedges.
US09168436B2
A ball striking device includes a ball striking plate having a front surface configured to strike a ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The ball striking plate has a desired-contact region and a perimeter. One or more spoke-like reinforcement ribs may be located on the rear surface and may radiate away from the desired-contact region toward the perimeter. At least one of the spoke-like reinforcement ribs may be located in an upper-toe quadrant or in an upper-heel quadrant of the rear surface. One or more encircling reinforcement ribs may be located on the rear surface. The one or more encircling reinforcement ribs may be at least partially encircling the desired-contact region. A thickened portion of the ball striking plate may be positioned behind the desired-contact region of the ball striking plate. The ball striking device may be a golf club head.
US09168431B2
A fairway wood golf club characterized by a long blade length, a small club moment arm, and a large transfer distance thereby producing a relatively small CG angle and a relatively high face closing moment of inertia, and all the benefits afforded therefrom.
US09168426B2
Embodiments of golf club heads with hosel inserts are presented herein. Other embodiments can be described and claimed.
US09168408B2
The present invention relates to aminosulfonate and aminocarboxylate compositions derived from a mixture of polyfluoroalkylsulfonamido alkyl amines including at least one polyfluoroalkylsulfonamido alkyl amine and its analog, a di(polyfluoroalkylsulfonamido alkyl) amine. The aminosulfonate and aminocarboxylate compositions are useful for many purposes including amphoteric surface-active agents and aqueous film forming foams in fire fighting applications.
US09168398B2
Arbutin-containing compositions are useful for topical application to provide enhanced luminosity, brightening or lightening to the skin of a user and are at least 85% as efficacious (with regard to skin lightening, when used alone or in a system as measured by Chromameter® b* parameter values) as substantially corresponding compositions containing hydroquinone in an amount from about the same molar amount to about 1.5 times the molar amount of arbutin.
US09168370B2
A method and apparatus for the concurrent treatment of multiple oral diseases and defects while promoting general oral hygiene utilizing direct current electricity. Electrodes are used to deliver a direct current to the gingival tissues of a mouth in order to achieve a number of therapeutic, prophylactic, and regenerative benefits. These benefits include killing oral microbes, increasing oral vasodilation, reducing oral biofilm, improving oral blood circulation, reversing oral bone resorption, promoting oral osteogenesis, treating gum recession, and fostering gingival regeneration. Other benefits include the treatment of gingivitis, periodontitis, and oral malodor, and other systemic diseases correlated with oral pathogens.
US09168358B1
The invention protects an intraosseous infusion system from being bumped or displaced. The device is a strap and an implement that holds the intraosseous infusion system. The implement is comprised of two pieces. A U shaped piece that has an opening that holds the intraosseous infusion device. The second piece when snapped into place encircles the intraosseous infusion device to securely hold the intraosseous infusion device in place. To use the invention, the invention is place over the intraosseous infusion device placed in the patient's leg and the strap is tightened around the patient's leg. Then the second piece is pushed around the intraosseous infusion device to hold it securely in place.
US09168357B2
A linear object manipulation assisting device is provided which allows easy manipulation of a linear object. A wire manipulation assisting device as a linear object manipulation assisting device assists manipulation of a delivery wire penetrating through a Y connector. The Y connector includes a main branch through which the delivery wire penetrates, and a side port that branches off from the main branch. A microcatheter having the delivery wire inserted therein is connected to one end of the main branch. The wire manipulation assisting device includes a fixing portion for fixing the Y connector and a placement portion attached to the fixing portion. A portion of the delivery wire that protrudes from the other end of the main branch can be manipulated with at least the first and second fingers of the right hand with the carpal portion of the right hand being placed on the placement portion.
US09168353B2
An improved apparatus and method to catheterize passages is disclosed. The present disclosure provides a catheter having a soft flexible pre-formed distal tip, that when used in combination with commercially available guidewires of variable stiffness, results in the ability to control the direction and angle of wire advancement allowing cannulation of body passages, including those that arise at acute angles. The catheter can have a longitudinal axis, a proximal section and a distal section having a soft flexible pre-formed tip having a curvature of ninety degrees or greater and shape retention. The catheter can have an inner wall that defines a lumen that runs along said longitudinal axis forming a single continuous tube, a reinforcement braid disposed over the inner wall, and an outside covering disposed over the reinforcement braid. A spacer can be added between said wall liner and said reinforcement braid in the proximal end.
US09168352B2
A dual lumen coaxial cannula assembly includes a first infusion tube having a first elongate body defining a first lumen therethrough and a second drainage tube co-axially aligned with the first infusion tube and having a second elongate body with a second lumen defined by a space between the first infusion tube and second drainage tube. A connector is removably attached to the first infusion tube and the second drainage tube for coupling the dual lumen coaxial cannula to an extracorporeal blood circuit. The first infusion tube and the second drainage tube include a plurality of infusion and drainage apertures, respectively, provided at the distal end and extending through the sidewall of the first infusion tube and the drainage tube, respectively.
US09168349B2
A respiratory mask assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame and a headgear assembly removably attachable to the frame. The headgear assembly includes a pair of side portions and a rear portion that interconnects the pair of side portions. The pair of side portions includes at least one strap. The rear portion has at least one strap constructed of at least two layers of material. One of the layers of material has a more rigid construction than the other of the layers of material to resist compression of the at least one strap of the rear portion in a first direction which resists movement of the at least one strap of the pair of side straps in the first direction.
US09168346B2
A nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) device having a hollow body with a proximal wall, a distal wall, and an exhaust port extending through the distal wall. A proximal tubular member extends through the proximal wall of the body and is arranged such that a stream of gas entering the body through the proximal tubular member will exit the proximal tubular member in a first direction and then enter the exhaust port. A nozzle extends through the body and is arranged such that a stream of gas entering the body through the nozzle will exit the nozzle and then enter the proximal tubular member in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.
US09168342B2
The present invention relates to medicament blisters for powder inhalers. The blisters according to the invention contain an inhalable powder comprising a medicament. The blisters are characterized by a reduced permeability for water vapor, which is achieved by decreasing the height of the sealing lacquer layer.
US09168340B2
An instrument, article and method are provided for minimizing pain during administration by injection of a liquid, such as, an anesthetic. The instrument has a forward end. A rod or lightpipe mounted freely for vibration projects out of the forward end. The article, a single use tip, is composed of a tip sleeve removably mounted on the forward end of the instrument and a tip member removably mounted on the projecting rod or lightpipe to vibrate a preselected injection site on a human or animal. The tip sleeve and tip member are covered by an elastic overmold that enables the tip member to vibrate freely with respect to the tip sleeve and light from the lightpipe to illuminate the injection site. The overmold of the single use tip is torn during removal of the single use tip from the instrument.
US09168334B2
A cannula for a patient includes an elongate body having a length of at least 70 cm and a channel extending through the body defining a wall. The cannula includes a wire embodied within at least a portion of the wall. The body has a proximal end, a distal end having a tip opening through which the channel extends and a plurality of side holes through the wall in proximity to the tip for unimpeded flow of blood at the distal end. The cannula includes a barbed fitting at the proximal end. The cannula includes a suture wing for securing the elongated body to the patient. A system for assisting a patient's heart. A method for assisting a patient's heart.
US09168329B2
The present invention is directed to the design, synthesis and use of various β-peptides exhibiting antifungal activity. The β-peptides are relatively short in length, adopt globally amphiphilic conformations, and cause little lysis of human red blood cells at concentrations that kill Candida albicans, a common human fungal pathogen.
US09168323B2
Superior hydroxyls are provided which have effects on organic and inorganic compounds and/or pollutants over substantial periods of time and/or at substantial distances from where the superior hydroxyls are generated. Also provided is a hydroxyl generator, in which UV lamps are positioned such that the coronas which they produce when emitting UV radiation fill substantially all the interior space of the hydroxyl generator. The coronas overlap each other by a maximum amount of between 5% and 25% of the radius of each corona.
US09168321B2
There is provided a treatment device for disinfecting a fluid being configured as a conduit for conveying a flow of fluid to be treated, said device being toroidal-shaped with an inner concave parabolic surface, wherein the device is provided with apertures extending from the outer to the inner surface of the toroidal-shaped device; one or more UV LED(s) provided in the apertures thereby enabling emitted light to be transmitted through the apertures into the interior part of the device for disinfecting said fluid; a power source for powering the UV LEDs, wherein the inner surface is made from a light reflecting material, and the apertures are sealed in the ends extending into the interior part of the device by a UV-transparent material.
US09168317B2
The present invention provides a method useful in the diagnosis and/or monitoring of mood disorders wherein there is an abnormal expression of PBR. The method of the invention is useful in the differential diagnosis of said mood disorders and other conditions where there is no abnormal expression of PBR but where the symptoms may be similar to those of said mood disorder.
US09168316B2
The present invention provides methods to reduce or inhibit weight gain by administering inhibitors of the SirT1 protein to a subject. Methods to identify such inhibitors are also disclosed.
US09168311B2
The invention relates to (among other things) oligomer-dantrolene conjugates and related compounds. A conjugate of the invention, when administered by any of a number of administration routes, exhibits advantages over previously administered compounds.
US09168304B2
The present invention provides a gel formulation comprising diclofenac sodium which has superior transdermal flux properties, which may be used for the topical treatment of pain, such as in osteoarthritis.
US09168302B2
The present invention is directed generally to pharmaceutical compositions, methods, and kits for improving side effects associated with aromatase inhibitor treatment in a subject diagnosed with breast cancer. More specifically, the present invention provides compositions, methods, and kits comprising an aromatase inhibitor and an androgenic agent.
US09168301B2
The present invention provides a boron drug for boron neutron capture therapy for liver cancer, which is an aqueous solution of boric acid.
US09168289B2
The invention provides a method and a composition for the treatment of infants age less than 2.5 years old defined as small for gestational age (SGA), including the use of hGH or any compound that increases blood levels of hGH or of IGF-I. Early use of the composition prevents the irreversible neurological and psychological damage of the children.
US09168282B2
Disclosed is a method of treating pain. The method includes administering a lecithin as an active ingredient to a mammal to treat the pain, wherein the pain is caused by at least one of herpes zoster, post-herpetic neuralgia, and diabetic neuropathic pain. The method further includes administering at least one selected from the group consisting of vegetable gel, a vegetable resin, and a synthetic resin, wherein the vegetable gel, vegetable resin, and synthetic resin is selected from the group consisting of aloe gel; a seaweed extract selected from the group consisting of kelp extract, agar extract, and Fucoidan; and a mixture thereof.
US09168275B2
The invention includes a method of treating gastrointestinal diseases associated with species of genus Clostridium such as clostridium deficit in human patients with gastrointestinal disorders having an etiological component such as a microbial agent producing a toxin where treated with an antimicrobial composition an amount effective to inhibit or eliminate the microbial agent. The antimicrobial composition in a form of probiotic mixture can be administrated alone or in combination with an antimicrobial agent, such as a bacteriophage which is specific for a bacterium producing toxin or antibiotics which are then used to eliminate or inhibit the clostridial species overgrown in a patient's gastrointestinal tract. Disorders that can be treated by the method of the invention include diarrhea or inflammatory bowel diseases such as colitis or Crohn's disease.
US09168271B2
This invention provides edible compositions comprising pharmaceutically or nutraceutically active agents in particulate form homogeneously dispersed in a fat matrix, such as chocolate or chocolate compound coating.
US09168268B1
SAPONINS AND CHROMANS DERIVATIVES MIXTURE COMPOSITIONS AGAINST LEISHMANIASIS, TRYPANOSOMIASIS AMERICANA, MALARIA, TRYPANOSOMIASIS AFRICANA AND FASCIOLA HEPATICA, is a composition of saponins and chromans derivatives. The saponins are triterpene types and chromans are hydrazones derivatives. This composition is a therapeutic agent against tropical diseases.
US09168262B2
The present invention discloses administering steroid hormones to mammals to treat autoimmune related diseases, more particularly, Th1-mediated (cell-mediated) autoimmune diseases including: multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), autoimmune thyroiditis and uveitis. Most preferably the invention is used to treat a patient with a therapeutically effective amount of estriol of 8 milligrams once daily via oral administration to treat the symptoms or prevent the onset of multiple sclerosis.
US09168250B2
This invention relates to the use of a ligand of the 5-HT4 receptor or of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of this ligand and to a nucleic acid coding for a 5-HT4 receptor or of a functionally equivalent receptor for a drug for treating and/or preventing a pathology associated with an obsessional behavior such as anorexia, bulimia and the addiction to drugs of abuse or obesity. The invention also relates to a method for identifying a compound that is biologically active in the treatment and/or the prevention of a pathology associated with an obsessional conduct or obesity including: a) placing the 5-HT4 receptor or a functionally equivalent receptor in contact with this biologically active compound, and b) the determination of whether this biologically active compound is capable of modulating the basal activity of the 5-HT4 receptor or of a functionally equivalent receptor.
US09168249B2
The present application relates to novel substituted dihydropyrazolone derivatives, processes for their preparation, their use for treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases and their use for the preparation of medicaments for treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, in particular cardiovascular and hematological diseases and kidney diseases, and for promoting wound healing.
US09168234B2
This disclosure relates to methods administering bupropion or a prodrug thereof in conjunction with dextromethorphan to a human being. Dosage forms, drug delivery systems, and methods related to dextromethorphan or dextrorphan and bupropion or a prodrug of bupropion are also disclosed.
US09168221B2
Amphiphilic triblock copolymers B-A-B, wherein A is a linear poly(ethylene glycol) block, having a number average molecular weight (Mn) of between 900 and 3000 Daltons, determined with size exclusion chromatography; wherein B are hydrophobic blocks with at least two cyclic monomers selected from the group consisting of glycolide, lactide, 1,3-dioxan-2-one, 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-dioxan-2-one, 1,4-dioxan-2-one, 1,4-dioxepan-2-one, 1,5-dioxepan-2-one, each B-block having a number average molecular weight (Mn) of between 400 and 2000 Daltons, determined with size exclusion chromatography; and wherein 25% to 100% of the polymer hydroxyl end-groups are covalently modified with at least one derivative of a C2-C20 fatty acid. The invention also relates to compositions with such polymers and the use thereof.
US09168217B2
The present specification provides for an oxidative hair treatment agent. The agent includes, in a cosmetic carrier, a combination of at least one oxidizing agent and at least one modified starch. The modified starch is modified by propylene oxide, has an average molecular weight between 50 and 2500 kiloDaltons (kDa), and has a propylene oxide content between 0.1 and 20.0 weight percent (wt %) based on the weight of the modified starch.
US09168210B2
A problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a hair cosmetic which can be easily applied to the hair uniformly, and at the same time, does not drip from the hair, does not spatter when applied to the hair, and does not dirty the surrounding, clothing, the skin or the like. The present invention relates to a hair cosmetic comprising (A) a cationic surfactant, (B) a nonionic surfactant, (C) a higher alcohol, (D) an oil having an IOB value of 0.1 or lower, and (E) water, which is used after being mixed with a gas to be thickened.
US09168208B2
Ultraviolet-shielding composite particles of the invention are ultraviolet-shielding composite particles which include a resin containing an organic ultraviolet absorbent and metal oxide particles having an ultraviolet-shielding function, and have an average particle diameter of 0.05 μm or more and 5 μm or less, in which the metal oxide particles are particles which include one or two or more selected from the group consisting of zinc oxide, titanium oxide, cerium oxide and iron oxide and have an average particle diameter of 0.003 μm or more and 0.1 μm or less, a content of the organic ultraviolet absorbent in the ultraviolet-shielding composite particles is 0.1% by mass or more 80% by mass or less, a content of the metal oxide particles is 1% by mass or more 80% by mass or less, and the metal oxide particles are dispersed in the ultraviolet-shielding composite particles.
US09168205B2
A gastrointestinal catheter having feeding and suction channels in close proximity. The gastrointestinal catheters may have a controlled leak via a recirculation feature.
US09168198B2
Provided are a skin-stimulation unit and a skin-massage apparatus having same. The skin-stimulation unit includes a striking member for applying an impact to the skin; a cap part into which the striking member is slidably inserted; and a connecting rod having a front end connected to the striking member and a rear end connected to an external source of motive power. The connecting rod linearly reciprocates the striking member.
US09168195B2
A motion state of a wearable motion-assist device of a doctor is sent to the wearable motion-assist device of a patient via a network. Then, this motion state is applied to the wearable motion-assist device of the patient, so that rehabilitation is conducted for the patient. Furthermore, the motion state of the wearable motion-assist device of the patient is sent from the wearable motion-assist device to the wearable motion-assist device. Then, the motion state of the wearable motion-assist device is applied to the wearable motion-assist device. Accordingly, the doctor can objectively sense the state of the patient.
US09168194B2
An incubator to maintain environmental conditions suitable for an infant is provided. The incubator comprises a vertical support structure with a plurality of horizontal columns connected to a bottom end of the vertical support structure to form a base portion. A crib is mounted on to the vertical support structure above the base portion for supporting the infant. The crib comprises a base plate and a plurality of plates arranged in a predetermined manner to form side walls of the crib. At least one dispenser nozzle is provided in the side walls for supplying water vapors to the crib. A humidification system, attachable at least to the base portion of the incubator, is fluidly connected to the inlets of the dispenser nozzles for supplying the water vapors. A radiant warmer is mounted on a top end of the vertical support structure for supplying radiant heat energy to the crib.
US09168191B1
An adjustable wheelchair foot bracket that is releasably attachable to the footplate of a wheelchair between an attached position and an unattached position. The foot bracket includes an attachment member having a first plate and a second plate disposed in parallel to superimpose upon either side of a wheelchair footplate and frictionally engage the footplate therebetween. A rubberlike foot guard is disposed arcuately normal the attachment member, and curves to shield the foot of a user riding in the wheelchair, around said user's toes to terminate in a position proximal the tarsus of said user's foot. Impacts of the foot guard with objects externally situated relative the wheelchair act to compress the foot bracket directionally toward the attached position, whereby the attached position in maintained during use.
US09168179B2
A reduced-pressure system for treating a tissue site on a patient includes a distribution manifold that adheres to a tissue site to allow retention without external support. The distribution manifold includes a porous member and a tissue-fixation element. The tissue-fixation element maintains the porous member substantially adjacent to the tissue site while a sealing member is applied. In one instance, the tissue-fixation element is a soluble adhesive that partially covers either the tissue-facing side of the porous member or a tissue-facing side of a fluid-permeable substrate layer that is on the tissue-facing side of the porous member. Other systems, distributions manifolds, and methods are presented.
US09168175B2
A method for using a laser to create a pocket in a patient's cornea is provided. The pocket is created using a femtosecond or a nanosecond laser. The laser ablates tissue within the cornea in a specific shape. The shape of the pocket can be determined by software to custom program a three-dimensional path of the laser. A variety of corneal pocket configurations or computer programmed shapes can be used accommodate various corneal lens shapes and sizes. An intracorneal lens can then be inserted into the pocket, in order to correct the patient's vision.
US09168172B1
A process for treating glaucoma whereby the treatment can be accomplished by the use of medication or by surgery, or both, in order to control or prevent the occurrence of glaucoma. The optic nerve is aligned within and between two distinct pressurized spaces and within the dural sheath, the intraocular space and the intracranial space having an intraocular pressure (IOP) and an intracranial pressure (ICP), respectively. Medicine can be administered to raise the intracranial pressure in order to reach a desirable lower translaminar pressure difference across these two pressurized spaces which are separated by the lamina cribrosa in order to treat glaucoma. An alternate closely related mode of the treatment process is the implanting of a shunt substantially between the intraocular space and the intracranial space in order to beneficially equalize pressure differentials across the intraocular space and the intracranial space.
US09168167B2
Provided is a device for improving the posture of a patient comprising a garment and a pair of tension straps. The garment is configured to tightly envelope the patient's torso and the patient's upper arms. The garment has an inner surface, a front side and a back side. The front side includes a chest portion. The back side includes a back portion. The garment defines opposing shoulder portions and a waist portion. The tension straps are releaseably securable to the back portion in diagonal relation to one another. Each one of the tension straps has opposed free ends that extend upwardly from the back portion to the chest portion and downwardly to the waist portion. The device includes pads releaseably mounted on the inner surface of the garment generally opposite the free ends and are configured to restrict movement of the free ends relative to the patient's skin.
US09168159B2
Devices and methods for controlling the flaking of coating fragments from medical implants and improving the delivery of therapeutic agents from such coatings are described.
US09168151B2
A spinal fixation system includes a pedicle screw having a longitudinal axis. A fixation element is configured to connect the pedicle screw to at least one additional pedicle screw. A coupling mechanism includes a pedicle screw securing device adapted to secure the coupling mechanism to the pedicle screw and a fixation element securing device configured to secure the coupling mechanism to the fixation element. A fastening mechanism is configured to fasten both the pedicle screw securing device and the fixation element securing device. The fastening mechanism is located along the longitudinal axis of the pedicle screw.
US09168148B2
An intervertebral disc implant for use in the spine including a first part (10) and a second part (20), wherein the first part and second part are configured as a joint prosthesis for the spine. The first part includes one of a concave or convex articulating surface (16) and the second part includes one of the other concave or convex articulating surface (26). One of the concave or convex articulating surfaces is preferably elliptically shaped in at least one direction and does not match and is different than one of the other concave or convex articulating surfaces.
US09168139B2
A method of facilitating augmentation of osseous tissue on a surface of a bone is disclosed. The method includes combining a scaffolding, an enclosure substantially enclosing the scaffolding relatively to the surface of the bone and a cell culture seeded onto the scaffolding.
US09168135B2
A device is provided for collapsing a stented bioprosthetic valve, including first section and second sections, each spanning between first and second ends of the device. The second section of the device is associated with the first section to at least partially enclose an internal cavity formed by the first and second sections, the internal cavity tapering from an open insertion portion at a first end of the device to an open exit portion at a second end of the device. The insertion portion has a larger dimension than the exit portion. When the first section and second section are substantially enclosing the internal cavity, a stented bioprosthetic valve may be inserted into the insertion portion and collapsed as it is moved toward and through the exit portion. The valve may then be loaded on an apparatus for insertion into the body.
US09168133B2
A prosthetic heart valve comprises a radially crimpable and radially expandable, net-like, annular support frame and a valve assembly disposed therein, the valve assembly comprising a conduit tapering from an inlet towards an outlet thereof. Some embodiments or the support frame comprise a proximal portion and a distal portion, a diameter of the proximal portion smaller than a diameter of the distal portion. The proximal portion is dimensioned for deployment in an annulus of a native aortic valve and a distal portion for deployment in an ascending aorta. Some embodiments of the conduit comprise a support construction with a three-cusp, crown-shaped cut line, the support construction sutured to the support frame around a bottom portion thereof and around the cut line. A method for using the prosthetic heart valve to replace a defective native aortic valve uses a minimally invasive procedure.
US09168125B2
Artificial dermis (1) obtained from plasma with platelets (2) and human fibroblasts. The plasma with platelets (2) is obtained from the fractionating of total blood (4) from the patient (8) by light centrifugation, and the human fibroblasts (3) from a skin biopsy, (5). Clotting is obtained by adding calcium. This artificial dermis (1) permits rapid growth of the keratinocytes (6) seeded on its surface to build an artificial skin (7) which can easily be transplanted. Large areas of artificial dermis (1) are obtained from small amounts of starting materials and can be enriched with cytokines and platelet growth factors, to strengthen proliferation of the cells seeded. The artificial skin (7) obtained can be used to treat major burn treatments, chronic skin ulcers, etc., or be used, by employing genetically altered cells, as a vehicle for gene therapy.
US09168123B2
A stent graft for placement in a lumen of a patient is disclosed. The stent graft comprises: a main tubular body of a biocompatible graft material having a main lumen, the main tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end; a side arm extending from the main tubular body, the side arm having a side arm lumen, the side arm lumen being in fluid communication with the main lumen through a side arm opening in the main tubular body; and a cannulation pocket. The pocket comprises: an exit aperture positioned opposite the side arm opening; an entry aperture longitudinally spaced from the entry aperture in a direction toward the distal end of the main tubular body; and a wall, the wall laterally spaced from the main lumen so as to provide a guide surface for a cannula fed through the entry aperture.
US09168107B2
A container holds at least one surgical implement, has a lock mechanism, and has a signature label that impedes access to the surgical implement until the correct surgical site is confirmed. A method of using the container includes the steps of confirming the correct surgical site, signing the label and removing it from the container, placing the label in the medical record, unlocking the container, removing the implement, and beginning the surgery, wherein the surgical team is forced to pause to confirm the correct surgical site before starting the surgery. Preferably, the container top may be removed and placed between the surgeon and surgical technician to define a no-hands “neutral zone” to avoid being stuck by the sharps. Also, the container preferably includes compartments for storing used sharps and/or a local anesthetic-loaded syringe, and the top may be replaced and secured for safely disposing of the sharps after the surgery.
US09168104B2
Intra-operative system for identifying and tracking surgical sharp objects, instruments, and sponges
Intra-operative systems for identifying surgical sharp objects are provided. Aspects of the systems include an intra-operative imaging device for obtaining intra-operative surgical sharp object image data; and a surgical sharp object automated shape recognition module configured to identify a surgical sharp object from intra-operative surgical sharp object image data. Systems of the invention may further include additional components, such as surgical instrument and/or sponge identification and tracking devices. Systems of the invention find use in a variety of methods and applications, including tracking of surgical items during a surgical procedure.
US09168099B2
An apparatus is presented comprising an endoscope including a flexible shaft which has an active deflection section at a distal tip, a handle connected to a proximal end of the flexible shaft, a platform mounted to a top portion of the handle and oriented substantially in line with the longitudinal axis of the proximal end of a straight portion of the flexible shaft to provide a substantially straight entry into a working channel of the flexible shaft for an output accessory, a stone retrieval device insertable into the proximal end of the working channel of the endoscope, a lithotripsy shaft including one or more guide features at a distal end of the lithotripsy shaft to facilitate passage of wires or filaments of the stone retrieval device there through, and a lithotripsy shaft driver attached to the platform for driving the lithotripsy shaft under power.
US09168096B2
A method for soft tissue destruction comprises applying high voltage pulses causing irreversible electroporation alternating with low amplitude pulses of opposite polarity balanced to provide negligible average current and minimize risk of electrical shock. The method may be accompanied by tissue heating to reduce the electroporation threshold and negative pressure for skin shaping and optimal voltage distribution.
US09168095B2
A high-frequency treatment device includes a tubular body having a front end portion and a rear end portion; an operating handle having a high-frequency port and a main push rod extending through the body, the operating handle slidably fitted to the body; a front tube having a rear end portion connected to the front end portion of the body; an auxiliary push rod rotatably connected to the main push rod, the auxiliary push rod extending into the front tube; a wire fixed to the auxiliary push rod, the wire extending through the front tube; a rotary knob rotatably attached to the body, the rotary knob configured to rotate together with the auxiliary push rod and the wire; and an arc-shaped knife fixed to the wire and connected to the high-frequency port of the operating handle via the wire, the auxiliary push rod and the main push rod.
US09168094B2
Devices and methods are provided for performing an ablation procedure on tissue with flow monitoring using flow sensors. The devices include a catheter, and at least one flow sensor disposed on the catheter, and a component for applying the ablation procedure. An assessment module provides an indication of the efficacy of the ablation procedure based on the flow measurement from the flow sensor.
US09168090B2
An apparatus for operating on tissue includes an end effector, a first actuator, and a second actuator. The end effector includes a first jaw pivotable relative to a second jaw to a closed position. The first actuator is movable from a first position to a second position to pivot the first jaw to the closed position. The first actuator engages the second actuator in the second position to selectively provide RF energy to the end effector.
US09168082B2
An electrosurgical wand. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are electrosurgical wands including an elongate shaft that defines a handle end and a distal end, a first discharge aperture on the distal end of the elongate shaft, a first active electrode of conductive material disposed on the distal end of the elongate shaft, the first active electrode has an edge feature, a first return electrode of conductive material disposed a substantially constant distance from the first active electrode, and an aspiration aperture on the distal end of the elongate shaft fluidly coupled to a second fluid conduit.
US09168071B2
A spinal management system includes a stabilizing member adapted to extend substantially longitudinally along a target region of a spine tending to exhibit a defective curvature and a set of stabilizing anchors adapted for fixation to vertebrae and to receive the stabilizing member to secure the stabilizing member against substantial transverse translation relative to the vertebrae. The system also includes a first correction anchor adapted for fixation to a vertebra, a second correction anchor adapted for fixation to a vertebra, and a connection between the stabilizing member and the first correction anchor and between the first and second correction anchors adapted such that when the connection is tensioned a compressive force is selectively exerted between the first and second correction anchors.
US09168056B2
Fluid is pressurized and supplied to a fluid chamber with a fluid pressurizing and supplying unit. The pressurized fluid within the fluid chamber is ejected through an injection nozzle by reduction of the volume of the fluid chamber caused by applying a driving voltage to a volume varying unit. In applying the driving voltage to the volume varying unit, the effect imposed on fluid injection by pressure fluctuations of the fluid pressurized and supplied to the fluid chamber is compensated by changing the voltage waveform of the driving voltage. When the pressure of the supply flow amount is decreased to a pressure lower than a predetermined pressure, the time intervals of the driving waveform are corrected. The maneuverability of a fluid injection device does not deteriorate even when the pressure of the fluid pressurized and supplied to the fluid chamber fluctuates.
US09168055B2
An ultrasonic surgical shears includes an ultrasonic surgical blade, a clamping arm operable to open and close toward the blade, and a tissue pad attached to the clamping arm. A method for sealing a blood vessel of a patient includes obtaining an ultrasonic surgical shears and positioning the blood vessel between the blade and the tissue pad. The clamping arm is operated to exert an average coaptation pressure on the blood vessel between and including 60 psi and 210 psi. The blade is ultrasonically vibrated to transect and seal the blood vessel.
US09168044B2
A cord assembly including an elongate cord extending between a first end in the form of at least one loop and an opposite free second end and a cleat fixedly attached to the looped end of the elongate cord. The cleat includes at least two recesses for receiving and securing the second end of the elongate cord during use, for example, as a tourniquet or to secure some other item. In use, the free end is passed through the loop so that the cord extends around the limb or other item to which it is being applied, and then the free end of the cord is locked into the cleat using the recesses.
US09168043B2
Disclosed is a method of preventing atrial appendage thrombus from entering the blood stream in which an occlusion device placed within the left atrial appendage inhibits compression of the left atrial appendage and facilitates tissue in-growth onto the occlusion member. The occlusion device includes an occlusion member, a plurality of supports and a plurality of barbs associated with the plurality of supports.
US09168039B1
One example of a surgical apparatus may include a staple holder; at least one feeder belt fixed to the staple holder; and staples integral with and frangibly separable from the feeder belt; where at least one of the staples is sized differently from at least one other staple.
US09168038B2
A fastener cartridge can comprise a support portion, a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to the support portion, and a plurality of fasteners positioned within the support portion and/or the tissue thickness compensator which can be utilized to fasten tissue. In use, the fastener cartridge can be positioned in a first jaw of a surgical fastening device, wherein a second jaw, or anvil, can be positioned opposite the first jaw. To deploy the fasteners, a staple-deploying member is advanced through the fastener cartridge to move the fasteners toward the anvil. As the fasteners are deployed, the fasteners can capture at least a portion of the tissue thickness compensator therein along with at least a portion of the tissue being fastened.
US09168035B2
An implantable support member having at least one adjusting portion operable for adjusting a length or tension of the support member after placement of support member anchors. The support member is operable to provide mid-urethral support for treating urinary incontinence.
US09168032B2
A ligament balancer for a knee is disclosed that includes a first guide portion having a first guide hole extending there through, and a second guide portion having a second guide hole extending there through, the first and second guide portions being moveable with respect to each other along a movement axis, the balancer being adapted such that, in use, the movement axis is substantially parallel to the anterior/posterior axis of a distal femoral surface. Also disclosed is a kit of parts that includes the ligament balancer and a drill guide for a knee, the drill guide includes first and second connected arms, each arm comprising at least two guide openings extending there through, the guide openings being spaced longitudinally along each arm, longitudinal axes of the first and second arms intersecting at a predetermined angle. Also disclosed is a method of attaching a cutting block to a distal femoral surface as part of a knee replacement procedure.
US09168022B2
An abdominal sonar includes an ultrasound transducer array with a plurality of ultrasound transducers. The abdominal sonar further includes at least one additional ultrasound transducer. A digital signal processor is communicatively connected to the plurality of ultrasound transducers and the at least one additional ultrasound transducer. The digital signal processor individually operates the plurality of ultrasound transducers and the at least one additional ultrasound transducer. The digital signal processor receives reflected ultrasound signals back from each of the plurality of ultrasound transducers and the at least one additional ultrasound transducer and converts the received reflected ultrasound signals into an audio signal. A system for monitoring a pregnancy includes an ultrasound transducer array and at least one additional ultrasound transducer. A digital signal processor is communicatively connected to the ultrasound transducer array and the at least one ultrasound transducer. The digital signal processor converts received raw fetal heart and uterine activity waveforms into an audio signal. A wireless transmitter broadcasts the received audio signal. A wireless receiver receives the broadcast audio signal. A patient monitor extracts the raw fetal heart and uterine activity waveforms from the audio signal and processes the waveforms to obtain an indication of fetal heart rate and an indication of uterine activity.
US09168021B2
A Method for measuring heart contractility of a patient, in which a mechanical shear wave is propagated through the heart and observation of the propagation leads to determine a shear wave propagation parameter representative of the elasticity of the heart is disclosed. The value of the propagation parameter at the end of a systole is sampled, which leads to a parameter representative of the end systolic elastance.
US09168020B2
A method of determining stress based on renal blood flow. The method includes receiving data indicating renal blood flow of a subject. The method also includes calculating a power spectrum of a signal derived from the data. The power spectrum indicates a stress level of the subject.
US09168012B2
Embodiments include a system for providing blood flow information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system including a touchscreen. The at least one computer system may be configured to display, on the touchscreen, a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of an anatomical structure of the patient based on patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may also be configured to receive a first input relating to a first location on the touchscreen indicated by at least one pointing object controlled by a user, and the first location on the touchscreen may indicate a first location on the displayed three-dimensional model. The at least one computer system may be further configured to display first information on the touchscreen, and the first information may indicate a blood flow characteristic at the first location.
US09168002B2
Garments and methods for monitoring radiation exposure and cumulative radiation exposure in individuals undergoing repeated exposure to ionizing radiation are disclosed.
US09167987B2
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus collects raw data about a subject in a synchronized manner with an electrocardiographic signal of the subject. An Electrocardiogram (ECG) gating unit detects an irregular synchronization interval with respect to the electrocardiographic signal. When the ECG gating unit detects an irregular synchronization interval, a real-time sequencer controls a gradient magnetic-field power source, a transmitting unit, and the like so as to reacquire raw data that is acquired during the irregular synchronization interval.
US09167978B2
Systems, methods and devices are disclosed for directing and focusing signals to the brain for neuromodulation and for directing and focusing signals or other energy from the brain for measurement, heat transfer and imaging. An aperture in the skull and/or a channel device implantable in the skull can be used to facilitate direction and focusing. Treatment and diagnosis of multiple neurological conditions may be facilitated with the disclosed systems, methods and devices.
US09167974B2
Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.
US09167972B2
A non-contact biometric sensing device is described. The device includes a processing device, a user interface communicatively coupled to the processing device, a display communicatively coupled to the processing device, a laser doppler vibrometer sensor communicatively coupled to the processing device, and an infrared camera communicatively coupled to the processing device. The processing device is programmed to utilize mechanical motion data received from the laser doppler vibrometer sensor and thermal distributions data from the infrared camera to calculate biometric data, when signals originating from the laser doppler vibrometer sensor and the infrared camera are reflected back towards the device from a target.
US09167971B2
A method and device for heart murmur extraction and classification is disclosed. Data corresponding to a heart sound/signal is acquired from a patient through a data acquirer. The heart sound data is processed to isolate systole and diastole periods. Features to discriminate between the defects types associated with different heart murmurs are extracted, and the heart murmurs are detected and identified based on the extracted features using a fuzzy controller.
US09167965B2
An instrument measuring optical properties of an eye in an entire field of vision, including refraction and aberrations, including: a frame mounted on an ophthalmologic table that can be oriented in three perpendicular directions X, Y, Z; a support surface for a head of the subject; a hot mirror; a long mirror; an illumination sub-assembly including a fiber optic head; a lens; a diaphragm; a beam splitter; and a measurement sub-assembly with two lens and two mirrors; a camera including a matrix of micro-lenses on the inlet of camera, the camera being placed on the focal plane of the micro-lenses; the frame including a motor, a shaft of which rotates in the Y direction, to which an arm is attached that can rotate on the shaft; components of the illumination sub-assembly, components of a measurement sub-assembly, and the camera with the matrix of micro-lenses being mounted on the arm.
US09167960B2
First and second white light is generated by excitations of phosphors with first and second laser beams having center wavelengths of 473 nm and 445 nm, respectively. The first and second white light is applied, in respective frames, sequentially to a region of interest in a subject. A color image sensor images the region of interest in the each frame. Based on a shift amount, calculated from green signals of first and second frames, between images, an image of a blue signal of the first frame is moved to be aligned with an image of a green signal and an image of a red signal of the second frame. After the alignment, an oxygen saturation image representing an oxygen saturation level of hemoglobin in blood is produced from the blue signal of the first frame and green and red signals of the second frame.
US09167957B2
A probe which is inserted into a lumen of inside of a body, irradiates an observation object part of a physiological tissue with excitation light, and detects fluorescence resulting from the excitation light, wherein the probe including: a plus lens arranged facing toward a tip side of the probe; and a plurality of optical fibers receiving the fluorescence at tip surfaces through the plus lens, wherein the tip surface are directed toward the plus lens and arranged in positions offset from an optical axis of the plus lens, wherein positions of the tip surface of at least optical fibers of which an amount of offset from the optical axis of the plus lens differ mutually among plurality of optical fibers are shifted mutually along the optical axis of the plus lens.
US09167952B2
A dispenser for a dishwasher having a wash tub includes a fluid reservoir to hold a treating chemistry, a lid operatively mounted to the fluid reservoir, and configured to move between an open position and a closed position, and a hydraulic actuator fluidly coupled to a fluid source and configured to initiate movement of the lid between its closed and the open positions in response to fluid pressure applied to the actuator by the fluid source.
US09167930B2
A roaster (1) and heating cover (20) thereof are disclosed. The roaster (1) includes a pot (10) and a heating cover (20) covered correspondingly thereon. An inner space of a cover body is separated into an installing chamber (2110) and a hot air chamber (2111). A first motor (22) and a second motor (24) are fixed in the installing chamber (2110). The hot air supply module (23) is disposed in the hot air chamber (2111), and a group of the reduction gears (25) is driven by the second motor (24). A stirring component (26) connecting the group of the reduction gears (25) is disposed in the hot air chamber (2111). Thus an inner space of the roaster (1) will be maintained for flipping the ingredients.
US09167929B1
A boot removal assistance device uses a base plate and a removal plate joined by a post. The removal plate has a bottom leg and an arcuate shaped top leg joined by a pair of opposing side members defining a central opening that is wider side to side relative to the top to bottom distance. A user places a boot into the central opening while standing on the base plate with the other leg. The heel of the boot is braced against the inside edge of the bottom leg while the toe portion of the boot is braced underneath the top leg. The boot is now braced and the user pulls his or her leg out of the boot.
US09167914B2
A merchandise dispenser is provided and has a product display tray with a bottom portion for supporting and guiding a rank of product items. The merchandise dispenser also has a spring assembly for advancing the product items forward on the bottom portion. The spring assembly includes a pre-stressed spiral tape having a top surface extending from a mounting end portion thereof and a plurality of light emitting diodes carried in spaced relation on a predetermined length of the top surface of the tape for upwardly illuminating product items when disposed in the product display tray.
US09167907B2
A tiered inline loveseat includes a first chair and a second chair where the second chair is positioned inline and below the first chair. The first chair includes a first seat, and a first seat back. The first seat has a front end, a back end, a first side and a second side. The first seat back is coupled to the back end of the first seat. The second chair has a second seat and a second seat back with a bottom edge and a top edge. Wherein, the top edge of the second seat back is coupled to the front end of the first seat.
US09167893B2
The invention relates to a folding table including: two tabletop members that are coupled to each other pivotably with one edges of the tabletop members serving as an axis, and are able to be folded; leg members that are disposed on a lower surface of a tabletop formed by unfolding the two tabletop members; a separation biasing unit that causes two leg members to move away from each other; and a movably coupling unit that couples the leg members to the tabletop members in such a manner as to be moveable from the one edge side to the other edge side. When the tabletop members are pivoted to unfold the tabletop, the separation biasing unit and the movably coupling unit cause the leg members to be unfolded along the lower surface of the tabletop.
US09167887B2
An oral care implement, such as a toothbrush (100), comprises a handle (110) and a head (120). A plurality of tooth cleaning elements (130) may be provided on a front surface (121) of the head (120). The head (120) is formed by a plurality of spaced-apart segments (140-145) made of a rigid material. The segments (140-145) are isolated from one another by channels (157-159B) containing an elastomeric material (146) that flexibly connects the segments (140-145) together. The oral care implement further comprises an elastomeric soft tissue cleaner (200) located on a rear surface (122) of the head (120) opposite the front surface (121) of the head (120). Each of the segments (140-145) comprises a protuberance (163-169) made of the rigid material that extends through the elastomeric soft tissue cleaner (200) and is exposed therethrough.
US09167884B2
An attachment system for tools includes a housing, a rotating member having a sloping surface and a catch surface disposed in an open central region of the housing, and a clip member having a clip protrusion with a head and neck portions where the neck portion is sized to be slidably receive in one of a first and second slot of the housing where each slot extends through a wall of the housing to the open central region. The clip protrusion engages the sloping surface causing the rotating member to rotate about a central longitudinal axis to a point as the neck portion moves distally along one of the slots where a catch surface aligns with the clip protrusion and where a channel aligns with a clip protrusion of a second clip member retained in the second slot, thereby retaining the first clip member and releasing the second clip member.
US09167872B2
The second ring 31 and the fourth ring 33 are fixed to the ouch 5 so that the table surface 7a (front, of the ornament unit) has a position that is directed upward by an angle alpha of about 5° to 45° with respect to the gravity direction. When it is in use condition. For example, it is achieved by twisting the first joint 61 and the second joint 63 by an angle corresponding to the angle alpha.
US09167861B2
Disclosed is a safety helmet having an outer shell, having a front opening, coupled with an inner shell made of shock absorption material, an anti-dazzle visor constrained to the outer shell and movable between a position of engagement and a position of disengagement with the front opening, and an operating portion of the anti-dazzle visor, integral with this latter, and controlled, through a motion transmission cable, by a control slider coupled to a related guide fastened to the outer shell. The control slider is translatable manually between an inactive position and an active position in which the anti-dazzle visor is arranged in a position of engagement. Advantageously, the motion transmission cable has one end integral with the outer she and the other end integral with the control slider, and engages with a drive constrained to the operating portion of the anti-dazzle visor, for movement of this latter.
US09167853B2
A USB charger for electronic cigarettes, comprising a USB interface configured for connecting with a power supply and a load end configured for connecting with a load, wherein, the USB charger for electronic cigarettes further comprises a voltage comparison unit, a benchmark circuit, a sampling circuit, a current detecting element, a state indicating unit, and a low voltage difference linear regulator connected between the USB interface and the load end; the benchmark circuit is connected between an output end of the low voltage difference linear regulator and an input end of the voltage comparison unit; and the state indicating unit is connected with an output end of the voltage comparison unit; the USB charger for electronic cigarettes of the present invention achieves advantages effects of being safer and improving users' experiences.
US09167850B2
This present invention relates to an electronic cigarette case comprising a cigarette case body (1). The cigarette case body (1) includes an accommodation structure (2). A first accommodation region configured for holding an electronic cigarette (100) is formed in the accommodation structure (2). A second accommodation region is formed between the outer surface of the accommodation structure (2) and the inner surface of the cigarette case body (1) and the second accommodation region is configured for receiving paper documents, especially an electronic cigarette operating instruction. The instruction can be taken out and inserted into the electronic cigarette case easily, and it is convenient for users to use. Furthermore, in assembly, the instruction can be directly inserted into the electronic cigarette case, which brings great convenience for the production and improves the production efficiency.
US09167841B2
This invention disclosed is a tangerine peel extract with the effect of weight gain. This extract uses tangerine peel as the raw ingredient and is obtained through extraction processes using supercritical CO2, water, or organic solvents. The resulting extraction component contains a large quantity of flavonoids and terpenoids, which can effectively regulate the function of the spleen and stomach leading to desired weight gain. This invention also declares the preparation methods of the above mentioned tangerine peel extraction, which is simple in technique and highly effective in extraction. This invention also further declares the application of the above mentioned tangerine peel extraction in preparing healthcare food with the function of gaining weight.
US09167837B2
The invention relates to compositions and methods of using the flavor active peptides, Lys-Ile-His-Pro-Phe (SEQ ID NO:1), Gly-Pro-Phe-Pro-Ile (SEQ ID NO:2), and Lys-Lys-Tyr-Lys-Val-Pro-Gln (SEQ ID NO:3), to impart a bitter, salt, dairy or umami flavor to food or pharmaceutical products. In particular embodiments, the Lys-Lys-Tyr-Lys-Val-Pro-Gln (SEQ ID NO:3) peptide further imparts a vegetable, brothy, or bready flavor.
US09167831B2
An edible, solid composition comprising a laxative and one or more bulking agents in aqueous media wherein the laxative is polyethylene glycol and the composition is prepared by dissolving the polyethylene glycol in aqueous media together with one or more bulking agents and subjecting the mixture to heat up to at least about 100° C.
US09167830B2
The present invention relates to substituted cellulose acetates and methods of use thereof. One embodiment of the present invention provides a drilling fluid having a base fluid and a viscosifier having a substituted cellulose acetate having a polar substituent that comprises an oxygen atom covalently bonded to a nonmetal selected from the group of sulfur, phosphorus, boron, and chlorine; where the nonmetal is present in at least about 0.01% by weight of the substituted cellulose acetate.
US09167826B1
A dairy-based yogurt product having a protein level above 15%, sometimes more than 25%, with a smooth and rich texture and no grittiness. The yogurt product includes a particular selection of dairy proteins and other ingredients to raise the gelation temperature of the dairy proteins and avoid causing gelation or precipitation during pasteurization. Additionally, pasteurization temperatures, times and methods are selected to avoid gelation. Starting dairy proteins generally have relatively higher pH levels and low total acidity (TA) levels to help reduce gelation during pasteurization. Ingredients such as buffering agents and sequestering agents may be utilized to help raise the gelation temperature, as well as higher sugar levels which can control hydration of the proteins.
US09167820B2
The present invention provides non-peptide compounds of formula (I) wherein: X is —(C1-C8)allcyl-, aryl or -aryl(C1-C8)alkyl-; Y is —(C1-C8)alkyl- or absent; W is heteroaryl, (C3-C7)carbocycle or aryl, wherein any heteroaryl, (C3-C7)carbocycle or, aryl of W is optionally substituted with one or more (e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5) Z1 groups; R1 is (C1-C8)alkyl, (C2-C8)alkenyl, (C2-C8)alkynyl or aryl, wherein aryl is optionally substituted with one or more (e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5) groups selected from (C1-C8)alkyl, (C2-C8)alkenyl, (C2-C8)alkynyl, (C3-C7)carbocycle, halo(C1-C3)alkyl, —CN, NO2, halogen, —ORa, —SRa, —S(O)2NRbRc, —NRbRc, —NRaCORd, —C(O)Ra, —C(O)ORa, and —C(O)NRbRc; R2 is (C1-C8)alkyl, (C2-C8)alkenyl, (C2-C8)Jalkynyl or aryl, wherein aryl is optionally substituted with one or more (e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5) groups selected from (C1-C8)alkyl, (C2-C8)alkenyl, (C2-C8)alkynyl, (C3-C7)carbocycle, halo(C1-C3)alkyl, —CN, NO2, halogen, —ORe, —SRe, —S(O)2NRfRg, —NRfRg—NReCORh, —C(O)Re, —C(O)ORe and —C(O)NRfRg; I that mimic the streptococcal; SspB Adherence Region (BAR) and function as inhibitors of P. gingivalis adherence to streptococci. The invention also provides methods of making and using the inhibitors.
US09167813B2
A substantially surface active agent-free foamable composition which includes short-chain alcohol, water, polymer, fatty alcohol or fatty acid or a combination of fatty alcohol and fatty acid and propellant. A substantially surface active agent-free foamable composition which includes, water, polymer, fatty alcohol or fatty acid and propellant. A method of treatment using a substantially surface active agent-free foamable compositions.
US09167806B2
The ice fishing alarm is constructed of a tripod that is placed over top of an ice fishing hole, and which positions a fishing spool there above. The fishing spool includes a knob for manually spooling fishing line. The fishing spool includes a magnet on an opposing side of the fishing spool with respect to the knob. The magnet is aligned adjacent to a spring-loaded alarm, and upon pulling of the fishing line, shall release the spring-loaded alarm. The spring-loaded alarm is in wired connection with an alarm member comprising of a speaker and/or light, which are turned on upon release of the spring-loaded alarm.
US09167786B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV688253. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV688253, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV688253 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV688253 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV688253.
US09167782B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV730854. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV730854, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV730854 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV730854 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV730854.
US09167775B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH068929. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH068929, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH068929 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH068929.
US09167770B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH413124. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH413124, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH413124 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH413124.
US09167769B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV068285. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV068285, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV068285 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV068285 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV068285.
US09167763B2
The invention provides seed and plants of the bean line designated EX 08081813. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of bean line EX 08081813, and to methods for producing a bean plant produced by crossing a plant of bean line EX 08081813 with itself or with another bean plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of bean line EX 08081813, including the pods and gametes of such plants.
US09167762B2
The invention provides seed and plants of tomato hybrid EX15567631 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of tomato hybrid EX15567631 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a tomato plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another tomato plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US09167753B2
A base component and a plurality of plant support components interconnect in various combinations to form an organically configured, size adjustable plant support structure for a growing plant. The base component with spaced root-like stakes planted in the soil supports multiple components each having a central vertical trunk-like structure and extending limb-like and branch-like supports forming a tree-like configuration. Ties of various length soft fabric strips attach a growing plant to a molded exterior configured and colored to resemble tree bark for high friction to securely support the plant and plant produce.
US09167749B2
The airflow through a harvesting machine is adjusted by calculating a G-factor at a first point on an upper chaffer to determine if it is greater than 1+n, where n represents a desired factor. A blower is adjusted to reduce an airstream if the G-factor is greater than 1+n. A MOG factor is calculated if the G-factor is less than 1+n. The blower is adjusted to increase the airstream if the MOG-factor is less than 1+x, where x represents a desired factor. A MOG-factor is calculated at a second point if the MOG-factor at the point is greater than 1+x and the blower is adjusted to reduce the airstream if the MOG-factor at the second point is greater than 1+y, where y represents a desired factor or adjusted to increase the airstream if the MOG-factor at the second point is less than 1+y.
US09167746B2
A rake includes a frame and at least one arm assembly attached to the frame via an arm member. The arm assembly includes a main beam coupled to the arm member. The main beam includes a first member pivotally attached to a second member, and the angle between the first and second members is adjustable. The arm assembly further includes a first rake wheel unit connected to the first member and a second rake wheel unit connected to the second member. The arm assembly attaches to the frame such that in a work position, the first and second rake wheel units are disposed substantially horizontally extended with respect to frame, and in a transport position, the first and second rake wheel units are disposed substantially vertically above the frame.
US09167743B2
A greening roll includes water-temperature-light controlling part, root growing part, water/root regulating part and seed-stacking part which is located in the water-temperature-light controlling part. The water-temperature-light controlling part is located on the top surface of the greening roll, the water/root regulating part is located on the lower surface of the greening roll, the root growing part is located in the cavity composed by the water-temperature-light controlling part and the water/root regulating part, and the seed-stacking part is located in the cavity of the water-temperature-light controlling part. The water-temperature-light controlling part further includes top-located irradiation reflecting part, temperature-water regulating part, light-preventing part and seed-stacking cavity. The present invention is suitable for the engineering protection and greening of engineering slopes, spoil and slag yards, embankments and the like, the water and soil conservation and greening of sandy lands, abandoned lands, borrow pits, slurry pond, mining fields, industrial and mining abandoned lands and the like, and the engineering thermal insulation and greening of building roofs and the like.
US09167739B2
A quick connection that allows fastening a tool to the lifter arm of an operating machine and includes first and second joining devices associated respectively to the lifter arm and the tool aimed at being reciprocally engaged. The first joining device includes a swivel head that swivels between a raised position and a lowered one and a first gudgeon; the second joining device includes a shaped body that defines a calibrated inlet opening and support structure. The swivel head, in raised position, enters the shaped body through the opening, then it rotates to its lowered position, thus bringing the first gudgeon in engagement with the support structure. The shaped body includes a stop aimed at striking a winglet of the swivel head and at preventing the swivel head from going out in any succession of movements which are not inversely equal to those carried out for the introduction.
US09173328B2
A heat dissipation system includes a chassis, a number of heat absorbing boxes, a number of pipes, a first water tank and a second water tank received in the chassis, a number of fins sandwiched between the first water tank and the second water tank, a number of fans aligning with the fins, and a water pump connected between the first water tank and the second water tank. Each heat absorbing box includes a water inlet and a water outlet, and heat from electrical components is gathered by the boxes, transferred to the water tanks, and the fans blow air through the fins to dissipate the gathered heat.
US09173279B2
An x-ray transmitter, which may be compact, may be in the form of a housing with an x-ray transparent window sputtered with a metal on one wall, and tribocharging electron source on another wall.
US09173259B1
A light emitting diode driving system includes a plurality of light emitting diode driving apparatuses and a transmission line. The transmission line is electrically connected to the light emitting diode driving apparatuses. The light emitting diode driving apparatus includes a voltage regulator, a synchronous signal generation circuit and a synchronous control logic circuit. The voltage regulator sends a first voltage to the synchronous signal generation circuit. The synchronous signal generation circuit generates a second voltage after the synchronous signal generation circuit receives the first voltage. The synchronous signal generation circuit subtracts the second voltage from the first voltage to obtain a synchronous signal. The synchronous signal generation circuit sends the synchronous signal to the synchronous control logic circuit. The light emitting diode driving apparatuses drive the light emitting diodes synchronously according to the synchronous signals.
US09173255B2
An adaptive heating apparatus for heating a recreational vehicle, including a first heat unit configured to be powered by a first energy type, a second heat unit configured to be powered by a second energy type that is different than the first energy type, and a forced-air circulation unit. The adaptive heating apparatus is operable to employ the first heat unit during a first heating operation, or alternatively to employ the second heat unit during a second heating operation. The forced-air circulation unit is configured to circulate air through the both heat units during the first heating operation and to circulate air through both heating units during the second heating operation.
US09173254B2
A heating cooker including an infrared ray detection device is disclosed. The heating cooker includes a body, an inner case disposed within the body, and provided therein with a cooking chamber to cook food, a detection hole formed at one side wall of the inner case, to allow an infrared ray generated in the cooking chamber to exit outwardly from the cooking chamber, a path change unit disposed in the vicinity of the detection hole, to change a path of the infrared ray passing through the detection hole, and an infrared sensor disposed to be spaced apart from the path change unit, to receive the infrared ray, the path of which has been changed. The path change unit is rotatable to enable the infrared sensor to receive infrared rays having different paths while being generated in different regions in the cooking chamber.
US09173250B2
A method for making a heater is provided. A support and a flexible substrate are provided. The flexible substrate is stretched along a first direction and is fixed on a surface of the support. A carbon nanotube film is drawn from a carbon nanotube array. One end of the carbon nanotube film is attached on the flexible substrate. The carbon nanotube film is wrapped around the support by whirling the support to form a carbon nanotube layer. The flexible substrate is separated from the support and shrinks along the first direction. The carbon nanotube layer includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes aligned in the first direction. A plurality of electrodes are electrically connected with the carbon nanotube layer.
US09173246B2
An information management system is disclosed that includes a wireless terminal configured to store identification data of the wireless terminal used to identify the wireless terminal in the system; a broadcasting device configured to transmit position data which represents a position at which the device is located for a predetermined area; and a server configured to store position data indicating a position at which the terminal is located. The terminal includes a collection unit configured to collect environmental data which represents a state of an environment around the terminal; a receiving unit configured to receive the position data from the device when the terminal is located in the predetermined area; and a transmission unit configured to transmit, via the device, to the server, the identification of the terminal, the position data received from the device, and the environmental data collected by the collection unit.
US09173241B2
A radio link is established for multi-state cells. User equipment is operated in a connected mode with a serving cell. A transition is determined of a neighbor cell from dormant to active. At least a set number of out-of-synchronization events are detected with respect to the serving cell. It is determined that the neighbor-cell reference-signal received power is greater than the serving-cell reference-signal received power plus a threshold after determining the transition of the neighbor cell from dormant to active. A radio-resource-control connection-establishment message is sent to the neighbor cell when the neighbor-cell reference-signal received power is greater than the serving-cell reference-signal received power plus a threshold.
US09173236B2
A method of performing uplink transmission at a user equipment (UE) is provided. The method includes determining whether a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) retransmission collides with a random access transmission in a transmission time interval (TTI); and performing the HARQ retransmission if the HARQ retransmission does not collide with the random access transmission in the TTI, wherein a current value of information indicating a redundancy version (RV) for the HARQ retransmission is incremented by 1 if the HARQ retransmission does not collide with the random access transmission in the TTI.
US09173235B2
The present disclosure provides channel sensing in an efficient manner in a cognitive radio MAC protocol and improves channel utilization. Proposed is an Adaptive Channel Sensing (ACS) for variably sensing a channel in accordance with a Fixed Channel Sensing (FCS) and a channel state so as to perform the channel sensing in an efficient manner while reducing the power consumption of a terminal. Further proposed is a self-scheduling mechanism which enables multiple terminals to simultaneously transceive data by means of a slot-based contention on the basis of the results of the FCS and ACS, which are proposed by the present disclosure.
US09173230B2
A method for scheduling data burst is provided. The method is adapted for a mobile apparatus. The method includes the following steps. Firstly, a data burst is generated, and a maximum delay time is calculated according to a delay constraint of the data burst. Next, whether to receive a downlink data burst before the maximum delay time is determined. If yes, a base station is requested to schedule the data burst to at least one available scheduling time near the downlink data burst. Afterwards, the data burst is sent according to the at least one available scheduling time.
US09173228B2
To mitigate potential interference between radio access technologies (RATs) on a multi-RAT device, traffic scheduling rules may be implemented so that communications of the individual RATs are timed in a manner that reduces interference. For example, communications of a Bluetooth/WLAN RAT may be scheduled such that initial and responsive communications of the Bluetooth/WLAN RAT occur during sub-frames of an LTE RAT that are less likely to cause cross-RAT interference.
US09173226B2
A method for scheduling multimedia broadcast and multicast service (MBMS) transmissions in radio frames comprising subframes comprises receiving a plurality of different multimedia broadcast and multicast service (MBMS) user data for broadcasting to a plurality of wireless communication units. The method further comprises scheduling the different MBMS user data for broadcasting in respective subframes within a first radio frame; and scheduling a different subframe order of the different MBMS user data for broadcasting in respective subframes within a second radio frame wherein the varied subframe order is based on the MBMS service to be broadcast.
US09173221B2
Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of establishing a wireless beamformed link. For example, an apparatus may include a wireless communication controller to control a first wireless communication device to communicate millimeter-wave (mmWave) signals with a second wireless communication device over a mmWave frequency band, the mmWave signals including signals transmitted according to a plurality of different transmit (Tx) beamforming settings, the wireless communication controller is to control the first wireless communication device to communicate feedback information, which is based on the mmWave signals, over a non-mmWave frequency band, and to control the first wireless communication device to establish with the second wireless communication device a beamformed link over the mmWave frequency band, the beamformed link using a Tx beamforming setting, which is determined based on the feedback information.
US09173216B2
According to various embodiments, a method is provided at a relay node for enabling subframe allocation between a backhaul link and an access link of the relay node. The relay node is connected to a controlling entity via the backhaul link, and is connectable to at least one user equipment via the access link. The relay node receives a trigger or configuration information from the controlling entity from the controlling entity. Based on the received trigger or configuration information, the relay node sends information to the controlling entity, indicating a resource utilization of the access link and/or indicating a quality of the access link.
US09173214B2
A method, user equipment, base station and system for determining a component carrier scheduled in cross-carrier scheduling. The method for determining the scheduled component carrier includes: a user equipment (UE) detects scheduling information sent by a base station in a first dedicated searching space corresponding to a scheduling component carrier, the first dedicated searching space includes at least one candidate physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) (101); detecting at least one candidate physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) to obtain a current physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) which belongs to the user equipment (UE) (102); determining a scheduled component carrier corresponding to the current physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) according to the location of the current physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and the carried carrier indicator field (CIF) value thereof (103).
US09173213B2
The present invention relates to providing control information within a search space for blind decoding in a multi-carrier communication system. In particular, the control information is carried within a sub-frame of the communication system, the sub-frame including a plurality of control channel elements. The control channel elements may be aggregated into candidates for blind decoding. The number of control channel elements in a candidate is called aggregation level. In accordance with the present invention, the candidates of lower aggregation levels are localized, meaning that the control channel elements of one candidate are located adjacently to each other in the frequency domain. Some candidates of the higher aggregation level(s) are distributed in the frequency.
US09173208B2
To provide a mobile station apparatus, a base station apparatus, a method and an integrated circuit which are capable of dissolving complexity of setting by the base station apparatus and performing efficient scheduling by improving the orthogonality of resources of a reference signal for every antenna. A mobile station apparatus which transmits a sounding reference signal to a base station apparatus using a plurality of antenna ports, wherein based on one value set specifically to a mobile station apparatus by a parameter notified of by a higher layer from the base station apparatus, a cyclic shift applied to a sounding reference signal corresponding to the plurality of antenna ports is determined.
US09173206B2
Disclosed is a radio technology independent method for coexistence among dissimilar or independently operated TV Band Device (TVBD) networks and dissimilar TV Band Devices. A resource allocation method on Hybrid topology is disclosed, which comprises steps of receiving at least one available resource; performing a neighbor set calculation based on the received at least one available resource; calculating the resource according to the neighbor set calculation; receiving at least one channel list set from each of the coexistence manager (CM) entity; determining whether there is any conflict channel list set among the received channel list set, and either transmitting a confirmation message or a channel list set changing request message to CM entity based on the determination result.
US09173193B2
Various example embodiments are disclosed herein related to broadcast control headers for wireless networks. According to an example embodiment, a method may include allocating resources for a broadcast channel for a wireless network may include determining a set of physical resource units (PRUs), each PRU including a plurality of contiguous subcarriers, selecting one or more subsets of the PRUs, each subset including a plurality of PRUs distributed across the set of PRUs, and determining a plurality of logical resource units (LRUs) from each subset of PRUs, including permutating the subcarriers independently within each subset of PRUs to obtain the plurality of LRUs for each subset of PRUs, each LRU including a plurality of distributed subcarriers.
US09173184B2
Mobile communication system supporting service centralization and continuity and method thereof. A mobile communication system may include a home subscriber server and a service centralization and continuity application server. The mobile subscriber server may be configured to register a location of a user equipment and to transmit location registration information of the user equipment. The service centralization and continuity application server may be configured to receive the location registration information of the user equipment from the home subscriber server.
US09173176B2
A method and wireless multi-cell communication system for providing high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) services. The system includes a radio network controller (RNC) in communication with a plurality of base stations. The RNC sends a control signal to at least one base station having a plurality of timeslots, e.g., in a time division duplex (TDD) system and/or frames including transmission timing intervals (TTIs), e.g., in a frequency division duplex (FDD) system assigned thereto for the establishment of HSDPA channels. The control signal indicates a maximum allowed HSDPA transmit power for each of the timeslots and/or TTIs. The base station sends a feedback signal to the RNC indicating the results of measurements of the power of the transmitted HSDPA timeslots and/or TTIs during a predetermined time period.
US09173172B2
A communication control apparatus includes an acquirer that acquires operation information of a moving object having a shielded space therein, and a controller that controls at least one of a channel between a first base station installed in a car in the moving object and a second base station installed on each floor where the car is stoppable, transmission power of the first base station and transmission power of the second base station, and location information for locating a position of a mobile terminal for each floor where the car is stoppable, on the basis of the operation information.
US09173165B2
A communication device comprising: a first radio capable of communicating according to a first protocol and having a set of operational modes; and a second radio capable of communicating according to a second protocol, the communication device being configured to, in dependence on one or more communications by the second radio in accordance with the second protocol, selecting one mode of operation for the first radio from the set of operational modes, wherein said one or more communications comprises: sending a first message; and a response or non-response to the first message.
US09173163B2
Altering communication interface parameters based upon mobility. A novel approach is presented in which at least one operational parameter is changed as a function of the mobility of a wireless terminal. The changing of the operational parameter (which can be performed by either the wireless terminal, a WAP, or cooperatively by both) can include changing an entire protocol or only one operational parameter within the protocol. The mobility measure can be any one or combination of velocity (rate of change of position), acceleration, position within the network, or other measure. The mobility can be an average mobility over a period of time, or it can be an instantaneous mobility. The operational parameter can be changed by either communication device at each end of a communication link or in part, by both (e.g., either by a WAP (Wireless Access Point) or a communication device connected thereto, or by cooperation there between).
US09173161B2
A method for discovering P2P service capabilities of peer devices in a Wi-Fi network is disclosed. A client device scans one or more channels of the P2P network to discover peer devices, and receives one or more data frames from a set of peer devices. Each of the data frames includes management information to enable the client device to establish a connection with a corresponding peer device. Each data frame further includes a first set of service information, which includes data indicating whether the corresponding peer device is configured to provide a P2P service. The client device then selectively establishes a P2P connection with a peer device from the set based, at least in part, on the first set of service information.
US09173155B2
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes communicating a plurality of queries associated with common tracking areas in a wireless network; identifying a set of serving gateways that serve the common tracking areas; generating a tracking area identity (TAI) list to be used in provisioning network resources for user equipment; and selecting a first serving gateway from the set of serving gateways for the user equipment, wherein the first serving gateway is selected based on the common tracking areas served by the set of serving gateways. In more specific embodiments, the queries are domain name system (DNS) queries that are supported by a network element and that have no cached DNS response.
US09173143B2
A method of controlling a communication control entity in a mobile communication network and a corresponding communication control entity are described. The communication control entity is a part of a pool of communication control entities. In accordance of the invention, when acting as a primary communication control entity and receiving a request for adding a new secondary communication control entity to the overall control procedure, the communication control entity of the invention is arranged to determine whether the requested new secondary communication control entity is a part of the pool or not. If it is a part of the pool, then the primary communication control entity established a direct connection to the access part. The requested communication control entity is not added to the control procedure as a relay.
US09173137B2
System(s) and method(s) are provided to manage packet data protocol (PDP) contexts upon cellular-to-femto handover, wherein femto network has disparate capabilities to support applications with distinct access point names (APNs) and quality of service (QoS) profiles. Based at least on activity factors of applications associated with PDP contexts, a QoS-based ranking of PDP contexts, and subscriber input, cellular network platform selects active PDP contexts to retain and suspend upon handover. A group of active PDP contexts is handed off in accordance with femto coverage capability, with remaining active PDP contexts suspended during handover. When a suspended PDP context, and application associated therewith, is resumed through femto coverage, a PDP context modification is conducted with a new APN and the application is routed to a corresponding femto gateway node and application server. Additionally, femto network platform performs a radio access bearer reconfiguration to meet QoS requirements of the resumed PDP context.
US09173135B2
The disclosure is related to providing service continuity between heterogeneous networks in user equipment. A first cell change procedure may be performed from a packet switched network to a circuit switched network in a first idle mode. Availability of a packet switched domain of the circuit switched network may be determined. A location area update (LAU) may be initiated when a packet switched domain of the circuit switched network is barred.
US09173133B2
A mobile device includes a transceiver that receives data from a network, and transmits data to the network, an input interface that receives input data from a user of the device, and a processor. The processor is configured to receive an input from the input interface indicating a desired quality of service (QoS) requested by the user for a communication session through the network. The processor is also configured to append a code corresponding to the desired QoS to a session initiation protocol (SIP) invite message relating to set-up of the communication session, and transmit the SIP invite message to the network by the transceiver to control the network to provide the desired QoS during communication between the mobile device and another device via the communication session through the network.
US09173131B2
A mobility load balance processing method includes: sending, by a donor base station DBS, indication information to a relay node RN of the donor base station DBS, where the donor base station DBS uses the indication information to instruct the relay node RN to perform mobility load balance processing to hand over at least one user equipment UE in a cell of the relay node RN to a neighboring cell. A relay node, a donor base station, and a communication apparatus are also disclosed. Through UE handover, a cell to which a UE is attached can be adjusted, so that load balance between cells is achieved after an RN is introduced. In this way, network resource utilization is maximized, and system capacity and system performance are improved.
US09173129B2
A management method for an IPv6 address for use in a gateway is provided. The method includes receiving a packet including an IPv6 address, extracting a MAC address from the IPv6 address of the packet, generating a compressed address by inserting a previously defined bit sequence into the MAC address, and storing the compressed address and the IPv6 address in a mapping table. The packet is received from a WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network) node.
US09173128B2
System and method of radio-awareness of mobile device for sending server-side control signals using a wireless network optimized transport protocol are disclosed. One embodiment includes a method of sending a message over an alternate channel to a mobile device in the presence of an open TCP connection with a mobile device, including sending the message over the alternate channel to the mobile device, without utilizing the open TCP connection, responsive to determining that a timing criteria has been met. The alternate channel utilized need not cause a radio of the mobile device to switch on.
US09173127B2
A multi-carrier communication system such as an OFDM or DMT system has nodes which are allowed to dynamically change their receive and transmit symbol rates, and the number of carriers within their signals. Changing of the symbol rate is done by changing the clocking frequency of the nodes' iFFT and FFT processors, as well as their serializers and deserializers. The nodes have several ways of dynamically changing the number of carriers used. The selection of symbol rate and number of carriers can be optimized for a given channel based on explicit channel measurements, a priori knowledge of the channel, or past experience. Provision is made for accommodating legacy nodes that may have constraints in symbol rate or the number of carriers they can support. The receiver can determine the correct symbol rate and number of carriers through a priori knowledge, a first exchange of packets in a base mode that all nodes can understand, or an indication in the header of the data packet which is transmitted in a base mode of operation that all nodes can understand.
US09173125B2
A mobile station (MS) that transmits uplink data on a PUSCH, the PUSCH being assigned by using a PDCCH. The MS receives a radio resource control signal including first information instructing the MS apparatus to periodically transmit first reception quality information (RQI) and receives, on the PDCCH, second information instructing the MS to transmit second RQI on the PUSCH. The MS transmits only the second RQI on the PUSCH in a case that the transmission of the first RQI which is instructed by using the first information and the transmission of the second RQI which is instructed by using the second information would occur at the same time, where the second RQI is transmitted together with the uplink data on the PUSCH and an amount of resources for the second RQI is determined based on a size of the PUSCH assigned by using the PDCCH.
US09173121B2
Methods and apparatuses are provided that include determining resources over which to measure signals from a base station. One or more parameters related to a resource restriction pattern can be provided to the device for measuring signals over indicated resources. The resource restricted pattern can correspond to a bitmap where each bit relates to a time period over which signals can be transmitted by the base station, and the bit can specify whether a signal received over the resource should be measured. The resource restriction pattern can correspond to a set or protected resources negotiated using a resource partitioning scheme.
US09173120B2
A method for communicating data within a wireless network includes receiving an indication of a measurement type from a wireless communication device and receiving a first wireless transmission pertaining to a first measurement performed by the wireless communication device. The method also includes, in response to the received transmission, obtaining a value of a second measurement of the measurement type. The second measurement is performed by a sensor associated with the base station. In addition, the method includes determining a value of the first measurement based on the received transmission and a value of a second measurement performed by the sensor associated with the base station.
US09173118B2
The present invention provides a method for selecting a working remote radio unit for a user equipment. By comparing isolation of a current working RRU set of a user equipment with a preset isolation threshold, resource utilization and signal interference can be effectively balanced and a working remote radio unit of the user equipment can be accurately determined.
US09173117B2
A method performed by a slave network edge node (e.g., a Broadband Network Gateway BNG2) for enhancing a Long Term Evolution (LTE) backup channel in the event of a failure of a master network edge node (e.g., BNG1) in a wireline network. When BNG2 detects the failure of BNG1, BNG2 sends a failure update message to a Packet Data Network Gateway (PDN GW) of an LTE network. The PDN GW provides a backup channel for the CPE to reach the wide area network over a mobile tunnel. Before the failure the mobile tunnel has an end point at BNG1, and the failure update message notifies the PDN GW that the end point of the mobile tunnel has changed from BNG1 to BNG2. After BNG2 receives a failure acknowledgement message from the PDN GW, BNG2 routes the traffic from the PDN GW over the mobile tunnel to the wide area network.
US09173115B2
In one implementation, a wireless network device is automatically accessed and configured through a mobile device. The mobile device receives provisioning data encoded for installation and operation of a network device and decodes the provisioning data to identify at least one access parameter for the network device. The mobile device accesses a wireless network of the network device according to the access parameter. Once access has been established, the mobile device transmits a configuration signal including a network configuration setting through the wireless network to the network device for the installation of the network device. The network device is provisioned based on the network configuration setting.
US09173112B2
In a wireless communication system a frame composed of plural single carrier orthogonal frequency division multiplex symbols is transferred between a source and a receiver. The frame includes at least one hybrid symbol which is composed of at least one pilot sequence which is mapped on one subcarrier in two of at least a part of subcarriers on which the hybrid symbol is mapped and of discrete Fourier transformed data which are mapped on at least subcarriers comprised between two subcarriers on which the at least one pilot sequence is mapped. The at least one pilot sequence has the property that the variations of amplitudes obtained after performing a discrete Fourier transform over the at least one pilot sequence are limited. The frame also includes other symbols composed of discrete Fourier transformed data only.
US09173111B2
One embodiment of the present disclosure sets forth a technique for convergence and automatic disabling of access points in a wireless mesh network. Specifically, an access point within a wireless mesh network computes one or more network metrics to determine whether the metrics are unfavorable or favorable. If the network metrics are favorable, then the access point disables the access point's network connection. An access point turns the network connection back on based on whether a routing was lost for at least a preset amount of time, utilization of one or more neighboring access points is above a preset value, or one or more network metrics have degraded by a certain percentage value. One advantage of this approach is that cost savings may be achieved when the number of access points dynamically changes to accommodate varying communications conditions.
US09173109B2
Disclosed herein is a method of radio link monitoring (RLM) in a UE comprising the steps of: selecting a control channel type to perform RLM on, wherein the control channel type includes one or more of: a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH); or an enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH); receiving a transmission on a carrier, the transmission comprising one or more reference signals; and determining the quality of the radio link using the selected control channel type and the one or more reference signals.
US09173108B2
A UE is configured to collect multiple absolute radio frequency channel numbers (ARFCNs) in parallel via a wideband receiver during a transmission gap. Inter-radio access technology (IRAT) measurements are performed based on the collected AFRCN samples.
US09173103B2
A wireless access point receives a set of invalid passwords from at least one wireless device attempting to connect to a network through the wireless access point. The wireless access point reduces RF signal power in response to receiving the set of invalid passwords.
US09173082B2
A method and device for preventing a roaming user terminal from re-authentication are provided. The method includes: when Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) of a roaming user terminal changes, change information of the roaming user terminal is reported to a Broadband Remote Access Server (BRAS) via an Access Controller (AC) and the BRAS reports modified information of the roaming user terminal to an Authentication, Authorization, Accounting server (AAA server).
US09173077B2
A method and nodes for enabling a client node such as a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) or Location Services (LCS) client to set up a communication to a User Equipment (UE) in a wireless communications network. The method enables the client node to provide solutions that enable location aware non-voice based emergency services by means of new signalling and a new architecture. A text message may be sent from the UE to the client node via a network node, wherein the text message includes UE location information and a client indicator. The UE location information and the client indicator are then utilized to determine a client node which is most appropriate for communication with the UE.
US09173075B2
A message transmitting method of a communication device, the communication devices stores an information matching table. The information matching table includes a telephone directory column recording a plurality of predetermined telephone numbers and a message column recording a plurality of predetermined messages in advance. When an incoming call is received, whether a phone number of the incoming call is recorded in the telephone directory column of the matching information table is determined. If the phone number of the incoming call is recorded in the telephone directory column, a prompt message stored in the information matching table is determined as a prompt message to prompt a user according to the phone number of the incoming call.
US09173070B2
A mobile device may be configured with multiple receivers (e.g., a cellular receiver, a broadcast receiver such as FM, AM, DTV, a satellite receiver, a NWR receiver, etc.). Upon receipt of an emergency alert message via at least one of the receivers, the mobile device, via an application installed on the mobile device, may extract the emergency alert message from a data channel of the broadcast. The mobile device, via the application, may process the extracted emergency alert message to determine if the emergency alert message is to be rendered via the device. And, if the emergency alert message is to be rendered, the mobile device, via the application, may format the extracted emergency alert message to conform to a standard format (e.g., Commercial Mobile Alert System, CMAS, format).
US09173066B1
According to embodiments illustrated herein there is provided a method for controlling an electronic device. The method includes detecting, in a mobile device, a contact with the electronic device at a predetermined reference location on the electronic device. The method further includes tracking a movement of the mobile device from the predetermined reference location to a second location on the electronic device, wherein the second location corresponds to a first component of the electronic device. Additionally, the method includes receiving an input from a user to control one or more functionalities of the first component.
US09173048B2
In some embodiments, a method for generating a matrix-encoded two-channel audio signal in response to a horizontal B-format signal by performing a mixing operation. In other embodiments, a method for generating a matrix-encoded two-channel audio signal, including steps of generating microphone output signals (by capturing sound with a microphone array), and performing a mixing operation on the microphone output signals, where the mixing operation is equivalent to generating a horizontal B-format signal in response to the microphone output signals, and generating the matrix-encoded two-channel audio signal in response to the horizontal B-format signal. The microphone array is typically a small array of cardiod microphones (e.g., an array consisting of three cardiod microphones). Other aspects include systems (e.g., encoders) programmed or otherwise configured to perform any embodiment of the method for generating a matrix-encoded two-channel audio signal.
US09173047B2
The invention features methods for the manufacture of electrical components such as ultrasound transducers. In particular, the inventions provides methods of patterning electrodes, e.g., in the connection of an ultrasound transducer to an electrical circuit; methods of depositing metal on surfaces; and methods of making integrated matching layer for an ultrasound transducer. The invention also features ultrasound transducers produced by the methods described herein.
US09173041B2
Among other things, a sound processing device system is disclosed to assist a hearing-impaired human listener recognize speech sounds or phonemes. The device system may be configured at least to generate an output audio signal at least by transposing and causing a negative rank ordering of frequency of at least a portion of the input audio signal. Compression also may be performed on the at least the portion of the input audio signal as part of generating the output audio signal. The negative rank ordering may be performed on a high-frequency portion of the input audio signal that becomes a low-frequency portion of the output audio signal by the transposing. The low-frequency portion of the output audio signal may represent an inverted ordering of frequencies or frequency segments present in the high-frequency portion of the input audio signal.
US09173030B2
A speaker system includes: a display panel having a display screen; a structure having a plate part functioning as an acoustic diaphragm located outside of a perimeter of the display screen and being supported by the display panel; and an actuator attached to the structure so that a displacement direction of the actuator may be a direction of a plate surface of the plate part.
US09173028B2
A system for speech enhancement in a room having a directional lapel microphone arrangement for capturing an audio signal from a speaker's voice; audio signal processor for generating a processed audio signal from the captured audio signal, and an adaptive beamformer unit for imparting directivity to the microphone arrangement provides maximum sensitivity towards the speaker's mouth and minimum sensitivity towards noise sources identified by the beamformer unit. A unit shifts the frequency of components of the audio signal above a frequency threshold value only. A feedback cancelling unit has an adaptive filter and a selection unit which automatically switches between a first mode causing the audio signal to by-pass the adaptive filter and a second mode in which the audio signal is filtered by the adaptive filter. A loudspeaker arrangement generates sound according to the processed audio signal and has plural loudspeakers arranged to form a directional loudspeaker array.
US09173025B2
A system, a method, logic embodied in a computer-readable medium, and a computer-readable medium comprising instructions that when executed carry out a method. The method processes: (a) a plurality of input signals, e.g., signals from a plurality of spatially separated microphones; and, for echo suppression, (b) one or more reference signals, e.g., signals from or to be rendered by one or more loudspeakers and that can cause echoes. The method processes the input signals and one or more reference signals to carry out in an integrated manner simultaneous noise suppression and out-of-location signal suppression, and in some versions, echo suppression.
US09173020B2
A control method of sound producing, sound producing apparatus, and portable apparatus are provided. The control method of sound producing is for a portable device, including the following steps. (a) A first detected parameter indicating a detected excursion of a speaker of the portable device is generated. (b) A second audio signal is generated based on a first audio signal, wherein the second audio signal is generated selectively by compensation according to at least the first detected parameter. (c) A gain value is determined according to at least the first detected parameter and a third audio signal is generated based on the second audio signal according to the gain value.
US09173017B2
A circumaural earphone and a decorating strap thereof are provided. The circumaural earphone includes two earphone cups, a main strap, a decorating strap, a photosensitive switch, a power supplier and a light emitter. Two ends of the main strap are connected with the two earphone cups. Two ends of the decorating strap are detachably connected with the two earphone cups or the main strap. The photosensitive switch is disposed in one of the two earphone cups, the main strap or the decorating strap. The power supplier is disposed in one of the two earphone cups, the main strap or the decorating strap. The light emitter is disposed in the decorating strap and electrically connected with the power supplier through the photosensitive switch.
US09173000B2
A server sends to a video device such as a TV a remote user interface (RUI) that is presented on the TV and manipulable to send control commands back to the server. A companion device such as a tablet computer discovers the RUI session and is provided by the server with its own RUI, which mirrors that on the TV, modified as appropriate for the screen of the companion device. The server maintains the two RUIs synchronized such that the RUI on the companion mirrors the RUI on the TV.
US09172998B2
Techniques disclosed herein include systems and methods for excluding specific application traffic from customer consumption-based data billing counts. This is useful for excluding traffic from consumption totals where the application traffic has been accounted for using other means, such as through billing as a separate or technically distinct service. In practice, a tablet computer (or other end user device) can run a video application that uses a high-speed data network via a cable modem. This video application may be included as part of a core video package associated with a distinct cable television service. The system then provides accurate consumption billing of customer traffic that is outside of any other managed services by creating separate logical data service flows at a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) for excluding specific traffic counts.
US09172997B2
Methods and apparatus to collect media exposure information are described. An example metering device to collect media exposure information includes a housing; an input carried by the housing; a display carried by the housing to present a list of media stations which may be tuned by a media device different than the metering device, the metering device incapable of tuning to the media stations; a processor carried by the housing to identify which of the media stations is displayed when the input is selected; and memory carried by the housing to store an indication of an exposure to the identified media station via the media device, the indication including the identified media station and a timestamp corresponding the selection of the input.
US09172996B2
A computer may be configured to identify, using data received wirelessly from an identification device associated with a home entertainment system, a user of an entertainment session. The computer may retrieve a user profile that includes set physical positioning, physical orientation, and viewing information of a primary display device and a secondary display device. The computer may wirelessly control adjustment of a physical position of the primary and secondary display devices in association with the user profile.
US09172992B2
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for accessing a remote source device, comprising a network interface for receiving a media stream from a remote media encoding device, the remote media encoding device generating the media stream from media signals generated by the remote source device, a media decoder for decoding the received media stream, and a user input device for generating signals in response to actuation of the use input device and for transmitting the generated signals to the media encoding device for delivery to the remote source device.
US09172991B2
The disclosure is disclosed an apparatus of processing an image and a method thereof. According to the present invention, the method of transmitting a broadcast signal for a 3-dimensional, 3D, service, the method may include encoding video data for a 3D service into a stream and transmitting a broadcast signal including the encoded stream and service information for signaling the 3D service, wherein the service information comprises a first descriptor includes first information for specifying that a type of the stream is a video stream and second information for specifying a type of a component included in the video stream is a 3D video component, and wherein the first and second information including values for indicating presence and attribute of subtitles of the 3D service.
US09172985B2
A video playback system includes a content provider server for providing video signals of a first and a second video; a video decoder; a display for displaying video content outputted from the video decoder; a playback control server for controlling the video decoder; a first mobile communication device for transmitting a first selection message to the playback control server via internet at a first time point; and a second mobile communication device for transmitting a second selection message to the playback control server via internet at a second time point. The playback control server utilizes the video decoder to receive video signals of the first video according to the first selection message, and utilizes the video decoder to receive video signals of the second video according to the second selection message after the second time point.
US09172971B2
An image coding method includes: deriving a candidate for a motion vector predictor from a neighboring motion vector; adding the candidate to a list; selecting a motion vector predictor from the list; coding a current block; and coding a current motion vector. In the deriving, the candidate is derived according to a first derivation scheme when each of a current reference picture and a neighboring reference picture is determined to be a long-term reference picture, and the candidate is derived according to a second derivation scheme when each of a current reference picture and a neighboring reference picture is determined to be a short-term reference picture.
US09172966B2
A system and method for encoding video is provided. The system may partition a video frame into multiple coding units. The system may determine a memory bandwidth budget and selectively code each coding unit based on a memory cost as compared to the memory bandwidth budget.
US09172963B2
In one example, a video decoder is configured to determine whether a component of a transform unit of a coding unit of video data includes at least one non-zero coefficient based on a codeword for the transform unit, determine whether the transform unit is split into sub-transform units based on the codeword, and decode the transform unit based on the determinations. In another example, a video encoder is configured to determine whether a component of a transform unit of a coding unit of video data includes at least one non-zero coefficient, determine whether the transform unit is split into sub-transform units, select a codeword from a variable length code table, wherein the variable length code table provides an indication that the codeword corresponds to the determinations, and provide the codeword for the transform unit.
US09172960B1
Embodiments are directed towards modifying a quality of an image without affecting a bit rate associated with a video sequence of images. For each macro-block (MB) or sub-block within a MB for a target image to be encoded, various statistics are determined for a luminance component and chrominance components that provide at least average values for the chrominance components that may then be used to identify saturation thresholds. The saturation thresholds are used to determine a Qlevel. An average Qlevel from at least a previous frame is used to generate a Q modulation factor that may be combined with an activity based modulation factor and/or variance based modulation factor, or used singly. The final quantizer is calculated by bit-rate controller base quantizer multiplied by the Q modulation factor, and may be used to encode a MB or sub-block within a MB.
US09172950B2
A method and system for monitoring video assets provided by a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) includes an expert test monitoring platform (ETMP) configured to emulate MCDN client systems at a facility of an MCDN service provider. The ETMP may allow execution of ETMP scripts that specify remote control commands to send to a desired plurality of multimedia handling devices representing emulated MCDN clients. The ETMP scripts may be manually or automatically initiated and may be configured with execution parameters specifying, among other aspects, a number of iterations to repeat. Results recorded when the ETMP script executes may be retrieved and used to generate reports.
US09172948B2
When a user views a three-dimensional video on an external apparatus, the user cannot always simultaneously view the three-dimensional video on another video display apparatus, because of the difference between the display methods used by these apparatuses, for example. In such case, when a three-dimensional video signal is output to the external apparatus, a display unit of the video display apparatus displays a two-dimensional video. In this way, even when the external apparatus is displaying a three-dimensional video, a user can simultaneously view the display unit of the video display apparatus easily.
US09172945B2
A method of creation of a virtual three dimensional image to enable its reproduction on at least one planar substrate includes creating a virtual three dimensional space that includes a ground plane. A virtual model of an object is merged into the virtual three dimensional space and located at a desired position on the ground plane. A first virtual camera is placed at a first position in the virtual three dimensional space. Virtual lighting is added to the virtual three dimensional space to create shadows of the virtual model on at least the ground plane. The first virtual camera is used for rendering of the virtual model and the shadows to obtain a rendered image. The virtual model is removed and the rendered image is projected onto the ground plane. A second virtual camera is placed vertically above the projection of the rendered image on the ground plane and is used to capture the virtual three dimensional image of the projection of the rendered image on the ground plane to enable reproduction of the virtual three dimensional image on the at least one planar substrate.
US09172941B2
A moving image processing device is configured such that a frame data acquisition unit configured to acquire frame data in which a parallax image for the left eye and a parallax image for the right eye are arranged across an active space. An image processing unit configured to subject the frame data to image processing. An active space setting unit configured to identify the position of the active space processed by the image processing unit and to set the pixel values of the active space to be fixed values.
US09172930B2
An electronic apparatus includes first and second panels. A scanning line driving circuit is formed in each of the first and second panels. The scanning line driving circuit can perform a scanning to select k scanning lines for every k lines from m scanning lines. A first start pulse signal supplied to the first panel and a second start pulse signal supplied to the second panel can be temporarily shifted only an integer multiple of half of a horizontal scanning period of the scanning. Thus, even when a high-definition image is displayed at a high speed using the scanning, the position of a display image can be minutely adjusted, and thus a high-quality image can be displayed.
US09172921B1
Doorbells can communicate wirelessly with remotely located computing devices. In some embodiments, doorbells include an antenna configured to enable the doorbells to communicate wirelessly with remotely located computing devices. The antenna can exit the back side of a doorbell and enter a hole of a building such that the antenna is located in the same hole as electrical wires that provide electricity to the doorbell.
US09172920B1
A doorbell can be configured to wirelessly communicate with a remote computing device. In some cases, components that enable the doorbell to wirelessly communicate with the remote computing device could make the doorbell incompatible with certain types of chimes. In some embodiments, the doorbell is configured to diagnose chime compatibility issues.
US09172911B2
A device, computer program product, and method control the operation of one or more cameras associated with a video conference endpoint in a video conference call. A camera control unit (remote control) includes a touch enabled end user component that presents to the user graphical objects representing video conference endpoints currently connected in a conference call, and/or one or more live video feeds currently captured by the video conference endpoint's cameras, and allows the user to manipulate a camera's pan, tilt and zoom using a touch screen display embedded in said camera control unit.
US09172909B2
In one embodiment, video is transmitted between a sending device and a receiving device. The sending device is configured to receive adjacent camera views and encode the adjacent camera views independently into video streams. The sending device performs an image analysis on the adjacent camera views in order to generate a projection matrix to relate the adjacent camera views. The projection matrix and the encoded video streams are sent to at least one receiver. The receiver is configured to receive the encoded video streams and the projection matrix relating the encoded video streams. The receiver calculates an aggregate video stream using the projection matrix. The aggregate video stream includes portions of at least two of the encoded video streams. Other receivers may receive the same encoded video streams and generate a different aggregate video stream having a varying size, resolution, or number of views.
US09172906B2
A mobile communication terminal includes a display module to display image data on an image display area, an input module to generate touch data according to a touch input in a touch area, and a storage module to store the touch data associated with the image data. A data input method includes displaying image data on an image display area, generating touch data according to a touch input in a touch area, associating the touch data with the image data, and storing the touch data associated with the image data.
US09172901B2
Audio perception in local proximity to visual cues is provided. A device includes a video display, first row of audio transducers, and second row of audio transducers. The first and second rows can be vertically disposed above and below the video display. An audio transducer of the first row and an audio transducer of the second row form a column to produce, in concert, an audible signal. The perceived emanation of the audible signal is from a plane of the video display (e.g., a location of a visual cue) by weighing outputs of the audio transducers of the column. In certain embodiments, the audio transducers are spaced farther apart at a periphery for increased fidelity in a center portion of the plane and less fidelity at the periphery.
US09172900B2
A video multiviewer system may include a plurality of video scalers operating in parallel for generating initially scaled video streams by performing video scaling in at least one dimension on a plurality of video input streams. The video multiviewer system may also include at least one video cross-point switcher coupled downstream from the video scalers, and a processing unit coupled downstream from the video cross-point switcher for generating additionally scaled video streams by performing additional video scaling on the initially scaled video streams. The video multiviewer system may also include a display cooperating with the processing unit for displaying multiple video windows based upon the additionally scaled video streams.
US09172899B2
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for receiving broadcasting signals. The method comprises the steps of: obtaining a channel number of contents included in a first broadcasting signal; and allocating a channel number into contents included in a second broadcasting signal by using the obtained channel number. The method is characterized in that the same contents included respectively in the first and second broadcasting signals have the same channel number.
US09172898B2
A method of setting user viewing conditions of a video display apparatus including determining whether a detected terminal is registered by receiving address information of the detected terminal; measuring a received signal strength indication (RSSI) of the detected terminal, if the detected terminal is registered, comparing the RSSI of the detected terminal with preset reference RSSI; comparing a priority order of the detected terminal user profile with a priority order of a preset user profile, if a value of the measured RSSI is larger than a value of the reference RSSI; loading the detected user profile of the terminal, if the priority order of the detected terminal user profile is higher than the priority order of a preset user profile; and setting user viewing conditions based on the loaded user profile.
US09172895B2
A solid-state imaging device including pixels, each pixel having a reset transistor, a selection transistor, an amplification transistor, and a photoelectric conversion unit. The photoelectric conversion unit has a photoelectric conversion film which performs photoelectric conversion, a pixel electrode formed on the surface of the photoelectric conversion film that faces the semiconductor substrate, and a transparent electrode formed on the surface of the photoelectric conversion film that is opposite to the pixel electrode, and the amplitude of a row reset signal applied to the gate of the reset transistor is smaller than at least one of (a) the maximum voltage applied to the drain of the amplification transistor, (b) the maximum voltage applied to the gate of the selection transistor, (c) the power source voltage applied to an inverting amplifier, and (d) the maximum voltage applied to a transparent electrode.
US09172894B2
Enhancement of the reliability of an imaging device comprising several pixels is provided, each of the pixels comprising several first blocks of electronic components organized as a matrix and joined by links to row buses and column buses of the matrix allowing the powering and control of each of the first blocks for its nominal operation. Each of the pixels moreover comprises, associated with the first block, programmable means for disconnection of the first block from the at least one of the buses. Locating of a fault in a device is also provided, the fault occurring in one of the first blocks and leading to a generalized fault in several first blocks.
US09172886B2
A method and apparatus for wirelessly synchronizing operation of an image sensor of an endoscopic video camera unit having a wireless transmitter with operation of a portable endoscopic light source unit includes transmitting a message packet with a target camera shutter period, light source target phase/trigger time/OFF time and light source target ON time to the light source unit. The light source unit controls the start time and the ON time for light output by a light source. The video camera unit includes a light detector for detecting the actual light source start time and duration of light output to provide closed-loop feedback. A camera controller ensures synchronization between the shutter period of the image sensor and actual operation of the light source based on the actual phase and actual ON time sensed by the light detector and the previously communicated target phase/trigger time/OFF time and target ON time.
US09172874B2
An imaging apparatus generates one piece of image including a moving image and a still image which are continuously shot. The apparatus includes an imaging unit, a still image acquisition instruction unit, a moving image acquisition start instruction unit, a time measuring unit, and a moving image time determination unit. The imaging unit acquires the moving image and the still image. The moving image acquisition start instruction unit instructs to start acquisition of the moving image prior to acquisition of the still image. The time measuring unit measures a time from a start of acquisition of the moving image to acquisition of the still image. The moving image time determination unit determines a moving image time which is a time of the moving image included in the image.
US09172873B2
An image sensor array that has a buffer amplifier, having a capacitor which receives photogenerated energy from a photodetector, and stores the photo generated energy in a capacitor of the buffer amplifier. A reset across the buffer amplifier is applied at a time which is sufficient to allow the amplifier to settle transiently prior to applying the clamp voltage. There is also a source follower that is enabled to operate at a time just before snapshot operation, and then turned off when the snapshot is over, to save on power.
US09172866B2
An electronic device includes: a display unit capable of displaying a rotational pathway which rotates on a screen and with which an operation of the electronic device is associated according to a position on the rotational pathway; a touch screen that detects a touch from an outside and receives an input of a positional signal according to a position of the touch; a display controller that converts the position of the touch corresponding to the positional signal received by the touch screen into a position on the rotational pathway and causes a mark to be displayed at the position converted; and an operation controller that controls an operation of the electronic device according to a display position of the mark on the rotational pathway.
US09172854B2
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for utilizing any of a plurality of disparate types of lens actuators on a mobile device. The method may include launching a configurable actuator driver and identifying a particular type of lens actuator that resides on the mobile device. Based upon the particular type of lens actuator that resides on the mobile device, lens-actuator-specific parameter values are obtained that facilitate control interfacing with the particular type of lens actuator. In addition, tuning parameter values are obtained that characterize a displacement-response of the particular type of actuator to control signal values, and the tuning parameter values for the particular type of lens actuator are provided to a configurable lens-actuator driver. The particular type of lens actuator that resides on the mobile computing device is then operated using the tuning parameter values.
US09172851B2
Time delay and integration sensor comprising a matrix of photosensitive pixels organized in rows and columns. Each pixel of a column comprises a photosensitive element, a storage node, and a first transfer transistor connecting the photosensitive element to the storage node. Each pixel of a column, except for the last one, further comprises a second transfer transistor which connects the storage node of the pixel to the photosensitive element of the next pixel of the column. The two transfer transistors are connected to be active at the same time. With such a configuration, it is possible to define a sliding group of several consecutive pixels in a column, to expose the group of pixels, to aggregate the information of the pixels of the group, and to start again after shifting the group of pixels by one pixel.
US09172849B2
A method for image processing of digital image pixels. Pixels are preferably filtered spatially and dithered, and the value for at least one color component is bit reduced. The space freed by the bit reduction is used to allocate a look-up table selection bit that indicates which look-up table (LUT), from a plurality of small LUTs partitioned from a bigger LUT, should be used for the color transform. The transformed pixels are then selected according to the used LUT, format converted and output. The invention, which also covers an apparatus and a pre-processing module, enables an apparatus with a LUT to be used both as a single full-rate LUT apparatus and as a lower-rate n smaller LUT apparatus.
US09172824B2
An apparatus, system, method, and non-transitory recording medium storing an image inspection control program, each of which is capable of inspecting a printed image are provided. While generating an inspection image to be used for inspecting a read image obtained by reading the printed image, attribute data indicating, for each pixel in the inspection image, whether the pixel belongs to drawing data in the inspection image is generated. The attribute data is used to process inspection of the read image based on comparison between the read image and the inspection image.
US09172820B2
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for identifying an account and destination for a communication based on a dialed number and origination number associated with the communication. One computer-implemented method includes identifying a first communication associated with an origination address and an access method; determining whether the first communication is associated with a destination address record in response to identifying the first communication; initiating the second communication to the destination address included in the destination address record in response to determining that the first communication is associated with the destination address record; determining whether a call recipient at the destination address accepts the second communication; and charging the account included in the destination address record for charges associated with the first communication and the second communication in response to determining that the call recipient at the destination address accepts the second communication.
US09172815B2
The present invention is a system and method for initiating conference calls via an instant messaging system to reduce the effort required to initiate and manage the call. The system uses an IM connection between a requesting party and a conference call server to inform the conference call server of the desire to initiate the conference call. The conference call server may initiate the conference call by having involved parties called by a conference bridge, thus reducing the effort required by the parties to join the call.
US09172814B1
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for facilitating call continuity when transferring calls between mobile access networks to voice over internet protocol networks. The method includes recognizing availability of a voice over internet protocol network during a voice call established via a wireless access network. Thereafter, a data connection between a user device and the voice over internet protocol network is established. A transfer of the voice call from the wireless access network to the voice over internet protocol network is initiated by initiating a three-way call. Such a three-way call includes a first portion routed to a destination device via a public switch telephone network and a second portion routed to the user device via the voice over internet protocol network.
US09172803B2
A self-help application such as in an interactive voice response (IVR) platform serving users is enabled for providing an integrated development (IDE) and monitoring environment. This provides real-time reporting and analysis on user behavior, application performance and transaction success. The application is coded in software objects (VoiceObjects) specific to the context of the application. These are pre-built objects that include dialog components, resource management, logic, actions, layer and business tasks. This object-oriented approach uncouples the underlying technology from the application and allows designers to build user-friendly applications. In one embodiment, Java or VoiceXML codes are generated dynamically from these objects and executed by a browser in the IVR. A set of core metrics is defined for each object type as well as configurable levels for these metrics. Data associated with individual objects are collected, aggregated, analyzed and displayed in context by the IDE.
US09172791B1
Features are disclosed for estimating a noise level using a variable step size. An acoustic echo canceller (AEC) may be configured to perform echo cancellation. The acoustic echo canceller may determine an estimated echo using a playback signal. The acoustic echo canceller also may determine an estimated error using the estimated echo and a microphone signal. A variable step size may be determined using the estimated error and the microphone signal. Noise reduction may be performed using the variable step size.
US09172785B2
A method for data communication in a vehicle between an in-vehicle device and a mobile device coupled with the vehicle includes transmitting, by the in-vehicle device, data via a data bus of the vehicle to an in-vehicle data communication device, a first data protocol being used for this purpose, in which an arbitration occurs. The data communication device converts the data, and the data communication device transmits the converted data via a data link to the mobile device. A second data protocol is used in the data transmission from the in-vehicle data communication device to the mobile device, in which no arbitration occurs. A data communication device by which the method of the invention may be implemented is also described.
US09172782B2
The present invention relates to a flush mounting stand, hanger, carry handle for mobile device. The device has a unique attachment member which can perform as a stand to support the mobile device on a flat surface or perform hanging function to support the mobile device over an object such as a door handle, a cabinet handle, etc. The device according to the principles of the present invention comprises an attachment member that can bend around a hinge or stay straight as desirable.
US09172778B2
Solved is a problem of difficulty in operating, with an operation unit casing held by one hand, both of a touch panel and a key operation unit without changing the hand which holds the unit.A portable terminal device comprising an operation unit casing 10 having a key operation unit 15 formed of a key switch and a display unit casing 20 having a display unit and a touch panel 30, in which the display unit casing is laterally positioned with respect to the operation unit casing such that both of the key operation unit 15 and the touch panel 30 are operable by one-handed operation by a hand which holds the operation unit casing 10.
US09172776B2
A method for policy control in an infrastructure network comprising a Gateway (GW) an Access Function (AF), and at least one Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) is provided. In some embodiments, the method includes: (a) the GW establishing a Gx or Gxx session in order to set the current PDN connection under PCC control, (b) the GW further providing information about the current PDN connection to a first PCRF, (c) the first PCRF performing authorization and policy decision based on the PDN connection information and sends it together with restoration instructions to the GW, (d) the GW when detecting that the first PCRF is not available, applying the restoration instructions, said instructions requiring the GW to try to regain PCC control and/or requiring the GW to gracefully delete the services associated with the PCC control.
US09172774B2
A router can process the data received from the local area network at a network protocol stack local to the router, while processing data received from the wide area network normally. The offloading of the stack processing from the source of the data to the router reduces the number of network hops that both packets based on the received data, and acknowledgements from the destination of the packets, must travel, thereby reducing communication latency. In addition, offloading the stack processing to the router can reduce the processing load at the data source. Further, the router can implement different quality of service or other processing protocols for the local area and wide area traffic.
US09172773B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for managing technology resources across multiple platforms. Embodiments of the invention can be used to manage the configuration of a plurality of different devices. A management server/service can utilize native management capabilities of different devices to provide configuration management without requiring agents to be installed on the devices. In general, the management server/service adapts to the unique characteristics and behaviors of different devices, platforms, and external systems to provide configuration management for the different devices, platforms, and external systems. As such, configuration management can be provided in a unified fashion across different platforms, both on-premise and off-premise, and indirectly. When client agents are present, the management server/service can adjust to compatibly operate with the client agents.
US09172768B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an Internet Protocol Television system having a controller to receive an identification of a first presentation device, select a webpage graphical user interface (GUI) template from a library according to the identification of the first presentation device, receive a request to present a customization of the webpage GUI template at a second presentation device, identify an adaptation process to accommodate presentation of the customization of the webpage GUI template at the second presentation device, customize the webpage GUI template according to one or more directives received from the first presentation device, thereby generating a customized webpage GUI, adapt the customized webpage GUI according to the adaptation process, present the customized webpage GUI at the first presentation device, and present the adapted customized webpage GUI at the second presentation device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09172766B2
A cloud extension agent can be provided on a customer premise for interfacing, via an outbound secure connection, cloud based services. The cloud extension agent can reach the cloud based services through existing firewall infrastructure, thereby providing simple, secure deployment. Furthermore, the secure connection can enable substantially real-time communication with a cloud service to provide web-based, substantially real time control or management of resources on the customer premises via the cloud extension agent.
US09172765B2
A method for the dissemination of an alert message to a plurality of personal computers using a network communications protocol from a server is disclosed that includes a first step wherein the client contacts the central server and requests the value of said alert ID number in said memory, a second step wherein said server transmits said value to said client, a third step wherein said client compares a stored value at the client with the value of the transmitted alert ID number, and if said transmitted value exceeds said stored value, a fourth step wherein said client transmits a second message to said server and requests for the server to transmit all unread alert messages in a GetUnreadAlerts SOAP request from said server that are specific to said client.
US09172762B2
The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for recommending a context to a user of a social network service, based on detecting an interaction with some item of web content. With some embodiments, after detecting an interaction with a web document, a topic to which the web document is related is determined. A context, such as an online or offline forum, known to be associated with the topic is then identified. Finally, the identified context is presented to the user as a recommendation for a content source that is likely to be of interest to the user.
US09172760B2
A method and a device for monitoring a service usage amount includes: determining, according to one of quintuple information, protocol information, and URL information in received service request information, whether the service request information is the same as specified service stream information in one or multiple session level service monitoring tasks, where the session level service monitoring task includes a session level service monitoring class identity, a monitoring task identity, and the specified service stream information; the monitoring class identity indicates that the monitoring task is used to monitor a usage amount of a specified service stream in a session; when determining yes, accumulating a usage amount of the service request information in the one or multiple session level service monitoring tasks; and reporting the monitoring task identity and an accumulated usage amount of the service request information in the session level service monitoring task to a PCRF.
US09172759B2
Systems and methods relating to communication within a fabric network are presented. The fabric network includes one or more logical networks that enables devices connected to the fabric to communicate with each other using various profiles known to the devices. A device sending a message may follow a general message format to encode the message so that other devices in the fabric may understand the message regardless of which logical networks the devices are connected to. Within the message format, a payload of data may be included for the receiving device to forward, store, or process the message. The format and the contents of the payload may vary according to a header within the payload that indicates a profile and a message type within the profile. Using the profile and message type, the receiving devices may decode the message to process the message.
US09172758B1
An agent-assisted and directed web-channel customer care apparatus, method, and computer program is provided to receive, from a first device, an inbound message via an inbound messaging channel and create a web session utilizing a web session server. Session identification is received from the web session server and a unique identifier is transmitted to the first device in order for a second device to connect to an agent device via a web session. Communications is simultaneously maintained with the first and second device via the inbound messaging channel and the web session.
US09172753B1
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium and application management computing device includes receiving at an application management computing device a request from a client computing device which requires authentication. A determination is made by the application management computing device whether user network identification information currently is stored for the requesting client computing device. The stored user network identification information for the authentication is obtained by the application management computing device when the user network identification information is determined to be currently stored for the requesting client computing device. The authentication is completed by the application management computing device with the obtained user network identification information.
US09172752B2
A methods and systems for communicating are disclosed. A request is received at a first device to communicate with a second device. Contact is initiated with the second device via a data center. A first form of communication is transmitted to the second device without requiring the transmitting to be routed through a central server. The first form of communication is received from the second device without requiring the receiving to be routed through a central server. A second form of communication is transmitted to the second device without requiring the transmitting to be routed through a central server.
US09172729B2
A method for managing message distribution in a networked computing environment. The method includes determining, for a particular topic, at least a first subscriber messaging engine and a second subscriber messaging engine to receive a topic message. The method includes determining that the first subscriber messaging engine is to act as a cache for the second subscriber messaging engine. The method includes sending the topic message to the first subscriber messaging engine. The method then includes sending a reference message to the second subscriber messaging engine, the reference message being able to be used to retrieve the topic message from the first subscriber messaging engine.
US09172728B2
Systems and methods of operating a communication session control server. A first communication session initiation message is received from a first communication terminal, the first communication session initiation message indicating a second communication terminal with which the first communication terminal is requesting a communication session. A second communication session initiation message is sent to the second communication terminal, the second communication session initiation message indicating a delay to be used by the second communication terminal to determine when to initiate an alerting process.
US09172727B2
A customer premise equipment (CPE) with the ability to manage its own resources. When a communication device request establishment of a voice communication with an external terminal. A usage rate of a microprocessor of the CPE is detected, and the usage rate of the microprocessor is determined and classified as being between a number of usage levels. When the usage rate of the microprocessor is in a high level, two virtual channels are created, to divide a network bandwidth of the CPE. One of the virtual channels is used for packets of voice communication, and the other virtual channel is used for transmission of other kinds of data packages.
US09172709B2
According to one embodiment, a secure network portal includes a number of application servers coupled to one or more clients through a portal server. The application servers serve a number of secure services that may be consumed by clients. The portal server creates a login session with a graphical user interface in which the login session is associated with a particular authorization level. The portal server then displays a service access point for each of the plurality of secure services and restricts access to each of the secure services according to the authorization level of the login session.
US09172705B1
System and method for remote, interactive network and browsing supervision, monitoring, and approval
A system for interactive network access approval includes a server, a first application running on a first device for requesting access to a website on the network, and a second application running on a second device for approving access to the website. The server receives a request via the first application for access to the website, immediately transmits the request to the second application, receives via the second application approval for access to the website, and immediately grants access to the website to the first application. A method for granting access to a website is also described.
US09172692B2
Systems and methods for securely transferring authentication information between a user and an electronic resource are disclosed herein. The methods include providing an authentication image to a user interface. The authentication image is associated with a resource-side coordinate system and the providing includes encoding the resource-side coordinate system to generate a user-side coordinate system that is different from the resource-side coordinate system and transmitting the authentication image and the user-side coordinate system to the user interface. The methods further include receiving an encoded coordinate set, which uniquely identifies an authentication location in the user-side coordinate set and that is user-selected from the authentication image, from the user interface and decoding the encoded coordinate set to generate a decoded coordinate set that uniquely identifies the authentication location in the resource-side coordinate set. The systems include systems that perform the methods.
US09172685B2
A system for integrating access to separate and physically partitioned networks from a single client device is described. The system is interposed between the client device and the networks to allow communication between the client device and the networks, such that data remains partitioned between networks. The system includes a scrambler configured to mix portions of data of variable bit lengths. Typically, the scrambler receives the portions of data from each of the plurality of networks, intermixes the portions of data from the networks, then selects different paths for transporting the intermixed portions of data to the client device. Each of the different paths for transporting the intermixed portions of data are physically and/or logically partitioned from each other. Only when the data arrives on the client device is it able to be reassembled, and then only in particular partitioned locations on the client device corresponding to the particular network from which the data originated.
US09172684B2
A host computer adds a keycode to e-mail and a terminal unit leads an information gathering candidate to add reply information to the e-mail. When the host computer receives the e-mail to which reply information has been added, the host computer stores the reply information in one of data storage areas having a memory address corresponding to a memory address associated the keycode of the e-mail.
US09172679B1
In an intermediation system, an intermediary is positioned along a communications path between a client and a server. The client sends a payment message over the communications path to consummate a payment. The intermediary receives the payment message and detects whether the message includes an account number, such as a credit card number. The intermediary replaces the account number with a limited-use payment number, such as a one-time-use credit card number. The intermediary may request the limited-use payment number from a credit card issuer. The intermediary may send a verification message to the client to verify that the client approves of the replacement of the account number with a limited-use payment number.
US09172676B2
A computer or microchip, comprising at least one protected portion, at least one network portion a system BIOS located in a first protected portion, and at least one internal hardware firewall located between the first protected portion and a first said network portion. The first protected portion being protected by at least a first internal hardware firewall, said first network portion having a connection for a network of computers including the World Wide Web and/or the Internet; the first internal hardware firewall denies access to at least said first protected portion of said computer or microchip from the network. The computer or microchip also includes hardware network communications components located in the first network portion and one or more microprocessors that are not hardware network communications components, located in the first network portion and are separate from the at least one internal hardware firewall. The location of at least the first internal hardware firewall permits unrestricted access by the network to the first network portion so that processing operations other than network communications and firewall operations conducted by said computer or microchip with the network are executed by one or more of said microprocessors in said first network portion.
US09172671B2
A social media mechanism processes messages for content that may require filtering of recipients of the message, and informs a user who drafted the message when the message might need to be filtered so it is not sent to all potential recipients of the message. The user may then select to send the message to all potential recipients, or to filter the recipients so the message is sent to less than all of the potential recipients. User profiles are created and maintained, and may include information that helps to determine when filtering of messages is desirable. Feedback buttons are also provided to provide feedback when a user does not like a message.
US09172668B2
An email redirection server handles email sent by subscribers or intended for subscribers, obfuscating the subscriber's identity through replacement of the subscriber's native email address with a proxy address in the message header and forwarding the email with only the proxy address. Acquiring a proxy address includes assignment by the email redirection server of a child domain in the DNS namespace for the subscriber's exclusive use. When a subscriber intends to send an email to a particular recipient without revealing the subscriber's native email address to the particular recipient, the subscriber addresses the message by putting the recipient's full email address in the local part of the “To” field, replacing the “@” symbol with a known replacement character, and placing the subscriber's assigned subdomain in the domain part of the “To” field, assuring that the email gets to the email redirection server for appropriate readdressing and forwarding.
US09172656B2
Method of managing priority during the transmission of a message, in an interconnections network comprising at least one transmission agent which comprises at least one input and at least one output, each input comprising a means of storage organized as a queue of messages. A message priority is assigned during the creation of the message, and a queue priority equal to the maximum of the priorities of the messages of the queue is assigned to at least one queue of messages of an input. A link priority is assigned to a link linking an output of a first transmission agent to an input of a second transmission agent, equal to the maximum of the priorities of the queues of messages of the inputs of said first agent comprising a first message destined for that output of said first agent which is coupled to said link, and the priority of the link is transmitted to that input of said second agent which is coupled to the link.
US09172654B2
A transfer device increments a value of a phase ID at predetermined time intervals, and registers a packet ID of a transmitted data packet and a phase ID on a determination table in an associated manner. When having received a response packet from a receiving-side transfer device, the transfer device determines an unarrived packet on the basis of received packet IDs contained in the received response packet and packet IDs of transmitted data packets. Then, the transfer device determines whether a data packet corresponding to the unarrived packet is lost or on-the-fly from a relationship between a phase ID of the unarrived packet and the maximum phase contained in the received response packet, and retransmits the corresponding data packet only if it is lost.
US09172646B2
A system and technique for dynamic reconfiguration of network devices for outage prediction is disclosed. The system includes a host and a plurality of network devices aggregated to form a link bundle; and wherein the host comprises a configuration manager operable to: identify a quality of service level of data throughput needed by at least one workload utilizing the link bundle; monitor a parameter of each of the network devices of the link bundle; determine whether the monitored parameter indicates a predicted data throughout quality of service level decrease by a network device being utilized by the workload below the quality of service level for the workload; and responsive to determining that the monitored parameter indicates a predicted quality of service level decrease by the respective network device, dynamically reconfigure the link bundle to maintain the quality of service level for the workload utilizing the link bundle.
US09172638B2
Data is transferred. A data packet associated with an application flow is received. A Pseudowire label is determined based at least in part on an application header associated with the data packet. The data packet is encapsulated with the Pseudowire label. The data packet is transferred over a Pseudowire using the Pseudowire label.
US09172636B2
In one embodiment, an intermediate device transmits a data message away from a root device toward a receiver device in a computer network, the data message transmitted by utilizing, in reverse, a link that had been previously selected by the receiver device toward the root device. In response to detecting that the data message did not reach the receiver device, a discovery message is may be sent to one or more neighbor devices, wherein the discovery message carries an identification (ID) of the receiver device and a discovery scope indicating how many hops the discovery message is allowed to traverse to reach the receiver device, and wherein the receiver device, upon receiving the discovery message, triggers a local link repair of the link from the receiver device toward the root device.
US09172628B2
I/O nodes are dynamically distributed on a multi-node computing system. An I/O configuration mechanism located in the service node of a multi-node computer system controls the distribution of the I/O nodes. The I/O configuration mechanism uses job information located in a job record to initially configure the I/O node distribution. The I/O configuration mechanism further monitors the I/O performance of the executing job to then dynamically adjusts the I/O node distribution based on the I/O performance of the executing job.
US09172627B2
A function is provided in a network system for the dynamic mirroring of network traffic for a variety of purposes including the identification of characteristics of the traffic. Multiple criteria are established for when, what and where to mirror the traffic. The criteria include what frames of traffic to mirror, what portions of the selected frames to mirror, one or more portals through which to mirror the selected frames, a destination for the mirroring and the establishment of a mirror in a device to carry out the mirroring. The criteria may also include when to stop the mirroring. The mirroring instructions can be changed based on the detection of a triggering event, such as authentication, device type or status, ownership of an attached function attached to the device, flow status, but not limited to that. The function may be established in one or more devices of the network.
US09172625B2
The present disclosure may include a method to be performed by an electronic device in an optical network. The method may include generating a message associated with a slot and at least one connection identification (ID) corresponding to the slot. The message may include a slot counter region configured to identify the slot, a request region configured to activate a protect path utilizing the slot, a connection ID counter region configured to identify the at least one connection ID, and a status region configured to convey status of the at least one connection ID corresponding to the slot. The method may also include transmitting the message to other electronic devices in the optical network. The disclosure also includes associated systems and apparatuses.
US09172623B1
Electrical usage of devices in a building may be monitored to provide information about the operation of the devices to a user. The information communicated to a user may include historical information that is retrieved from a server and real-time information that is received from a power monitoring device. The historical information may be transmitted to the user device over a first network connection where the historical information is retrieved using an identifier received from the user device. The real-time information may be received from a power monitoring device and transmitted to the user device over a second network connection.
US09172605B2
Methods and apparatuses for authentication and/or provisioning of wireless network devices, and in particular, methods and apparatuses for authentication and/or provisioning of wireless network devices that are communicating with and may be monitored and/or controlled by a remote (e.g., cloud) server.
US09172599B1
Systems and methods are described to provide fault tolerant folded Clos networks. A folded Clos network is disclosed including a set of tier 1 routers interconnected with a set of tier 2 routers. Tier 1 routers are configured to view a set of tier 2 routers as a single aggregate router. Accordingly, tier 1 routers are unaware of faults between tier 2 routers and additional tier 1 routers. A throwback router is connected to each tier 2 router to facilitate handling of data under such fault conditions. When a tier 2 router receives undeliverable data, the data is passed to a throwback router, which retransmits the data to an additional tier 2 router. Data that is retransmitted multiple times can be disregarded by the throwback router.
US09172594B1
A system allows first users to connect through an IPv4 web interface to access content (e.g., information and services) of second users who provide the content using IPv6. The second users are effectively mobile web servers. In an implementation, the system is a streaming media network (e.g., lifecasting) where first users are video viewers and second users are streaming video providers. In the system, a second user runs a home agent client (e.g., plug in) that connects to a home agent server using IPv6. The home agent client and server encapsulate and deencapsulate the IPv6 information. Information is transmitted and routed using IPv6 in an IPv4 environment. Any number of second users connect to the first user's content via an IPv4 web interface.
US09172584B1
High-availability cluster data protection is described. A computer executes a framework and a task dispatcher. The framework disables caching of internet protocol addresses queried from a network interface configuration of the computer. The task dispatcher receives a request to execute a data protection task, and determines whether the request is for a current cluster node. If the request is not for a current cluster node, the task dispatcher determines whether the request is for a logical host. If the request is for the logical host, the task dispatcher queries the network interface configuration to determine whether the internet protocol address of the logical host is locally available. If the internet protocol address of the logical host is locally available, the task dispatcher directs the request locally. If the internet protocol address of the logical host is not locally available, the task dispatcher directs the request to a remote node.
US09172582B2
Management of a call between a calling party that is a mobile terminal in a first cellular network and a called party that is a mobile terminal in a second cellular network is provided by: receiving at an Application Server, AS, of the first cellular network a request to establish a call with the called party from the calling party, the called party being identified in the indication by a circuit-switched identifier; identifying a registration for the called party in the first cellular network using the circuit-switched identifier for the called party, the registration providing a packet-switched identifier for the called party; and setting up a call between the calling party and the called party of the first cellular network by initiating a packet-switched connection from the AS in the first cellular network to the called party in the second cellular network using the packet-switched identifier for the called party.
US09172576B2
An FFT processing unit performs an FFT process on an OFDM signal received by a reception unit. Based on an output signal of the FFT processing unit, an interference wave level acquisition unit obtains a signal level of an interference wave in a unit radio resource not used by the base station with respect to each of a plurality of candidate timings for the reference timing in the base station. A reference timing adjustment unit determines a new timing of the reference timing from the plurality of candidate timings based on the signal level of the interference wave obtained by the interference wave level acquisition unit.
US09172575B2
The present invention provides a correlator and a demodulation device including, first and second filter sections having different non-overlapping pass-frequency characteristics, first and second delay circuits that delay the signals output from the first and second filter section by one effective OFDM symbol period, first and second complex conjugate circuits that take the complex conjugates of the delayed signals, first and second complex operation sections that compute the complex-multiplies of the signals from the first and second filter sections and the respective signals for the first and second complex conjugate circuits, first and second moving average processing sections that take moving averages of GI lengths, proportion determination circuit that compares the maximum values of the autocorrelations from each of the first and second moving average processing circuits, and selection-combination circuit that selects the autocorrelation having the largest maximum value based on the comparison result.
US09172571B2
A method and apparatus are provided for performing acquisition, synchronization and cell selection within an MIMO-OFDM communication system. A coarse synchronization is performed to determine a searching window. A fine synchronization is then performed by measuring correlations between subsets of signal samples, whose first signal sample lies within the searching window, and known values. The correlations are performed in the frequency domain of the received signal. In a multiple-output OFDM system, each antenna of the OFDM transmitter has a unique known value. The known value is transmitted as pairs of consecutive pilot symbols, each pair of pilot symbols being transmitted at the same subset of sub-carrier frequencies within the OFDM frame.
US09172570B1
A transmitter includes an amplitude modulation path, and a frequency modulation path including a phase locked loop (PLL) having a controllable oscillator and a phase detector. The transmitter further includes an amplitude to frequency distortion compensation unit configured to generate a compensation signal based on amplitude data from the amplitude modulation path, error data based on an output of the phase detector, and data reflecting a transfer function from the controllable oscillator to the output of the phase detector, and is further configured to provide the compensation signal to a node in a feedforward path of the PLL.
US09172568B2
A tuner receives a received signal using one of a plurality of transmission formats that use at least one of either a first frequency or a second frequency band. A determination unit determines the transmission format being used in the received signal from among the plurality of transmission formats. In the determination unit, a pattern matching unit stores in advance a plurality of patterns respectively expressing a received waveform of a preamble in each of the plurality of transmission formats, conducts a pattern matching process between the received signal and the each of the plurality of patterns, and obtains a correlation value. A transmission mode determination unit determines the transmission format being used in the received signal on the basis of the correlation value.
US09172566B1
A method of equalizing an input data signal using a multiple-stage continuous-time linear equalization (CTLE) circuit. A zero-forcing least-mean-square (ZF LMS) procedure is applied to adapt the settings of the CTLE stages. The amplitude settings and the frequency boost settings of the CTLE stages are adapted within the ZF LMS procedure. In an exemplary implementation, an error screening threshold may be applied to an error signal within the ZF LMS procedure to generate a reduced error signal such that weight updates do not occur if the error signal is below the error screening threshold. In addition, if an accumulated sign error signal within the ZF LMS procedure reaches a predetermined maximum indicative of a high loss channel, then a setting for a variable gain amplifier may be increased, and an amplitude setting for the CTLE circuit may be decreased. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.
US09172559B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, an apparatus, and a network system for a terminal to traverse a private network to communicate with a server in an IMS core network. The method includes: the terminal sets a source address of service data to be sent as a virtual IP address, sets a destination address of the service data to be sent as an address of an internal network server, and obtains a first service packet, where the virtual IP address is an address allocated by the IMS core network to the terminal, encapsulate the first service packet into a first tunnel packet, and send the first tunnel packet to the security tunnel gateway over a VPN tunnel between the terminal and a security tunnel gateway, then the security tunnel gateway sends the first service packet in the first tunnel packet to the internal network server.
US09172557B2
A system includes a server including: logic adapted for receiving traffic from a virtual machine (VM), the traffic including at least one packet, logic adapted for hashing at least a portion of the at least one packet according to a hashing algorithm to obtain a hash value, and logic adapted for selecting an uplink based on the hash value; at least one accelerated network interface card (NIC), each accelerated NIC including: network ports including multiple Peripheral Component Interconnect express (PCIe) ports adapted for communicating with the server and a network, each network port including an uplink, logic adapted for encapsulating the at least one packet into an overlay-encapsulated packet, logic adapted for storing a media access control (MAC) address corresponding to the selected uplink as a source MAC (SMAC) address in an outer header of the overlay-encapsulated packet, and logic adapted for sending the overlay-encapsulated packet via the selected uplink.
US09172555B2
Distribution apparatuses include databases for storing data received from ECUs, and further include receiving buffers and sending buffers. The distribution apparatus continuously performs, in parallel, an operation for storing received data on the receiving buffer, operation for synchronizing contents of the database with the databases, and an operation for sending data from the sending buffer. Further, the distribution apparatus periodically copies data of the receiving buffer onto the database and data of the database onto the sending buffer.
US09172550B2
A system and method are provided for of a Multicast system by a controller in a software defined network. The method may include, receiving a request for a multicast stream from a first switch of the software defined network. The request may have originated from a requestor using an Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP). The method may further include, adding the request to a table, wherein the table is designated to have requests from IGMP using requestors for multicast streams. The method may further include, determining whether the request for the multicast stream matches with a multicast data transmission from a sender received by the controller. The method may further include, initiating a connection of the multicast between the requestor and the sender if the request matches the multicast data transmission.
US09172549B2
Path computation involves determining (120, 930) an aggregate cost for a portion of the path, based at least on the power consumption attributable to use of interfaces along that portion, comparing (130, 930) the portion of the first possible path with a different portion corresponding to a different possible path for the traffic request, based at least on their respective aggregate costs, and selecting (140, 930) which portion to use for the traffic request based on the comparison. Having path selection influenced by the power consumption values, can lead to lower overall consumption in operation than relying only on optimizing nodes individually without regard to how the nodes are used. Path selection can take into account indications of which parts are in a power down mode, and can involve powering up such parts if needed.
US09172548B2
A communication apparatus receives, from a first apparatus which has established a communication session, a signal indicating a state in which the communication session should be maintained. If the signal is not received from the first apparatus within a predetermined period of time while the communication session with the first apparatus is established, and a communication session establishment request is received from a second apparatus, the communication apparatus disconnects the communication session with the first apparatus.
US09172533B2
A method for securing communication between members. The method includes a first member obtaining a secret. An n-bit generator executing on the first member generates a message digest using the first secret. The first member extracts algorithm selector bits and an encryption key from the message digest, and selects an encryption algorithm identified by the algorithm selector bits. The method further includes the first member encrypting a communication using the encryption algorithm and the encryption key to obtain an encrypted communication, and the first member sending, to a second member of the group, the first encrypted communication.
US09172530B2
A private key generation apparatus for generating a private key corresponding to a user ID using the user ID as a public key is disclosed. When a user ID is input, an ID conversion unit outputs a specific element value of a discrete logarithm cyclic group having a one-to-one correspondence relationship with an input user ID. A private key calculation unit calculates a discrete logarithm result value based on the output specific element value of the discrete logarithm cyclic group and calculates a private key having a one-to-one correspondence relationship with the user ID. According to the present invention, it is possible to concretely propose a method of calculating a secret key, capable of guaranteeing a one-to-one correspondence relationship between the ID and the private key by applying a method of calculating a discrete logarithm using the pre-computation table in an ID-based encryption system.
US09172528B2
A method, apparatus and system enabling software access to navigational data in a decrypted media stream while protecting stream payloads. In one embodiment, a filter may route an encrypted content stream and associated information to a secure partition having a trusted computing component for decryption. Upon decryption, the trusted computing component may store the decrypted payload of the content in a secure storage location accessible to the trusted computing component. Thereafter, the decrypted navigational header information of the content may be used to navigate to the decrypted content via a trusted component such as a trusted rendering unit in the secure partition.
US09172507B2
A signal protector utilizes a variable latency station to provide error correction.
US09172503B2
A system and method for improving signaling channel robustness. Additional error correction is provided for (L1) dynamic signaling that is carried in P2 symbols in such way that high time diversity can be provided. In other embodiments, transmitted services are scheduled such that services will rotate or “move” between frames, thereby ensuring that a first slot for a service is not always transmitted in the same frequency.
US09172494B2
Devices, chips and methods are provided which involve the use of either a first modulator path or a second modulator path depending on a level of a signal to be processed.
US09172493B2
A method, system and computer-readable medium for providing a user identity-based secure channel between a digital telephone and a service provider is presented. At the service provider, an encrypted voice transmission from a digital telephone is decrypted. The voice transmission was encrypted at the digital telephone by using a user voice encryption key that was created in the digital telephone. The user voice encryption key was created at the digital telephone by inputting a telephone identifier and a called telephone number into a public encryption key algorithm that is supplied by the service provider. By decrypting the encrypted voice transmission, the service provider is able to extract the voice transmission, the telephone identifier, and the called telephone number, thus allowing the service provider to route the voice transmission to an appropriate answering party at the service provider.
US09172491B2
A number of users interface with a network via a multiplex module, on a communication path established between the multiplex module and a point of presence. Some users may be served by one or more first channels of the communication path while one or more remaining users may be served by one or more additional channels of the communication path. Users having a basic service level agreement may be served by the first channels while users having an extended service level agreement may be served by the one or more additional channels. Allocation of users to distinct channel types based on their service level agreements may apply at a primary point of presence or may apply at a redundant point of presence.
US09172486B2
Disclosed are apparatus and method for time division multiplexing of a dedicated channel. In one aspect, the apparatus and method are configured to assign a common spreading code to two or more User Equipments (UEs); encode a downlink (DL) dedicated channel (DCH) with the common spreading code; time-division multiplex a Dedicated Physical Data Channel (DPDCH) data for each of the two or more UEs on the encoded DL DCH; and transmit the multiplexed data on the DL DCH to the UEs.
US09172481B2
An electronic system comprising a receiver module and a mobile device, whereby the receiver module is capable of receiving data transmissions from a network of ground stations and buffering the data for future use, and whereby the receiver module provides a means for making requests for access to this buffered data, and the mobile device is capable of generating requests to the receiver module in order to access the buffered data and of displaying the data or playing the data to an operator.
US09172480B2
The invention relates to a method for the radio-frequency communication of data, in which the receiving of and/or access to said data is controlled by control means, including an electronic microcircuit, on the basis of access rights. The transmitted data includes time information, and the access rights are controlled on the basis of said time information. The invention also relates to a device for controlling access rights as well as to a radio-frequency receiving device including same.
US09172472B2
Method for modulating a carrier light wave to achieve, a modulated light wave which carries information by symbols selected from a set of at least two different symbols. The light led through each path is phase-shifted by a respective total variable part phase shift, which for each path is the sum of at least three respective variable part phase shifts. Each variable part phase shift for each modulation state assumes one of two respective predetermined values, and each symbol is modulated using a respective combination of two such total variable part phase shifts. The modulation performed by the two paths is a PSK (Phase Shift Keying) modulation scheme, the group of symbols includes 2N unique symbols, the light led through each respective path is phase shifted using 2N−1 variable part phase shifts, and the respective difference between the respective predetermined values is the same for all variable part phase shifts.
US09172457B2
A method is presented for communicating data in multibeam satellite system utilizing frequency re-use. The method comprises establishing uplink service beams and downlink service beams between a satellite and a plurality of subscriber terminals. A plurality of the uplink service beams are transmitted to the satellite by re-using at least one common uplink frequency channel. A plurality of the downlink service beams are transmitted from the satellite by re-using at least one common downlink frequency channel. The method further comprises establishing at least one uplink feeder beam and at least one downlink feeder beam between the satellite and a gateway terminal. The at least one uplink feeder beam is transmitted to the satellite by further re-using the at least one common uplink frequency channel. The at least one downlink feeder beam is transmitted from the satellite by further re-using the at least one common downlink frequency channel.
US09172454B2
A system and method for compensating phase differences between multiple local oscillators and group delay differences between multiple transceivers. The system may include; an antenna array; a plurality of transceivers connected to said antennas and operatively associated each with a local oscillator (LO), wherein at least some of the transceivers do not share a common LO, and wherein at least some of the LOs are using a common reference oscillator; a common digital beamformer circuit connected to the transceivers; a baseband processor configured to operate the system at a specified communication scheme; and a calibration circuit and software modules configured to eliminate or reduce mismatches and phase deviations between the different transceivers, wherein the calibration circuit and software modules are incorporated in system such that the elimination or reduction of mismatches and phase deviations is non-interrupting with a continuous operation of the system at the specified communication scheme.
US09172452B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for acquiring a signal to noise ratio (SNR), a signal receiving device and a signal sending device. Through the embodiments of the present invention, an SNR of the signal receiving device (i.e., a receiving end) can satisfy the setting requirement, that is, the test condition that an SNR does not contain a precoding gain, so that a subsequent test is valid.
US09172451B2
Embodiments of a method and apparatus for obtaining sounding measurements between an access point and a wireless station within a wireless local area network are described. Some embodiments relate to Wi-Fi networks and networks operating in accordance with one of the IEEE 802.11 standards. Some embodiments may allow an access point to request that multiple stations compute sounding measurements with minimal time delay between measurements. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09172445B2
A radio communications system conducts radio communications using basic physical channels. Each basic physical channel defines a time slot and a radio frequency for transmission. Radio communication is established between a radio base station and multiple UEs over the same basic physical channel. Three or four subchannels are provided in the same basic physical channel to simultaneously support three or four full rate UE communications, seven or eight half rate UE communications, or other equivalent combinations. A first baseband transmitter chain can map full rate data corresponding to first and second full rate UE communications (or equivalent) as adaptive quadrature phase shift keying, AQPSK, signals onto a first and a second of the three subchannels. A second baseband transmitter chain can map full rate data corresponding to a third and/or fourth full rate UE communication (or equivalent) as phase shifted signals onto a third of the three subchannels.
US09172443B2
A network node for an EGPRS system, equipped with a plurality of transmit antennas and arranged to transmit at least a first and a second data stream as MIMO streams, with the first data stream being transmitted from a first antenna and the second data stream being transmitted from a second transmit antenna. The network node is arranged to transmit the data streams as bursts comprising a training sequence and payload. The network node is arranged to swap parts of the data streams between the transmit antennas, i.e. to transmit all or parts of one or more bursts belonging to the first data stream from the second transmit antenna and to transmit corresponding all or parts of one or more bursts belonging to the second data stream from the first transmit antenna.
US09172439B2
The initialization of the CoMP Resource Management Set for a given mobile terminal is based, at least in part, on an estimation of the mobile terminal's geographical location, which can be estimated using network positioning of the mobile terminal. One example method begins with the acquisition (410) by a network node of a geographical position estimate for the mobile terminal of interest. The network node then selects (420) a set of one or more CSI-RS resources for measurement by the mobile terminal, based on the estimated geographical position of the mobile terminal. Finally, the network node configures the mobile terminal to measure the selected CSI-RS resources by sending (430) control information identifying the set to the mobile terminal.
US09172436B2
A wireless power transfer device including: a power transmitter 1 including a power transmission resonator composed of a power transmission coil and a resonant capacitance; and a power receiver including a power receiving resonator composed of a power receiving coil and a resonant capacitance. The wireless power transfer device further includes a power-transmission auxiliary device including an auxiliary resonator composed of an auxiliary coil and a resonant capacitance. The power-transmission auxiliary device and the power transmitter are configured to be disposed so as to face each other, forming a power receiving space for disposing the power receiving coil between the power transmission coil and the auxiliary coil. An efficient power transfer can be performed without providing an adjusting circuit in the power receiver even when the power receiving coil is not appropriately disposed with respect to the power transmission coil.
US09172432B2
This system for coupling between a wire communication link exhibits a characteristic line impedance suitable for transporting a single signal simultaneously comprising an electrical power supply and data, and a control unit comprising an electrical power supply terminal and a data terminal, said system exhibiting an input impedance. This system comprises means for adapting the input impedance so as to match the characteristic line impedance.
US09172422B2
A communication system has multiple paths including one or more Tx paths for processing Tx signals and one or more Rx paths for processing Rx signals, one or more PAs coupled respectively to the one or more Tx paths for amplifying the Tx signals, one or more LNAs coupled respectively to the one or more Rx paths for amplifying the Rx signals, one or more Tx filters coupled respectively to the one or more Tx paths for filtering the Tx signals, one or more Rx filters coupled respectively to the one or more Rx paths for filtering the Rx signals, and an antenna comprising multiple feeds coupled to the multiple paths, respectively, to provide physical separation of the multiple paths from each other. Physical separation among the multiple paths and impedance matching provides isolation among the multiple paths, and relaxes rejection considerations on the filters.
US09172418B1
A method for switching a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) transmission protocol includes: setting an operational mode of the UICC to an ISO 7816-12 USB UICC transmission protocol mode (USB mode); and in response to a user input, enabling the UICC to fallback from the USB mode to an ISO 7816-3 T=0/T=1 transmission protocol mode (ISO mode).
US09172411B2
An interference canceller comprises a composite interference vector (CIV) generator configured to produce a CIV by combining soft and/or hard estimates of interference, an interference-cancelling operator configured for generating a soft projection operator, and a soft-projection canceller configured for performing a soft projection of the received baseband signal to output an interference-cancelled signal. Weights used in the soft-projection operator are selected to maximize a post-processing SINR.
US09172406B2
A pressure resistant, impact resistant, and corrosion resistant electromagnetic transmitter for pipeline uses and other applications. During use, the ferromagnetic core, the electromagnetic windings, and the other electromagnetic transmission components of the transmitter are entirely contained and sealed within a rugged outer housing.
US09172405B2
A light device includes a substrate on which a light source is provided; and a positional information transmitter that is provided on a surface of the substrate on which the light source is provided and transmits predetermined positional information to a terminal device.
US09172396B1
Provided are an apparatus and method of compressing spatial data and an apparatus and method of restoring compressed spatial data, the method of compressing spatial data including: determining the size of actual data of the spatial data stored in a unit storage space having a predetermined size; selecting the size of a compression storage space in which the spatial data is to be compressed and to be stored, in consideration of the determined size of the actual data of the spatial data; generating flag information considering the size of the actual data of the spatial data; and storing the generated flag information in a predetermined region of the compression storage space having the selected size and storing the actual data of the spatial data in the other regions of the compression storage space.
US09172392B2
Embodiments of the disclosed invention address a method, apparatus and computer program product for enabling enhanced transmitter noise shaping. Thereby, a first digital-to-analog conversion is performed on a digital signal resulting in first analog signal, a noise shaping on the digital signal is performed for obtaining a noise shaped signal and performing a second digital-to-analog conversion on the noise shaped signal resulting in a second analog signal, and the first analog signal and the second analog signal are added for obtaining an output signal.
US09172390B2
A digital to analog converter is disclosed. The digital to analog converter includes a voltage selector, M voltage transmitting switches and a selecting signal decoder. The voltage selector receives N first voltages among a plurality of analog input voltages, and receives a plurality of digital selecting signals. The voltage selector selects at most one of the first voltages for providing to an output terminal. One terminals of the voltage transmitting switches receives M second voltages among the input voltages respectively, and the voltage transmitting switches are turned on or off according to M transmitting enable signals respectively. The selecting signal decoder generates the transmitting enable signals according to the selecting signals. Wherein, M and N are positive integers.
US09172386B2
Methods and systems for time interleaved analog-to-digital converter timing mismatch calibration and compensation may comprise receiving an analog signal on a chip, converting the analog signal to a digital signal utilizing a time interleaved analog-to-digital-converter (ADC), and reducing a blocker signal that is generated by timing offsets in the time interleaved ADC by estimating complex coupling coefficients between a desired digital output signal and the blocker signal. A decorrelation algorithm may comprise a symmetric adaptive decorrelation algorithm. The received analog signal may be generated by a calibration tone generator on the chip. An aliased signal may be summed with an output signal from a multiplier. The complex coupling coefficients may be determined utilizing the decorrelation algorithm on the summed signals. A multiplier may be configured to cancel the blocker signal utilizing the determined complex coupling coefficients.
US09172383B2
An integrated circuit package including an induction-coupled clock distribution system is disclosed. An exemplary embodiment of the disclosure includes a transmission module coupled to a main clock line, a clock reception module coupled to the transmission module, the clock reception module including a clock output line, and an electronic circuit coupled to the clock output line of the clock reception module, the electronic circuit including at least one clocked element and configured to operate synchronously with a clocking signal received through the clock output line of the clock reception module. The transmission module may be disposed on the supporting case of the IC package, and the electronic circuit and the clock reception module may be disposed on the semiconductor die of the IC package.
US09172382B2
A semiconductor device includes first and second circuits disposed separately from each other. The first circuit may include: a counting unit suitable for generating count codes, each bit of which is cyclically changing, wherein the count codes include a number of toggles of a sampling signal toggling with a preset frequency representing a distance of single round trip of the sampling signal between the first and second circuits; and a pulse generation unit suitable for generating a measurement pulse according to the count codes representing the distance, wherein the pulse generation unit determines a pulse width of the measurement pulse according to the distance.
US09172380B2
A method and an apparatus for supporting a self-destruction function in a baseband modem are provided. Aspects of the present disclosure are to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a self-destruction method and apparatus in which a self-impossible state is autonomously entered if the baseband modem of a receiving terminal which supports mobile communication is necessary. Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a method and apparatus for deleting information stored in memory when a command is received over a mobile communication network in which a baseband modem has been constructed and then entering a self-impossible state so that the terminal is not recovered although it is booted up again.
US09172372B2
Apparatuses, circuits, and methods are disclosed for reducing or eliminating unintended operation resin ling from metastability in data synchronization. In one such example apparatus, a sampling circuit is configured to provide four samples of a data input signal. A first and a second of the four samples are associated with a first edge of a latching signal, and a third and a fourth of the four samples are associated with a second edge of the latching signal. A masking circuit is configured to selectively mask a signal corresponding to one of the four samples responsive to the four samples not sharing a common logic level. The masking circuit is also configured to provide a decision signal responsive to selectively masking or not masking the signal.
US09172367B2
In a drive unit for a switching element, a drive circuit changes the switching element between an on-state and an off-state, by controlling a potential difference between a reference terminal, which is one of a pair of ends of a current path of the switching element, and an opening-closing control terminal of the switching element. A determination section determines, if an on-operation command or an off-operation command is inputted as an operation signal for the switching element, whether or not the potential difference has reached a specific value toward which the potential difference shifts, in response to one of the operation commands, with respect to a threshold value by which the switching element is turned on. A forcible processing section removes charge for turning on the switching element from the opening-closing control terminal, if the determination section determines that the potential difference has not reached the specific value.
US09172350B2
An elastic wave device includes a first unbalanced terminal, a second unbalanced terminal, a first balanced terminal, a second balanced terminal, a first filter part, and a second filter part. A phase of an electric signal transmitted from first unbalanced terminal to the first balanced terminal in the first filter part is different from a phase of an electric signal transmitted from the second unbalanced terminal to the first balanced terminal in the second filter part. A phase of an electric signal transmitted from the first unbalanced terminal to the second balanced terminal in the first filter part is different from a phase of an electric signal transmitted from the second unbalanced terminal to the second balanced terminal in the second filter part.
US09172343B2
In some implementations, a user can specify an audio control curve for an audio track. The audio track can include an audio signal that is sampled at a specified rate. The audio control curve can be used to generate an audio control signal that can be sampled at the same rate as the audio signal. The audio signal and the audio control signal can be combined to produce sample-accurate adjustments of the audio signal. In some implementations, the audio control curve can correspond to gain adjustments for the audio signal. In some implementations, the audio control curve can be used to adjust the amplitude of the audio signal at particular frequencies. The audio control curve can be used to adjust treble or bass levels during the playback of an audio track, for example.
US09172341B2
There is disclosed a method of generating a supply voltage (230) for a power amplifier (114) arranged to amplify an input signal (228), comprising: generating (104) a target supply voltage tracking the input signal (228); predistorting (400) the target supply voltage to compensate for effects on a supply voltage in the amplifier (114); and generating (102) the supply voltage for the amplifier (114) in dependence on the predistorted target supply voltage (414).
US09172335B2
An optical detector module includes a carrier, a photodetector secured to a top surface of the carrier and having a light detecting portion, an anode terminal, and a cathode terminal, an amplifier circuit secured to the top surface of the carrier and having a first edge, an input terminal, and a GND terminal. The input terminal and the GND terminal are located along the first edge. A first wire connects the anode terminal to the input terminal, and to a composite component secured to the top surface of the carrier and having a metal portion and a resistive portion integrated together. The metal portion is in contact with the carrier. A capacitor, having a top surface electrode and a bottom surface electrode is secured to the carrier.
US09172329B2
Configurable suppression of harmonics in a radio frequency (RF) transmitter circuit having two class-D switching amplifiers that produce a differential output signal having introduced harmonics is contemplated. A selected harmonic is used to determine a time duration. A harmonic suppression circuit modifies a radio frequency polar modulated data signal that is encoded using an amplitude component and a phase component. The modification is responsive to the determined time duration. The switching power amplifiers amplify the modified polar modulated data signal to produce an amplified signal. The amplified signal includes three signal levels, a high signal level, a middle signal level and a low signal level. The timing of transitions between the high and low signal levels represents the phase component, and the transitions include the middle signal level for the time duration, thereby suppressing the selected harmonic.
US09172323B2
A power saving driving circuit for a motor including power factor correction comprises an induction motor; a power factor correction capacitor; a first switching element allowing the motor to operate in a positive sine wave period of an power supply voltage; a diode allowing the power factor correction capacitor to be charged during the first switching element being OFF; a second switching element allowing the motor to operate in a negative sine wave period of the power supply voltage; another diode allowing the power factor capacitor to be charged during the second switching element being OFF; a third switching element connected in parallel to the diode; a fourth switching element connected in parallel to the other diode; and a controller controlling the motor to save power by controlling the third and fourth switching elements when a charged voltage in the power factor correction capacitor reaches a predetermined set value.
US09172315B2
Disclosed is an analyzing apparatus including a first drive part (71) for rotating a turntable (101) on which an analyzing device is set, a second drive part (72) selectively engaged with the first drive part (71) to reciprocate the analyzing device, and a third drive part (73) for relatively moving the first drive part (71) and the second drive part (72) a position where the first and second drive parts are engaged with each other and a position where the first and second drive parts are not engaged with each other. Thus in the mixing and agitation of a small amount of fluid, necessary acceleration can be obtained even in a short time.
US09172305B2
A DC-to-DC converter includes first and second switches connected to each other at a node and biased by PWM pulses. A timing module determines a first time difference between a first edge of a first signal at the node and a first edge of a second signal at a control terminal of the first switch, and a second time difference between a second edge of the first signal and a second edge of the second signal. The first and second edges of the second signal correspond to first and second edges of one of the PWM pulses, respectively. A delay module delays the first and second edges of the second signal based on the first and second time differences, respectively. The delay module delays an edge of one of the PWM pulses based on an amount of change in a voltage output by a charge pump.
US09172298B2
The present invention is suitable for a power supply control field, and provides a fully-controlled bridge rectifying device with surge suppression function. In the embodiment of the present invention, the electric equipment uses a fully-controlled bridge rectifying device with surge suppression function comprising a driving module, a first controllable half-bridge module, an isolation driving module, a second controllable half-bridge module, a half-bridge module and a current limiting resistor. At the starting moment of the electric equipment, the first controllable half-bridge module cooperates the half-bridge module to carry out the bridge rectifier for the alternative current to charge the filter capacitor quickly, and the surge is suppressed by the current limiting resistor, when the electrical equipment work from starting state transits to a stable work state, the first controllable half-bridge module cooperates the second controllable half-bridge module to carry out the fully-controlled bridge rectification for the alternative current to provide direct current to the electric device, the whole fully-controlled bridge rectifying device has the advantages of simple structure, low cost and small volume, and also effectively reduces the power consumption of the equipment.
US09172295B2
A magnetic gear arrangement is provided having a first gear member that generates a first magnetic field and a second gear member that generates a second magnetic field. A plurality of interpoles are disposed between the two gear members for coupling the first and second magnetic fields to control a gear ratio between the gear members. At least one interpole has wiring associated with it that can be activated to alter the magnetic flux at the interpole, so as to vary the coupling between the first and second magnetic fields. The wiring is electrically connected to an electronic filter, which modifies the current passing through the wiring, so as to modify the influence of the wiring on the magnetic flux at the interpole.
US09172283B2
A housing assembly for an electric motor having a rotor shaft rotatable about an axis includes a housing cover and a housing case. The housing cover defines a first bearing seat for rotatably supporting a first portion of the rotor shaft. The housing case defines a second bearing seat for rotatably supporting a second portion of the rotor shaft. At least one of the housing cover and the housing case includes a plurality of mounting lugs substantially circumferentially evenly spaced about the shaft axis for mounting the electric motor to a surface.
US09172269B2
A charging device including a charging circuit, a voltage detection circuit, and a keyboard controller is provided. The charging circuit receives a charging power source, and produces a battery-charging power source at a first node by the charging power source to charge a battery. The voltage detection circuit detects a voltage at the first node, and produces a voltage detection result. The keyboard controller determines whether the voltage at the first node is less than a predetermined voltage according to the voltage detection result, and determines whether a predetermined condition has been satisfied, wherein the predetermined condition includes the voltage at the first node being less than the predetermined voltage, and the keyboard controller is arranged to force the charging circuit to stop producing the battery-charging power source at the first node when the predetermined condition has been satisfied.
US09172264B2
A circuit can be used for charging a capacitor with an AC voltage. In one embodiment, the circuit includes a capacitor coupled to be charged with the AC voltage. An adjustment is configured to adjust a capacitor charge speed according to a value of the AC voltage. The adjustment circuit includes at least one bipolar transistor coupled to receive a voltage at a base of the bipolar transistor. The voltage is a function of the value of the AC voltage.
US09172262B2
A charging device includes a power adapter, a cable assembly, and a control module. The power adapter is used for converting a power supplied from an external power source to a form suitable for charging a battery of an electronic device. The power adapter includes a first magnetic element. The cable assembly is used for electrically connecting the power adapter with the electronic device such that the battery can be charged. The cable assembly includes a first plug connected to the power adapter and a second magnetic element disposed in the first plug. The control module is used for controlling the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element to engage with each other to disconnect the first plug from the power adapter when the battery has been fully recharged.
US09172258B2
A cell balancing circuit controlling balanced discharge of a plurality of battery cells, the cell balancing circuit having a balancing part sensing voltages of the battery cells, a controller responsive to an output of the balancing part to select one of the battery cells for discharge of the cell, and a resistance controller controlling discharge of the selected cell. The resistance controller includes at least one discharge circuit connected to the battery cells; and a plurality of resistors connected to output signal channels of the discharge circuit, the resistors being selectively connected in series according to a control signal of the controller to discharge the selected cell.
US09172253B2
A battery pack charger and a method of charging a battery pack may properly charge a battery pack regardless of the number of cells in the battery pack. The battery pack charger includes a voltage sensing unit configured to sense an output voltage of the battery pack being charged with a predetermined voltage for a predetermined period, a controller configured to determine a number of cells in the battery pack in accordance with the output voltage, and a power source charge and discharge unit configured to supply a charge voltage to the battery pack, the charge voltage being determined in accordance with the number of cells in the battery pack.
US09172245B1
Various technologies described herein pertain to an electrical outlet that autonomously manages loads in a microgrid. The electrical outlet can provide autonomous load control in response to variations in electrical power generation supply in the microgrid. The electrical outlet includes a receptacle, a sensor operably coupled to the receptacle, and an actuator configured to selectively actuate the receptacle. The sensor measures electrical parameters at the receptacle. Further, a processor autonomously controls the actuator based at least in part on the electrical parameters measured at the receptacle, electrical parameters from one or more disparate electrical outlets in the microgrid, and a supply of generated electric power in the microgrid at a given time.
US09172239B2
In one general aspect, an apparatus can include an input terminal and an overvoltage protection device coupled to the input terminal and configured to receive energy via the input terminal. The overvoltage protection device can have a breakdown voltage at an ambient temperature less than a target maximum operating voltage of a source configured to be received at the input terminal. The apparatus can also include an output terminal coupled to the overvoltage protection device and a load.
US09172236B2
The invention relates to an overvoltage protection device, comprising at least one surge arrester and one switchgear assembly, which is connected in series to the surge arrester and which can be triggered thermally, wherein the aforementioned components form a structural unit, and the thermal tripping means is arranged in the area of the expected heating up of the surge arrester when overloaded. According to the invention, the thermal tripping unit is configured as a stop element through which operating current or surge current does not flow. In the event of thermal overload, the stop element opens a releasing device of the switchgear assembly, wherein said switchgear assembly has an increased self-extinguishing capacity.
US09172233B2
Disclosed herein is a device for monitoring the condition of a branch circuit. A device contains a switch that is normally open to prevent the occurrence of electric shock. An optical prong detector is provided to determine weather both the hot and neutral prongs of a plug have been inserted into the receptacle. The receptacle provides conductance upon determination of insertion of a plug into the receptacle. Additional features include GFI detection, current detection heat detection warning lights and an audible alarm. The receptacle includes communication abilities with remote devices to transmit data indicative of the state of the device.
US09172231B2
In an arrangement configuration of bus bars including a plurality of bus bars having a connecting portion provided at a center portion thereof and a housing integrally molded while exposing the connecting portions of the plurality of bus bars, the bus bar has a pair of bending portions that is bent so that both edge sides come close to each other, the plurality of bus bars is arranged in parallel to each other so that the pair of bending portions is located adjacent to each other, and the housing is integrally molded so as to cover the pair of bending portions of each of the plurality of bus bars.
US09172224B2
A puller device for pulling a wire or rope through a conduit includes first and second motor-driven capstans about which a wire or rope can be wound for wire or rope-pulling purposes and an elongated arm arrangement having an end which is positionable adjacent the conduit through which the wire or rope is to be pulled. The first elongated arm member is connected to the second arm member for movement about a pivot axis, and there are provided a plurality of rollers adjacent the pivot axis having surfaces along which the wire or rope bears against so that forces which are exerted adjacent the pivot axis by the wire or rope are distributed between the rollers. In addition, a conduit-engaging assembly mounted upon the elongated arm arrangement holds the conduit in a fixed positional relationship with respect to the elongated arm arrangement during a wire or rope-pulling operation.
US09172211B2
A multi-wavelength distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) semiconductor laser is provided where DBR heating elements are positioned over the waveguide in the DBR section and define an interleaved temperature profile that generates multiple distinct reflection peaks corresponding to distinct temperature dependent Bragg wavelengths associated with the temperature profile. Neighboring pairs of heating elements of the DBR heating elements positioned over the waveguide in the DBR section are spaced along the direction of the axis of optical propagation by a distance that is equal to or greater than the laser chip thickness b to minimize the impact of thermal crosstalk between distinct temperature regions of the interleaved temperature profile.
US09172208B1
An optical source capable of enhanced scaling of pulse energy and brightness utilizes an ensemble of single-aperture fiber lasers as pump sources, with each such fiber laser operating at acceptable pulse energy levels. Beam combining involves stimulated Raman scattering using a Stokes' shifted seed beam, the latter of which is optimized in terms of its temporal and spectral properties. Beams from fiber lasers can thus be combined to attain pulses with peak energies in excess of the fiber laser self-focusing limit of 4 MW while retaining the advantages of a fiber laser system of high average power with good beam quality.
US09172206B2
A laser system includes a seed laser configured to generate a plurality of optical pulses; a controller configured to receive the plurality of the optical pulses and obtain chirped pulses, each chirped pulse having a chirping amount different from each other; an optical waveguide, having a characteristic of anomalous dispersion, configured to cause soliton self-frequency shifts while the chirped pulses propagating so that each center wavelength of a pulse which output from the optical waveguide is different from each other.
US09172204B2
A laser device includes: a signal light source that outputs seed light; an electro-optic modulator that chops a portion of the seed light outputted from the signal light source and outputs signal light; an optical amplifier that amplifies the signal light outputted from the electro-optic modulator; a wavelength conversion optical element that wavelength converts the signal light amplified by the optical amplifier; a converted light detector that detects the signal light that has been wavelength converted by the wavelength conversion optical element; and an EU control unit that controls the operation of the electro-optic modulator, wherein the EU control unit is adapted, in the state in which the seed light is being outputted, to adjust bias voltage of the electro-optic modulator on the basis of the applied voltage when the intensity of the signal light after wavelength conversion detected by the converted light detector becomes substantially maximum.
US09172202B2
A laser apparatus of the present invention has a first laser oscillator that emits a first laser beam; a passive fiber that is a double-clad fiber that transmits the first laser beam through a core; and a second laser oscillator that emits a second laser beam that is coupled into inner cladding of the passive fiber. Additionally, a laser materials processing apparatus of the present invention is provided with the laser apparatus; and an irradiation optical system having a collimating lens and a condenser lens.
US09172197B2
An aircraft pressure bulkhead electrical connector comprising a first connection terminal proximate at least one side of the electrical connector and a pressure seal arranged to maintain an applied air pressure differential across the electrical connector in use.
US09172190B2
A connector to be detachably fitted with a connecting object such as a flexible printed circuit board or flexible flat cable, includes a plurality of contacts each having a contact portion adapted to contact the connecting object, a housing arranging and holding therein the contacts and having a fitting opening into which the connecting object is inserted, and a pivoting member rotatably or pivotally mounted on the housing. According to the invention, an auxiliary member having an engaging unit for engaging the pivoting member is mounted on the pivoting member at its predetermined position. With the aid of the auxiliary member, the pivoting member can be easily rotated or pivotally moved.
US09172188B2
A plug-in terminal for a data or telecommunication cable comprising terminal elements for connecting at least one electrical or optical conductor, further comprising connecting elements for connecting the electrical or optical conductor(s) with an electronic device, wherein the plug-in terminal comprises a storage for data and a means for reading out and/or archiving data in the storage by means of the electronic device, and a method of use thereof.
US09172187B2
An electrical connector includes a housing body and a cover. The housing body includes a terminal accommodating hole that accommodates a terminal fitting, and a ferrite accommodating portion that accommodates a ferrite core. The cover covers the terminal fitting and the ferrite core attached to the housing body. The ferrite accommodating portion includes a ferrite accommodation chamber into which the ferrite core is inserted in a first direction perpendicular to a second direction in which the terminal fitting is inserted into the terminal accommodating hole, and protrusions provided on both inner side surfaces of the ferrite accommodation chamber facing in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction. The protrusions are engaged with concave portions formed on both side surfaces of the ferrite core to regulate movement of the ferrite core in the second direction.
US09172181B2
A coaxial connector includes a lip portion on one end thereof and an extension section coaxially extends from the lip portion. The extension section has a tubular portion coaxially mounted thereto and at least one protrusion extends from the outer surface of the tubular portion. A tool for disconnecting and connecting the coaxial connector includes a mounting portion for being mounted to the coaxial connector and the mounting portion has a yield slot defined therein which is located corresponding to the at least one protrusion of the coaxial connector.
US09172180B2
A canalphone system may include a canalphone coupler, and four connectors carried by the canalphone coupler of which at least two of the four connectors carry an acoustical signal. The system may also include a mechanical joint that joins the canalphone coupler to a cable where the mechanical joint is assembled and disassembled by a user.
US09172174B2
An electrical connection socket includes: at least two insulating seats each having a base and terminals to form at least one contact interface, wherein one end of the base of at least one insulating seat is projected to form at least one tongue, the base is thicker than the tongue, the tongue has the contact interface, and the bases of the at least two insulating seats are stacked; a metal casing covering the at least two insulating seats and having one end formed with an opening, the metal casing at least directly resting against one of the insulating seats; and at least two connection slots disposed in the metal casing, wherein the tongue is disposed in a connection slot, and the contact interface to be electrically connected to a plug is disposed in each connection slot.
US09172171B2
A connector housing includes a terminal accommodating chamber, a lance and a pair of arms. The terminal accommodating chamber is formed with an opening configured such that a terminal is inserted therethrough. The lance extends from a top wall of the terminal accommodating chamber toward the opening in an extending direction. The pair of arms are respectively formed integrally to both lateral side surfaces of the lance, extend from both the lateral side surfaces to front and back sides of the lance in the extending direction, and are connected to a bottom wall of the terminal accommodating chamber. An unlocking protrusion is formed in one of the arms.
US09172157B2
A post-less coaxial cable connector comprising coupler, a formable outer conductor, body, and actuating insert. The coupler is adapted to attach the coaxial cable connector to a terminal. The outer conductor positions in and rotatably retains the coupler. Body attaches to the outer conductor and positions about the coupler. Actuating insert is movably positionable within the body and is configured to advance toward the coupler and urge the outer conductor of the coaxial cable connector radially inwardly to form the outer conductor about outer conductor of coaxial cable. In this manner, the coaxial cable connector is configured to attach to a coaxial cable other than by using a post.
US09172156B2
A coaxial cable connector comprising a connector body having a first end and a second end, wherein the connector body is configured to receive a coaxial cable through the second end, a first cooperating surface disposed within the connector body, wherein the first cooperating surface is a surface of a clamp, the clamp is configured to threadably engage an outer conductor of the coaxial cable, and a second cooperating surface, wherein the second cooperating surface cooperates with the first cooperating surface to collapse an outer conductor of the coaxial cable, wherein at least a portion of the second cooperating surface malleably deforms to a variable axial thickness of a non-uniform collapsed portion of the outer conductor is provided. An associated method is also provided.
US09172155B2
A connector having a conductively coated member is provided, wherein the connector comprises a connector body capable of sealing and securing a coaxial cable, and further wherein the conductively coated member, such as an O-ring, physically seals the connector, electrically couples the connector and the coaxial cable, facilitates grounding through the connector, and renders an electromagnetic shield preventing ingress of unwanted environmental noise.
US09172154B2
A coaxial cable connector for coupling an end of a coaxial cable to a terminal and providing RF shielding is disclosed. The coaxial cable connector has a coupler, body, post and/or retainer with an integral contacting portion that is monolithic with at least a portion of the post or retainer to establish electrical continuity. In this way, electrical continuity is established through the coupler, the post, and/or the retainer of the coaxial cable connector other than by the use of a component unattached from the coupler, the post, the body, and the retainer to provide RF shielding such that the integrity of an electrical signal transmitted through coaxial cable connector is maintained regardless of the tightness of the coupling of the connector to the terminal. When assembled the coupler and post or retainer provide at least one circuitous path resulting in RF shielding such that spurious RF signals are attenuated.
US09172152B2
Embodiments of pressure welding terminals are provided including a pair of spring portions and a slit for press-fitting and retaining a conductive body disposed between the pair of spring portions by a fixed push-in amount. An upper edge of the conductive body is retained by the slit at a fixed position from an opening of the slit, and a region is provided where an area of a cross section of at least one of the spring portions on the lower side of the upper edge of the conductive body is smaller than an area of a cross section of the at least one spring portion at a position of the upper edge of the conductive body.
US09172135B2
This disclosure provides a horizontal radiation antenna including a grounded conductor plate on the back surface of a multilayer substrate, a radiation element to which a microstrip line is connected on a front surface of the multilayer substrate, and a passive element on an end portion side of the multilayer substrate compared with the radiation element. An intermediate grounded conductor plate is provided within the multilayer substrate between insulation layers and faces the microstrip line. The intermediate grounded conductor plate defines a notch portion whose end portion side is open. The intermediate grounded conductor surrounds the radiation element and the passive element in the notch portion. The intermediate grounded conductor is electrically connected to the grounded conductor plate.
US09172128B2
An antenna pointing system for selectively moving a payload relative to a mounting surface includes at least one rotary actuator having a moving part movable relative to a fixed part mounted on the surface. A connecting rod movably connects to the moving part and to the payload. A flexible mounting structure movably attaches the payload to the mounting surface.
US09172120B2
A method of handling a fault in a battery pack, the method comprising: a battery module supplying a voltage to a high-voltage circuit; a battery management system transmitting a heartbeat signal to the battery module via a fault bus; the battery module preventing the heartbeat signal from being transmitted back to the battery management system in response to the battery module detecting a critical condition; and the battery management system shutting off the supply of voltage from the battery module to the high-voltage circuit in response to the battery module preventing the heartbeat signal from being transmitted back to the battery management system. The battery module transmits battery data to the battery management system via a communication bus, which is distinct from the fault bus, and the battery management system transmits one or more commands to the battery module via the communication bus.
US09172116B2
The described principles provide a method and system for assisting a user of an electric vehicle in maintaining a charge state of the chargeable onboard energy storage system. In an implementation, an intuitive remote interface allows the user to create, modify, save and select profiles. The user may select a profile to apply at a current time as well as optionally at a later time. A profile may have a date limitation or day of week limitation in addition to a time limitation. In an implementation, the user may opt to apply a selected profile to a plurality of vehicles. A linkage with utility data allows for the use of rate-based criteria in an implementation.
US09172110B2
A solid electrolyte includes an interpenetrating polymer network, a plasticizer and a lithium salt. The plasticizer and the lithium salt are dispersed in the interpenetrating polymer network. The interpenetrating polymer network includes CH2—CH2—On segments, and is formed by polymerizing a first monomer R1—OCH2—CH2—OnR2 with a second monomer R3—OCH2—CH2—OmR4 under an initiator. The “R1”, “R2” or “R3” respectively includes —C═C— group or —C≡C— group. The “R4” includes an alkyl group or a hydrogen atom. The “m” and “n” are integers. A molecular weight of the first monomer or a molecular weight of the second monomer is greater than or equal to 100, and less than or equal to 800. The first monomer is less than or equal to 50% of the second monomer by weight. The lithium salt is less than or equal to 10% the second monomer by weight. A lithium based battery using the solid electrolyte is also provided.
US09172107B2
Additives can be used to prepare polymer electrolyte for membrane electrode assemblies in polymer electrolyte fuel cells in order to improve both durability and performance. The additives are chemical complexes comprising certain metal and organic ligand components.
