US09399791B2
Methods are provided for the prognosis, diagnosis and treatment of various pathological states, including cancer, chemotherapy resistance and dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease. The methods provided herein are based on the discovery that various proteins with a high level of sialylation are shown herein to be associated with disease states, such as, cancer, chemotherapy resistance and dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease. Such methods provide a lysosomal exocytosis activity profile comprising one or more values representing lysosomal exocytosis activity. Also provided herein, is the discovery that low lysosomal sialidase activity is associated with various pathological states. Thus, the methods also provide a lysosomal sialidase activity profile, comprising one or more values representing lysosomal sialidase activity. A lysosomal sialidase activity profile is one example of a lysosomal exocytosis activity profile. As such, the level of lysosomal exocytosis activity and/or lysosomal sialidase activity is predictive of a diagnosis and/or prognosis of cancer, chemotherapy resistance or dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease.
US09399788B2
The present disclosure describes a method capable of easily and rapidly inspecting the susceptibility of bacteria or fungi to an antimicrobial drug. The inspection method of the present disclosure is a method for inspecting susceptibility of bacteria or fungi to an antimicrobial drug using a micro-device having flow channels, including: incubating a mixture of the antimicrobial drug and a suspension to be inspected in the flow channels of the micro-device; and detecting bacteria or fungi derived from the suspension to be inspected in an observation area of the flow channels of the micro-device. The detecting step can be performed by detecting an increase or decrease in the number of or a change in shape of bacteria or fungi derived from the suspension to be inspected in the observation area by a microscope or the like.
US09399785B2
Methods for the improved acylation of chemical substrates using LovD acyltransferases, thioesters having acyl groups, and (i) thiol scavengers and/or (ii) precipitating agents are presented. An improved method for the production of simvastatin using (i) activated charcoal as a thiol scavenger and/or (ii) ammonium hydroxide as a precipitating agent is also presented.
US09399780B2
The present invention provides a method for producing a virus vector, which involves a step of culturing a cell capable of producing the virus vector in a culture medium containing a retinoic acid compound, a histone deacetylase-inhibiting substance and a substance capable of forming a chelate; and a culture medium for use in the production of a virus vector, which is characterized by containing a retinoic acid compound, a histone deacetylase-inhibiting substance and a substance capable of forming a chelate as active ingredients.
US09399775B2
The present invention provides RNAi agents, e.g., double stranded RNAi agents, that target the transthyretin (TTR) gene and methods of using such RNAi agents for treating or preventing TTR-associated diseases.
US09399773B2
This invention generally relates to a composition for developing novel anti-cancer drugs and/or vaccines and producing microRNA precursor (pre-miRNA) and/or its shRNA homologs/mimics/derivatives, and a method thereof. The present invention also relates to a use of a composition in producing novel prokaryote-produced microRNA precursor (pro-miRNA) capable of being delivered into human cells and processed by the cells into microRNA-like effectors to elicit specific silencing effects on certain targeted oncogenes, subsequently leading to a therapeutic result of tumor suppression and cancer therapy. Specifically, the method of the present invention includes inducing an expression of the pre-miRNA/pro-miRNAs, particularly human pre-miR-302, in prokaryotes through pol-2 or pol-2-like RNA promoter. Most importantly, the composition of the present invention is further a novel pre-miRNA-based drug that is capable of reprogramming the malignant properties of high-grade human liver cancers into a low-grade benign or even relatively normal stage—a mechanism called “Cancer Reversion”.
US09399772B2
A series of independent human-induced non-transgenic mutations found in an expansin gene (LeExp1) of tomato; tomato plants having these mutations in their LeExp1 genes; and a method of creating and identifying similar and/or additional mutations in the LeExp1 gene by screening pooled and/or individual tomato plants. The tomato plants of the present invention exhibit fruit that soften more slowly post-harvest without having the inclusion of foreign nucleic acids in their genomes.
US09399766B2
Provided are compositions comprising recombinant DNA polymerases that include amino acid substitutions, insertions, deletions, and/or exogenous features that confer modified properties upon the polymerase for enhanced single molecule sequencing or nucleic acid amplification. Such properties include enhanced performance with large nucleotide analogs, increased stability, increased readlength, and improved detection of modified bases, and can also include resistance to photodamage, enhanced metal ion coordination, reduced exonuclease activity, reduced reaction rates at one or more steps of the polymerase kinetic cycle, decreased branching fraction, altered cofactor selectivity, increased yield, increased accuracy, altered speed, increased cosolvent resistance, and the like. Also provided are nucleic acids which encode the polymerases with the aforementioned phenotypes, as well as methods of using such polymerases to make a DNA or to sequence a DNA template.
US09399760B2
A molecular marker for detecting a cancer stem cell in a cell mass which is a subject of interest, wherein the molecular marker can be detected in a cancer stem cell contained in the subject of interest but cannot be detected in a normal cell and a cancer cell that is different from a cancer stem cell; a method for determining the presence or absence of a cancer stem cell in a subject of interest by using the molecular marker as an measure; a kit for determining the presence or absence of a cancer stem cell, which comprises at least a reagent for detecting the molecular marker; a polypeptide encoded by the molecular marker; an antibody capable of recognizing an epitope of an expression product of a gene derived from the molecular marker; a nucleic acid capable of inhibiting the expression of the molecular marker; and a nucleic acid vaccine comprising a gene derived from the molecular marker.
US09399753B2
A method for cleaning residues from a semiconductor substrate during a nickel platinum silicidation process is disclosed, including a multi-step residue cleaning, including exposing the substrate to an aqua regia solution, followed by an exposure to a solution having hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide. The SC2 solution can further react with remaining platinum residues, rendering it more soluble in an aqueous solution and thereby dissolving it from the surface of the substrate.
US09399751B1
The present invention relates to a novel compound and its use as fragrance material.
US09399743B2
The embodiments disclosed herein can provide a process for converting a hydrocarbon feed. The process may include hydrocracking the hydrocarbon feed slurried with a particulate catalyst in a presence of hydrogen in a hydrocracking reaction zone to produce a hydrocracked stream, separating at least a portion of the hydrocracked stream, and passing the at least the portion of the hydrocracked stream through a thermal cracking heating zone at conditions effective for thermally cracking the at least the portion of the hydrocracked stream.
US09399736B2
To provide an optically anisotropic substance having a negative uniaxial phase difference film and a positive uniaxial phase difference film, and excellent heat resistance and sputtering resistance. The positive uniaxial phase difference film is formed in combination with a bifunctional polymerizable liquid crystal compound, the negative uniaxial phase difference film is formed in combination of the bifunctional polymerizable liquid crystal compound with an optically active compound having a polymerizable binaphthol moiety, and additional thermosetting treatment (postcure) is applied after the negative uniaxial phase difference film is photocured, and when glass transition temperature after the negative uniaxial phase difference film is cured is 85° C. or higher and 115° C. or lower, additional thermosetting treatment temperature is adjusted to 220° C. or higher and 250° C. or lower, and when the glass transition temperature is higher than 115° C., the additional thermosetting treatment temperature is adjusted to 200° C. or higher and 250° C. or lower.
US09399735B2
A mannich-base inhibitor for decalcification, a preparation method and application thereof are provided. The inhibitor comprises 10-80% mannich-base component calculated in the total weight percent of the inhibitor, while the rest is at least one compound selected from imidazoline inhibitor with molecular weight between 110 and 750, and alkynyloxy amine inhibitor. The mannich-base inhibitor component is prepared through mannich reaction with 1 mol organic polyamine containing three or more primary amine bases and/or secondary amine bases, 3-7 mol ketones, and 3-7 mol aldehydes. The inhibitor which can be effectively compounded and cooperated with oil demulsifying agent and oil decalcifying agent, have the advantages of stable property, strong absorbability, high film strength and film density with its inhibition rate exceeding 90%. The inhibitor is especially adapted for inhibiting the steel corrosion caused by the mixed medium of salt, acid and water from the desalination and dehydration apparatus of oil refinery below 160° C.
US09399733B2
A luminescent material, containing yttrium oxide, oxides of rare-earth metals, as well as aluminum, gallium and indium oxides in a ratio that produces compounds corresponding to the general formula: [(Y1-x-y-zCex(Ln-1)y(Ln-2)z]3-α(Al1-p-qGapInq)5O12-1.5α, where α is a value varying within the 0.20≦α≦2.80 range; x is cerium atomic fraction, in the range of 0.001
US09399732B2
Low-HF or HF-free processes for improving color stability of a Mn+4 doped phosphor of formula I include contacting the phosphor of formula I with a solution that contains hexafluorosilicic acid, and isolating a treated phosphor of formula I having improved color stability relative to an untreated phosphor of formula I Ax[MFy]:Mn+4 (I) wherein A is Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, R4 or a combination thereof; M is Si, Ge, Sn, Ti, Zr, Al, Ga, In, Sc, Y, La, Nb, Ta, Bi, Gd, or a combination thereof; R is H, lower alkyl, or a combination thereof; x is the absolute value of the charge of the [MFy] ion; and y is 5, 6 or 7.
US09399729B2
A method of servicing a wellbore in a subterranean formation comprising placing a wellbore servicing fluid in the wellbore and/or subterranean formation, wherein the wellbore servicing fluid comprises a viscosifying polymeric material, a breaking agent comprising an inorganic peroxide of a divalent metal M(II) characterized by the general formula MO2, and a break rate controlling additive comprising a M(II) soluble salt, a M(II) precipitating salt, a M(II) surface precipitating salt, a M(II) solution precipitating salt, or combinations thereof, allowing the wellbore servicing fluid to break, and flowing back to the surface at least a portion of the broken wellbore servicing fluid.
US09399724B2
Pressure-sensitive adhesive compositions and articles containing the pressure-sensitive adhesives are provided. The pressure-sensitive adhesives contain an (meth)acrylic-based elastomeric material prepared from (2-isopropyl-5-methyl)hexyl (meth)acrylate.
US09399723B2
A pressure-sensitive adhesive composition comprising a) a polymer-metal blend comprising at least one pressure-sensitive adhesive and at least one metal component melting in the temperature range from 50° C. to 400° C., and b) at least one fibrous, electrically conductive filler, the filler being present at least partly in the form of a bound fiber network with the metal component.
US09399707B2
A composite comprising a flame retardant, such as ATH and an expandable graphite is disclosed.
US09399684B2
A method for adjusting the average particle size of a spherical catalyst support, in particular a spherical catalyst support comprising a magnesium dihalide-ethanol-adduct, a spherical catalyst support obtained by the method, a solid catalyst composition comprising the spherical catalyst support, and the use of the solid catalyst composition for the polymerization of an olefins.
US09399675B2
Compositions comprising monoclonal antibodies raised against CAP37 (Cationic Antimicrobial Protein of Mr 37 kDa) and isoforms thereof, along with antigen binding fragments thereof, are disclosed. The antibodies are used in the diagnosis and early detection of Alzheimer's disease and Age-Related Macular Degeneration.
US09399666B2
The present invention relates to peptides having one or more stable, internally constrained α-helices, and that include a sequence that mimics at least a portion of the C-terminal transactivation domain of HIF-1α. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing these peptides and methods of using these peptides, for example to reduce gene transcription, treat or prevent disorders mediated by interaction of HIF-1α with CREB-binding protein and/or p300, reduce or prevent angiogenesis in a tissue, induce apoptosis, decrease cell survival and/or proliferation, and identify potential ligands of CREB-binding protein and/or p300.
US09399648B2
The present invention relates to modulators of ATP-Binding Cassette (“ABC”) transporters or fragments thereof, including Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator, compositions thereof, and methods therewith. The present invention also relates to methods of treating ABC transporter mediated diseases using such modulators.
US09399641B2
A compound with the formula I wherein: R2 is of formula II where Q is selected from OH, SH and NRN, and RN is selected from H, methyl and ethyl, as well as drug-linkers and drug-conjugates made from this compound.
US09399639B2
The present invention provides substituted azaindole prodrugs, methods of making said prodrugs, pharmaceutical compositions of said prodrugs and methods of using said prodrugs and pharmaceutical compositions thereof to treat or prevent diseases or disorders such as cancer.
US09399637B2
The present invention provides novel heteroaryl compounds, pharmaceutical acceptable salts and formulations thereof useful in preventing, treating or lessening the severity of a protein-mediated disease. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising such compounds and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of protein kinase-mediated disease.
US09399634B2
The invention relates to the compounds of formula I or its pharmaceutical acceptable salts, as well as polymorphs, solvates, enantiomers, stereoisomers and hydrates thereof. The pharmaceutical compositions comprising an effective amount of compounds of formula I, and methods for treating or preventing depression may be formulated for oral, buccal, rectal, topical, transdermal, transmucosal, intravenous, parenteral administration, syrup, or injection. Such compositions may be used to treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety, neurological diseases, general anxiety disorder, social phobia, panic disorder, vasomotor symptoms, diabetic neuropathy, epilepsy, bipolar disorder, migraine, schizophrenia, cancer, menopause, HIV and familial adenomatous polyposis.
US09399630B2
Provided herein are novel, commercially viable and industrially advantageous processes for the preparation of benzofuran-2-carboxamide derivatives and their intermediates, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in high yield and purity. Provided particularly herein are novel, commercially viable and industrially advantageous processes for the preparation of vilazodone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in high yield and purity. Provided also herein is an improved and commercially viable process for the preparation of 3-(4-hydroxybutyl)-1H-indole-5-carbonitrile, in high yield and purity, using novel intermediate compound 3-(4-hydroxybutyryl)-1H-indole-5-carbonitrile.
US09399622B2
Polymerization inhibitor compositions are provided. The polymerization inhibitor compositions may include at least one hydroxylamine of a nitroxide and at least one phenylenediamine. Methods of inhibiting the unwanted polymerization of monomers are also provided. The methods include adding the presently disclosed polymerization inhibitor compositions to a fluid containing the monomers. The monomers may be ethylenically unsaturated monomers, such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, acrolein, methacrolein, acrylate, methacrylate, acrylamide, methacrylamide, vinyl acetate, butadiene, ethylene, propylene, and styrene.
US09399619B2
Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention comprise sulfamoylbenzamide derivative useful as pregenomic RNA encapsidation inhibitors, useful for the treatment of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.
US09399610B2
A continuous process for converting carbohydrates to ethylene and propylene glycol. The carbohydrates are mixed with water and passed through a reactor at a temperature that hydrolyzes the carbohydrate mixture at least partially to monosaccharides. The reactor has a first zone comprising a retro-aldol catalyst and a second zone comprising a reducing catalyst. The aldose is converted in the first zone into glycolaldehyde by the retro-aldol catalyst and the glycolaldehyde, in the presence of hydrogen, is converted to ethylene glycol in the second zone of the reactor. The reaction products are removed from the reactor and the ethylene glycol is recovered. The selectivity to propylene glycol can be enhanced via feeding ketose as the carbohydrate.
US09399609B2
The present process relates to a method for minimizing the formation of 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane in a liquid phase reaction of 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and HF in the presence of a hydrofluorination catalyst comprising: (a) reacting HF with sufficient amount of 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene in the presence of a hydrofluorination catalyst under conditions effective to form 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane, the hydrofluorination catalyst being present in sufficient amounts to catalyze said reaction and the 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane being formed with both a conversion of greater than 80% and a 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane selectivity lower than 20%; and (b) maintaining the 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane being formed with both a conversion of about 80% or more and a 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane selectivity of about 20% or less by adding said hydrofluorination catalyst to the reactor in small increments.
US09399604B2
A process for making an alkylate is presented. The process includes mixing an isoparaffin stream with an olefin stream in an alkylation reactor. The alkylation reactor includes a catalyst for performing the reaction. The catalyst is an ionic liquid that is a quaternary chloroaluminate based ionic liquid, and the reaction is performed at or near ambient temperatures.
US09399593B2
A method of forming a glass article includes drawing a glass ribbon from a draw housing in a downstream direction, heating portions of only a bead of the glass ribbon to form compressive stress regions in the bead, scoring the glass ribbon to form a score line on which the glass ribbon is broken. The bead is heated at a position upstream from the score line. An apparatus for manufacturing a glass article includes a draw housing for forming a glass ribbon having a bead, a heating apparatus with a heat source for forming compressive stress regions in portions of only the bead of the glass ribbon, and a scoring apparatus that forms a score line on which the glass ribbon is broken to form the glass article. The heat source moves downstream simultaneously with the glass ribbon.
US09399580B2
Granules of graphene oxide may be produced from a dispersion of nanoscale graphene oxide sheets by a spray drying method. Such granules have a three-dimensional corrugated morphology. The complexity of the corrugations, and the size distribution of the granules can be varied through selection of the spray-drying equipment used, and variation of the composition of the dispersion and the spray-drying parameters. Structural modifiers may be included in the graphene oxide dispersion to control the ultimate morphology of the granules. The granules of graphene oxide may be thermally reduced at a moderate temperature of 220° C. to increase the granules' electrical conductivity. The reduced granules may be used to fabricate electrodes for supercapacitors. The power and energy density of such an electrode material is comparable to those of conventional/commercial activated carbon-based electrodes.
US09399568B2
An arrangement for dispensing an additive into a liquid stream is provided. The arrangement includes a conduit for guiding a liquid stream and a dosing device. An opening is provided through a wall of the conduit. The dosing device is arranged at the opening of the conduit for dispensing an additive into the stream through the opening. The dosing device extends above the conduit. The conduit and the dosing device are arranged such that a vertical distance is defined between the dosing device and the liquid stream to prevent direct contact between them when in use. A refrigerator door that includes the arrangement and a method of dispensing an additive into a liquid stream are also provided.
US09399565B2
A method is used for synchronizing the speed of a hydraulic crane drive having at least one hydraulic consumer, which is fed with a variable volumetric rate of flow by way of at least one hydraulic variable displacement pump. The at least one hydraulic variable displacement pump is driven by way of a drive unit of the crane. By way of the crane control system, a swashplate angle of the at least one variable displacement pump is open and/or closed loop controlled as a function of the demanded volumetric flow rate for at least one consumer and/or on the basis of one additional parameter.
US09399561B2
A drive roll carrier is provided for use with a wire feeder for a welder that includes a hub that can be rotated by a gear and that may include at least one lug that extends longitudinally along and radially out from the hub and at least one retainer that extends from an outer surface of the hub. The retainer may be fixed in a longitudinal direction with respect to the hub and may be movable in a radial direction for allowing mounting of a drive roll onto the hub. An outer end of the lug may include an alignment segment that has a different profile shape than the rest of the lug to facilitate alignment of a mounting groove of the drive roll with the lug.
US09399557B1
Methods and devices for measuring attributes of objects such as containers and container content without opening the containers are disclosed. Measurements of containers are obtained during conveyance via conveyor. For example, a sensor, such as a pressure sensing system, may measure pressure or contact between the container and the conveyor conveying the container. The measurements may be analyzed to determine characteristics of the container such as the weight, weight distribution and/or dimensions of the container. The conveyor may be configured to jostle the container such that an inertial property of the container and/or container content may be measured and analyzed. The measurements obtained may be used to ascertain a problem or characteristic of the container and/or container content without opening the container, such as damage, packing condition, number of units, presence of liquids, and the like. The method and device may be used through a materials handling facility.
US09399555B2
A conveyor module for a reverse vending machine, which is mountable to a docking unit, and includes at least one conveyor belt; a housing for supporting the at least one conveyor belt, and a force receiving element for receiving a driving power for driving the at least one conveyor belt, which force receiving element is accessible from outside of the conveyor module through an opening in the housing. Further, a docking unit for a conveyor module of a reverse vending machine includes a housing, and a force feed element for outputting a driving power to the conveyor module, which force feed element is accessible from outside of the docking unit through an opening in the housing.
US09399554B2
An overhead conveyor, components therefor and method for making same, in which the conveyor chain has a nominal pitch “X,” bit a maximum allowable chain pull value which is equal to or greater than the maximum allowable chain pull value for a chain having a nominal pitch of X+1. Trolleys can be attached to the chain at intervals which differ from the intervals of a chain with pitch of X+1. Fewer synchronized drives are required for driving longer chains. A lower pitch chain can be used to drive larger trolleys, without sacrificing the maximum allowable chain pull value always used in conjunction with the larger trolley.
US09399540B2
A dispensing container includes a plurality of sheets of products stored within a housing. The container includes a dispensing orifice having a length that extends along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end. In particular embodiments, the dispensing orifice has a maximum width disposed not less than 20% and not more than 49% of the distance from the first end to the second end, a midpoint width disposed halfway between the first end and the second end, the midpoint width being less than the maximum width, and a third width disposed 80% of the distance from the first end to the second end, the third width being no greater than 80% of the maximum width. In particular embodiments, the dispensing orifice is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis but asymmetrical about a transverse axis. In particular embodiments, the dispensing orifice has an ovoid shape.
US09399537B1
An exemplary device for semi-solid foods includes a separator for insertion in a food container having an optional lid. The separator provides an upper compartment for solid foods and a lower compartment for liquids. The separator has a base, and a ramp extending upwards therefrom. The separator preferably provides a barrier such that liquid in the container does not traverse the intersection between the separator and the container sidewall inner surface. When the container is tilted to dispense the food therein, liquid in the lower compartment flows out through a ramp opening (such as an aperture in the ramp or a separation between the ramp and the container sidewall), without flowing through a base aperture. When the container is returned to a level position, any fluid in the upper compartment may return to the lower compartment via an optional fluid channel in the ramp and through the base aperture.
US09399531B2
A sheet interleaver is provided for a slicing machine that includes a slicing plane for slicing an elongated food product and a sheet from web material beneath the elongated product. The interleaver includes a supply of web material, a drawing station, a feed station, and a controller. The drawing station has a first driver for drawing web material from the supply. The feed station has a second driver for receiving web material from the drawing station and driving the web material through a cutting nip into the slicing plane. The controller is in signal-communication with at least one of the first and second drivers to drive web material at select differential speeds by the first and second drivers such that tension between the drawing station and the feed station is controlled to allow a slackened length of web material between the drawing station and the feed station.
US09399530B2
A system for moving heavy objects about a manufacturing yard is provided. In one embodiment, the system can include a pair of rails disposed on the ground of the manufacturing yard; a plurality of multi-ton rollers configured to mate with the rails, each multi-ton roller configured to be attached to a movable platform which is configured to accept a packed column section; and a winch disposed between the pair of rails and secured to the ground of the manufacturing yard, the winch having a spool of cable with one end configured to be attached to the movable platform, the winch configured to apply a force to cause the movable platform to travel about a length of the pair of rails.
US09399521B2
The invention concerns an aircraft propulsion control system for an aircraft with a plurality of gas turbine engines mounted at different spaced positions relative to an airframe. One or more sensor is arranged to sense a condition indicative of vapor trail formation by an exhaust flow from one or more of the plurality of engines. A controller is arranged to be responsive to thrust demand for the aircraft and selectively to control each of the engines so as to modify the exhaust flow of at least one engine relative to at least one further engine according to the positions of the engines on the airframe. The proximity of an engine to a vortical wake flow created by the airframe may be used to determine suitable exhaust flow modifications. The controller may output a separate throttle control signal to each engine and/or may adjust the fuel composition supplied to each engine.
US09399514B2
An aerial delivery system is configured to allow delivery of one or more releasable items after the system is extracted from an aircraft. One or more linear guidance devices and releasable securing mechanisms allow the aerial delivery system to deploy one or more releasable items at an appropriate time. The releasable securing mechanisms may utilize one or more rotatable latch plates. The one or more releasable items may be deployed simultaneously, or in a staged or staggered fashion. Through use of drag or lift-producing devices, the system may be recovered and reused. The attitude and/or azimuth orientation of the system may be varied prior to, during, and/or after release of a releasable item.
US09399512B2
According to one embodiment, a bearing is situated in a rotor system. The bearing features a housing having a first opening therethrough, a first member disposed within the first opening and having a second opening therethrough, and an elastomeric bearing disposed within the second opening and having a third opening therethrough configured to receive a shaft. The first member having at least one substantially curved surface. A sliding element bearing disposed between the housing and the first member.
US09399507B2
A method of forming a direct bearing joint includes providing a load bearing structure including a first structural feature having an arcuate shape and providing a composite skin including a second structural feature also having an arcuate shape. The method also includes coupling the first structural feature to the second structural feature such that the first and second structural features are mated against each other to facilitate distributing compressive loads induced into the load bearing structure into the composite skin.
US09399506B2
A self transportable aerostat system comprising: a first motorized mooring truck; a mooring tower removably attached to a base assembly of the first mooring truck, generally vertically arranged in relation to the bed of the first mooring truck; a proximal and distal boom deck removably attached to the base assembly; a flying sheave for redirecting a tether carried by the base assembly and attachable to an aerostat; a second motorized mooring truck attachable to the outer edge of the distal boom; and, an aerostat truck having an electrical connection for connecting to the first mooring truck and having an aerostat storage compartment for storing the aerostat is a retracted configuration.
US09399504B2
An aerodynamic wingsail and mast assembly, which does not utilize a boom or gaff, and which is simply designed to include a singular sailcloth and resilient bow rod which are removably attached to a free standing mast. The bow rod includes a pair of open-ended brackets to engage the mast, and is positioned in a curved sleeve on the trailing edge of the sailcloth. The sailcloth includes a forward sleeve for receiving the mast. Flanges on the mast engage the brackets, and the sailcloth is simply slid off the mast by releasing the brackets and tension of the bow rod. Alternative embodiments are described for 3 dimensional wingsails.
US09399498B2
A foot pedal structure for a saddle-type vehicle for preventing peripheral components in the periphery of a brake pedal from being damaged even though the brake pedal and the peripheral components are not widely spaced from each other. A brake pedal includes at least an arm extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle from a step support member and a pedal member mounted on a distal end of the arm and extending in a vehicle widthwise direction. An upward extension in the form of a plate member extends upwardly from a treading surface of the pedal member and is disposed on an inner end of the pedal member in the vehicle widthwise direction.
US09399493B1
An air deflector device configured for mounting on the hood of a motor vehicle adjacent a windshield for deflecting air away from the windshield as the vehicle moves rapidly forward. This deflector device comprises an elongate deflector member configured to be mounted substantially horizontally on the hood of the vehicle, transverse to its central, longitudinal axis (the deflector member having a forward edge and a rearward edge when so mounted); and a hinge on the forward edge of the deflector member to enable the rearward edge of the member to be raised and lowered in front of the windshield. A drive or spring bias mechanism may also be provided to raise and lower the member between a first position in which it is substantially parallel (e.g., flush) with the surface of the hood and a second position, with the rearward edge raised, in which the member deflects air upwards and away from the windshield.
US09399486B2
The turning amount of a turning unit is controlled according to the steering amount of a steering unit mechanically uncoupled from the turning unit. A steering reaction force characteristic in which the larger the self-aligning torque, the larger the steering reaction force is set on coordinates with the self-aligning torque and the steering reaction force as coordinate axes. When the steering reaction force corresponding to the self-aligning torque is applied to the steering unit based on the steering reaction force characteristic, the steering reaction force characteristic is offset on the coordinates in such a direction that the closer the lateral position of an own vehicle to a white line, the larger the absolute value of the steering reaction force.
US09399485B2
There is provided an electric power steering system that makes it possible to reduce an uncomfortable feeling given to a driver even when current feedback control is executed in a state where a detected steering torque value is held. The electric power steering system includes a torque sensor that outputs a detection signal corresponding to a steering torque; and a controller that controls driving of a motor. The controller computes a detected steering torque value based on the detection signal from the torque sensor, and executes current feedback control for causing an actual current value of the motor to follow a current command value based on the detected steering torque value. When the detected steering torque value is held, the controller makes a feedback gain of the current feedback control smaller than a feedback gain that is used when the detected steering torque value is not held.
US09399478B2
A compact collapsible stroller includes a mobile base provided with front and rear wheels. A push handle is coupled to the mobile base.
US09399472B2
A vehicle control system including human-control members generating signals for manual piloting of actuators of the vehicle, an automatic control module generating signals for automatic piloting of the actuators of the vehicle, and a switching module to select the manual-piloting signals in a manual mode of operation and the autonomous-piloting signals in an autonomous mode of operation. The automatic control module includes a block for automatic formulation of at least one calculated autonomous piloting signal and a security block to transmit to the switching module a calculated autonomous piloting signal in a case of normal autonomous operation and an emergency autonomous piloting signal in a case of abnormal autonomous operation.
US09399451B2
A system for tracking a path of a motor vehicle, the system including: an instantaneous speed sensor on each wheel of front and rear axle systems; a mechanism to calculate speed loss between wheels of a single axle system; a mechanism to calculate difference between the speed losses of each axle system; and a mechanism to compare the difference with a stored threshold value. A method for tracking a path of a motor vehicle includes: calculating speed losses for wheels of front and rear axle systems; calculating speed loss difference between each front and rear axle system; and comparing the speed loss difference with a stored threshold value.
US09399449B2
A vehicle travel control device includes a control instruction value calculation unit, a driver acceleration intent quantification unit, and a control instruction value correction determination unit that determines whether correction of a control instruction value is required in response to a quantified driver's acceleration intent. The vehicle travel control device also includes a control instruction value correction unit that corrects the control instruction value in response to a correction determination result of the control instruction value correction determination unit. The driver acceleration intent quantification unit quantifies the driver's acceleration intent using an integral value of the longitudinal jerk occurring according to the brake operation of the driver.
US09399443B2
A pedestrian protection apparatus for use with a motor vehicle having a windshield, a cowl and an engine hood is provided. The apparatus includes a deployable hood extender, movable between a stowed position within or beneath the hood and a deployed position, wherein the hood extender substantially overlaps the cowl or an area of increased component stiffness rearward of the vehicle hood and beneath at least a portion of the windshield. The hood extender may include a positional control portion, an energy absorbing portion, a bending control feature, and softened edges. The hood extender may be a single moveable panel or may comprise a plurality of moveable panels, strips or rod-like elements, wherein the plurality of elements may be rigidly or pivotally attached to one another for linear or rotational displacement between stowed and deployed positions. The hood extender may be an expandable lattice structure. An actuation lock is included.
US09399442B2
An assembling apparatus of a curtain airbag in a vehicle includes an inflator and an airbag cushion. The airbag cushion includes a body part configured to be unfolded if necessary to protect a passenger, an inlet configured to transmit air from the inflator into the body part, and a first extending part having a predetermined length and extending from the inlet towards the inflator side of the inlet. Also included are at least one bracket on which the inflator is supported and at least one fixed member configured to fix the inflator, enclosing an outside of the inflator.
US09399440B2
In a side air bag of a vehicle side air bag device, a front bag portion and a rear bag portion are partitioned by a tether portion. A plurality of gas feed openings is formed in the tether portion. Further, a forward extending portion is extended from an upper end of the rear bag portion toward an upper end side of the front bag portion. The forward extending portion and the front bag portion are partitioned by a seam portion.
US09399439B2
In a vehicle side air bag device, an air bag is fixed to a side frame portion of a seatback frame via an inflator at a fixed part set in a rear end of a vertically intermediate part. An upper insertion portion into which an upper end of a reaction plate is inserted is formed on an upper-part side in a rear end of the air bag, and a lower insertion portion into which a lower end of the reaction plate is inserted is formed on a lower-part side in the rear end of the air bag. The reaction plate is modularized with the air bag, the inflator, and so on, and is fixed to the side frame portion via the inflator.
US09399438B2
A vehicle front structure includes a bumper beam formed as a hollow body having open ends, and elongation members received within the open ends and extending laterally outward.
US09399436B2
The disclosure relates to a sound reduction system comprising a sound reduction device. The sound reduction device comprises a sound reducing material. The system further comprises a channel wherein a gaseous medium is arranged to flow. The sound reduction device is mounted inside the channel, thereby placing the sound reducing material inside the channel.
US09399432B2
This invention relates to a mechanism for attaching shelving, hooks, and organizers to a vehicle seatback. The attachment mechanism fits over the vehicle seat headrest posts, providing stability to the shelving, hooks, or organizers. The mechanism is formed as a single piece, thus it can be installed and removed without any additional components such as screws, bolts, straps, or other parts.
US09399423B2
An anchor detachably connects a wheelchair securement apparatus to a support surface within a motor vehicle and includes a plate having a top surface defining an opening therein, a receiving member secured to the plate and defining an elongated bore to receive and engage a pin coupled to the wheelchair securement apparatus, a plunger within and axially movable along the bore, and a first biasing member between a bottom surface of the plunger and a wall of the bore. The plate and the receiving member are together mountable to the support surface. The first biasing member acts against the bottom surface of the plunger to bias the plunger away from the wall of the bore toward the opening defined through the plate, and the plunger movable toward the wall of the bore against a biasing force of the first biasing member.
US09399421B2
A hinge includes a first frame, a second frame, a bolt, a gear, an adjusting nut, a spring component, a shield, and an engaging component, the first frame has two first clamping portions for clamping the gear, the second frame has two second clamping portions for clamping the two first clamping portions, the adjusting nut is screwed on the bolt and provides clamping force, an accommodating cavity is opened in the second frame, the engaging component is configured therein and engages with the gear, the engaging component disengages from the gear when a first sidewall thereof presses against a sidewall of the accommodating cavity, the gear is prevented from rotating when a second sidewall of the engaging component presses against another sidewall of the accommodating cavity, the spring component is configured between the second frame and the engaging component, and the shield shields the gear.
US09399418B2
A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat frame. A first leg support is pivotally coupled with a forward portion of the seat frame. The first leg support is operable between raised and lowered positions. A first extendable member is disposed on a top portion of the first leg support and is operable between extended and retracted positions. A second leg support is adjacent to and independent of the first leg support and is pivotally coupled with the forward portion of the seat frame. The second leg support is operable between raised and lowered positions. A second extendable member is disposed on a top portion of the second leg support and is operable between extended and refracted positions.
US09399405B2
An inverted vehicle control apparatus includes a plurality of driving wheels, a plurality of drive means each of which drives a respective one of the plurality of driving wheels, skid detection means for detecting a skid state between the driving wheels and a road surface, operation information acquisition means for acquiring operation information of a rider, and control means for controlling the drive means to control the driving wheels. The control means controls, based on the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition means, the driving wheel for which no skid is detected by the skid detection means, and the control means controls the driving wheel for which a skid is detected by the skid detection means so that a friction reaction force exerted from the road surface to the driving wheel is exerted in such a direction that the inverted vehicle is raised by the friction reaction force.
US09399404B2
An objective of the present invention is to provide a charging system, capable of increasing the rapid charging capacity of an on-vehicle all-solid-state battery, and reducing the effect of confining pressure on the all-solid-state battery. This is achieved by a charging system for an all-solid-state battery to be mounted in a vehicle, the charging system comprising: a charging section that charges an all-solid-state battery, a pressing section that applies confining pressure to the all-solid-state battery, and a pressure control section that controls the confining pressure, wherein the pressure control section directs the pressing section so that the confining pressure during charging is higher than the confining pressure during discharging.
US09399403B2
A method for controlling charging and discharging of a battery, as well as a server and a mobile terminal for controlling charging and discharging of a battery, are provided. The server is configured to obtain electricity pricing information, to provide the electricity pricing information to a mobile terminal, to receive an instruction from the mobile terminal to charge or discharge a battery; and to provide the instruction to a battery management device to charge or discharge the battery resource according to the instruction. The mobile terminal comprises an enquiry unit configured to send an enquiry instruction for information about electricity price to a server, a displaying unit configured to receive the information about electricity price from the server and to display the electricity pricing information; and an inputting unit configured to receive an instruction to manage a battery resource.
US09399401B2
A battery charging apparatus for an electric vehicle includes a first converter part configured to convert a first voltage, which is inputted with rectification, into a second voltage; and a second converter part configured to output a third voltage for charging a battery for the electric vehicle by converting the second voltage into a direct current. The output end of the first converter part comprises a first and a second output terminal. The second converter part comprises a first switching element connected with the first output terminal; a second switching element connected with the second output terminal; a first output capacitor serially connected with the first switching element; and a second output capacitor serially connected with the second switching element. The time during which the first switching element is turned on does not overlap the time during which the second switching element is turned on.
US09399399B2
A method for controlling an internal-combustion engine comprises steps of: determining a current value of a driving torque requested to the internal-combustion engine and a first time derivative of the current value of the driving torque; comparing the current value of the driving torque and first time derivative with first and second threshold values, respectively; determining a “sport driving” condition only if the current value of the driving torque is higher than the first threshold value and the first time derivative is higher than the second threshold value; and controlling the internal-combustion engine as a function of the “sport driving” condition.
US09399382B2
Agricultural vehicle comprising a body to which a front axle is pivotally connected. The agricultural vehicle includes a hydraulic cylinder mounted as a suspension system between the body and the axle. The hydraulic cylinder is fluid-connected, via a steerable valve, to one of an open oil reservoir and an accumulator.
US09399381B2
Provided is a suspension device in which a load axis of a spring is significantly inclined with respect to a center axis of an absorber. The suspension device includes a support section formed between an end portion of the spring on a spring seat side and a mount, for realizing a “full contact state” during assembly and a “partial contact state” after assembly. With this, it is possible to provide the suspension device in which the assembly is facilitated and the load axis of the spring is significantly inclined with respect to the center axis of the absorber.
US09399380B1
The present invention is to provide a vibration-type electric generator, which comprises an electric generator fixed on an automobile, having stators fixed at the inner rim of the generator, and having rotors rotatably installed inside the generator, such that when the rotors are rotated, the rotors generate a time-varying magnetic field to induce electricity on the stators; two one way bearings having shafts fixedly linked to a shaft of the rotors, respectively, such that when the bearings are respectively driven to rotate toward the same direction, the rotors are driven simultaneously to rotate toward the same direction and subsequently generate the electricity on the stators; and a hydraulic system pivotally connected to two suspension members on the automobile which are able to generate relative movement in response to the vibration of the automobile, so as to subsequently generate two forces for driving the bearings to rotate toward the same direction.
US09399370B2
A wheel assembly includes a circular frame arranged about a hub of a hub assembly, and shock absorbers coupling the hub assembly to the circular frame for providing relative motion between the circular frame and the hub assembly. Each of the shock absorbers extends along a tangent line to a circle that is coaxial with respect to the circular frame and the hub for providing tangential shock absorption along each tangent line.
US09399364B2
In one example, an encoding station of a printing system forms a pattern of non-printed features onto flowing print media. The non-printed features are detected, and timing signals generated from the detected features. The timing signals cause the media to be printed at a desired resolution in the direction of the flow.
US09399361B2
A stamp face forming apparatus includes a stamp face forming part including a plurality of heating elements arranged in a direction along a surface holding a porous stamp face material that can be made non-porous by heating, and a drive circuit for controlling heat generating states of the plurality of heating elements to form a stamp face on the stamp face material; and a controller for controlling the drive circuit of the stamp face forming part by adjusting a signal to be applied to the drive circuit such that an amount of heat per dot for a dot to be heated directly adjacent to a dot to be non-heated is less than an amount of heat per dot for a dot to be heated not directly adjacent to the dot to be non-heated in image data for forming the stamp face.
US09399354B2
A treatment-liquid application apparatus includes a rotary treatment-liquid applicator, a rotary treatment-liquid supplier, a transfer rotator, and a contact load adjuster. The contact load adjuster adjusts a contact load of the rotary treatment-liquid supplier on the treatment-liquid applicator. After feeding of a recording medium is initiated by contact between the treatment-liquid applicator and the transfer rotator, an acceleration time until a feed speed of the recording medium reaches a constant speed during printing is set. Before feeding of the recording medium is initiated, the rotary treatment-liquid supplier contacts the treatment-liquid applicator and imparts a contact load L0. During an acceleration operation of the recording medium after feeding of the recording medium is initiated, the transfer rotator contacts the treatment-liquid applicator via the recording medium and imparts a contact load L1, and the contact load adjuster adjusts the contact load L1 to be greater than the contact load L0.
US09399351B2
An ink containing device includes an ink cartridge and an adaptor. The ink cartridge comprises a first main body comprising a chamber configured to store ink, and an ink outlet portion disposed on a first surface of the first main body configured to direct the ink from the chamber to an exterior of the first main body, and an ink detecting portion configured to detect an amount of the ink stored in the ink chamber. The adaptor is configured to attach to the ink cartridge. The adaptor comprises a second main body comprising a second surface, and an electrical interface disposed on the second surface.
US09399346B2
The object is to reliably remove dirt and/or stains on the nozzle surface of a printer head. To accomplish the object, an inkjet printing device (100) is provided with a rotating brush (50) in a cap (103) mounted on a printer head (1), and a piezoelectric element (150) disposed on the side wall of the cap (103). The piezoelectric element (150) is ultrasonically vibrated at a predetermined frequency by means of a controller (20) and a power source (9). The ultrasonic vibration is transmitted into a cleaning solution in the cap (103) to remove dirt and/or stains adhered to a nozzle surface (3a). The rotating brush (50) is rotated by a motor, and its bristles (53) are vibrated by the ultrasonic vibration. Accordingly, dirt and/or stains on the nozzle surface (3a) are mechanically removed.
US09399341B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus according to the invention includes: a modulation unit that generates a modulated signal which is obtained by pulse-modulating an original signal; a transistor that generates an amplified and modulated signal which is obtained by amplifying the modulated signal; a switching circuit; a low pass filter that generates a drive signal by demodulating the amplified and modulated signal; a feedback circuit that generates a feedback signal and feeds back the feedback signal to the modulation unit; a feedback terminal that electrically connects the modulation unit to the feedback circuit; a piezoelectric element that is displaced by the drive signal; a cavity; and a nozzle, in which a distance between the feedback terminal and a closest point to the feedback terminal in the modulation unit is shorter than a distance between the feedback terminal and a closest point to the feedback terminal in the switching circuit.
US09399338B1
Systems for constructing complex composite structures include a conveyor and two or more stations operatively and sequentially positioned relative to the conveyor. Each station is configured to operatively deposit a layer of composite material on the conveyor. Methods of constructing a complex composite structure include laying up a first layer of composite material having a first configuration and laying up a second layer of composite material having a second configuration at least partially over the first layer.
US09399337B2
An injection molded product formed from an inner layer, or substrate, to which an aesthetic IMD layer is bonded during a first injection molding process, leaving a portion of the substrate exposed about the perimeter(s) of the substrate. A transparent outer layer, or overmold, is then injection molded over the top of the IMD layer and substrate, bonding substantially to the IMD layer and to the substrate where it remains exposed following the first injection molding. The process of forming a product through the disclosed two-step injection molding process creates a customizable, aesthetic product with an aesthetic IMD layer completely encapsulated between the substrate and a clear overmold in such a way to protect the IMD layer from the environment in which the product is used.
US09399329B2
A method for producing a closed-section portion of an aircraft wherein a strain gauge is glued on a first face of a flat tape that, in turn, is fastened on a face of a tool comprising a rigid elongated body covered by an extensible sack. The tool supporting the tape is arranged in a cavity of an aircraft structure. A vacuum is then created to obtain the expansion of the vacuum sack and perform the pressure gluing of the tape onto a wall of said cavity. The tool is subsequently extracted from the cavity. Upon conclusion of these operations, the tape is integrally fastened onto a wall of the cavity so that any deformation applied to this wall is transmitted to said strain gauge.
US09399327B2
Method for stake-fastening an accessory (4) into a plastic fuel tank, whereby: the accessory (4) is equipped with at least one orifice (5) which passes right through the accessory (4); at least some of the plastic of which the wall of the tank (1) is made is melted; and some of the molten plastic is forced through the orifice (5) of the accessory without becoming detached from the remainder of the molten plastic; the protruding molten plastic is given an appropriate shape (8) to obtain a self-formed plastic rivet, and is left to solidify; the size and shape of the orifice (5) and/or of the solidified plastic (8) being such that the accessory (4) is mechanically fastened to the tank by at least some of the solidified plastic (8), the stake-fastening of the accessory (4) occurring at the time of manufacture of the tank (1) through the molding of a split or at least two-part parison.
US09399320B2
A three-dimensional part printed using an additive manufacturing technique, which includes sets of printed cell layers, each defining an array of hollow cells with wall segments, and sets of printed transition layers, each being disposed between adjacent printed cell layers, where the sets of printed transition layers each comprise sloped walls that diverge from a first portion of the wall segments and that converge towards a second portion of the wall segments to interconnect the hollow cells of adjacent printed cell layers, and where the sloped walls of adjacent printed transition layers have printing orientations that are rotated from each other in a build plane.
US09399315B2
A device for manufacturing a fan casing of a turbomachine made of composite material, in which a mold includes a cylindrical body of lengthways axis and side flanges, and in which a counter-mold includes a cylindrical body and side counter-flanges. The counter-flanges are configured to be attached securely to the flanges, the body of the mold and the body of the counter-mold are concentric, the preform is configured to be positioned between the body of the mold and the body of the counter-mold, and the material of the body of the mold has an appreciably higher expansion coefficient than that of the body of the counter-mold.
US09399311B2
The present invention relates to an electrode paste manufacturing system that includes, a twin screw extrusion mixer, a mohno pump that is connected at an inlet thereof to an outlet of the twin screw extrusion mixer, a deaerating tank that is connected to an outlet of the mohno pump, and a vacuum pump that is connected at an inlet thereof to the deaerating tank. The vacuum pump is configured such that a conduit system on the deaerating tank side of an airtight line formed at a contact portion between a rotor and a stator of the mohno pump is a closed system with the airtight line being a boundary.
US09399304B2
A blade heating system for a heated razor includes electrically conductive blades contained in a blade cartridge. A switch lever is hingedly attached to the blade cartridge and is selectively positionable between a closed position, wherein the switch lever is closed against the back of the blade cartridge, and an open position, wherein the switch lever is opened away from the back of the blade cartridge. Electrically conductive leads are connected to positive and negative terminal ends of a battery carried on the switch lever. One or more electrically conductive blade contacts are provided for electrically connecting the one or more blades to the conductive leads and battery when the switch lever is in the closed position for delivering electric current to the one or more electrically conductive blades. In a preferred embodiment, magnets are used to releasably hold the switch lever closed against the back of the blade cartridge.
US09399302B2
An electric shaver includes a rod-shaped body part, a head part, and an interposer. The head part projects from one end portion, in a longitudinal direction, of the body part and swingably attached to the body part. The head part includes a shaving portion and a drive mechanism. The interposer is configured to support the head part swingably about a first swing axis parallel with a longitudinal direction of the shaving portion, and to be supported on the body part swingably about a second swing axis orthogonal to the projecting direction of the head part and orthogonal to the first swing axis.
US09399293B2
A method for calculating weight and center of gravity of an object lifted by a robot includes lifting an object, measuring a change in angle of each joint through an angle sensor provided for each joint of the gripper in the event of the lifting, and calculating angular velocity and acceleration of each joint, calculating, via a controller, acceleration of the object, measuring an upper pressing force and a lower pressing force using force sensors installed on the joints, and calculating, via the controller, the weight of the object using a vertical component of the acceleration of the object, gravitational acceleration, and the upper and lower pressing forces.
US09399287B2
A spatial-link-type manipulator, comprising a drive device (10), links and rotating shafts connected between the links; the drive device comprises a connecting shaft (13); the connecting shaft comprises an outer wall (131) and an inner wall (133); each link comprises a large boom (20), a small boom (30), an oblique large boom (60), an oblique small boom (50) and a terminal component (40); the large boom and the oblique large boom are respectively a straight link; the small boom and the oblique small boom are respectively a bent link; the large boom, the small boom and one end of the terminal component form a primary motion chain; the oblique large boom, the oblique small boom and the other end of the terminal component form a secondary motion chain; the drive device drives the large boom to move around a rotating shaft A so as to drive the primary motion chain, and drives the secondary motion chain via the terminal component so as to realize rectilinear motion of the terminal component. The present invention has a simple structure and is easy to realize.
US09399285B2
An industrial robot that can control the abrasion and damage of a bearing unit, and also control the deformation of an arm, even in the case of transferring a high-temperature transfer object in a vacuum. The industrial robot includes a bearing unit for supporting an arm at a joint section as a connection section between the arm and the main body. At the joint section, the arm has a first protrusion section protruding toward the main body, and meanwhile the main body has a first housing section in which a first hollow section for housing the first protrusion section is formed. The first protrusion section and the first housing section are formed of a material having higher thermal conductivity than the bearing unit has, and a semisolid thermally-conductive substance, having higher thermal conductivity than the bearing unit has, is placed in the first hollow section. Moreover, the main body includes; a heat radiator being formed of a material having higher thermal conductivity than the bearing unit has, and being positioned in the atmosphere; and a connecting section for connecting the first housing section and the heat radiator, the connecting section being formed of a material having higher thermal conductivity than the bearing unit has.
US09399276B2
A polishing apparatus which can perform power supply, signal transmission, and communication in a non-contact type to respective equipments in a polishing head and/or a polishing table by providing a non-contact type transmission connector having no physical contact point on at least one of the polishing head and the polishing table is disclosed. The polishing apparatus includes a non-contact transmission connector provided on at least one of the polishing table and the polishing head and configured to transfer electric power or signals or to perform communication between a stationary unit and a rotating unit which face each other in a non-contact manner. The electric power or the signals are transmitted or communication is performed between equipment provided in at least one of the polishing table and the polishing head, and the outside of the polishing table or the polishing head through the non-contact transmission connector.
US09399275B2
A tool machine has a housing assembled by two separate housing parts and an air directing element arranged in the housing, wherein the air directing element is implemented independently from a connection device for connecting the housing parts. The air directing element is forced by a housing part axially in a seat in the other housing part, wherein in the transmission path between the housing parts and the air directing element a spring element is arranged.
US09399265B2
It enables to use very limited energy and an easily transportable device. Comprises: a) a consumable ignition element with a resistive wire to be heated as the electric current passes through it and cause a remote ignition; b) a reusable intermediate element, provided with fitting means to be electrically connected with the ignition element; c) a portable case to house a portable power source and, d) an ignition switch that is housed in the case, with a push button to activate the power source, as well as a first indicator adapted to turn on if the power source is available and a second indicator adapted to turn on if the contact between the first tracks and the second tracks is correct.
US09399262B2
A method of joining, e.g., by fusion welding, titanium, and titanium-based alloys to ferrous metals, and the intermetallic weld pool created by practice of the method is described. The instant invention involves the use, inclusion or deployment of tantalum into the weld pool and upon cooling a weld, to create a surprisingly strong intermetallic bond, weld, or joint.
US09399259B2
A boring device according to the present invention includes: a hollow main shaft; a table supporting the main shaft rotatably about a predetermined axis; a tool holder extending in the form of a bar and configured to rotate coaxially with the main shaft; a radially protruding tool provided at a distal end portion of the tool holder; a tilting unit provided between the main shaft and the tool holder in the axis direction and configured to cause the tool holder to be inclined from the axis; a drawbar configured to be movable back and forth in the axis direction within the main shaft; a first drive unit configured to rotate the main shaft about the axis; and a second drive unit configured to move the drawbar back and forth in the axis direction.
US09399251B2
A method of manufacturing a gear wheel with stub toothing for a change-speed gearbox includes drop-forging a gear wheel body and forming the stub toothing by cold die-grooving in the forging die using a forming tool with forming parts which are arranged in a fan-shaped manner. The forming ends penetrate into the tooth spaces, wherein the forming parts are guided jointly between an upper and a lower receiving plate and are moved in a direction radially inwards in such a way that material is displaced out of the region of the tooth flanks into the tooth root regions.
US09399250B2
A thread rolling method for a gear using cylindrical dies in which no slippage occurs. The method includes placing a work having a cylindrical outer surface to be supported to a support to be freely rotatable about a rotation axis of the cylindrical outer surface; placing a pair of the cylindrical dies each rotatable about an axis parallel to the rotation axis to face each other across the work; thrusting the pair of cylindrical dies against the work; and determining an outer diameter of the work, when rotary movement of the cylindrical dies and the work rotated together is shifted from friction gear movement to gear movement, in which a dimension obtained by dividing an outer circumferential dimension of a dedendum circle of the tooth grooves by the number of teeth to be formed is equal to an addendum circular pitch of each of the cylindrical dies.
US09399245B2
A method of providing flatness control for rolling a strip in a mill including a plurality of rolls controllable by actuators. The method includes the steps of: receiving flatness measurement data pertaining to a flatness of the strip; determining a flatness error as a difference between a reference flatness of the strip and the flatness measurement data; determining an adjusted flatness error based on the flatness error and weights for actuator position combinations which provide a flatness effect below a threshold value; and utilizing the adjusted flatness error for the control units to control the actuators to thereby control the flatness of the strip. A computer program product and a control system for carrying out the above method are also presented herein.
US09399243B1
A method of preparing carbon-coated cuprous oxide, including: (1) preparing a liquid polyacrylonitrile (LPAN) solution, stirring the LPAN solution to yield a cyclized polyacrylonitrile solution; (2) heating the cyclized LPAN solution to yield a thermally-oxidized polyacrylonitrile (OPAN); (3) mixing the thermally-oxidized polyacrylonitrile with a copper compound to yield a mixture, and adding to the mixture a hydrophilic solvent or a hydrophobic solvent, thus yielding a polyacrylonitrile coated copper compound; (4) drying the polyacrylonitrile coated copper compound in an oven until the solvent is evaporated completely and the polyacrylonitrile coated on the copper compound is crosslinked to form a solid, where yielding a carbonized precursor coated copper compound; and (5) calcining the carbonized precursor coated copper compound in the presence of an inert gas flow of between 10 and 500 mL/min.
US09399242B2
A method of preparing polyurethane prepolymer does not require using a toxic isocyanate monomer (manufactured by harmful phosgene) as a raw material. Epoxy resin and carbon dioxide are used as major raw materials to form cyclic carbonates to be reacted with a functional group oligomer, and then amino groups in a hydrophilic (ether group) or hydrophobic (siloxane group) diamine polymer are used for performing a ring-opening polymerization, and the microwave irradiation is used in the ring-opening polymerization to efficiently synthesize the amino-terminated PU prepolymer, and then an acrylic group at an end is added to manufacture an UV cross-linking PU (UV-PU) oligomer which can be coated onto a fabric surface, and the fabric is dried by UV radiation for a surface treatment to form a washing-resisted long lasting hydrophilic or hydrophobic PU fabric.
US09399240B2
A waterproof coating process machine and its negative pressure coating and atomized coating methods are disclosed. The machine includes a coating process tank disposed at a top end, a drying chamber and a control panel. A discharge port connected with a discharge pipe on an outer side is disposed at a bottom of the coating process tank; and at least one negative pressure suction port connected with a suction pipe of a suction pump is disposed on a back side. An opening of the drying chamber in combination with a movable door is disposed at a front side of a lower section of the machine. An infrared outlet, an infrared spiral wave outlet and a circulation fan are disposed inside the drying chamber. The control panel is disposed on the front side of the machine between the coating process tank and the drying chamber.
US09399236B2
The printing machine includes a support plate provided on its periphery with a plurality of receiving elements for articles rotatably mounted on the support plate, and a device for rotating the support plate in order that two articles, mounted on their associated receiving elements, respectively face two separate printing stations, the printing stations being supported by a single base. The machine further has a device for generating a relative translational movement between the base and the support plate so that patterns are helically printed on the articles during the rotation of the receiving elements.
US09399235B2
Protective and casing device for a cosmetic product dispensing head, associated head, set and method
This casing device (22) comprises a member (34) for actuating dispensing of cosmetic product, and a protective band (36). The device (22) comprises an intermediate locking member (38) arranged between the band (36) and the actuating member (34), the intermediate member (38) being suitable for moving between a position for locking the actuating member (34) in an idle position and a position for releasing the actuating member (34), when switching the band (36) between a protective configuration and an operating configuration.
US09399231B2
A bearing air passage through which bearing air is supplied toward an air bearing of an air motor and a turbine air passage through which driving air is supplied toward a turbine are provided in a housing. An annular space surrounding the air motor is provided between the housing and a cover. A bearing air branch passage connecting the annular space and the bearing air passage to each other and a turbine air branch passage for connecting the annular space and the turbine air passage to each other are provided. The air branch passages lead a part of the compressed air to the annular space and keep the cover in a heated state.
US09399221B2
A bowl liner for use in a cone crusher that is comprised of a pair of bowl liner sections joined to each other to define the bowl liner. Each of the bowl liner sections includes first and second ends that engage opposite first and second vertical ends of the second bowl liner section. The first and second ends include key features that limit the axial movement of the first and second bowl liner sections relative to each other. Each of the first and second bowl liner sections further include a radial key and mating key slot to limit the radial movement between the bowl liner sections. The vertical joint between the bowl liner sections includes an inner relief that allows for manganese growth during use of the bowl liner.
US09399218B2
A specimen collection container includes inner and outer tubes. The inner tube includes a bottom end, a top end, and a sidewall extending therebetween defining an interior. The sidewall includes an inner surface and an outer surface having at least one annular protrusion extending therefrom. The inner tube includes at least one funnel portion adjacent the top end for directing a specimen into the inner tube interior, and an annular ring disposed about a portion of the outer surface of the sidewall adjacent the top end. The outer tube includes a bottom end, a top end, and a sidewall extending therebetween, the sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface defining an annular recess adapted to receive a portion of the annular protrusion therein. The inner tube is disposed within the outer tube and a portion of the top end of the outer tube abuts the annular ring.
US09399212B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing an anhydrosugar alcohol and, more specifically, to a method for producing an anhydrosugar alcohol which, when the step of subjecting a hydrogenated sugar to a dehydration reaction in a reactor so as to convert same to an anhydrosugar alcohol is performed, allows the hydrogenated sugar to be continuously introduced into the reactor and the produced anhydrosugar alcohol to be continuously discharged out of the reactor while the dehydration reaction is carried out, also prevents a reaction mixture from circulating inside and outside the reactor while the dehydration reaction is carried out, and thereby can significantly improve production efficiency compared with a conventional process adopting a batch or semi-batch-type dehydration reaction and thus can be appropriately applied particularly to a large-scale anhydrosugar alcohol production process.
US09399202B2
An apparatus, system and method for mixing and dispensing dental impression materials is described. A dental impression material mixing machine comprises a water dispenser fluidly coupled to a hollow mixing axle, the mixing axle extending through a pulley, wherein an inner circumference of the hollow mixing axle forms a water conduit and an outer circumference of the hollow mixing axle forms a hub connector, a closeable valve inserted at a water entrance to the water conduit and electronically coupled to a water pump, an electronically commutated motor rotateably coupled to the pulley, wherein the hub connector receives a tubular rotatable hub of a disposable mixing vessel comprising dry dental impression powder, and wherein water is dispensed from the water dispenser into the disposable mixing vessel through the water conduit and hub orifice.
US09399201B1
An exemplary homogenizer includes a valve plate stack having a shim sandwiched by a pair of valve plates, the stack being concentrically aligned by a center stud. Each of the valve plates includes a middle annulus radially situated between an outer rim and an inner raised hub. Each middle annulus includes annulus apertures that help increase flow rate. When the homogenizer is in a working position, the valve plate stack is compressed, and fluid entering through an inlet is homogenized as it passes through a gap between outer rims of adjacent valve plates. The minimum gap between the valve plates is set by the thickness of the shim. In a cleaned-in-process cleaning position, pressure is relieved from the stack, and a spring between adjacent valve plates separates adjacent valve plates. Enhanced drainage, and springs that are substantially sealed from fluids by spring retainers and O-rings, help promote sanitation.
US09399197B2
This invention relates to an aerator that resides fully in the neck of a bottle or other liquid vessel. Through differential pressure, created through a venturi, the aerator mixes air with the fluid contained in the bottle. More specifically, the aerator can be used to mix air with wine as the bottle is inverted thus essentially instantly decanting the wine.
US09399194B2
Draw solutions comprising at least one N-cyclicalkyl-cycloalkylamine and a secondary solvent. The N-cyclicalkyl-cycloalkylamine comprises the chemical structure: wherein n is 0, 1, or 2, n′ is 0, 1, or 2, and each of R1-R6 is independently selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an acetyl group, an aryl group, a hydrogen group, a hydroxyl group, and a phosphorus-containing group. Methods of treating a liquid using the draw solution are also disclosed.
US09399193B2
A draw solute for forward osmosis may include a copolymer including a first structural unit, where a temperature-sensitive side chain is graft polymerized, and a second structural unit including a hydrophilic functional group. The temperature-sensitive side chain may include a structural unit for a side chain including a temperature-sensitive moiety. The temperature-sensitive moiety may be represented by Chemical Formula 1, Chemical Formula 2, or Chemical Formula 3: wherein R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen or a linear or branched C3 to C5 alkyl group, provided that at least one of R1 and R2 is not hydrogen, R3 is a C3 to C5 alkylene group, and R4 is a linear or branched C3 to C5 alkyl group. The draw solute may be used to form an osmosis draw solution for use in a forward osmosis water treatment device and method.
US09399192B2
The present invention provides a carbon dioxide absorber capable of efficiently and stably removing carbon dioxide in a gas or solution. This carbon dioxide absorber contains an amine compound, a weakly acidic compound and water, the pKb value of the amine compound in an aqueous solution at 30° C. is 4.0 to 7.0, the pKa value of the weakly acidic compound in an aqueous solution at 30° C. is 7.0 to 10.0, and the weakly acidic compound is present in an amount within the range of 0.01 equivalents to 1.50 equivalents with respect to amino groups of the amine compound.
US09399183B2
According to some embodiments, a vent filter for a waste tank system is provided having a housing which eliminates or reduces the amount of bypass of odorous air moving through the vent system and precludes the odorous air from escaping without passing through filtering material. The housing includes a region wherein the cross-sectional area is reduced, inhibiting bypass of odorous gas past the filtering material.
US09399167B2
An electronic game system and a method of its operation are provided for virtual space mapping of a variable activity region in physical space. A calibration input may be received from a positioning device of a game controller that indicates waypoints that define an activity region in physical space. A scale factor may be identified between the activity region and an interactive game region in virtual space based on the calibration input. Positioning information may be received from the positioning device that indicates a position of the positioning device within the activity region. The position of the positioning device within the activity region may be mapped to a corresponding virtual position within the interactive game region based on the scale factor.
US09399165B2
A game device includes an owned card storage unit for storing player cards owned by a game player, and a player card exchange unit for exchanging a player card owned by the game player with an exchangeable card presented by a CPU, wherein the player card exchange unit includes an exchangeable card presentation unit for determining the exchangeable cards based on the player cards owned by the game player to be presented on a screen, an exchange condition presentation unit for setting an exchange condition for exchanging the exchangeable card with the player card owned by the game player to be presented on the screen; and an exchange execution unit for approving the exchange of the player card and the exchangeable card when the player card that satisfies the exchange condition is selected by the game player, and updating the memory content of the owned card storage unit to a content after the approval of the exchange.
US09399163B2
A athletic training assembly includes a base that may be positioned on a support surface. A pair of guide rods is each movably coupled to the base. Each of the pair of guide rods is curved between a first end and a second end of the pair of guide rods. The first end and the second end of each of the pair of guide rods is coupled together. The pair of guide rods forms a crescent shape. A user slidably engages an athletic implement to each of the pair of guide rods. The athletic implement travels upwardly and downwardly between the first and second ends of the pair of guide rods when the user swings the athletic implement. The pair of guide rods retains the athletic implement on a correct trajectory. The user is trained in swinging the athletic implement in the correct trajectory.
US09399162B2
An apparatus and method for catching a golf ball is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a compact golf ball catching apparatus having a first energy absorbing layer located at a frontal portion of the apparatus, a second energy absorbing layer located at a rear portion of the apparatus, and a frame adapted to connect the first and second energy absorbing layer as well as provide structural integrity to the first energy absorbing layer; wherein the first energy absorbing layer slows down the speed of a golf ball as it enters and penetrates the apparatus and hinders the golf ball's ability from exiting the apparatus post impact.
US09399160B2
A throwing sleeve with visual biofeedback may be provided. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be comprised of a sleeve. The sleeve may be comprised of a plurality of segments forming a single, internal passageway with at least one opening. A first opening may be configured to receive an object (e.g., baseball or softball) into the internal passageway of the sleeve. A second opening may be configured to receive a user's hand. Embodiments may further comprise a means for securing the user's hand within the internal passageway of the sleeve. Still further, embodiments may comprise at least one stripe running parallel to an edge of each of the plurality of segments.
US09399158B2
Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion and a plurality of weight portions. The body portion may include a front portion, a rear portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a bottom portion having an outer surface associated with an outer surface curve, and a weight port region located at or proximate to the bottom portion. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09399155B2
A sports racquet extends along an axis and is configured for use with a quantity of racquet string forming a string bed about a string plane. The racquet includes a frame formed of a thermoplastic material, and including first and second halves including first and second spaced apart hoop regions, and first and second handle regions, respectively. The hoop regions includes projections extending from hoop regions in a direction orthogonal to the string plane. At least one of the hoop regions defines a set of bores. The projections are configured to matably engage the bores. The projections extend through the string plane and define curved bearing surfaces configured for engaging and supporting the racquet string. The projections include first and second projections having first and second radii of curvature, respectively. The first radius of curvature being at least 0.5 mm greater than the second radius of curvature.
US09399148B2
The invention relates to a therapeutic system which comprises an ultrasound therapy unit (1, 518) arranged to insonify at least a portion of a body (2, 508) of a patient with high intensity ultrasound and a MR imaging unit (3, 500) arranged to acquire MR signals from the portion of the body (2, 508) and to reconstruct a thermographic MR image from the MR signals. It is an object of the invention to enable MR guided high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment, in which temperature values within critical anatomic regions containing fat can be monitored. The invention proposes that the therapeutic system further comprises an ultrasound diagnostic unit (5, 518) which is arranged to acquire ultrasound signals from the portion of the body (2, 508) and to derive at least one local temperature value from the ultrasound signals.
US09399146B2
A photodynamic therapy lamp includes two lamp modules comprising an array of LEDs. Each of the lamp modules is movable between a first position in which an angle between the lamp modules is from 157 degrees to 180 degrees, and a second position in which the angle between the lamp modules is from 50 degrees to 70 degrees.
US09399136B2
An implantable medical device is powered by a battery to deliver one or more therapies including at least one non-life-sustaining therapy such as neural stimulation for enhancing quality of life of a patient. When the battery approaches its end of life, the implantable medical device reduces power consumption of the neural stimulation (e.g., intensity of the neural stimulation) for extending the remaining battery life while maintaining a certain amount of therapeutic benefits for the patient. In one embodiment, the intensity of the neural stimulation is reduced in a tiered manner. In one embodiment in which the implantable medical device also delivers at least one life-sustaining cardiac stimulation therapy, the neural stimulation is disabled or adjusted to reduce its power consumption (e.g., intensity) while the intensity of the cardiac stimulation therapy is maintained when the battery is near its end of life.
US09399135B2
An electronic stimulator device comprises a battery, first and second output ports, and an energy discharge circuit. The energy discharge circuit is coupled to the battery and configured to receive an electrical charge from the battery and deliver the electrical charge through an energy output port. A first switch is connected between the energy output and the first output port. A second switch is connected between the second output port and electrical ground. A third switch is connected between the second output port and the energy output. A fourth switch is connected between the first output port and electrical ground. A controller comprising a processor is configured to actuate the first, second, third and fourth switches between open and close states to deliver a biphasic current pulse between the first and second output ports.
US09399132B2
A method and system of providing therapy to a patient implanted with an array of electrodes is provided. A train of electrical stimulation pulses is conveyed within a stimulation timing channel between a group of the electrodes to stimulate neural tissue, thereby providing continuous therapy to the patient. Electrical parameter is sensed within a sensing timing channel using at least one of the electrodes, wherein the first stimulation timing channel and sensing timing channel are coordinated, such that the electrical parameter is sensed during the conveyance of the pulse train within time slots that do not temporally overlap any active phase of the stimulation pulses.
US09399126B2
Methods for allowing a user to control a neuromodulator to modify a cognitive state being experienced by the user. The user may select a waveform ensemble from a hand-held user device having an interface, and the user may adjust the perceived intensity of the applied waveform ensemble with the user device while the waveform ensemble is being applied. Also described are methods of managing communication between the hand-held user device (such as a smartphone or the like) and a wearable neurostimulator. Methods of displaying and visually tracking and controlling the applied waveform ensemble are also described herein.
US09399124B2
Embodiments provide apparatus and methods for producing markings in the skin. One embodiment provides an apparatus for marking the skin comprising a housing and reservoir for storing a skin colorant. An electrode is positioned within the housing so as to be electrically coupled to the colorant in the reservoir and is configured to be coupled to a current source and return electrode. A colorant applicator having at least one fluid pathway is coupled to a housing distal end. The applicator proximal end is positioned such that the fluid pathway is coupled with the reservoir. The applicator distal end applies colorant to the skin surface through the fluid pathway as the applicator is moved across the skin. The electrode delivers current from the current source to the skin to transport charged pigment elements of the colorant into the skin using an electromotive driving force to produce a marking in the skin.
US09399113B2
A method is provided for making a tubing, which includes forming a generally tubular inner layer by flowing a first material through an extrusion assembly. At least one non-tubular segment is formed along the length of the tubing by flowing a second material through the extrusion assembly. A generally tubular outer layer coaxial with the inner layer is formed by flowing a third material through the extrusion assembly. The segment is positioned between the inner and outer layers and oriented non-tangentially with an interface between the inner and outer layers. The resulting tubing, which may be suitable for medical applications, may have kink-resistant properties.
US09399112B2
A catheter having a catheter body with a lumen and a distal lumen opening. The catheter's lumen extends through the catheter body along a longitudinal axis of the catheter body. A hole is formed through a wall of a distal portion of the catheter body. A portion of the proximal surface of the hole is inclined at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body. The acute angle of the proximal hole surface opens proximally with respect to the catheter body.
US09399101B1
A perfusion needle system for the direct simultaneous injection of a therapeutic substance fluid within a target tissue during cryothermal ablation of the tissue includes at least one cryogenic probe for insertion in the tissue, the probe having a cooling tip for selective cooling and thawing of the tissue. An injection syringe contains a fluid substance and an injection needle is fluidly communicative with the injection syringe. The injection needle includes a port at a proximal end of the needle for connecting to the injection syringe and a tubular needle body having a wall forming said tubular body, which includes an internal insulative layer, which defines a central lumen extending through the body. An injection tip devoid of the insulative layer is affixed to a distal end of the injection needle and defines at least one opening through a side the tip and is fluidly communicative with the lumen.
US09399097B2
A medicated module (4) for an injection system to co-deliver at least two medicaments is disclosed where a primary delivery device containing a primary medicament accepts a medicated module (4) containing a single dose of a secondary medicament (2) and where both medicaments are delivered through a single hollow needle (5). The medicated module (4) is user selectable so that it will deliver both the primary (1) and secondary medicaments (2), or only the primary medicament (1). The module (4) also contains a guard (42) that locks after dose delivery.
US09399096B2
Infusion systems, infusion devices, and related operating methods are provided. An exemplary method of operating an infusion device capable of delivering fluid to a user involves identifying a condition of the user that is likely to influence a response to the fluid in the body of the user and classifying the condition as a first type of a plurality of types of conditions. After classifying the condition as the first type, the method continues by adjusting control information for operating the infusion device based on the first type and operating the infusion device to deliver the fluid to the user in accordance with the adjusted control information.
US09399089B2
The invention relates to the balancing of fluid streams in a dialysis system. In particular the invention relates to a cassette for conveying a first and a second fluid stream in a dialysis system, wherein the first and the second fluid streams can be medical fluid streams such as for example dialysate streams or blood streams, wherein the cassette has a sensor as a device for balancing the first and the second fluid stream, and wherein the sensor has a first channel for the first fluid stream and a second channel for the second fluid stream. The invention further relates to a dialysis system, which is configured to accommodate at least one cassette which is configured as described above. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an arrangement by which two channels for the first and the second fluid streams are formed. In addition, the invention relates to a method for construction of the two channels or the arrangement.
US09399086B2
Implantable medical devices are provided. In one embodiment, a device includes a body having an external surface defining an outer profile of the device. The body includes a porous matrix including a series of interconnected macropores defined by a plurality of interconnected struts each including a hollow interior. A filler material substantially fills at least a portion of the series of interconnected macropores. The external surface of the body includes a plurality of openings communicating with the hollow interior of at least a portion of the plurality of interconnected struts. In a further aspect of this embodiment, the external surface includes exposed areas of the filler material and porous matrix in addition to the exposed openings. In another aspect, the porous matrix is formed from a bioresorbable ceramic and the filler material is a biologically stable polymeric material. Still, other aspects related to this and other embodiments are also disclosed.
US09399082B2
The invention generally relates to dextran fibers which are preferably electrospun and devices formed from such fibers. In particular, such devices may include substances of interest (such as therapeutic substances) associated with the electrospun fibers. Upon exposure to a liquid the electrospun fibers dissolve immediately and the substances of interest are released into the liquid. Exemplary devices include bandages formed from electrospun dextran fibers and associated agents that promote hemostasis, such as thrombin and fibrinogen.
US09399081B2
A fragrance sampler is provided which is made from two plies, a bottom ply and a top ply, of material. A cosmetic, such as a wet fragrance, sample is deposited on the bottom ply. A well is formed in at least one of the plies and is sized and shaped to surround the sample. The two plies are then adhered together to form a liquid tight seal between the two plies and around the well.
US09399072B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating pancreatic cancer in an individual who has been previously treated for pancreatic cancer (e.g., gemcitabine-based therapy) by administering a composition comprising nanoparticles that comprise a taxane and an albumin. The invention also provides combination therapy methods of treating pancreatic cancer (for example, in an individual who has been previously treated for pancreatic cancer) comprising administering to an individual an effective amount of a composition comprising nanoparticles that comprise a taxane and an albumin and another agent.
US09399063B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions for the remote control of cell function based on the use of radiofrequency waves to excite nanoparticles targeted to specific cell types. The nanoparticles may be applied to the target cell extracellularly and/or expressed intracellularly. The cell type of interest expresses a temperature sensitive channel wherein excitation of the nanoparticles results in a localized temperature increase that is transduced into a cellular response. Such cellular responses may include, for example, increases in gene expression resulting in production of one or more physiologically active proteins. The expression of such proteins can be used to treat a variety of different inherited or acquired diseases or disorders in a subject. Accordingly, the invention provides a generic approach for treatment of any disease associated with a protein deficiency.
US09399037B2
The present invention relates to the use of triazinones such as triazinediones and triazinetriones for triazinetriones for the preparation of compositions for treating animals, in particular treating animals prophylactically, against parasitic protozoans, and to these compositions.
US09399036B2
The invention provides improved methods for coadministration of colchicine with drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 (anciently referred to as cytochrome P450 isozyme 3A4) or the P-glycoprotein transporter, but not both. The method enables non-toxic coadministration of colchicine and the second drug at their ordinary levels safely and effectively without reducing the dose or frequency for either drug.
US09399035B2
The invention provides compositions and methods for the induction of cell death, for example, cancer cell death. Combinations of compounds and related methods of use are disclosed, including the use of compounds in therapy for the treatment of cancer and selective induction of apoptosis in cells. The disclosed drug combinations can have lower neurotoxicity effects than other compounds and combinations of compounds.
US09399034B1
Methods of sedating a patient undergoing critical care treatment using intravenous gaboxadol are provided.
US09399031B2
A therapy for renal diseases characterized by alterations of the kidney function, such as Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), acute and chronic renal impairment, and renal diseases that develop in diabetic patients or in patients who underwent an anticancer chemotherapic treatment with a platinum derivative. The invention is a combination of compounds selected from mono- or diamide of a C12-C20 monocarboxylic acid, saturated or monounsaturated, or a C4-C14 dicarboxylic acid, saturated or monounsaturated, with an aminoalkanol, and compounds selected from Silymarin, derivatives thereof or conjugates or complexes thereof, for use in the treatment of renal diseases. The mono- or diamide of a C12-C20 monocarboxylic acid, saturated or monounsaturated, or of a C4-C14 dicarboxylic acid, saturated or monounsaturated, with an aminoalkanol and said Silymarin, derivatives thereof or conjugates or complexes thereof are formulated for a separate, sequential, concomitant administration or in admixture, also in a co-micronized or co-ultra-micronized form.
US09399030B2
A topically applied circulation enhancing agent suited for application over the entire body which has good transdermal absorptivity and causes little irritation is provided. A topically applied circulation enhancing agent is provided which contains a fatty acid ester denoted by general formula (1):
US09399021B2
Disclosed are novel pharmaceutical compositions containing N-{3-[3-cyclopropyl-5-(2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino)-6,8-dimethyl-2,4,7-trioxo-3,4,6,7-tetrahydro-2H-pyrido[4,3-d]pyrimidin-1-yl]phenyl}acetamide dimethyl sulfoxide solvate, methods of using the compositions in therapy and processes for preparing the same.
US09399001B2
A method of making a blister sealing fixture which includes the selection of a card locating portion which has an annular wall which defines an annular recess closed by a removable bottom wall. A sealing insert portion having a cavity to receive a blister to be sealed is positioned on the bottom wall and is adapted to be moved to all positions within the recess. A sample or test card of the configuration of a production run to be handled by the sealing fixture is selected and to this card a sample or test blister is attached. The position of the blister on the card is determined by the user and has herein has at times been referred to as a desired position or location. This resulting positioning device is then placed over the recess with the test blister engaging the recess in the sealing insert.
US09398993B2
A tattoo chair, comprises a backrest (1), a seat (2), a brace (3) for supporting the said seat (2), and a base (4) for allowing the chair to stand stably, characterized in that: the lower end of the said backrest (1) is rotatablely attached to the inner side of the said seat (2); a supporting fixed plate (5) is provided under the bottom surface of the said seat (2); at least one fixed gear rack (10) is mounted from top to bottom on the rear surface of the said backrest (1); a supporting rod (50) is provided on the said supporting fixed plate (5); one end of the said supporting rod (50) is rotatablely attached to the said supporting fixed plate (5), and the other end is put into one of grooves of the said gear rack (10) on the rear surface of the said backrest (1). The present utility model facilitates the person to be tattooed to adopt different poses, so that the tattoo artist can work more easily; further, when getting tattooed, the person will feel free and easy from any discomfort in the various poses.
US09398992B1
The Pressure Free Face Rest is a device designed for any standard professional massage table to hold a clients face suspended/free of any frame while in the prone position (lying face down). The Frame is wider and The Insert Rods can be adjusted through snap locks to extend for shorter or longer necks. The Face Hammock should be able to hold faces allowing them to flex much like that of a face mask. The holes for the eyes, nose, mouth are very similar to that of a standard face mask. The mask hooks into the frame like a hammock creating the feeling of suspension. By doing this we remove the pain and pressure commonly felt by the standard design on the market today.
US09398980B2
A steerable laser probe may include a handle, an actuation lever, an optic fiber, and a housing tube. The housing tube may have a first housing tube portion having a first stiffness and a second housing tube portion having a second stiffness. The second stiffness may be greater than the first stiffness. The optic fiber may be disposed within the housing tube and within an inner bore of the handle. An actuation of the actuation lever about a pivot pin of the handle may gradually curve the optic fiber. An actuation of the actuation lever about the pivot pin of the handle may gradually straighten the optic fiber.
US09398978B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for removing the fixation light reflection from an ophthalmic image. In one embodiment, an ophthalmic laser treatment system, having a digital imaging system for capturing images of a patient's eye and a visual fixation light source configured to produce a fixation light upon which the patient's eye can be focused, further includes a filter configured to remove from the image any light reflection caused by the visual fixation light source.
US09398976B2
Disclosed is a drug carrier device attachable to glasses, which is attached to the glasses and worn with the glasses around the eyes to enable transdermal delivery of drugs for medicinal ingredients for promoting eye fatigue recovery and improving eye diseases. The drug carrier device includes a drug carrier containing medicinal herb ingredients, and a fixing unit for detachably fixing the drug carrier on a frame of glasses. The fixing unit extends from the drug carrier and has a fixing loop whose end portion is bent to be hooked on frame of the glasses. The frame of the glasses is made of a metal to be magnetically coupled to a magnet and the fixing unit includes a permanent magnet magnetically coupled to the frame of glasses. The drug carrier device is attached to the glasses to enable drugs to penetrate into the skin around the eyes of the wearer during everyday life, thereby minimizing the cost burden associated with providing an additional pad fixing member and reducing feeling of irritation. In addition, the drug carrier device of the present invention may be attached to glasses worn at normal times, thus achieving maximized convenience of use.
US09398963B2
The negative gauge pressure dynamic convection system for artificial limb system is to be attached to a residual limb of an amputee. The device provides thermal energy transfer from within an artificial limb to the ambient atmosphere through regulated cyclical differential pressure airflow into the sealed environment between both the residuum and the inside of the suspension liner of an artificial limb and as an alternate embodiment between the rigid socket and the outside of the suspension liner or a combination of both. The system may include a multi-ply surface area multiplying textile layer; a limb-conformable convection suspension liner; an artificial limb socket with an over-molded enclosure for system components; a convection manifold assembly; a convection control system, which includes a continuously operating airflow generation device, and a rising edge triggered negative gauge pressure regulation device, such as an electromechanical binary airflow proportioning device, or an alternate mechanical binary airflow proportioning device.
US09398961B2
Described here are deformable monolithic, stabilization devices, or implants, suitable for use within bone and between bones, for instance, to fuse vertebral bodies, to repair herniated discs, or to repair spinal compression fractures. The implants are introduced into a chosen site at a first, smaller height and then plastically deformed to achieve a second, but unique, pre-selected, larger height. Variations of the device provide one or more specific larger heights. The devices are particularly suitable as intervertebral spinal fusion implants for the immobilization of adjacent vertebral bodies. Methods of deploying the implants are also described as are instruments for such deployment.
US09398959B2
A variable angle locking system having a humeral component with an underside at least partially defined by a cavity. A humeral stem is couplable to the humeral component and the system has a first washer defining a first through-hole and including a threaded portion. The system has an adaptor defining a second through-hole and having a shelf portion and an elongated second washer, the shelf portion being adapted to be received by the cavity of the humeral component. A spring washer is positioned between the first washer and the elongated second washer and defining a third through-hole. A screw is configured to lock the humeral component to the humeral stem at more than one angle relative to a common axis defined by the first, second and third through-holes. The screw includes a head portion having helical threads and an elongated shaft portion extending from the head portion.
US09398957B2
Various embodiments are directed to femoral and tibial bases that form structures of an implantable mechanical energy absorbing system. According to one embodiment, the bases include a low-profile body having a elongate and a curved body portion. One end of the base is elevated as compared to another end. An inner surface of the low-profile body has a raised portion extending along the elongate, straight portion of the low-profile body. The bases also include a plurality of openings positioned along the low-profile body for alignment and purposes of affixation to body anatomy.
US09398953B2
A micro-alloyed porous metal is disclosed having an optimized chemical composition to achieve targeted mechanical properties for use as an orthopaedic implant and a cell/soft tissue receptor. The porous metal may achieve a targeted compressive strength and a targeted ductility, for example. These targeted mechanical properties may allow the porous metal to be densified to a low relative density.
US09398951B2
A prosthetic heart valve for replacing a native valve includes a collapsible and expandable stent having a proximal end and a distal end, and a valve assembly including a plurality of leaflets, the valve assembly being disposed within the stent. The heart valve further includes a plurality of elongated legs each with a first end coupled to the stent and a free end, the elongated legs being configured to transition from an extended configuration to a relaxed configuration. A sealing portion connected to the plurality of legs forms a sealing structure when the legs transition to the relaxed configuration to reduce perivalvular leakage between the implanted valve and surrounding tissue.
US09398946B2
An expandable and retrievable device for treatment of a stenotic lesion in a body vessel is disclosed. The device comprises a tubular portion including a proximal end and a distal end extending from the proximal end. The tubular portion has a lumen formed therethrough between the proximal and distal ends. The device further comprises an expandable member formed helically about the tubular portion. The expandable member is configured to helically close, defining a collapsed state for delivery of the device. The expandable member is configured to helically open, defining an expanded state for treatment of the stenotic lesion in the body vessel. The expandable member has at least one filter portion that helically extends from the tubular portion at a predetermined angle. This defines a proximally faced opening when the expandable member is in the expanded state.
US09398942B2
An implant is provided for maintaining the position of pelvic organs, such as components of the urinary tract. The implant contacts the anterior surface of the urethra and is anchored to the pelvic fascia and the periurethral fascia. A method of anchoring the pelvic organs is also provided, involving inserting the implant via an anterior approach, avoiding complications and side effects that result when implants are inserted through the wall of the vagina.
US09398934B2
A remote control robot system includes a surgical robot having a surgical tool which is used to perform minimally invasive surgery. The surgical tool includes a detection member having a plurality of detection parts, a support member, and an optical fiber disposed between the detection member and support member. A magnitude of force and a distribution of the force may be measured by individually disposing a plurality of optical fiber bragg gratings (FBGs) below the plurality of detection parts, respectively. Accordingly, the surgical robot or the remote control robot system may provide a more precise control function and a hand-touch diagnosis function.
US09398931B2
A method of treating tissue is provided, including positioning a stimulation device proximate a phrenic nerve; stimulating the phrenic nerve with the stimulation device; measuring a physiological response to the stimulation; defining a threshold physiological response value based at least in part on the measured physiological response; positioning a thermal treatment element proximate to an arrhythmogenic cardiac tissue region; applying a thermal treatment regimen to the cardiac tissue region with the medical device; measuring a physiological parameter during the thermal treatment regimen application; and conveying the measured physiological parameter to a controller, the controller comparing the measured physiological parameter to the defined physiological response value threshold, the controller adjusting the thermal treatment regimen in response to the comparison of the measured physiological parameter to the defined physiological response value threshold.
US09398926B2
An interspinous stabilization device includes: (1) a supporting member with a top surface and a bottom surface both being configured to engage spinous processes; (2) two side members connected to the supporting member; (3) a fastener attached to the side members; and optionally (4) two extendable arms each secured on one of the side members.
US09398918B2
A microfracture device comprising a guide shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and defining an internal passage between the proximal and distal ends, the distal end having a curved tip, a stabilizing portion disposed along an outer surface of the guide shaft, at least a portion of the stabilizing portion being wider than the guide shaft, and a flexible element movably positioned within the internal passage of the guide shaft, the flexible element having a distal tip configured for driving into bone.
US09398913B2
A bioadhesive sealant storage and preparation system may comprise a plurality of containers and an adapter. The plurality of containers may comprise a first container having a first bioadhesive sealant component therein, and a second container having a second bioadhesive sealant component therein. The adapter may comprise a manifold comprising a plurality of channels formed therein, an inlet region sized and configured to receive the plurality of containers and facilitate fluid communication between each container of the plurality of containers and a respective channel of the plurality of channels, and an outlet region sized and configured to receive a syringe and provide fluid communication between the syringe and the plurality of channels.
US09398907B2
A suturing device for suturing a portion of biological tissue includes a needle attached to a suture, a needle holder that releasably holds the needle, and a needle driver adapted to be advanced and retracted substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the suturing device. A distal needle holder adapted to releasably hold the needle is positioned in a distal position relative to the portion of biological tissue and a distal end of the needle driver is positioned in a proximal position relative to the portion of biological tissue. The needle is positioned in either the proximal position or the distal position. The needle driver is moved longitudinally in a first direction along a path substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis such that the needle and suture pass through the portion of biological tissue, thereby forming a suture incision through which the suture passes. By repeating the above-described processes, a series of stitches is thereby formed.
US09398904B2
Described are devices, methods and systems for securing sutures external to the body. In certain aspects, a suture securement device includes a base paddle defining a slot and a suture aperture in communication with the slot, and a rotating paddle having an extension arm with a suture aperture. In such embodiments, the extension arm can rotate within the slot to frictionally crimp a suture, such that the suture is substantially prevented from moving with the apertures.
US09398901B2
An implantable medical device (IMD) has a housing enclosing an electronic circuit. The housing includes a first housing portion, a second housing portion and a joint coupling the first housing portion to the second housing portion. A polymer enclosure member surrounds the joint and circumscribes the housing in various embodiments. Other embodiments of an IMD housing are disclosed.
US09398900B2
A surgical instrument for treatment of superficial varicose veins in a body is provided. The surgical instrument includes at least one vein-engaging element disposed within or on a housing being adapted for insertion into a tissue. The at least one vein-engaging element is operable to a vein-engaging state whereby it protrudes from the housing at a length thereof.
US09398899B2
According to one embodiment, a transmission/reception unit generates a reception signal. A signal extraction unit extracts a harmonic signal and fundamental wave signal from the reception signal. A calculation unit calculates a feature amount based on values corresponding to the amplitudes of the harmonic signal and fundamental wave signal. An area determination unit determines an area in a scanned area based on the feature amount and a predetermined threshold. A change unit changes the value corresponding to the amplitude of the harmonic signal in the determined area. An image generation unit generates a corrected harmonic image based on the harmonic signal in the scanned area including the determined area having the changed value.
US09398896B2
Disclosed is an ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus including an ultrasound probe which outputs a transmission ultrasound wave toward a subject due to a driving signal and which outputs a received signal by receiving a reflection ultrasound wave from the subject, a transmitting unit which makes the ultrasound probe generate the transmission ultrasound wave by outputting each of a first transmission signal, a second transmission signal, a third transmission signal and a fourth transmission signal as the driving signal, and a signal component extraction unit which extracts a higher harmonic component and a difference frequency component by compounding a first received signal, a second received signal, a third received signal and a fourth received signal.
US09398883B2
An example method of representing cardiac information associated with a heart rhythm disorder includes accessing a plurality of neighboring cardiac signals obtained from a patient. The method also includes eliminating far-field activations from the plurality of neighboring cardiac signals using one or more divergence criteria that define local activations in the plurality of neighboring cardiac signals, the divergence criteria being associated with divergence among the plurality of neighboring cardiac signals. The method further includes constructing a clinical representation of local activations in the plurality of neighboring cardiac signals.
US09398882B2
Method and apparatus for integrated sensor and data processing assembly is provided.
US09398881B2
A micro-analyzer is described. This micro-analyzer includes an outer surface region on a sampler surface that receives liquid droplets, and aggregates and moves the droplets radially toward an inner surface region on the sampler surface that receives the droplets. For example, the outer surface region may include a set of micro-patterned concentric rings, each of which includes a set of radially oriented wall-groove pairs. Moreover, the sampler surface may be increasingly less hydrophobic along a radial direction toward the center of the sampler surface, thereby creating an axisymmetric wettability gradient. After the droplets are aggregated, an analysis mechanism in an area within the inner surface region performs analysis on the aggregated droplets.
US09398878B2
An apparatus for measuring tension of skin comprises a first rigid leg, a second rigid leg, and means for pivotally connecting proximal ends of the first leg and the second leg such that distal ends of the first leg and the second leg can be moved toward and away from one another. A gauge is carried by one of the first leg or the second leg for giving an indication of the spacing between the distal ends of the first leg and the second leg. Indicia is carried by the other of the first leg or the second leg. A spring arm is connected for resilient, flexible movement relative to one of the first leg or the second leg.
US09398875B2
A method for biological signal analysis, including providing a multidimensional sensor array disposed at a position for sensing biological data associated with a person, wherein the multidimensional sensor array includes a plurality of sensors and each sensor of the plurality of sensors is mechanically coupled to a common structural coupling material. The method including selectively receiving an output from each sensor of the plurality of sensors, processing the output from each sensor of the plurality of sensors and outputting a biological signal based on the processing.
US09398874B2
In a mood analysis method using an electrocardiogram of a user, RR intervals in the electrocardiogram are computed, and low-frequency (LF) values and high-frequency (HF) values are also computed according to the RR intervals. Standard values of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity and parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) activity are acquired corresponding to age and sex data of the user, to establish a mood display coordinate system. Coordinates of the LF values and the HF values in the mood display coordinate system are computed to determine a mood of the user.
US09398870B2
A system includes an enclosure having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The enclosure includes a display coupled to the processor where the display is visible from an exterior of the enclosure; and a battery within the enclosure coupled to the processor and the display. The enclosure includes a probe tip coupled to an exterior of the enclosure. The probe tip includes first, second, and third sensor openings. A first distance between the first and second sensor openings is different than a second distance between the first and third sensor openings. The enclosure includes code stored in the memory where the code is executable by the processor, and includes code to receive first data associated with the first and second sensor openings, code to receive second data associated with the first and second sensor openings, and code to perform SRS using the first and the second data.
US09398868B1
This disclosure relates to systems and/or methods for subtracting in the current domain an output current primary signal from a primary sensor from an output current reference signal from a reference sensor to produce a frequency output signal indicative of the difference between the output current primary signal and the output current reference signal.
US09398860B2
An example system and method of determining a likely core of a rotational source associated with a heart rhythm disorder are disclosed. A plurality of relative diffusion shapes associated with wave fronts is calculated at a plurality of time points associated with the rotational source. The wave fronts associated with heart signals. A plurality of intersecting points of a smallest relative diffusion shape and other relative diffusion shapes is determined. A bounded polygon of the intersecting points is defined as the likely core.
US09398852B2
A medical telemetry system include: a transmitter which transmits a first signal; a first medical telemeter which transmits a second signal including biological information of a patient, the first medical telemeter which receives the first signal and which performs an operation corresponding to information included in the first signal; and a monitor apparatus which receives the second signal.
US09398849B2
An ophthalmic apparatus includes: a light projecting optical system to project light to each point on a fundus of an examinee's eye; a light receiving optical system including a light receiving element to receive light from the fundus emitted from each point on the fundus resulting from the light projected from the light projecting optical system; and a controller for controlling the ophthalmic apparatus, wherein the controller is configured to: acquire intensity information representing intensity of the light from the fundus corresponding to each point on the fundus based on a result of received light of the light receiving element; and analyze a degree of opacity in an optic media of the examinee's eye based on the intensity information.
US09398848B2
A method of performing eye gaze tracking of at least one eye of a user, by determining the position of the center of the eye, said method comprising the steps of: detecting the position of at least three reflections on said eye, transforming said positions to spanning a normalized coordinate system spanning a frame of reference, detecting the position of said center of the eye relative to the position of said reflections and transforming this position to said normalized coordinate system, tracking the eye gaze by tracking the movement of said eye in said normalized coordinate system. Thereby calibration of a camera, such as knowledge of the exact position and zoom level of the camera, is avoided. Further, it is not necessary to know the position of light sources. This results in a much more flexible and user friendly system.
US09398844B2
Embodiments related to improving a color-resolving ability of a user of a see-thru display device are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment includes, on a see-thru display device, constructing and displaying virtual imagery to superpose onto real imagery sighted by the user through the see-thru display device. The virtual imagery is configured to accentuate a locus of the real imagery of a color poorly distinguishable by the user. Such virtual imagery is then displayed by superposing it onto the real imagery, in registry with the real imagery, in a field of view of the user.
US09398839B2
A protective sleeve for an endoscope having an endoscope tube is provided. The protective sleeve of certain embodiments can include a tubular main body for holding a distal section of the endoscope tube. The main body has an open proximal end and a cover glass at the distal end. The cover glass has a spherically curved, concave inside, a spherically curved, convex outside and a constant thickness.
US09398828B1
A spray distribution assembly (14) for a hot beverage brewer (10) with a spray head (20) having a generally vertical passageway (22) for receipt of hot water and an umbrella-like member (34) with an underlying spray plate (38) having a downwardly, outwardly tapered top surface with radiating, outwardly, downwardly directed, upwardly facing grooves and an upwardly standing central core (58) snuggly received within the passageway (22) joined to the underside of the top of the umbrella-like member (34) with a plurality of vertical radially, outwardly facing grooves (68) extending from the top to the bottom to form a plurality of peripheral closed channels for passing hot water to upwardly facing grooves (74) of the umbrella-like body. The umbrella-like spray plate assembly may be attached to a cup shaped spray housing (144) in lieu of a flat spray plate (142) by means of a mounting adapter (158).
US09398821B1
Liquid serving and receiving containers are shown and described. In one embodiment, the assembly comprises a serving container having a magnetic field and a receiving container having an opposing magnetic field. In another embodiment, a method includes configuring serving and receiving containers to repel one another when aligned in an adjacent pouring position. The result is devices, assemblies, and methods for preventing cross-contamination of liquid food service containers and the like.
US09398811B1
A lounge chair having a seat shell that defines a chair back and a seat is pivotally movable about a stationary base. The stationary base includes a concave support surface having a shape that generally corresponds with a convex outer surface of the seat shell. A swivel disc is positioned between the seat shell and the base to allow the seat shell to pivot about the stationary base. The interaction between a pivot post formed on the base and a pivot limiting guide formed in the seat shell defines the range of movement for the seat shell. A tether connects the seat shell to the seat base and creates a bias force to urge the seat shell into an upright seating position. The base includes a series of glide buttons that support the swivel disc to allow the seat shell to pivot relative to the stationary base.
US09398807B2
A hook for clothes hanger has a first direction, a main body, a pressing unit and a resilient element. When in use, a hook segment of a clothes hanger is pushed to abut a slope of a blocking segment of the pressing unit, thereby moving the pressing unit along a direction opposite to the first direction. Thus, the hook segment of the clothes hanger can enter the hook. Afterwards, the resilient element pushes back the pressing unit along the first direction, such that the blocking segment is moved back to prevent the clothes hanger from falling off easily. To remove the clothes hanger, the pressing unit is directly pressed. As a result, the hook for clothes hanger does not need any specific operational effort for opening the hook, and only needs a simple press for closing the hook. Therefore, the operation is convenient and quick.
US09398792B2
A replaceable decoration unit for an accessory has an accommodating element, an outer cover and an outer decorating element. The decoration unit can be used in accessories such as earrings, watches, pendants, necklaces, waistlets, bracelets or key chains. When the outer cover is covered on the accommodating element, the outer decorating element is clamped and positioned between the outer cover and the accommodating element. The user can change the outer decorating element depending on usage demand. To change the outer decorating element, the user can open the outer cover and then remove the outer decorating element for replacement, thereby varying the look and style of the accessory. Besides, the outer decorating element can be made of solid materials such as metal or plastic, or soft materials such as fabric or leather, or the combination of the solid materials and the soft materials.
US09398789B2
Embodiments herein provide adhesive zipper tape. A zipper may be coupled to adhesive zipper tape to form a zipper assembly. In various embodiments, the adhesive zipper tape may be coupled to a piece of fabric, such as in a garment, around an opening. The zipper may then be used to open and close the opening. In various embodiments, the adhesive zipper tape may manifest an adhesive quality when activated by an activation stimulus, such as heat or air.
US09398788B2
Disclosed is a method for measuring inside dimensions of shoes. In this method a foot model can be obtained after the processes of a plastic filling material being filled into the shoe, shaping, being taken out from the shoe and being restored; then more accurate data of the inside dimensions of the shoe can be obtained by measuring the foot model. Further disclosed is a measuring tool able to be used in the present measuring method. By using the measuring method and the measuring tool, errors encountered when going shopping for shoes can be reduced to the maximum degree by a simple operation, such that the problem that an ordinary consumer could buy a pair of perfect fitting shoes only if he/she tries them personally can be solved.
US09398785B2
The invention relates to a shoe (1), especially to a sports shoe, having a shoe upper (2) and a sole (3) which is connected with the shoe upper (2), wherein the sole (3) has a longitudinal axis (L) and has a forefoot region (4), a midfoot region (5) and a rearfoot region (6). To support the foot especially during running in a more natural way the invention is characterized in that at least one first hinge (7) is provided in the sole (3) being located between the forefoot region (4) and the midfoot region (5), which first hinge (7) allows a bending of the forefoot region (4) relatively to the midfoot region (5) around a first horizontal axis (T1) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L), and that at least one second hinge (8) is provided in the sole (3) being located in the midfoot region (5), which second hinge (8) allows a bending of two adjacent parts (5a, 5b) of the midfoot region (5) around a second horizontal axis (T2) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L), wherein at least one elastic tensioning element (9) is arranged at or in the sole (3), which biases the forefoot region (4) to pivot around the first horizontal axis (T1) upwards relatively to the midfoot region (5) when the shoe is standing on the ground (10) and which biases the two parts (5a, 5b) of the midfoot region (5) to pivot around the second horizontal axis (T2) to form an arch when the shoe is standing on the ground (10).
US09398778B2
Water-resistant waders may incorporate a waist lock system to reduce the likelihood of water entering the waders below the wearer's waist area while the waders are being worn during water-based activities, such as fishing or hunting. The waders may include a waist lock system formed of a ring of water-resistant material that may be firmly positioned around the waist area of the wearer such that it may create a flap and seal structure. If water reaches the top portion of the waist lock system, the waist lock system generally may prevent or at least minimize the water that may penetrate the waist lock system and enter the waders, particularly below the wearer's waist area, such as the wearer's feet and legs.
US09398777B2
An apparatus is disclosed for providing rods formed from a continuous supply of filter material for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements, each rod having individual objects placed at predetermined spaced intervals along the length thereof. The apparatus comprises a first hopper configured to provide a reservoir for objects, a second hopper positioned to receive objects from the first hopper, and a reciprocating screen disposed between the first hopper and the second hopper. The reciprocating screen defines a plurality of passageways therein, and the reciprocating screen is configured to facilitate transfer of the objects from the first hopper to the second hopper. The apparatus also comprises an object insertion unit in operable communication with the second hopper and configured to introduce a plurality of objects into engagement with the continuous supply of filter material.
US09398774B2
A movement device, in particular for fluid or pasty products, including: a helical element (2), arranged with a helical development about a longitudinal axis (x) thereof and being predisposed to rotate concentrically externally of a cooling element (100) in such a way as to push a fluid product in advancement along the longitudinal axis (x); a first connecting element (3), predisposed to reciprocally connect and maintain the turns of the helical element (2) distant from one another; a hub (4), predisposed to enable connecting the helical element (2) to a rotating element (110) predisposed to activate the helical element (2) in rotation about the longitudinal axis (x) thereof; at least one scraper element (5, 7, 8, 9) predisposed to drag contactingly on an external surface of the cooling element (100) such as to remove accumulations and/or residues of material from the external surface.
US09398773B1
An unloader paddle for use with a poultry processing device includes an elongated arm having opposite proximal and distal ends. The elongated arm proximal end is configured to be attached to a rotatable hub and a blade is secured to the elongated arm distal end. The paddle blade includes a face, a first edge portion, a second edge portion, and a third convexly curved edge portion. The second and third edge portions of the blade extend from the first edge portion and converge to form a tip region, and the tip region is angled or bent in a direction that is transverse to the face of the blade. The blade is secured to the elongated arm distal end such that the face is oriented transverse to a longitudinal direction of the elongated arm.
US09398768B2
N-(tetrazol-5-yl)- and N-(triazol-5-yl)pyridin-3-yl-carboxamides of formula I and their use as herbicides, The invention relates to N-(tetrazol-5-yl)- and N-(triazol-5-yl)pyridin-3-yl-carboxamides of formula I and their use as herbicides. In said formula I, B represents N or CH, whereas R, R1, R3, R4 and R5 represent groups such as hydrogen, halogen or organic groups such as alkyl or phenyl.
US09398758B2
Disclosed herein is a pet leash assembly having a weighted hand grip. The hand grip has a first end and a second end. A leash is operationally connected to the first end. A container is coupled to the second end which is opposite the first end. The leash assembly may optionally include a second container, and a removable cover portion may be reversibly coupled to the containers for closing the containers. The weighted hand grip is configured so that, when in use, the weighted material is disposed in the palm of a user. Also disclosed is a kit comprising the components of a pet leash assembly.
US09398754B2
Low-dust animal litters made from one or more ingredients that function as an animal litter and one or more polyols that function to control dust in the litter are described herein. The low-dust animal litters are made by selecting one or more litter ingredients suitable for making an animal litter and combining the litter ingredients with one or more polyols, generally by applying the polyols to the surface of one or more ingredients before or during the process of combining the ingredients to produce the litter.
US09398749B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH590799. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH590799, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH590799 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 CH590799.
US09398748B2
The present invention provides a new and distinct hybrid variety of globe artichoke NUN 04325 AR. The new variety is of the Camus type having large ovoid, medium green heads, and is relatively early maturing and produces heads suitable for both the fresh market and/or the processing industry.
US09398740B2
A leaf corralling apparatus including a deflector plate is provided for a lawnmower to prevent an amount of leaves or other debris from being diverted around a deck of the lawnmower. The deflector plate defines a tip that is positioned at a distance from a centerline of the deck approximately equal to or greater than a distance from the centerline of an outermost point of a cutting area defined by one or more blades positioned within the deck of the lawnmower. The deflector plate additionally defines a slanted portion that extends inwardly towards the centerline and rearwardly towards a rear end of the deck.
US09398737B2
The invention refers to a soil cultivation implement with two successively and obliquely positioned frame parts, on which hollow discs on separately rotating bearings are positioned in parallel. Hollow discs of one frame part point in the direction of working with the concave sides obliquely to the front and the outside. Hollow discs of the other frame part point in the direction of working with the concave sides obliquely to the front and the center. The chords of the concave sides of the hollow discs are positioned to form an obtuse angle with the surface of the soil. The respective two hollow discs in the middle section that point towards each other with their concave sides or their convex sides are constructed so that in each case one of these hollow discs has a smaller diameter and is positioned in the direction of working offset towards the adjacent hollow discs.
US09402332B2
An improved shielding cage assembly that utilizes air guides is disclosed. The shielding cage has a hollow interior configured to receive an electronic module therein which generates heat during operation. An air guide member is provided that defines an entry for surrounding air to enter the shielding cage interior and circulate around the electronic module. A thermal transfer member is provided that defines at least one exit passage for the air in the interior of the shielding cage to exit.
US09402330B2
Crossbars span the width between two opposed vertical attachment bars in a half-width electronics rack or cabinet of accommodating height to enable vertical mounting of full-width electronics module in the half-width electronics rack or cabinet. The crossbars are used in opposed spaced-apart pairs with the full-width electronics module mounted vertically between the crossbars. Each crossbar includes a flat elongated main bar having five sets of three holes in a linear array, with the holes sized and spaced apart in accordance with industry standards for electronics racks. An attachment flange with a fastener opening extends from each end of the main bar and is delineated from the main bar by a notch. Between the notches, the same edge extends in a right-angle bend which further extends into a flange. Crossbars are provided in pairs, with or without packaging, racks, cabinets, and electronics modules.
US09402329B1
A cable management assembly includes a cable management arm and a cable management device. The cable management arm is arranged with a mounting hole and a positioning hole. The mounting hole includes a first hole portion and a second hole portion. The cable management device is detachably mounted to the cable management arm and includes a mounting portion and an elastic portion. Wherein the mounting portion of the cable management device is capable of entering the second hole portion from the first hole portion of the mounting hole, and the mounting portion is blocked by a blocking section adjacent to the second hole portion. The elastic portion of the cable management device is configured to enter the positioning hole to be blocked by at least one blocking wall of the cable management arm.
US09402327B2
An electronic apparatus which is capable of preventing a joint between a jack connector and a connector substrate from being broken due to prying after insertion of a plug without bringing about an increase in the size of the connector substrate. In a cantilever spring portion of a chassis, hooking portions that penetrate holes formed in the connector substrate and hook the connector substrate are provided on both sides in a width direction of the connector substrate which is vertical to a direction in which the plug is inserted. A screw, which fastens the connector substrate to the cantilever spring portion, is disposed in the same line as the plug insertion direction and on an opposite side of a plug insertion opening in the jack connector. When the connector substrate is not bent, a space is formed between the connector substrate and an end of the hooking portion.
US09402325B2
Provided is a portable electronic device with excellent shock resistance without reducing design property. A portable electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is equipped with a case including a device (e.g., a speaker), a covering member that covers the device, a protrusion that is formed on the case, and a protective member that protects the covering member. The protective member is formed to protrude from the covering member and also with a substantially equivalent height to that of the protrusion. It is preferable that the protrusion is formed at facing edges of the case, and the protective member is formed between the protrusion.
US09402320B2
According to embodiments of the invention, an electronic component assembly may be provided. The electronic component assembly may include an electronic component body. The electronic component assembly may also include a non-conductive force transfer plate affixed to the electronic component body to receive an assembly force. The electronic component assembly may also include a plurality of electrical connectors passing through the non-conductive force transfer plate, wherein first ends of the electrical connectors are located within the electronic component body and second ends are located outside the electronic component body, and the electrical connectors have a force transfer structure adapted to engage the non-conductive force transfer plate and transfer at least a portion of the assembly force from the force transfer plate to the electrical connectors.
US09402315B2
Provided is a semiconductor package including a wiring substrate having top and bottom surfaces. A first semiconductor chip is disposed on the wiring substrate in a flip-chip manner. The first semiconductor chip has a first surface facing the top surface of the wiring substrate and a second surface opposite to the first surface. First connection members are disposed between the wiring substrate and the first semiconductor chip. The first connection members include first and second contact members each including one or more magnetic materials. The first contact members include portions disposed in the second contact members. The one or more magnetic material of the first contact members have an opposite polar orientation to that of the second contact members.
US09402314B2
A semiconductor module includes a circuit substrate, a first semiconductor device substrate that is mounted on the circuit substrate and that processes an input signal of a first frequency band, a second semiconductor device substrate that is mounted on the circuit substrate and that processes an input signal of a second frequency band, and a control device substrate that is arranged between the first and second semiconductor device substrates and that controls the first and second semiconductor device substrates.
US09402309B2
The printed wiring board includes: an insulating board including a conductive metal layer formed on both surfaces of an insulating resin; and a conductor layer formed on both surfaces of the insulating board, the conductor layer including a different circuit pattern depending on a region. The circuit patterns formed on both surfaces of the insulating board includes a pattern with line width accuracy of ±10 μm or less, and a conductor layer thickness in a region having a dense circuit pattern area and a conductor layer thickness in a region having a sparse circuit pattern area have a following relational expression: conductor layer thickness in a dense region/conductor layer thickness in a sparse region=0.7 to 1.0.
US09402302B2
A device for improving antenna receiving sensitivity in a portable terminal includes an antenna in a low-frequency band of less than 900 MHz which is mounted on a predetermined position in a body housing and a touch pad unit connected to the vicinity of the antenna through a FPCB (Flexible Printed Circuit Board), in which the touch pad unit is grounded to a nearby body in the vicinity of the touch pad unit by using a conductive portion to block noise generated in the touch pad unit, thereby improving the antenna receiving sensitivity.
US09402299B2
Disclosed is a transparent electrode which is configured of: a first conductive layer that is composed of a metal or metal oxide fine wire that is formed in a pattern on a substrate; and a second conductive layer that covers the first conductive layer and contains a conductive polymer. The transparent electrode is characterized in that the fine wire of the first conductive layer satisfies the conditions mentioned below. Also disclosed is an organic electronic element. Line width (W): 20-200 μm Height (H): 0.2-2.0 μm Aspect ratio: 0.001
US09402296B2
An exemplary liquid crystal display panel includes a substrate and first conductive wires. The first conductive wires are arranged at a surface of the substrate. Each of the first conductive wires includes a plurality of first connecting portions, a plurality of second connecting portions and a conductive portion with a plurality of conductive particles. The conductive portion is sandwiched between the first connecting portions and the second connecting portions, thus electrically connecting the first connecting portions to the second connecting portions. A method for manufacturing the liquid crystal display panel is also provided.
US09402291B1
The invention relates to a lighting control console for controlling a lighting system. At least one slide control is provided in the control panel of the lighting control console, which slide control allows users to enter input values by linearly adjusting a control knob, wherein a contact holder is provided at the slide control. A linkage lever links the control knob and the contact holder. In the housing of the lighting control console, at least one light source is provided, wherein at least one light exit is provided at the control knob, and wherein a light conducting element is provided between the light source and the light exit, in which element the light of the light source can be transmitted to the light exit at the control knob.
US09402288B2
The present invention relates to a backlight of a liquid crystal display device and a driving method thereof. The backlight comprises a LED lamp bead group and a backlight driving module. The LED lamp bead group includes a plurality of strings of LED lamp bead which are opposite in term of positive and negative directions. The backlight driving module is electrically connected to the LED lamp bead group to output a voltage signal and a current signal to drive the LED lamp bead group, wherein the voltage signal is configured as more than one serials of periodic square-wave signal, under the action of which a string of LED lamp bead of positive direction and a string of LED lamp bead of negative direction emit light in an alternate manner, and the brightness of emitted light is determined by the magnitude of the current signal.
US09402284B1
An induction cooktop may be reconfigured to be used as a built-in side-by-side warmer model, a built-in front-back warmer model, a countertop side-by-side warmer model, and a countertop front-back warmer model. The cooktop may include a housing with two warmers and a control panel for supplying power to the warmers. The control panel may be detached from one side of the cooktop and reattached to another side, thereby reconfiguring the cooktop from a side-by-side warmer model to a front-back warmer model. The inclusion of a ledge around the periphery of the housing may allow the cooktop to be used as both a built-in model and a countertop model.
US09402282B2
A pulsed induction heating system removes bonded elements from underlying substrates. A coil loop of a tool fits around the base of the element to be removed. The tool heats the element and the substrate in short pulses that are followed by brief, non-heated wait periods. The temperature of the substrate is measured during the wait periods between pulses to avoid overheating. When the substrate reaches a target temperature, the adhesive is sufficiently softened such that the element and adhesive are readily scraped off without damaging the substrate.
US09402279B1
Systems and techniques relating to wireless communications are described. A described technique includes performing, at a wireless communication device, an arbitration among multiple different wireless radio technologies, which collectively use two or more radio resources of the wireless communication device, to produce an arbitration result; and operating the two or more radio resources in accordance with the arbitration result. Performing the arbitration can include performing a first level arbitration between a request associated with a first technology of the multiple different wireless radio technologies and a request associated with a second technology of the multiple different wireless radio technologies to produce a first level result; and performing a second level arbitration to produce a second level result when indicated by the first level result. The arbitration result can be based on the first level result and the second level result, if any.
US09402273B2
Methods, systems, and devices are described for a UE to determine a DRX wakeup rule in an eICIC environment. A UE may identify a measurement period associated with reduced interference from one or more cells in a wireless communications network. The cells may be a serving cell or a neighbor cell. The measurement period may be identified based on eICIC data available to the UE. The eICIC data may be sent to the UE by a serving cell and/or determined by the UE. The UE may power up a wireless modem to perform a warm-up measurement of the serving cell during the identified measurement period prior to transitioning the UE to a DRX on state.
US09402265B1
In a method of synchronizing time domain multiplexing interference mitigation schemes of at least a first, second, and third wireless communication link within a first, second, and third network, respectively, a first set of parameters defining a first set of time intervals is determined. The first set of time intervals is utilized to schedule transmissions of the first wireless communication link to reduce interference with transmissions of the second wireless communication link. A second set of parameters defining a second set of time intervals is determined. The second set of time intervals is utilized to schedule transmissions of the first wireless communication link to reduce interference with transmissions of the third wireless communication link. The second set of parameters is determined based at least in part on at least one of the first set of parameters.
US09402264B2
A wireless communication device includes at least two transceivers and a processor. A respectively selected portion of a downlink and uplink data flow signals is transmitted to and received from corresponding different wireless networks. The uplink and downlink data flow signals comprise data flows between a client entity and an Internet-Protocol-based services application. In one embodiment, the selected portions of the uplink and downlink are based on consecutively arranged packets communicated over respectively different wireless networks. In another embodiment, the selected portions of the uplink and downlink are based on relative packet sizes.
US09402257B2
Half-duplex (HD) operations enable low cost implementations of LTE terminals. Traditionally, HD operations may be linked to a particular frequency band which may not allow a mix of full-duplex (FD) and HD terminals in the same frequency band. Therefore, certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for enabling coexistence, in a given frequency band, of HD and FD terminals, by introducing frequency bands designated for HD operation and overlapping existing frequency bands designated for FD operation.
US09402254B2
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, a method comprises identifying at least one beacon opportunity at a wireless network device; selecting a beacon channel from a beacon slot that is a flexibly allocated frequency resource; and transmitting at least one beacon signal in the selected beacon channel multiplexed in a beacon frame during the identified beacon opportunity.
US09402246B2
A device and method in which a plurality of Zadoff-Chu sequences is allocated to a frame, a value of a parameter in the Zadoff-Chu sequence is different among the plurality of Zadoff-Chu sequences, and the Zadoff-Chu sequence allocated to the frame is different among a plurality of cells.
US09402244B2
An apparatus includes a network node configured to communicate with other network nodes via a communication network. The network node includes a plurality of transceivers and a controller. The controller includes a link management module and a packet management module. The link management module is configured to produce link profiles associated with communication links available to the network node, wherein a link profile indicates link characteristics that include a busy indication of a transceiver. The packet management module is configured to identify a link profile solution set that includes a set of link profiles corresponding to communication links for multicasting the message packet, map the link profiles of the link profile solution set to at least a portion of the plurality of transceivers, and initiate transmission of the message packet using the communication links corresponding to the link profile solution set.
US09402239B2
A method and apparatus of controlling a transmit power in a wireless local area network is provided. A wireless device operated in a TV White Space transmits a white space map indicating a list of available channels, and transmits an extended power constraint indicating a plurality of transmission channels and a plurality of maximum transmit powers, wherein the plurality of transmission channels are selected among the list of available channels and each of the plurality of maximum transmit powers corresponds to a maximum transmit power for each of the plurality of transmission channels. Interference can be mitigated between wireless devices operated in the TV White Space.
US09402237B2
Embodiments of the present invention describe methods for increasing the amount of information available to a mobile transmit diversity transmitter during soft handoff. According to embodiments of the invention, a transmit diversity transmitter may determine substantially when it is in uplink communication with one base station and downlink communication with another base station. The mobile device may transmitting a diversity signal by controlling a value of a transmit diversity parameter based on feedback signals from the downlink base station, and controlling a power level in accordance with a standard protocol, e.g. combination of transmit power control feedbacks provided by the active base stations.
US09402236B2
A method of transmission power control is performed by a radio device along with another radio device being connected to a radio control device, the radio device forming a second cell overlaid with a first cell which is formed by the another radio device and a first frequency band is used. The method comprises monitoring a failure state of the other radio device, and reducing transmission power of radio waves to be transmitted to the second cell when the failure state of the another radio device is detected.
US09402233B2
Embodiments of a distributed antenna system (DAS) and method for enhanced positioning in a wireless network are generally described herein. In some embodiments, an enhanced Node-B (eNB) operates as part of a DAS that includes one or more nodes having the same cell ID as the eNB. The eNB is to transmit a UE-specific reference signal and configure one or more of the other nodes of the cell to transmit UE-specific reference signals that are distinguishable from each other and from the UE-specific reference signal that is transmitted by the eNB. The eNB may receive location estimate information from user equipment (UE) that is determined at least in part from the UE-specific reference signals. The eNB may also configure the nodes to perform cooperative OFDMA transmission techniques for the UEs operating in the cell.
US09402231B2
A first wireless device and a second wireless device are each capable of communicating using multiple MAC protocols. The first wireless device sets a first receiver to a power savings mode, the first receiver designed to operate according to a first MAC protocol. The first wireless device then receives, from the second wireless device, an indication on a second receiver corresponding to a second MAC protocol that data is available to be transmitted to the first wireless device from the second wireless device. In response to receipt of the indication, the first wireless sets the first receiver to an active mode, and receives the data from the second wireless device using the first receiver operating in accordance with the first MAC protocol. The second receiver consumes less power than the first receiver. Reduction of power consumption in the first wireless device may be achieved.
US09402229B2
A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) stops discontinuous reception (DRX) timers that are running and that are related to uplink and/or downlink transmissions during a DRX time period. The WTRU stops the DRX timers in response to receiving a medium access control (MAC) control element signal from an eNode-B.
US09402223B2
Before software for a routing protocol in a second wireless terminal receives a routing packet between a first wireless terminal and the second wireless terminal that are both included in an ad hoc network, stability determining software determines whether or not a link between the first wireless terminal, which is the source of the routing packet, and the second wireless terminal is stable. When the link is determined to be stable, the software for the routing protocol in the second wireless terminal processes the routing packet. This allows building of a route using only a stable link between adjacent nodes.
US09402222B2
Provided is a communication system including a plurality of base stations, a plurality of communication terminals that communicates with one of the plurality of base stations, and a relay device, the relay device including a selection unit that selects a communication terminal to be relayed from among the plurality of communication terminals on the basis of communication quality information received from each of the plurality of communication terminals, and a relay unit that relays communication between the communication terminal selected by the selection unit and the corresponding base station.
US09402220B2
An electronic apparatus is capable of sharing connection information for connecting to a specific communication line with another apparatus. The electronic apparatus includes a first communication unit configured to communicate with a base station through the specific communication line, a second communication unit configured to perform communication different from the communication performed by the first communication unit, a detection unit configured to detect, via the second communication unit, whether the another apparatus is operating, and a controller configured to control communication performed by the first and second communication units. The controller controls, on the basis of a detection result from the detection unit, whether to perform communication through the specific communication line by the first communication unit.
US09402206B2
A method and arrangement for controlling a balance between Packet Switched (PS) data, and Circuit Switched (CS) data in a cellular communication network. A network node is arranged in a cellular communication network to control communication of PS data between a first UE and a base station, and to control communication of CS data between a second UE and the base station. Both the first UE, the second UE and the base station are associated to the cellular communication network and are located in the cell. The network node comprises a controller 402 which is adapted to identify a risk of congested communication of data, and a transceiver 406 which is adapted to communicate PS data with the first base station, and to communicate CS data with the second base station. The controller is further adapted to request the second UE to change communication settings, and the controller is further adapted to reallocate transmission resources from the second UE, to the first UE.
US09402204B2
A wireless transmit receive unit and methods for code division multiple access telecommunications are disclosed that process data in a physical layer and a medium access control (MAC) layer. The physical and MAC layers communicate data between each other via transport channels. The transport channels are associated with logical channels. Logical-channel data for the transport channels is provided in data units having a bit size evenly divisible by an integer N. The respective logical channels associated with a transport channel utilize MAC headers that have a selected modulo N bit size such that there is bit alignment of the MAC headers of all the logical channels associated with a particular transport channel.
US09402200B2
This disclosure relates to a Radio Network Controller, RNC, a base station, and to methods therein. By extracting information from one or more flows of Protocol Data Units, PDUs, which information is accessible on a certain protocol layer only, congestion control is enabled and performed on another protocol layer based on said information.The present disclosure avoids that inappropriate PDUs are discarded, which else would inappropriately affect the user performance.
US09402199B2
Systems and methods for enabling a WLAN client to communicate simultaneously over more than one band at a time are described, where each client has at least one radio that is operational in each supported band. Load balancing based on traffic requirements optimizes the use of the multiple bands.
US09402196B2
The present invention relates to an integrated repeater and an integrated relay system. The integrated repeater of the present invention receives a signal from a main repeater for relaying signals transmitted from upper devices, and comprises a demultiplexer configured to demultiplex the multiplexed signal of an Ethernet signal and a mobile communication signal received from the main repeater, and separate the signals into the mobile communication signal and the Ethernet signal; a first converter configured to convert the mobile communication signal separated from the demultiplexer into a radio frequency (RF) signal, and transmit the converted RF signal; a second converter configured to convert the Ethernet signal separated from the demultiplexer into a wireless LAN signal, and transmit the converted wireless LAN signal; and a switching unit configured to deliver a signal received from the main repeater to either the demultiplexer or the second converter, depending on whether a fault of the mobile communication signal is generated.
US09402191B2
Systems and methods for communicating data over a dual-tier wireless communication system are provided. A dual-tier wireless communication system comprises an upper tier cell-free large-scale antenna system including a plurality of service-antennas distributed in a designated coverage area for providing wireless access service to mobile terminals, and a lower tier of one or more concentrated large-scale antenna system arrays arranged within a plurality of cells of the designated coverage area for providing backhaul service to the plurality of service-antennas. The upper tier and the lower tier operate in disjoint frequency bands with respect to each other.
US09402190B2
Provided herein are apparatus and methods for radio frequency (RF) signal boosters. In certain implementations, a multi-band signal booster is provided for boosting the uplink and downlink channels of at least a first frequency band and a second frequency band. In certain configurations, the downlink channels of the first and second channels are adjacent, and the signal booster includes a first amplification path for boosting the uplink channel of the first frequency band, a second amplification path for boosting the uplink channel of the second frequency band, and a third amplification path for boosting both downlink channels of the first and second frequency bands.
US09402180B2
The invention relates to a method for initiating an OTA session in a mobile radio communication network at the request of a user of a mobile terminal. The OTA session is established between the mobile terminal and a remote OTA server, the mobile terminal including a security element such as a UICC card. According to the invention, the method comprises: i) entering a special code using the man/machine interface of said mobile terminal; ii) said security element intercepting said special code; and iii) opening said OTA session between said mobile terminal and said remote server in a secure mode.
US09402174B2
A network device associates a fleet vehicle with a driver of it. The network device receives customer input associating a group of media access control (MAC) addresses of portable devices with driver identifiers and stores, in a memory, the MAC addresses associated with the driver identifiers. The network device also receives, from a vehicle telematics unit, a vehicle identifier of a vehicle connected to the vehicle telematics unit and a MAC address of a particular portable device proximate the vehicle. Based on the MAC address of the particular portable device, the network device associates a particular driver identifier and the vehicle identifier. The vehicle telematics unit may determine that driver is no longer driving when it can no longer detect a signal from the particular portable device that was proximate the vehicle.
US09402169B2
A writing instrument (e.g., a pen or stylus) is able to wirelessly receive a message, receive a responsive input from a user (either spoken or written using the writing instrument), convert the user input into text, and transmit the text in a first mode (if the responsive input is spoken) or in a second mode (if the responsive input is written). The first mode and the second modes may correspond, for example, to different recipient groups.
US09402161B2
Methods and computer products can provide personalized content based on historical interaction with a mobile device. A computing device can receive information about a user interaction with an application running on the mobile device at a first time and location. A type of the application can be identified by parsing a description of the application (e.g., using a natural language processing algorithm). An affinity model can be generated that associates the type of the application with the first time and/or location. At a second time and location, it can be determined that the second time corresponds to the first time and/or that the second location corresponds to the first location. Using the affinity model, the second time and/or location can be associated with the type of the application, and the mobile device may then display content related to the type of the application.
US09402136B2
Provided are a sound generator and an electronic apparatus using the same. The sound generator includes a vibrating body, an exciter that is attached to the vibrating body and bends to vibrate the vibrating body in the thickness direction of the vibrating body by vibrating the exciter itself, an enclosure that is joined to the vibrating body and forms a first space enclosed together with the vibrating body, and a duct that connects between the first space and the external space. A spacing between the vibrating body and the surface of the enclosure facing the vibrating body is smaller than ½ of the length of the wavelength of resonance having the lowest frequency in the bending vibration of the vibrating body.
US09402135B1
An ultrasonic audio magnetostrictive emitter configured to emit an audio modulated ultrasonic beam. The magnetostrictive emitter may include an emissive surface, a back plate and at least one magnetostrictive actuator positioned between the emissive surface and the back plate. Ultrasonic audio systems incorporating a magnetostrictive emitter may further be provided.
US09402132B2
In general, techniques are described for limiting active noise cancellation output. As one example, an apparatus comprising one or more processors may perform the techniques. The one or more processors may be configured to, when an estimated noise level increases, dynamically lowering application of active noise cancellation to at least a portion of an audio signal to obtain at least a portion of an active noise cancelled version of the audio signal.
US09402131B2
A buffer is coupled to an acoustic motor. The buffer has an input and an output. The input has an input voltage and the output has an output voltage. The buffer is coupled to a load. The buffer includes an input transistor and push-pull transistor circuitry. The input transistor has a gate, a source, and a drain, a gate-to-source capacitance, and an area. The push-pull transistor circuitry is coupled to the input transistor. Under a first set of operating conditions, the gate to source voltage of the input transistor remains constant and the output voltage is a buffered copy of the input voltage. Under a second set of operating conditions, the push-pull transistor circuitry selectively sinks or sources additional current to the load so that linearity of buffer operation is provided. A gate-to-drain capacitance of the input transistor is buffered allowing the area of the input transistor to be increased without reducing the gain of the motor.
US09402126B2
An earphone includes a housing having a sound-emitting hole, a speaker mounted in the housing, and a passive radiator mounted in between the sound hole and the speaker driver and including a vibrating diaphragm main body and a weight embedded in the vibrating diaphragm main body or bonded to the top or bottom surface of the vibrating diaphragm main body. The mounting arrangement of the passive radiator optimizes the sound performance of the earphone. The weight of the passive radiator is firmly connected with the vibrating diaphragm main body so that severe vibration of the vibrating diaphragm main body does not cause disconnection of the weight.
US09402124B2
The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for controlling a smart terminal device and the smart terminal device thereof. The method comprises: monitoring a wearing state of receivers of an earphone connected to the smart terminal device, wherein the wearing state comprises a putting-on state and a taking-off state; and controlling running state of one or more applications in the smart terminal device and/or an operation mode of the smart terminal device according to the wearing state of the receivers. The embodiments of the present disclosure can simplify manual operations by monitoring the change of wearing state of an earphone. The lifetime of the mechanical members of the earphone can be improved, the electric energy of the smart terminal device can be saved, and no manual operation control is needed.
US09402114B2
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving video data at an adaptive bitrate (ABR) client that includes a buffer; determining whether a buffer level for the buffer is below a target buffer level; applying a random delay for a fetch interval associated with requesting the video data; and requesting a next segment of the video data after the random delay. The random delay can provide for a plurality of fetch times to become decorrelated from each other.
US09402107B2
Methods and apparatus for providing delivery of content to client devices of a network via both multicast and unicast mechanisms. In one embodiment, a system for use in a managed content delivery network is described to bridge multicast to unicast, so that the total network bandwidth consumption is significantly lower than a corresponding unicast-only delivery solution, yet which still provides improved quality of service and user viewing experience as compared to a multicast-only delivery solution. In addition, various exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are readily adapted for real-time multicast to unicast streaming of audio and data to, among other things, minimize network bandwidth usage, while maintaining the guaranteed delivery of unicast streams with little or no modification to the existing client device logic.
US09402105B2
A method that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, capturing from a plurality of media sources information describing a plurality of media content offered at the plurality of media sources, generating a plurality of exemplars of the plurality of media content offered at the plurality of media sources based on the information captured from the plurality of media sources, presenting the plurality of exemplars at a display, receiving a selection of a first exemplar of the plurality of exemplars, and presenting a portion of first media content associated with a first media source of the plurality of media sources associated with the first exemplar based on the information captured from the plurality of media sources responsive to the selection of the first exemplar. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09402104B2
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for creating tag subscriptions and notifying users based on tag subscriptions. A system configured to create tag subscriptions receives from a user, as part of a tag subscription request, a tag, a selection of at least one media event to which the tag is to be applied, and a notification threshold. The system then establishes a tag subscription associated with the user based on the tag, the selection of at least one media event, and the notification threshold. A system configured to generate tag notifications based on a tag subscription retrieves a tag subscription including a tag, a selection of a media event, and a notification threshold. The system then monitors tags generated in association with the media event for matches with the tag, and sends a tag notification to a user when matches exceed the notification threshold.
US09402099B2
This technology concerns, in one aspect, using a person's social network graph data as a virtual visual cortex—taking image input from a smartphone or the like, and processing it with the graph data to yield a personalized form of processing based on the imagery. The user's network graph data is typically updated by such processing—providing a form of virtual image memory that can influence future social network behavior. In another aspect, the technology concerns identifying content (e.g., audio) by both fingerprint-based and watermark-based techniques, and arrangements employing such identification data. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
US09402094B2
A display apparatus and a method of controlling a display apparatus are disclosed. The display apparatus includes: a display configured to display an image based on a video signal; a sound output section configured to output a first sound based on a sound signal; a first sound receiver configured to receive a first mixed sound including the first sound and a second sound of a user; a second sound receiver which is spaced apart at a distance from the first sound receiver and is configured to receive a second mixed sound comprising the first sound and the second sound; and a controller configured to perform control in accordance with the second sound of the user, the second sound being acquired based on the first mixed sound and the second mixed sound.
US09402092B2
Task: To provide communication technology in which clock synchronization accuracy can be easily maintained, even on networks where packets can be easily lost.Resolution Means: A communication device, comprising: a transmission unit that includes a flag processing unit that, upon receipt of one or a plurality of MPEG-2 TS packets, applies flag information to the packets at a predetermined interval in the forward reproduction direction of the packets, and a time stamp application unit that generates MPEG-2 TTS packets by applying a time stamp value calculated using a GPS clock to each of the one or a plurality of MPEG-2 TS packets, including the MPEG-2 TS packets having the flag information applied by the flag processing unit, and transmits the MPEG-2 TTS packets to a transmission path.
US09402087B2
In picture encoding that generates prediction pictures from picture information of frames previously encoded and encodes picture information for each area, the encoding efficiency is improved. A plurality of motion vector candidates are stored in advance in a motion vector storage memory (107). A motion vector selection section (109) selects a motion vector to be used from the plurality of motion vectors stored in advance in the motion vector storage memory (107). A prediction picture generation section (104) generates a prediction picture from a reference picture using the selected motion vector. A differential encoding section (103) encodes a differential between the picture information of the present area and the prediction picture. A motion vector designation encoding section (110) encodes information that designates the motion vector selected by the motion vector selection section (109).
US09402084B2
A video encoding apparatus includes an inter predictor to check for availability of merge candidates configured from neighboring blocks of a current block, add into a merge candidate set, as one of the merge candidates, a combined bi-predictive motion parameter with respect to an unavailable block, the combined bi-predictive motion parameter generated by combining a list 0 motion parameter of a first available andidate block and a list 1 motion parameter of a second available candidate block, when the unavailable block is checked to be present among the merge candidates, and predict the current block by using a motion parameter corresponding to a merge candidate selected from the merge candidates including the combined bi-predictive motion parameter, to thereby generate a predicted block for the current block.
US09402082B2
An electronic device for sending a message is described. The electronic device includes a processor and instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The electronic device determines whether a first picture is a Clean Random Access (CRA) picture. The electronic device also determines whether a leading picture is present if the first picture is a CRA picture. The electronic device further generates a message including a CRA discard flag and an initial CRA Coded Picture Buffer (CPB) removal delay parameter if a leading picture is present. The electronic device additionally sends the message.
US09402079B2
A video encoding method and apparatus and a video decoding method and apparatus. In the video encoding method, a first predicted coding unit of a current coding unit that is to be encoded is produced, a second predicted coding unit is produced by changing a value of each pixel of the first predicted coding unit by using each pixel of the first predicted coding unit and at least one neighboring pixel of each pixel, and the difference between the current coding unit and the second predicted coding unit is encoded, thereby improving video prediction efficiency.
US09402073B2
A display device includes control electronics and a pixilated liquid crystal (LC) panel. The control electronics receives inputs of main image data for a main image and side image data for a side image. The control electronics outputs combined image data combining the main and side images such that an on-axis viewer perceives from the combined image the main image, and an off-axis viewer perceives from the combined image the side image. The output image data comprises data values chosen from a set of available output data values for the pixels selected from multiple sets of available data values depending on at least on the side image data. For a pixel currently being processed, the output data value is chosen from the selected set of available output data values for which a resulting luminance value is closest to a target luminance value for the current pixel.
US09402071B2
The display device includes a display panel on which sub-pixel pairs are arranged in a lateral direction, and a parallax barrier shutter panel on which sub-openings that can be changed between a light transmittance state and a light-shielding state are arranged in a lateral direction. Arbitrary allocated number of adjacent sub-openings among the plural sub-openings belonging to a reference parallax barrier pitch are put into a light transmittance state, and the remaining sub-openings are put into a light-shielding state, so that a general opening is formed on the parallax barrier shutter panel. A sub-opening pitch of the sub-opening on the boundary part between the adjacent common driving areas is different from the sub-opening pitch of the other sub-openings.
US09402070B2
A method of combining 2D images into a 3D image includes providing a coordinate measurement device and a six-DOF probe having an integral camera associated therewith, the six-DOF probe being separate from the coordinate measurement device. In a first instance, the coordinate measurement device determines the position and orientation of the six-DOF probe and the integral camera captures a first 2D image. In a second instance, the six-DOF probe is moved, the coordinate measurement device determines the position and orientation of the six-DOF probe, and the integral camera captures a second 2D image. A cardinal point common to the first and second image is found and is used, together with the first and second images and the positions and orientations of the six-DOF probe in the first and second instances, to create the 3D image.
US09402063B2
An image pickup apparatus capable of properly performing white balance control on an image. A photographed image is divided into areas and a color evaluation value is acquired from each area. Infrared light is detected from each of areas of an object defined in association with the areas of the image. White balance correction is performed on the image using a mixed WB correction value calculated by mixing a first WB correction value calculated using the color evaluation values included in a white detection range set in a color space and a second WB correction value calculated using the color evaluation values acquired from areas each having an infrared light amount larger than a predetermined amount and included in a detection range of a predetermined color other than white, set in the color space.
US09402055B2
Provided is a system and associated method that allow meeting participants to maintain a basic awareness of the audio and visual content of a meeting using a wearable device, such as a smartwatch, well known to persons of ordinary skill in the art. Embodiments of the described system and method also provide essential interaction mechanisms such that the remote, mobile users can interact with the distributed meeting without distracting them from their other tasks. In one embodiment, the described techniques provide an unobtrusive way for users to participate in ongoing distributed meetings using a smartwatch-based interface for a video conferencing application.
US09402044B2
The invention concerns a method of processing pixel values comprising: during a first read phase, generating a first digital value as a function of pixel values by controlling, based on first and second control signals and a first set of increment rates, the rate that a first counter (220-i) is incremented; and during a second read phase, generating a second digital value as a function of pixel values by controlling, based on first and second control signals and a second set of increment rates, the rate that said first counter (220-i) is incremented, the first and second sets of increment rates each defining an increment rate for each of a plurality of states of the first and second control signals, wherein said first set of increment rates is different from said second set of increment rates.
US09402041B2
A solid-state image sensor provided with a plurality of pixels which photo-electrically convert an object image formed by an imaging optical system, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of pixels are ranging pixels in which a first photoelectric conversion unit, a barrier region and a second photoelectric conversion unit are provided in alignment in a first direction in this sequence; in the peripheral regions where are distanced from a straight line perpendicular to the first direction and passing through the center of the solid-state image sensor, for more than half of the ranging pixels, the barrier region is situated eccentrically in a direction parallel to the first direction.
US09402038B2
A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel array section including an array of pixels in a two-dimensional matrix, the pixels including a photoelectric conversion section configured to generate signal charges in accordance with an amount of light, a discharge section configured to receive an overflow of signal charges exceeding a saturation amount of charges during an exposure period, at least a first charge accumulation section configured to receive the signal charges generated by the photoelectric conversion section after the exposure period, and a second charge accumulation section configured to receive the signal charges exceeding the saturation amount of charges, and a plurality of pixel transistors reading the signal charges; and a scanning section configured to scan the pixels so that accumulation periods for all the pixels are simultaneous in an accumulation period of the signal charges, and to selectively scan the pixels in sequence.
US09402020B2
A focus detection apparatus detects a first subject region (e.g., face region) from an image signal, detects a second subject region (e.g., human body region), in which the first subject region can be estimated, from the image signal, and performs focus detection based on an image signal corresponding to the set focus detection area. In the case where the primary subject corresponds to the first subject region detected, the focus detection area is set to a first region, and, in the case where the primary subject corresponds to the first subject region estimated based on the second subject region, the focus detection area is set to a second region that is larger than the first region.
US09402019B2
An autofocus system includes: an imaging unit which captures an image of an object formed by an optical system; an autofocus portion which performs focus adjustment of the optical system on an autofocus area set in the image captured by the imaging unit so that the object within the autofocus area comes into focus; an AF area tracking processing portion which performs tracking processing to set a predetermined object within the autofocus area as a target to be tracked, detect a presence area of the target to be tracked in an image newly captured by the imaging unit and determine the presence area as a new autofocus area; a depth-of-field computing portion which calculates a depth of field based on information acquired from the optical system; and a control portion as defined herein.
US09402017B2
An electronic device includes a housing that accommodates therein at least one heating element. At least a part of an inner surface of the housing is applied with a heat conductive material. The electronic device may be incorporated in a communication apparatus.
US09402016B1
An electronic device that mounts onto a bicycle frame or handlebar to permit video recording with a smart phone while riding. The present electronic device mount includes a housing assembly having a lateral door to receive the smart phone therethrough. The housing assembly has a front window to permit viewing of the smart phone's screen, and an opening on a rear wall that is cooperatively positioned to coincide with the smart phone's video camera. The rear opening has a mirror housing with an interior mirror disposed at a predetermined angle to redirect the video recording from the smart phone to capture the route of the rider. A swivel mechanism connects the housing assembly with the mounting assembly to permit the user to adjust a position of the housing assembly according to the view the user wants to see on the screen of the phone.
US09402008B2
A multi-mode scanner comprises a first body, a second body and a scanning module. The first body connected to the second body has connected first and second sides. A passageway accommodating a first portion of a bent document is formed between the first and second bodies. A second portion of the bent document is connected to the first portion of the bent document and supported by a second side of the first body. The first and second bodies are configured such that a weight of the bent document makes the second portion be in flat surface contact with the second side, or makes the first portion be in flat surface contact with first side. The scanning module disposed in one or both of the first and second bodies performs an image scan operation on the first portion of the bent document in the passageway to obtain an image signal.
US09402004B2
An approach for managing the amount of data spent by one or more user devices on one or more services is described. A data usage analysis platform receives an input for specifying a data budget associated with a service, wherein the service operates on one or more devices. The data usage analysis platform also monitors data usage data associated with the service across the one or more devices. Still further, the data usage analysis platform presents a report of the data usage data with respect to the data budget.
US09402000B2
The claimed subject matter provides a method for split billing. The method includes receiving a requested token. The requested token specifies conditions under which network traffic is allowed to be billed against a third party for content requested from a mobile computing device. The method also includes matching network traffic between the mobile computing device and a content provider to the specified conditions. The method further includes metering the matched network traffic to a billing account for the third party.
US09401993B1
An interactive voice response (IVR) system performs automatic language selection without requiring the caller to provide a manual language selection input. The IVR system receives an incoming call along with appropriate caller identification. The IVR system sends a request for the caller's language preference information either to the caller's device or to a service provider that hosts the caller's account. After receiving the caller's language preference information, the IVR system selects a language for the caller and provides an IVR menu tree using the selected language. The selected language is persisted as the caller's preferred language at either the IVR system or at a service provider for future use.
US09401991B2
A computer-readable storage medium containing a data server application, which when executed on a processor is configured to perform an operation providing a view of performance data based on multiple performance rating criteria for evaluating multiple customer service agents across an enterprise. The operation may include receiving data corresponding to call handling for a first agent from the multiple agents and processing the received data to generate performance data for the first agent based on process steps followed by the first agent for handling a call type. The operation also includes assigning a color scheme to the process steps depending on the importance of the steps to an enterprise and transmitting a signal to display agent performance data based on the color scheme and indicative of steps missed by the first agent.
US09401990B2
A system, device and method is provided for handling customer-agent interactions. An unsuccessful interaction may be detected between a customer and a first agent unable to resolve a problem. A successful interaction may be detected between the customer and a second agent that resolves the problem. The first agent may be sent a report summarizing the successful interaction by the second agent.
US09401989B2
A contact center auditing work assignment engine communication system hosts a multi-functional automatic bot agent to discover issues, update properties, identify and solve problems, and provide operational support for contact center managers, creating a proactive and flexible automatic audit and cooperation between a bot agent, human agents, and supervisors.
US09401981B2
An electronic device includes a short range communication module configured to establish a communication channel for collecting device-related information on at least one other electronic device. The electronic device also includes a communication module configured to establish a communication channel with a service supporting device. The electronic device also includes a control module configured to transmit a message requesting function-related information installable or updatable on the other electronic device to the service supporting device in correspondence to the device-related information and configured to control transmitting identification information for receiving the function-related information and the device-related information.
US09401980B2
A portable communication device equipped with a screen and a random access memory is described. The device can receive a data stream through a radio link and can automatically display information from the data stream on the display screen, without any user's request, where a part of this information is stored in the random access memory during a period of time that is longer than the duration of display. The device can also display information from the data stream on the display screen, upon user's request, where this information is stored in the random access memory during the duration of display only. Also described is a base able to communicate with such a portable communication device.
US09401979B2
A method transmits data between a mobile telephone and a motor vehicle. A first wireless communication connection is automatically established between the mobile telephone and the motor vehicle when a communication interface of the mobile telephone is activated in a corresponding manner, and driver-specific user data is transmitted from the mobile telephone to the motor vehicle, at least some of the user data being transmitted to the motor vehicle exclusively via a second communication connection according to the NFC standard.
US09401973B2
A server is in communication with a plurality of clients being executed by a host. The server is configured to receive a message from a first client of the plurality of clients. The message indicates that the first client currently has focus, wherein the message is transmitted by the first client with a first cookie. The server is configured to identify that a second client of the plurality of clients utilizes a second cookie that matches the first cookie, wherein the second client is currently receiving data from the server using a low-latency update mechanism. The server is also configured to downgrade the second client from the low-latency update mechanism to a high-latency update mechanism, wherein the high-latency update mechanism is configured to enable the second client to conduct a poll of the server periodically for updates.
US09401969B2
A system and method for information processing is provided. In an embodiment of the present system and method, a connection target apparatus is detected at an information processing apparatus. Upon detection, the information processing apparatus generates apparatus information and transmits the apparatus information to a server via a communication path. Based on the apparatus information, the server generates connection information and transmits the connection information to the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus may use the connection information to establish communication with the connection target apparatus via another communication path.
US09401944B2
Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments enable HTTP streaming that downloads different layers of the same media interval at different points of time before the play out time of that media interval. The various embodiments provide a download sequence that enables downloads of portions of a media interval to continue at different points in time until the play out position of the media presentation reaches a certain point with respect to the media interval. In an embodiment, the download sequence may rapidly adapt to changing network bandwidth conditions and may help ensure no stall occurs in media play out under minimum conditions. In an embodiment, the download sequence may provide an increased smoothing effect to reduce the rate of adaptation to changes in bandwidth, which may reduce the fluctuations in quality in the presence of repeated abrupt network changes.
US09401942B2
To access a communication managed by a host communicating entity between participant communicating entities including the host communicating entity via a packet network (RP), a third-party communicating entity transmits a message (MI) to the host communicating entity, which message comprises at least one parameter (PM) associated with an identifier of at least one participant communicating entity. The third-party entity's access to a peer-to-peer communication established between the host entity and a participant entity may create a conference between the three entities. The third-party entity's access to a conference communication may cause a participant to be added to the existing conference. The host communicating entity applies a restrictive policy on mixing communication flows exchanged between the communicating entities as a function of the parameter and the identifier of the participant communicating entity associated with the parameter.
US09401941B2
A computer-implemented system (and method and computer readable storage medium) are disclosed for processing interactions with song lyrics. The system is configured to provide for display on a screen of a computing device the song lyrics. The system detects a selection of a segment of the song lyrics and provides for display a menu of options for interacting with the selected segment of the song lyrics. The system receives a selection of an option from the menu of options and updates, in a user interaction database, a data field corresponding to the selected segment with the selected option from the menu of options. The system executes the selected option from the menu of options.
US09401933B1
A management entity connects with multiple security devices across a network. Each security device operates in accordance with one or more security policies. The management entity imports, over the network, data describing the security policies from the multiple security devices. The management entity classifies the imported security policies into security policy classifications based on commonality in information included in the security policies across the multiple security devices.
US09401930B2
An attribute-based policy defining subjects' access to resources is enforced by a computer system. A processing means (PDP) in the system communicates with a nearby attribute value source and at least one remote attribute value source and is adapted to evaluate the policy for an access request containing one or more explicit attribute values, which together with the policy define at least one implicit reference to a further attribute value, which is retrievable from one of said attribute value sources. The processing means reduces the policy by substituting attribute values for attributes in the policy if they are contained in the request or retrievable from the nearby source. References to further attributes retrievable from a remote source only are cached together with intermediate results. All attribute values from a given remote source are retrieved on one occasion, and the intermediate results are used to terminate the evaluation.
US09401926B1
The present invention provides a system and method designed to continually monitor and evaluate an IT system. More specifically, the present invention teaches a system and method which continually monitors and evaluates the software, networks and devices of an IT system while providing reports and analysis for identified risks. Further, the present invention teaches a system and method which provides analysis and reports regarding the value and costs of identified risks.
US09401913B2
A device may include an authentication server and a server. The authentication server may receive a first form of a password from a client device in accordance with an authentication protocol, and authenticate the client device based on a comparison of the first form to a value derived from a second form of the password stored in a password database, where the comparison fails when the first form is not comparable to a value derived from the second form. The server may establish a secure connection to the client, receive a plain-text password from the client device over the secure connection, authenticate the client device by comparing a value derived from the plain-text password with a value derived from the second form, and update the password database with a third form of the password that permits the authentication server to successfully authenticate the client device when the authentication server receives the first form.
US09401904B1
In various implementations, local identifiers associated with users may be utilized to enable access one or more functions in a Business Intelligence (BI) Environment. A mapping may be generated to associate local identifiers and users. The mapping may be utilized to enable access in the BI environment by retrieving the local identifier from a mapping and enabling access in the BI environment based on the local identifier. In various implementations, a user may access the system as another user.
US09401902B2
A method for exchanging strong encryption keys between devices using alternate input methods. At least two devices that want to communicate with one another are set in key exchange mode. The at least two devices are to communicate with one another using a short range radio or personal area network. The at least two devices negotiate with one another to determine which of the at least two devices will generate an encryption key, wherein device A represents the negotiated device and device B represents the non-negotiated device. Device A generates the encryption key and transmits the encryption key to device B using an out-of band transmission channel. The out-of-band transmission channel may be transmitting the encryption key via audio tones. A validation process determines whether the transmission of the encryption key via the out-of-band transmission channel was successful. If the encryption key has been successfully validated, the at least two devices are enabled to automatically accept communications between them over the short range radio or personal area network.
US09401901B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, are provided for wireless networking. In some implementations, a self-configuring wireless system includes at least one wireless network device; and an access point device; wherein the access point device and the at least one wireless network device are preconfigured with a common key so as to enable the access point device to establish a secure wireless network with the at least one network device using the common key upon powering up the access point device and the at least one wireless network device at a user site.
US09401900B2
An e-mail system is disclosed that overcomes many deficiencies of, but is backward compatible with, existing e-mail systems. An exemplary method for communicating e-mail messages comprises receiving, at a server system, an original e-mail message associated with a unique message ID that is assigned by the server system. The method further comprises storing a distribution list associated with the unique message ID and a thread participation status indicator for each of the one or more recipients, and, in response to an opt-out request received from one of the recipients, updating the distribution list to thereby produce a modified distribution list that does not include the requesting recipient. The method further comprises receiving a reply e-mail message in the same thread, and sending the reply e-mail message based on the modified distribution list such that the reply e-mail message is not sent to the requesting recipient.
US09401892B2
In a method for addressing messages in a computer network in which two different types of address are used, wherein at least one first network element (4, 5, 6, 7, 8) uses exclusively a first type of address, at least one second network element (14, 15, 16, 17, 18) uses exclusively a second type of address and at least one third network element (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14) uses both types of address, at least one third network element (9) is a communication terminal which, besides its function as a communication terminal, also performs a function as an address converter for messages for which said communication terminal is neither the original sender nor an ultimate recipient.
US09401889B2
Systems, apparatus and methods described herein are configured to dynamically assign network parameters based on a location (e.g., port) of a network parameter associated with a requesting device. In some embodiments, the systems, apparatus and methods described herein are further configured to facilitate network parameter assignment by an external network parameter assignment server based on the location (e.g., port) where a network parameter of requesting device is coupled.
US09401883B2
Email tags are described. In embodiments, email messages are received for distribution to client devices that correspond to respective recipients of the email messages. Email routing decisions are applied to route an email message to an email folder for a recipient of the email message, where the email folder may include an email inbox, a junk folder, or a user-created folder. The email message is then tagged with an email tag to generate a tagged email message. The email tag includes a routing description that indicates why the email message was routed to the particular email folder.
US09401882B2
Historical content corresponding to activity of a user in at least one social networking service is aggregated. The historical content indicates a plurality of collaboration partners with whom the user collaborated via the at least one social networking service in an occupation context. Based on the aggregated historical content, at least one of the collaboration partners can be identified as at least one priority collaboration partner. Whether the user currently is not in a facility where the user works can be automatically determined. Responsive to determining that the user is not in the facility where the user works, a message indicating that the user is not in the facility where the user works can be automatically sent to the at least one priority collaboration partner.
US09401874B2
Access point functionality of a network device may be disabled, resulting in a coverage hole in a communication network and affecting performance of a client device. Various techniques can be implemented for detecting and minimizing coverage holes. In one embodiment, the network device can selectively establish a communication link with the client device depending on whether the client device is in a coverage hole and depending on whether the client device can detect another access point in the communication network. In some embodiments, the client device can determine that it is in a coverage hole in response to detecting a reserved SSID and can accordingly notify a central coordinator of the communication network. In some embodiments, the central coordinator can identify the network device (with disabled access point functionality) that can eliminate the coverage hole and can cause the network device to enable its access point functionality.
US09401869B1
Systems and methods for mapping applications onto system resource of a computing platform are discussed. The computing platform may receive, using control circuitry, a request to run a plurality of applications on a computing platform having a plurality of system resources. The computing platform may determine a plurality of mapping configurations for the plurality of applications onto the plurality of system resources. The computing platform may execute the plurality of applications with each of the plurality of mapping configurations. The computing platform may determine at least one performance metric based on the executed plurality of applications for each of the plurality of mapping configurations. The computing platform may select a selected mapping configuration among the plurality of mapping configurations based on at least one determined performance metric.
US09401867B2
Example embodiments provide methods of handling transmission of data to a mobile device through multiple channels. One example embodiment includes receiving carrier capacity values from each of a plurality of carrier controllers providing communication for a mobile device over corresponding channels, the carrier capacity values being an estimate of the number of bytes that the carrier controller can send to the mobile device on time; receiving data for the mobile device; and sending the data to the plurality of carrier controllers, the amount of the data sent to each of the carrier controllers being based on the carrier capacity value received from each of the plurality of carrier controllers.
US09401864B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for forwarding named packets. During operation, the system receives a named packet with an express header. The named packet includes a payload and a name which identifies the payload. The express header includes a content identifier, a global forwarding identifier, and a local forwarding identifier. The content identifier uniquely represents an interest corresponding to the name. The global forwarding identifier includes forwarding information to facilitate global forwarding. The local forwarding identifier includes forwarding information to facilitate local forwarding. The system then makes a forwarding decision for the packet based on the content identifier, the global forwarding identifier, and optionally the local forwarding identifier.
US09401857B2
Embodiments relate to creating a coherent load or congestion map that displays the simultaneous activity of all queues of physical and virtual switches and adapters in a network without forcing clock synchronization. An aspect includes sampling, by a central processing device, a status of all queues in a plurality of elements in a network. The sampled data flows are received from the plurality of elements in the network and an image is created of the network. The image includes the status of all sampled queues in the plurality of elements at a point in time. Accordingly, a load map is created without synchronizing clocks of the plurality of elements. The load map is assembled using segments of the image of the network.
US09401855B2
Example methods and apparatus to deliver media content across foreign networks are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a request from a subscriber of a media provider, the media provider associated with a native network and identifying a foreign network associated with a current location of the subscriber. The example method also includes identifying at least one quality of service (QoS) parameter associated with the foreign network, comparing the at least one foreign network QoS parameter with a first threshold value, and at least one of prohibiting a service delivered by the media provider when the at least one foreign network QoS parameter fails to meet the first threshold value, or enabling the service when the at least one foreign network QoS parameter meets the first threshold value.
US09401851B2
A system may be configured to store a set of service-level agreements (“SLAs”) associated with a subscriber. The system may receive key performance indicator (“KPI”) information for traffic that traverses one or more nodes of a network; forecast, based on the SLA information and the KPI information, a violation of the particular SLA; take corrective action, based on the forecasting; and output, to the subscriber, derived information based on the KPI information. The derived information may be outputted after taking the corrective action, and may indicate that the particular SLA was not violated. The derived information may be outputted at a slower rate than a rate at which the KPI information is received by the system.
US09401849B2
A network management apparatus is configured to manage a network apparatuses and to store the work information and an augmented reality presenting apparatus. A tag is added to the network apparatuses and each of the network cables, and each of the tags is provided with a visible object that conforms to the tag information that includes an ID of a target to which the tag has been added. The network management apparatus transmits the guide information that includes the information that indicates the contents of a work for the work target based on the tag information of the work target or the tag shot image of the work target and the work information to the augmented reality presenting apparatus. The augmented reality presenting apparatus associates a guide that is based on the guide information with an input image from the shooting device, and displays the guide and the input image.
US09401843B2
A method and apparatus for controlling one or more aspects of reverse link communications is based on determining reverse link load softness. Such control may be implemented in the network, such as in a base station controller. Control may be sector based, wherein the softness is determined on a per sector basis and one or more aspects of the reverse link communications are adjusted, or otherwise controlled, for each sector as a function of the softness determined for the sector. In at least one embodiment, a base station controller (or equivalently, a radio network controller) is configured to evaluate the softness of reverse link loads for the sectors under its control. In one embodiment, the base station controller makes softness-based control adjustment(s), while in other embodiments, the base station controller transmits softness information and one or more mobile stations make softness-based control adjustments.
US09401820B2
The present invention relates to a mobile communication system, and more particularly relates to a method for transmitting a small-sized control signal (also known as “small data”) using a control plane in a MTC (machine-type communication) service in a mobile communication system. In the present invention, MTC data is encapsulated in an existing control procedure or control message or the like, on a control signal, without performing packet data bearer setup, and the control signal having the encapsulated MTC data is sent between a network and a terminal, thereby optimizing network resource efficiency and reducing the wireless channel load.
US09401815B2
The disclosed subject matter provides a method for installing and controlling a plurality of electrical devices such as lighting, air-conditioning, heating, and access control. The control may be from a plurality of sensors, so that one or more device can be controlled according to a sensor. Sensor types include dimmers, occupancy sensors, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, daylight sensors, On/Off touch sensors, other sensor types, or a combination of sensors.
US09401814B2
In a monitoring system, a master device that is connected to a fixed telephone network so as to perform calls to other fixed telephones sets a power supply device to an operation mode in a case where a mobile phone terminal is located within a wireless communication range of the master device, and sets the power supply device to an operation stop mode in a case where the mobile phone terminal is not located within the wireless communication range of the master device. A power supply device is connected to an electric apparatus disposed in a house, supplies power to the electric apparatus in a case where the operation mode is set by the master device, and does not supply power to the electric apparatus in a case where the operation stop mode is set by the master device.
US09401811B2
An attribute-based digital signature system is disclosed. A first signature generating unit (1) is used for generating a first signature (10) for a document (11), based on a first signature key (12) and the document (11). A re-signing unit (2) is used for generating a second signature (13) for the document (11), based on the first signature (10) and a re-signing key (14), wherein the re-signing unit (2) is arranged for handling attributes (15, 16) associated with the first signature (10) and/or the second signature (13). The second signature (13) is associated with a second set of attributes (16,16′) determined by the re-signing key (14), wherein the second set of attributes (16) comprises a plurality of attributes. The first signature (10) is associated with a first set of attributes (15), wherein the first set of attributes (15) comprises a plurality of attributes, and the re-signing unit (2) is arranged for generating the second signature (13) only if the first set of attributes (15) satisfies a set of conditions (17, 17′).
US09401806B2
The present invention develops a wireless communication transmitting scheme which allows a desired receiver to stably receive data so that data are not tapped by a third party when a transmitter transmits data to the receiver in a wireless scheme. In particular, the third party not a desired receiver taps, a bit error probability of received data is maintained to have about 50%, so that the third party cannot substantially obtain valid data. A suggested scheme of the present invention may transmit security data in a state that a transmitter and a receiver do not have a secret key unlike an existing cryptography.
US09401801B1
A wireless communications device that produces phase-synchronized local oscillator (LO) signals. The device includes a first transceiver chain to receive a first timing signal and a second transceiver chain to receive the first timing signal and a second timing signal. The first transceiver chain includes a first frequency divider to convert the first timing signal to a first LO signal. The second transceiver chain includes a multiplexer to select one of the timing signals based at least in part on a mode select signal. A second frequency divider in the second transceiver chain converts the selected timing signal to a second LO signal, and a phase alignment circuit aligns a phase of the second LO signal with a first alignment signal. The first alignment signal is activated, for a limited duration, in response to a change in state of the mode select signal.
US09401796B2
A method, computer program and apparatus operate when resuming data transmission/reception upon activiation of a serving cell, or after a long in-device coexistence interference avoidance gap, to determine whether to report to a network access node an in-device coexistence interference indicator value and send the in-device coexistence interference indicator value to the network access node, The in-device coexistence interference indicator value is reported to the network access node for a certain period if any periodic channel quality indication resource is configured for the cell, or if an aperiodic channel quality indication for the cell is requested from the network access node.
US09401794B2
A method for acquiring control information in a wireless communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of: receiving E-PDCCH (Enhanced-Physical Downlink Control Channel) configuration information from a base station (BS); and transmitting a confirmation response for the E-PDCCH configuration information. The terminal performs blind decoding for downlink control information in a common search space on a PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel) resource region and a search space on the E-PDCCH during a predetermined period after transmitting the confirmation response.
US09401792B2
A method and apparatus for receiving and transmitting downlink control information in a wireless communication system are disclosed. The method for receiving a downlink control signal by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system includes: receiving an Enhanced Physical Downlink Control Channel (EPDCCH) from a downlink serving base station (BS); and monitoring a plurality of EPDCCH candidates in an EPDCCH set contained in the received EPDCCH, wherein a minimum aggregation level (AL) of the EPDCCH candidates is associated with a downlink (DL) bandwidth of the wireless communication system and downlink control information (DCI) format.
US09401790B2
A method for transmitting an uplink signal at a UE in a wireless communication system includes, when a virtual cell ID for a reference signal for demodulation of a physical uplink channel is provided, generating a sequence of the reference signal on the basis of the virtual cell ID, and transmitting the generated reference signal to an eNB. A sequence hopping pattern of the reference signal can be determined on the basis of the virtual cell ID.
US09401785B2
Disclosed are a coordinated set selecting method and device, which are applicable to a wireless communication system. The coordinated set selecting method comprises the following steps: determining a transmission manner adopted by a wireless communication system, the transmission manner being joint processing or coordinated scheduling/beamforming; and, directed to the transmission manner adopted by the wireless communication system, selecting a coordinated set according to a coordinated set selecting mechanism adapting to the transmission manner. According to the technical solution of the present invention, by considering transmission characteristics of different transmission manners, a reasonable coordinated set is selected to perform coordinated multi-point transmission.
US09401783B1
Methods and systems are described for determining and transmitting at least one orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol that may comprise data associated with multiple nodes such as a first node and a second node. Each OFDM symbol may be determined using weights, time-frequency channels, and/or tones that are determined based at least in part on transmissions from the first node and the second node.
US09401781B2
In accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the invention there is at least a method, computer program, and apparatus for operating a receiver using at least four carriers to receive transport blocks from a transmitter, to compose a first codeword to acknowledge at least one of a reception and a lack of reception of individual transport blocks in a first part of the at least four carriers, to compose a second codeword to acknowledge at least one of a reception and a lack of reception of individual transport blocks in a second part of the at least four carriers, and to transmit the first codeword and the second codeword to the transmitter during one slot.
US09401773B1
Techniques for designing compact free-space optical device with all input/output ports on one side are disclosed. Instead of folding a fiber, a beam folding means is provided to turn a light beam to significantly reduce the size of the device. In one embodiment, there are a first collimator, a second collimator, and a beam folding means to turn a light beam from the first collimator back to the second collimator by two turns so that a first light path from the first collimator to the beam folding means and a second light path from the second collimator to the beam folding means are parallel. A substrate is provided to which the first and second collimators and filters are boned thereto.
US09401770B1
An apparatus comprising a switch, a balun and a splitter. The switch may be configured to provide (i) a first signal on a first path when a power signal is not present and (ii) a second signal on a second path when the power signal is present. The first path activates only the first signal. The second path activates only the second signal. The balun circuit may be configured to convert the second signal to a differential signal. The splitter circuit may be configured to generate a plurality of differential output signals in response to the differential signal.
US09401767B2
An optically powered media conversion device for performing optical to electrical conversion is disclosed. The conversion device includes at least one optical coupler for receiving at least one optical signal comprising at least one wavelength, wherein the at least one optical coupler extracts energy from the at least one optical signal, and at least one detector for extracting data from the at least one optical signal and converting the optical signal to an electrical signal using a photovoltaic process. The conversion device further includes a transmitter for converting an electrical signal to an optical signal and transmitting the optical signal to a first device.
US09401762B2
Configurations and processes for detecting a location at which noise is being generated in a network are disclosed. A device for identifying a location in a network at which noise is being generated may include: an acquiring unit for acquiring amplitude fluctuations in signals transmitted from a first device via a second device in the network; and a detecting unit for detecting a noise-generating device that is transmitting signals containing noise on the basis of the amplitude fluctuations acquired by the acquiring unit.
US09401758B2
An exemplary method is implemented by an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) for providing voice communications to an air traffic control (ATC) station. Two-way first voice communications are supported with a human operator at a control station that is in control of the UAV over a digital radio frequency (RF) link. Two-way second voice communications are supported with a controller at the ATC station over an analog RF link. The first and second voice communications are coupled to each other so that two-way voice communications are provided between the human operator and the controller. A determination is made that the first communications with the human operator is not operative. Based on this determination, autonomous voice announcements of flight parameters of the UAV are generated, and transmitted via the analog radio frequency link to the ATC station.
US09401749B2
A wireless terminal is capable of receiving a pilot signal from a base station; and determining a precoding matrix as a linear combination of two matrices V1 and V2 based on the received pilot signal. In one implementation, the two matrices V1 and V2 are sub-matrices of a matrix U of a codebook, the linear combination is u:=(V1+αV2)/√{square root over (1+|α|2)} and α is one of a real-valued number and a complex-valued number. The wireless terminal is also capable of transmitting a representation of at least a portion of the precoding matrix to the base station.
US09401742B2
Methods and apparatus for wireless communications are described. A method of wireless communications includes determining an energy for a first signal received at a first finger of a rake receiver after a reference signal is received at a second finger of the rake receiver, determining an energy for a second signal received at a third finger of a rake receiver before the reference signal is received at the second finger of the rake receiver, and selecting the first signal as a new reference signal when the energy of the first signal exceeds the energy of the second signal by a predefined threshold amount. In another aspect, a method includes assigning a signal received at a rake receiver to a finger of the rake receiver, and deassigning the finger if the signal has an energy level below a preselected lock threshold energy for a predefined time.
US09401740B2
A method of a transmitter, includes multiplying a data sequence by a first code, and multiplying a training sequence by a second code that is orthogonal to the first code. The method further includes adding the multiplied data and training sequences, and transmitting, to a receiver, the added data and training sequences.
US09401734B2
In a wireless communication system, transmitters that transmit data, receivers that receive data, and repeaters that relay data communicate with one another in a wireless manner. The transmitter wirelessly communicates with the receiver by using first slave-device identification information for performing communication as a slave device of the receiver. The receiver wirelessly communicates with the transmitter by using first master-device identification information for performing communication as a master device of the transmitter, and wirelessly communicates with the repeater by using second slave-device identification information for performing communication as a slave device of the repeater. The repeater wirelessly communicates with the receiver by using second master-device identification information for performing communication as a master device of the receiver.
US09401730B2
A two way radio includes a first push to talk button and a second push to talk button. The first push to talk button is configured to cause transmission of a first signal on a first channel. The second push to talk button is configured to cause transmission of a second signal on a second channel. The first and second channels are in a single radio network. A radio peripheral device for operation with a two-way radio includes a connector configured to be connected to the two-way radio; a speaker configured to output audio based on a received audio signal that is received from the two-way radio via the connector; a microphone; a first push-to-talk button configured to provide a first indication to the two-way radio; and a second push-to-talk button configured to provide a second indication to the two-way radio.
US09401729B2
Methods and systems for encoding a frame utilizing at least two line-codes having different minimal Hamming distances. The method includes maintaining over the frame absolute value of running disparity lower than or equal to K, while: encoding a first part of the frame utilizing a first line-code having a binary code word length N′ and a minimal Hamming distance D′; and encoding a second part of the frame utilizing a second line-code having a binary code word length N″ and a minimal Hamming distance D″ lower than D′. Where the value of K is lower than both N′/2 and N″/2.
US09401725B2
A circuit arrangement is provided for suppressing offset, offset drift, and 1/f noise during analog/digital conversion. The arrangement includes an analog/digital converter configured to convert an analog input signal into output data, an inverter configured to invert the input signal, a switching element connected upstream of the analog/digital converter and downstream of the inverter and configured to periodically change over between the input signal and the inverted input signal at a predefinable switching frequency, and a switchable negator circuit connected downstream of the analog/digital converter and configured to periodically negate the output data from the analog/digital converter at the switching frequency, the output data being negated when the inverted input signal is applied to the analog/digital converter. An analog/digital converter is also provided with suppression of offset, offset drift, and 1/f noise during analog/digital conversion. A gradient amplifier having a circuit arrangement or an analog/digital converter is also provided.
US09401722B2
A phase-locked loop (PLL) includes a state machine programmed to automatically produce a set of control signals to select a charge-pump current and integrating capacitance value to automatically adjust a loop bandwidth of the PLL. A charge-pump DAC generates a charge-pump current of magnitude controlled by the state machine control signals. An integrator integrates the charge-pump output current to produce an integrated charge-pump output signal. The integrator has a plurality of capacitors switchably selected by control signals from the state machine to produce an integrating capacitance value. A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) produces a PLL output frequency in response to the integrated charge-pump output signal.
US09401710B2
An active diode that features improved control of transistor turn-off is provided. Such an active diode may include a comparator to compare voltages between opposite ends of a parasitic diode, and a gate driver to control a gate terminal of the transistor according to the comparison result of the comparator. Furthermore, the active diode may further include an off-timing controller to control the transistor to be turned off at a point in time when voltages of the opposite ends of the parasitic diode turn positive. Thus, the active diode may be turned off when required.
US09401707B1
A push-pull driver is provided with a differential amplifier that amplifies a difference between an input voltage and an output voltage to drive a bias node coupled to a diode-connected bias transistor. The push-pull driver is configured to control the drain-to-source voltage for a source-follower output transistor having its gate tied to a gate for the diode-connected bias transistor to be proportional to the drain-to-source voltage for the diode-connected bias transistor. This proportionality prevents excessive static current variation that would otherwise be present in the source-follower output transistor.
US09401703B1
A relaxation oscillator system has a relaxation oscillator and a frequency control (FC) unit. The oscillator includes first and second oscillator sub-circuits and a latch. The first and second oscillator sub-circuits receive from the FC unit, respectively, first and second control signals for controlling corresponding outputs provided to the latch by the first and second oscillator sub-circuits. The latch outputs a variable frequency feedback signal provided to the FC unit. The FC unit receives a frequency control signal for controlling the frequency of an oscillator output signal and generates the first and second control inputs based on the frequency control signal and the feedback signal so that changes to the oscillator frequency are implemented by each oscillator sub-circuit while that sub-circuit is in an idle state to avoid glitches in the oscillator output signal.
US09401699B2
A phase locked loop includes a voltage-controlled oscillator and a current mirror circuit that supplies a drive current to the voltage-controlled oscillator. The current mirror circuit includes a filter between a bias current generator and current mirror transistor. The filter includes a first and a second switch driven in unison with a small duty cycle.
US09401695B2
An immittance conversion circuit includes a first terminal and a second terminal, and includes: a conversion target circuit configured to amplify or attenuate a signal with desired frequency and gain characteristics, and output the resultant signal; a difference signal detection circuit configured to supply the input terminal of the conversion target circuit with a signal of a difference between signals generated at the first and second terminals; an immittance conversion drive circuit configured to perform differential output processing to generate a voltage of a difference between a correction voltage and the signal outputted from the conversion target circuit, and output feedback signals to an immittance conversion generation circuit; and the immittance conversion generation circuit having an immittance conversion generation action to generate, at each of the first and second terminals, a signal of currents or voltages of the corresponding inputted feedback signal and the signal inputted to the first or second terminal. A signal of a difference between the signals generated at the first and second terminals is inputted to the immittance conversion drive circuit as the correction voltage.
US09401691B2
A bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator device includes a substrate defining a cavity, a bottom electrode formed over the substrate and at least a portion of the cavity, a piezoelectric layer formed on the bottom electrode, and a top electrode formed on the piezoelectric layer. An air-wing and an air-bridge are formed between the piezoelectric layer and the top electrode, the air-wing having an inner edge that defines an outer boundary of an active region of the BAW resonator device. The BAW resonator device further includes a temperature compensation feature having positive temperature coefficient for offsetting at least a portion of a negative temperature coefficient of the piezoelectric layer. The temperature compensation feature extends outside the active region by a predetermined length.
US09401686B2
A volume control assembly includes a housing that may be positioned proximate an external electronic device. A processor is coupled to the housing. A loud actuator is coupled to the housing and the processor. The loud actuator determines a maximum volume of an audio signal. A quiet actuator is coupled to the housing and the processor. The quiet actuator determines a minimum volume of the audio signal. An amplifier is coupled to the housing and the processor. The amplifier amplifies the audio signal above the minimum volume and below the maximum volume. An input is coupled to the housing, the processor and the external electronic device. The input receives the audio signal from the external electronic device. An output is coupled to the housing, the processor and the external electronic device. The audio signal is directed to the external electronic device between the minimum and maximum volume.
US09401684B2
The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for synthesizing sounds using estimated material parameters. According to one aspect, a method for sound synthesis using estimated material parameters is provided. The method includes at a computing platform including a memory and a processor, estimating, by the processor and based on a recorded audio sample of an impact on a physical object, one or more material parameters of a physical object for use in synthesizing a sound associated with a virtual object having material properties similar to the physical object. The method further includes storing the one or more material parameters in memory. The method further includes using the estimated material parameters to generate a synthesize sound for the virtual object.
US09401679B1
A compensation capacitor can be added to an amplifier for stability. Disclosed are systems and methods for improving the power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) performance of an amplifier in the presence of one or more compensation capacitors.
US09401676B2
A solar collector assembly includes a photovoltaic panel having first and second sides, a frame, and a first gas-filled chamber on the first side of the photovoltaic panel. The first gas-filled chamber is at least partially defined by a portion of the frame and by a portion of the first side of the photovoltaic panel. A gas functions as a heat exchange fluid and collects heat from solar energy and/or heat generated by the photovoltaic panel. The photovoltaic panel accumulates and converts solar energy to electrical energy. The solar collector assembly may include a second gas-filled chamber provided on the second side of the photovoltaic panel. The second gas-filled chamber is at least partially defined by a portion of the frame and by a portion of the second side of the photovoltaic panel. Solar collector systems and methods of generating electrical energy and/or thermal energy are also described.
US09401663B2
A power converter circuit includes a synchronization circuit configured to generate at least one synchronization signal. A series circuit includes a number of converter units configured to output an overall output current. At least one of the converter units generates an output current such that at least one of a frequency and a phase of the generated output current is dependent on the synchronization signal.
US09401659B2
A high voltage analog switch can be used in medical ultrasound applications. The high voltage analog switch can pass high voltage transducer excitation signals without necessarily having any high voltage power supplies. The high voltage analog switch can include three output switches, with one of the output switches having a clamp circuit for ensuring that transistors of an output switch on an input end of the high voltage analog switch remain OFF when the high voltage analog switch is OFF.
US09401658B2
A power supply apparatus includes a power source, power converters and an output connector. The power converters are configured for converting an input power from the power source into conversion powers. The output connector is configured for receiving the conversion powers from the power converters and outputting a parallel output power, a serial output power or separate output powers corresponding to the conversion powers from the power converters. A method of generating power by a power supply apparatus is also disclosed herein.
US09401647B2
A switching mode power supply, having: a power switch; an energy storage component coupled to the power switch; a current sense resistor configured to generate a current sense signal; a mode select resistor configured to generate a mode select resistor; a ZCD (Zero Cross Detecting) circuit configured to generate a ZCD signal; and a control circuit configured to provide a switch control signal to control the on and off of the power switch, the control circuit having a multi-function pin configured to receive the mode select signal, the current sense signal and the ZCD signal.
US09401639B2
A system and method capable of injection locking the phases of a peak-valley multiphase regulator includes comparing an output voltage error signal with a ramp control signal and providing a corresponding slope reset signal, using transitions of the slope reset signal to develop a equally spaced high side ramp signals and equally spaced low side ramp signals, and injecting a corresponding one of the high side signals and a corresponding one of the low side ramp signals into each of the phases which correspondingly develop equally spaced pulse control signals for multiphase operation. Such injection locking allows the additional phases to operate out of phase with the first phase and allows operation at high duty cycles.
US09401636B2
A multi-function power regulator for prioritizing functions and allocating resources thereof, the multi-function regulator including a plurality of resources each having a resource capacity limit. The multi-function regulator also includes a shunt converter is configured to perform one or more shunt converter functions while consuming one or more of the resources, a series converter is configured to perform one or more series converter functions while consuming one or more of the resources. A control engine coupled to the shunt converter, the series converter, and a plurality of sensors, the control engine is configured to monitor and control the one or more shunt converter functions and the one or more series converter functions. The multi-function regulator also includes a priority control engine coupled to the control engine, the priority control engine is configured to set a priority order for performing the one or more shunt converter functions and/or the one or more series converter functions and configured to determine whether one or more resource capacity limits has been exceeded or not exceeded by the shunt converter functions and/or the series converter function and in response to one or more exceeded resource capacity limits adjust the operation of the shunt converter functions and/or the series converter based on the priority order such that the one or more resource capacity limits exceeded is no longer exceeded.
US09401624B2
A charging system 100 includes an electronic equipment 1 and a charging device 2. The charging device 2 includes a control unit 22 that controls a magnetic field generated from a variable magnetic field generating unit 25 which generates a variable magnetic field, and the control unit 22 controls a strength of the magnetic field generated from the variable magnetic field generating unit 25, in accordance with a remaining capacity or an available charging free capacity in a battery 11 of the electronic equipment 1 receiving a power transmitted from a feed circuit 21.
US09401622B2
Systems and methods for converting voltages between different voltage levels in a receiver are disclosed. In an aspect, a wireless power receiver apparatus for charging a chargeable device is provided. The wireless power receiver apparatus for charging a chargeable device can include a receive antenna configured to wirelessly receive power at a level sufficient for charging the chargeable device. The wireless power receiver apparatus can also include converter circuitry. The converter circuitry can be coupled to the receive antenna. The converter circuitry can be configured to receive an input voltage derived from the wirelessly received power. The converter circuitry can also be configured to produce an output voltage that is scaled to a value relative to the input voltage based on a relationship between the input voltage and a first voltage level threshold.
US09401621B2
A wireless charging system may auto-position an electronic device for charging. A docking station may include a transmission source providing wireless charging to the electronic device when the device is moved into charging range by motion elements configured to move the electronic device along one or more docking surfaces of the docking station. In some embodiments, position sensors may detect the presence and location of the electronic device. A control unit may operate the motion elements to move the electronic device toward the charging area.
US09401620B2
A charging battery unit includes a receiving unit and a battery. The receiving unit includes a fixing member and a coil fixed on the fixing member. The coil receives external electromagnetic signals to generate induction currents. The battery is electrically connected to the coil and receives the induction currents generated by the coil. The present disclosure also relates an electronic device with the charging battery unit.
US09401600B2
The present invention provides an overvoltage protection circuit, an overvoltage protection method and a panel driving circuit, wherein, the overvoltage protection circuit adjusts drive output voltage of LED strings coupled with a main IC and a secondary IC and includes a main IC overvoltage triggering circuit and a secondary IC overvoltage triggering circuit, wherein, the main IC overvoltage triggering circuit connected respectively in series with said main IC and several LED strings, said secondary IC overvoltage triggering circuit connected respectively in series with the secondary IC and several LED strings, overvoltage protection triggering points are set respectively in the main IC and the secondary IC, and the voltage value of the overvoltage protection's triggering point of the secondary IC is less than that of the main IC.
US09401598B2
The invention relates to a control unit for a motor vehicle. Said control unit comprises a voltage converter which has an inlet for a direct voltage network. Said voltage converter is designed to generate a direct voltage smaller than an input voltage on the inlet for the direct voltage network and the direct voltage is emitted on the outlet side. According to the invention, the voltage converter comprises an inverter and a transformer which is connected to said inverter. Said voltage converter also comprises an inlet for a discharge signal and is designed to discharge by means of the inverter an intermediate circuit capacitor which is connected to the inlet of the direct voltage network in accordance with the discharge signal, and to reduce a working frequency of the inverter, in particular, compared to the frequency with no discharge signal.
US09401589B2
A cable bend limiter provides one or more joints including alternating sleeves and outer ball sections enclosing inner ball sections. Friction is controlled by washers at, or low friction surface treatments on, either side of the outer ball sections.
US09401585B2
A corona ignition device for igniting fuel in an internal combustion engine by means of a corona discharge. The corona ignition device comprises a central electrode, an insulator into which the central electrode is plugged, a housing into which the insulator is plugged, a coil body onto which a coil from a winding wire is wound, which coil is connected to the central electrode, and a contact element that is located in a recess of the coil body and contacts the wire. It is provided that the contact element has a slot that runs in the longitudinal direction of the coil body, and the coil body has an opening in a side wall of the recess, wherein the wire is fed through the opening in the side wall of the recess and is held in the slot of the contact element.
US09401577B2
An RJ-45 insertion and extraction tool is disclosed that allows a user to plug and unplug an RJ-45 connector from an RJ-45 socket in a quick and easy way that does not disturb other cables plugged into adjacent sockets.
US09401563B2
A cable header connector includes a contact module having a support body and a plurality of cable assemblies held by the support body and arranged in a column. The cable assemblies each have a contact terminated to a cable and a ground shield coupled to and providing electrical shielding for the contact sub-assembly. The support body has contact channels extending along respective contact channel axes which are parallel to each other, and at least one cable channel intersecting the contact channels. The cables extend through the contact channels and through the at least one cable channel to an outside of the support body. The cables emerging from the support body at corresponding cable exits at respective angles to the contact channel axes.
US09401561B2
An exemplary header insert assembly, and methods of manufacture and use thereof. In one embodiment, the header insert assembly comprises a connector insert assembly having an insert body assembly consisting of an insert body element. The insert body element includes an electronic component receiving cavity that is configured to receive any number of electronic components. The insert body assembly also includes a wire termination feature that includes termination slots that position the wire ends of the wire wound electronic components adjacent to a substrate to which the wire ends are ultimately to be secured. The wire ends are then secured to the substrate using, for example, a mass termination technique. The aforementioned header insert assembly can then be optionally inserted into a single or multi-port connector assembly. Methods of manufacturing the aforementioned single or multi-port connector assemblies are also disclosed.
US09401548B2
A crimp terminal includes a bottom portion. A pair of conductor press-fastening portions respectively extend from opposite side edges of the bottom portion. A serration is formed in a face of the bottom portion on which a conductor of a wire is to be placed. The serration extends in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the placed conductor. A direction indication mark portion is provided on the face of the bottom portion. The direction indication mark portion is indicative of a direction perpendicular to an extending direction of the serration.
US09401543B2
A broadband antenna for a wireless communication device includes a grounding unit for grounding; a first radiating element; a second radiating element electrically connected to the grounding unit; a signal feed-in element for transmitting a radio signal to the first radiating element in order to emit the radio signal via the first radiating element; and a passive component comprising an inductor, where the passive component is electrically connected between the first and the second radiating elements to work in conjunction with the first radiating element, the second radiating element and the grounding unit to form a loop antenna effect.
US09401531B2
A high-frequency signal transmission line includes a dielectric body including a plurality of dielectric sheets. A signal line is provided in the dielectric body. A connector is mounted on a first main surface of the dielectric body and electrically connected to the signal line. A ground conductor is provided on a second main surface side of the dielectric body, compared with the signal line, and faces the signal line across the dielectric sheet. In the ground conductor, conductor-missing portions are provided in which no conductors are provided in at least portions of regions overlapping with the signal line in planar in connection portions. Adjustment conductors are provided in the second main surface of the dielectric body, and overlap with at least portions of the conductor-missing portions in the planar view.
US09401530B2
Disclosed herein is a storage battery recycling apparatus in which a pulse current is applied to polar plates or electrodes of a storage battery functioning as a secondary cell through the SCR phase control so as to remove sulfate formed in a film or membrane on the electrodes of the storage battery, thereby recovering the performance of the storage battery in a deteriorated state. The inventive storage battery recycling apparatus includes: a transformer unit 200 for transforming a commercial AC power voltage supplied thereto from an external power source through a power input unit 100; an SCR driving unit 400 for converting the AC power voltage transformed by the transformer unit 200 into a voltage having a pulse waveform through the SCR phase control; an output terminal 500 adapted to be in close contact with the electrodes of the storage battery for supplying the converted pulse voltage outputted from the SCR driving unit 400 to the electrodes of the storage battery so as to charge the storage battery; an SCR controller 300 for controlling the operation of the SCR driving unit 400; a setting unit 600 and a display unit 650 for setting and displaying the operational environment of the storage battery recycling apparatus; a voltage detecting unit 900 and a current detecting unit 950 for detecting the voltage and current of the storage battery; and a microcomputer 700 for controlling the operation of each of the constituent elements.
US09401516B2
A fuel cell that includes a membrane electrode assembly having an electrolyte, an anode catalyst, and a cathode catalyst; and a plurality of frame-gaskets is provided. Each of the frame-gaskets may be disposed between an anode-side separator and the membrane electrode assembly or between a cathode-side separator and the membrane electrode assembly. Additionally, the membrane electrode assembly is provided with an aperture which is used to combine the membrane electrode assembly with the frame-gasket assembly.
US09401513B2
Titanium suboxide (TixO2x-1) nanoparticles useful as a support for a catalyst electrode of a fuel cell, and a method for synthesizing the titanium suboxide (TixO2x-1) nanoparticles by using TiO2, a Co catalyst and hydrogen gas at a low temperature ranging from 600 to 900° C. are described Since the titanium suboxide nanoparticles show high corrosion resistance to acid and durability and have excellent thermal and electric conductivities, a catalyst electrode manufactured by using the same as a support exhibits improved catalytic activity and oxidation reduction (redox) properties.
US09401507B2
Methods for producing lithium iron phosphate or lithium manganese phosphate or lithium iron manganese phosphate, by colloidal synthesis are provided. Such methods include the operation of reacting a lithium salt, an iron(II) halide (and/or a manganese(II) halide) and a phosphorus compound, which, under the reaction conditions, is capable of releasing the phosphate ion, in the presence of an organic surfactant or a mixture of organic surfactants including an alkylamine or alkenylamine, in which the surfactant or mixture of surfactants is capable of dissolving the lithium salt and the iron halide (and/or the manganese halide), where used, in an organic solvent, which is liquid at room temperature, in which the surfactant or mixture of surfactants is soluble, the reaction being performed at a temperature not lower than 250° C.
US09401503B2
A battery includes at least two sealing frames and at least one cell. The sealing frames include a base body defining an opening wherein the base body includes a first sealing surface embodied to be elastically compressible and positioned against opposite sides of a tapered area of the at least one cell.
US09401499B2
A secondary battery includes a jelly roll including a positive and negative electrode plates respectively having positive and negative electrode non-coating portions and at least one separator; positive and negative electrode terminals each having a contact portion, an electrode terminal and an extending portion; elastic members respectively provided between the positive and negative electrode non-coating portions and the contact portions; an outer case that accommodates the jelly roll and the terminal portions in the state that the outer case is connected to the negative electrode terminal portion; a cap plate that seals the outer case; a support portion that supports and insulates the contact portion of each of the terminal portions respectively provided at both ends of the jelly roll; and a positive lead provided in the state that the positive electrode lead is insulated from the cap plate, and electrically connected to the positive electrode terminal portion.
US09401483B2
A light-emitting element with improved heat resistance is provided without losing its advantages such as thinness, lightness, and low power consumption. A light-emitting element is provided which includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an EL layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, in which the EL layer includes a layer containing a condensed aromatic compound or a condensed heteroaromatic compound, and a layer containing 2,9-bis(naphthalen-2-yl)-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (abbreviation: NBPhen) in contact with the layer containing the condensed aromatic compound or the condensed heteroaromatic compound.
US09401480B2
The present invention relates conductive nanostructured copolymer materials, such as thin film. In particular, the nanostructured copolymer material comprises plurality of chains substantially parallel to each other, each conductive chain comprising a plurality of conductive polyacetylene polymer blocks positioned along the chain and a plurality of polar poly(vinyl alcohol) polymer blocks in between the polyacetylene polymer blocks to form a pattern of alternatively repeating polyacetylene polymer blocks and poly(vinyl alcohol) polymer blocks and a ratio of polyacetylene polymer to poly(vinyl alcohol) polymer to provide the nanostructured copolymer material with conductivity of at least 1 S/cm. In some aspects, the invention relates to photoelectric devices comprising a nanostructured copolymer material and capable to convert light to electrical current.
US09401479B2
A method of manufacturing a display apparatus includes: joining a first thin-film glass substrate onto a first carrier substrate; providing a touch pattern unit on a surface of the first thin-film glass substrate, which is opposite to a surface facing the first carrier substrate; separating the first thin-film glass substrate from the first carrier substrate; turning over the first thin-film glass substrate and joining the turned over first thin-film glass substrate onto the first carrier substrate; joining a second thin-film glass substrate onto a second carrier substrate; providing a display unit between the surface of the first thin-film glass substrate opposite to the surface on which the touch pattern unit is provided and a surface of the second thin-film glass substrate, which is opposite to a surface facing the second carrier substrate; and removing the first carrier substrate and the second carrier substrate.
US09401467B2
Provided are a light emitting device (LED) package and a lighting system including the same. The LED package comprises a package body comprising a recess in an upper portion thereof, and an LED chip provided in the recess of the package body. The LED package has a structure in which the LED chip may be buried into a recess formed on a planar surface on the upper portion of the package body such that a bottom surface of the recess lies below the planar surface. Thus, a main path through which heat generated from the LED chip is transmitted may be expanded from a bottom surface of the LED chip up to a lateral surface thereof to widen a dissipation area, thereby improving thermal emission efficiency.
US09401465B2
The present invention includes an N-type semiconductor layer, an active layer, a P-type semiconductor layer, a metal mirror layer, a protection adhesive layer and a metal buffer layer that are sequentially stacked. The protection adhesive layer is selected from a group consisting of a metal oxide and a metal nitride, fully covers one side of the metal mirror layer away from the P-type semiconductor layer, and includes a plurality of conductive holes. The metal buffer layer penetrates through the conductive holes to be electrically connected to the metal mirror layer. After forming the metal mirror layer on the P-type semiconductor layer, the protection adhesive layer that fully covers the metal mirror layer is directly formed to thoroughly protect the metal mirror layer by using the protection adhesive layer, thereby maintaining a reflection rate of the metal mirror layer and ensuring light emitting efficiency of a light emitting diode.
US09401464B2
A display apparatus having a self-luminous display panel is provided. The self-luminous display panel including: a first electrode layer; a second electrode layer; a substrate which is disposed on a light-emitting surface of the second electrode layer; a light emitting layer which is interposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, and generates light based on holes and electrons transmitted by voltages applied to the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer; and a linear grid layer which is interposed between the substrate and the second electrode layer, and including linear grids arranged at a predetermined pitch in order to polarize and filter light generated by the light emitting layer and emitted through the substrate.
US09401458B2
It is an object to provide a flexible light-emitting device with long lifetime in a simple way and to provide an inexpensive electronic device with long lifetime using the flexible light-emitting device. A flexible light-emitting device is provided, which includes a substrate having flexibility and a light-transmitting property with respect to visible light; a first adhesive layer over the substrate; an insulating film containing nitrogen and silicon over the first adhesive layer; a light-emitting element including a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, and an EL layer between the first electrode and the second electrode; a second adhesive layer over the second electrode; and a metal substrate over the second adhesive layer, wherein the thickness of the metal substrate is 10 μm to 200 μm inclusive. Further, an electronic device using the flexible light-emitting device is provided.
US09401452B2
A light emitting device includes a p-side heterostructure having a short period superlattice (SPSL) formed of alternating layers of AlxhighGa1-xhighN doped with a p-type dopant and AlxlowGa1-xlowN doped with the p-type dopant, where xlow≦xhigh≦0.9. Each layer of the SPSL has a thickness of less than or equal to about six bi-layers of AlGaN.
US09401451B2
A high efficiency configuration for a solar cell module comprises solar cells arranged in a shingled manner to form super cells, which may be arranged to efficiently use the area of the solar module, reduce series resistance, and increase module efficiency.
US09401450B2
Methods of fabricating solar cell emitter regions using ion implantation, and resulting solar cells, are described. In an example, a method of fabricating alternating N-type and P-type emitter regions of a solar cell involves forming a silicon layer above a substrate. Dopant impurity atoms of a first conductivity type are implanted, through a first shadow mask, in the silicon layer to form first implanted regions and resulting in non-implanted regions of the silicon layer. Dopant impurity atoms of a second, opposite, conductivity type are implanted, through a second shadow mask, in portions of the non-implanted regions of the silicon layer to form second implanted regions and resulting in remaining non-implanted regions of the silicon layer. The remaining non-implanted regions of the silicon layer are removed with a selective etch process, while the first and second implanted regions of the silicon layer are annealed to form doped polycrystalline silicon emitter regions.
US09401448B2
A photon detector article includes a photon detector configured to receive a primary waveform, the photon detector includes a multiplication region; a photon absorption region; a punch through voltage range; and a breakdown voltage; a source in electrical communication with the photon detector and configured to provide the primary waveform that includes a first voltage that is: less than a maximum value of the punch through voltage range, or effective to maintain a charge carrier in the absorption region; and a second voltage that is greater than the breakdown voltage; and a reference member in electrical communication with the source and configured to provide a reference waveform in response to receiving the primary waveform.
US09401445B2
An adhesive for solar battery back sheets obtainable by mixing (A) a urethane prepolymer having an isocyanate group at the end with (B) a polyol, wherein the urethane prepolymer (A) is obtainable by a reaction of a hydroxyl group-containing compound with an isocyanate compound, and the hydroxyl group-containing compound comprises a polycaprolactone polyol. Also, cured reaction products of the adhesive. Also, a solar battery back sheet and a solar cell module comprising the adhesive.
US09401443B2
Photovoltaic devices and methods for preparing a p-type semiconductor generally include electroplating a layer of gallium or a gallium alloy onto a conductive layer by contacting the conductive layer with a plating bath free of complexing agents including a gallium salt, methane sulfonic acid or sodium sulfate and an organic additive comprising at least one nitrogen atom and/or at least one sulfur atom, and a solvent; adjusting a pH of the solution to be less than 2.6 or greater than 12.6. The photovoltaic device includes an impurity in the p-type semiconductor layer selected from the group consisting of arsenic, antimony, bismuth, and mixtures thereof. Various photovoltaic precursor layers for forming CIS, CGS and CIGS p-type semiconductor structures can be formed by electroplating the gallium or gallium alloys in this manner. Also disclosed are processes for forming a thermal interface of gallium or a gallium alloy.
US09401441B2
A fabricating method of a back-illuminated image sensor includes the following steps. First, a silicon wafer having a first surface and a second surface is provided, wherein a number of trench isolations are formed in the first surface, and at least one image sensing member is formed between the trench isolations. Then, a first chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process is performed to the second surface using the trench isolations as a polishing stop layer to thin the silicon wafer. Because the polishing rate of the silicon material in the silicon wafer is different with that of the isolation material of the trench isolations in the first CMP process, at least one dishing depression is formed in the second surface of the silicon wafer. Finally, a microlens is formed above the dishing depression, and a surface of the microlens facing the dishing depression is a curved surface.
US09401438B2
A solar cell module includes a first solar cell, a second solar cell and an electrically connecting member. The first solar cell has a first connecting side having at least one first protruding portion and at least one first recess portion that are adjacent to each other. The second solar cell has a second connecting side having at least one second protruding portion and at least one second recess portion that are adjacent to each other. The shape of the first protruding portion matches the shape of the second recess portion while the shape of the first recess portion matches the shape of the second protruding portion. The electrically connecting member electrically connects the first upper electrode layer of the first solar cell and the second lower electrode layer of the second solar cell.
US09401437B2
The fabrication and characterization of large scale inverted organic solar array fabricated using all-spray process is disclosed. Solar illumination has been demonstrated to improve transparent solar photovoltaic devices. The technology using SAM has potential to revolute current silicon-based photovoltaic technology by providing a complete solution processable manufacturing process. The semi-transparent property of the solar module allows for applications on windows and windshields. The inventive modules are more efficient than silicon solar cells in artificial light environments. This significantly expands their use in indoor applications. Additionally, these modules can be integrated into soft fabric substances such as tents, military back-packs or combat uniforms, providing a highly portable renewable power supply for deployed military forces.
US09401433B1
A p-type metal oxide semiconductor material is provided, which is composed of AlxGe(1-x)Oy, wherein 0
US09401432B2
A semiconductor device of one embodiment of the present invention includes a semiconductor, an insulator, a first conductor, and a second conductor. In the semiconductor device, a top surface of the semiconductor has a region in contact with the insulator; a side surface of the semiconductor has a region in contact with the insulator; the first conductor has a first region overlapping with the semiconductor with the insulator positioned therebetween; the first region has a region in contact with the top surface of the semiconductor and a region in contact with the side surface of the semiconductor; the second conductor has a second region in contact with the semiconductor; and the first region and the second region do not overlap with each other.
US09401423B2
When forming transistors with deuterium enhanced gate dielectrics and strained channel regions, the manufacturing processes of strain-inducing dielectric material layers formed above the transistors may be employed to efficiently introduce and diffuse the deuterium to the gate dielectrics. The incorporation of deuterium into the strain-inducing dielectric material layers may be accomplished on the basis of a deposition process in which deuterium is present in the process environment during deposition. The process temperature of the deposition process may be chosen to perform—potentially in combination with further subsequently performed process steps—a sufficient diffusion of deuterium to the gate dielectrics.
US09401422B2
A trench-type DMOS device includes a substrate as a public drain region, an active region and a voltage-dividing ring formed on the substrate, and a first dielectric layer formed on the substrate. Multiple trenches are located on the first dielectric layer, and the trenches extend from the surface of the first dielectric layer into the interior of the substrate. The trenches comprise at least one first trench distributed in the active region and a second trench outside the active region. A gate oxide layer is formed in the trench and polycrystalline silicon is filled to form a gate. The active region further comprises a source electrode region and a P-type heavily doped region under the source electrode region. A second dielectric layer covers the first dielectric layer and the multiple trenches. A metal layer covers the second dielectric layer to form a first electrode region and a second electrode region.
US09401421B2
A switching device provided herewith includes first to fourth semiconductor layers and a gate electrode. The second semiconductor layer is of a first conductive type or an un-dope type and located on the first semiconductor layer. A hetero junction is formed between the first and the second semiconductor layers. The third semiconductor layer is of a second conductive type and located on the second semiconductor layer. The fourth semiconductor layer is of a second conductive type and located on the third semiconductor layer. A hetero junction is formed between the third and the fourth semiconductor layers. The gate electrode electrically connected to the fourth semiconductor layer.
US09401417B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming an epitaxial layer within a source/drain region of a semiconductor substrate, forming a fluorine-containing layer on the surface of the epitaxial layer, forming a metal gate structure within the gate region after the step of forming the fluorine-containing layer, forming an interlayer dielectric to cover the semiconductor substrate, the epitaxial layer and the metal gate structure, forming a contact hole penetrating the interlayer dielectric to expose a portion of the epitaxial layer, forming a metal silicide layer on or in the epitaxial layer on a bottom of the contact hole so that the fluorine-containing layer is disposed on the periphery of the metal silicide layer.
US09401416B2
A method includes forming at least one fin in a semiconductor substrate. A placeholder gate structure is formed above the fin. The placeholder gate structure includes a placeholder material and a cap structure defined on a top surface of the placeholder material. The cap structure includes a first cap layer disposed above the placeholder material and a second cap layer disposed above the first cap layer. An oxidization process is performed on at least a portion of the second cap layer to form an oxidized region above a remaining portion of the second cap layer. A portion of the oxidized region is removed to expose the remaining portion. The remaining portion of the second cap layer is removed. The first cap layer is removed to expose the placeholder material. The placeholder material is replaced with a conductive material.
US09401413B2
The semiconductor device has a barrier layer formed on a channel layer, an n type diffusion preventing layer formed on the barrier layer and containing aluminum, and a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the diffusion preventing layer. The semiconductor device further has a p type cap layer formed on the diffusion preventing layer sandwiched between the source electrode and the drain electrode and a gate electrode formed on the cap layer. The diffusion preventing layer has an aluminum composition ratio greater than the aluminum composition ratio of the barrier layer.
US09401411B2
In some aspects of the invention, a layer containing titanium and nickel is formed on an SiC substrate. A nickel silicide layer containing titanium carbide can be formed by heating. A carbon layer precipitated is removed by reverse sputtering. Thus, separation of an electrode of a metal layer formed on nickel silicide in a subsequent step is suppressed. The effect of preventing the separation can be further improved when the relation between the amount of precipitated carbon and the amount of carbon in titanium carbide in the surface of nickel silicide from which the carbon layer has not yet been removed satisfies a predetermined condition.
US09401404B2
A semiconductor device is disclosed comprising: a substrate having a surface comprising germanium; a layer of gallium on said surface; and a layer of gallium arsenide on the gallium covered surface. The semiconductor heterostructure of gallium arsenide on germanium is fabricated by the steps of: protecting by a shutter a surface comprising germanium in an environment having a partial pressure of arsenic less than 10−8torr; epitaxially growing a layer of gallium on the said surface immediately after exposure of said surface; and epitaxially growing a layer of gallium arsenide on the gallium covered surface.
US09401403B2
A nitride semiconductor structure of the present disclosure comprises a semiconductor substrate, and a layer formed over the semiconductor substrate and comprising plural nitride semiconductor layers. The semiconductor substrate has, from a side thereof near the layer comprising the plural nitride semiconductor layers, a surface region and an internal region in this order. The surface region has a resistivity of 0.1 Ωcm or more, and the internal region has a resistivity of 1000 Ωcm or more.
US09401388B2
A method for manufacturing a photoelectric converter includes a first step of preparing a semiconductor substrate including a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor, a second step of forming a plurality of interlayer insulating films above the semiconductor substrate, and a third step of forming a photoelectric conversion portion above the semiconductor substrate. The second step includes a step of forming a first film containing hydrogen. The third step includes a step of forming a first electrode, a step of forming a photoelectric conversion film, and a step of forming a second electrode. The method includes a step of performing heat treatment between the step of forming the first film and the step of forming the photoelectric conversion film.
US09401385B2
The inventive concepts provide a semiconductor memory device including variable resistance memory elements. The semiconductor memory device may include a first bit line disposed at a first height from a semiconductor substrate, a second bit line disposed at a second height, which is different from the first height, from the semiconductor substrate, a first variable resistance memory element connected to the first bit line, and a second variable resistance memory element connected to the second bit line. The first and second variable resistance memory elements may be disposed at substantially the same height from the semiconductor substrate.
US09401383B2
This disclosure is directed at a photoconductive element for a digital X-ray imaging system which consists of a detector element comprising a semiconducting layer for absorbing photons, an insulator layer on at least one surface of said semiconducting layer and at least two electrodes on one surface of said insulator layer; and a switching element wherein at least one layer within said switching element is in the same plane as at least one said layer within said detector element.
US09401382B2
Provided are an image sensor and a method of manufacturing method of manufacturing the image sensor. The image sensor includes a substrate, photoelectric transducers and switching elements formed in layers on the substrate in this order. Each of the photoelectric transducers includes a hydrogenated amorphous silicon layer. Each of the switching elements includes an amorphous oxide semiconductor layer. The image sensor further includes a blocking layer arranged between the hydrogenated amorphous silicon layers of the photoelectric transducers and the amorphous oxide semiconductor layers of the switching elements, where the blocking layer suppresses penetration of hydrogen separated from the hydrogenated amorphous silicon layers.
US09401381B2
A portion on the light exit end surface side of a fiber optic plate includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion corresponds to a peripheral portion of a semiconductor photodetecting element. The second portion corresponds to a thin portion of the semiconductor photodetecting element and projects more toward the semiconductor photodetecting element than the first portion. A height of a step made between the first portion and the second portion of the fiber optic plate is lower than a height of a step made between the thin portion and the peripheral portion of the semiconductor photodetecting element. The semiconductor photodetecting element and the fiber optic plate are fixed by a resin, in a state in which the first portion and the peripheral portion are in contact and in which the second portion and the thin portion are separated.
US09401379B2
An image sensor module includes an image sensor bearer and an image sensor, the image sensor bearer being fashioned as an injection-molded circuit bearer, and the image sensor being situated on the image sensor bearer, and the image sensor bearer including at least one holding device that is integrally formed on the image sensor bearer.
US09401377B2
An array bolometric detector for detecting an electromagnetic radiation in a predetermined infrared or terahertz wavelength range, including a substrate, and an array of bolometric microplates for the detection of the radiation, suspended above the substrate by support elements. The detector includes a membrane arranged above each microplate, and having patterns having a refractive index smaller than that of the membrane formed therein. The patterns are placed periodically along at least one axis of the membrane, according to a period shorter than or equal to λ n , where λ is a wavelength to be detected and n is the average refractive index of the medium separating the microplate from the membrane. The width of the patterns along the axis increases from a central location of the membrane towards the periphery thereof.
US09401371B1
A method for manufacturing a memory device, which can be configured as a 3D NAND flash memory, and includes a plurality of stacks of conductive strips, including even stacks and odd stacks having sidewalls. Some of the conductive strips in the stacks are configured as word lines. Data storage structures are disposed on the sidewalls of the even and odd stacks. Active pillars between corresponding even and odd stacks of conductive strips include even and odd semiconductor films connected at the bottom of the trench between the stacks, and have outside surfaces and inside surfaces. The outside surfaces contact the data storage structures on the sidewalls of the corresponding even and odd stacks forming a 3D array of memory cells; the inside surfaces are separated by an insulating structure that can include a gap. The semiconductor films can be thin-films having a U-shaped current path.
US09401360B2
A semiconductor device may include a substrate including an NMOS region and a PMOS region. A gate structure can include a gate pattern and a spacer pattern, where the gate structure is on the substrate. A first etching stop film can be on the substrate in the NMOS region and a second etching stop film can be on the substrate in the PMOS region. A contact hole can penetrate the first and second etching stop films and a contact plug can be in the contact hole. A thickness of the first etching stop film can be greater than a thickness of the second etching stop film. Related methods are also disclosed.
US09401352B2
Embodiments relate to a field-effect device that includes a body region, a first source/drain region of a first conductivity type, a second source/drain region, and a pocket implant region adjacent to the first source/drain region, the pocket implant region being of a second conductivity type, wherein the second conductivity type is different from the first conductivity type. The body region physically contacts the pocket implant region.
US09401343B2
A method of processing a semiconductor wafer includes forming semiconductor dies in the semiconductor wafer, each die having an active region containing devices of an integrated circuit and an edge region surrounding the active region, adjacent ones of the dies being separated by a scribe line. The method further includes forming interconnect wiring over the active region of each semiconductor die in an interlayer dielectric, forming ancillary wiring over the edge region of each die in the interlayer dielectric, forming a passivation on the interlayer dielectric, forming bond pads over the interconnect wiring of each die, the bond pads of each die being in electrical connection with the interconnect wiring of that die, and forming additional bond pads over the ancillary wiring of each semiconductor die, the additional bond pads of each die being in electrical connection with the interconnect wiring of that die.
US09401340B2
A semiconductor device comprises a circuit layer composed of a conductive material, and a semiconductor element mounted on the circuit layer, wherein an underlayer having a porosity in the range of 5 to 55% is formed on one surface of the circuit layer, a bonding layer composed of a sintered body of a bonding material including an organic substance and at least one of metal particles and metal oxide particles is formed on the underlayer, and the circuit layer and the semiconductor element are bonded together via the underlayer and the bonding layer.
US09401333B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a circuit substrate, a semiconductor element, a sealing resin layer, and a conductive shielding layer. The circuit substrate includes an insulating layer, a plurality of interconnections forming first interconnection layers provided on an upper surface side of the insulating layer, a plurality of interconnections forming second interconnection layers provided on a lower surface side of the insulating layer, and a plurality of vias penetrating from the upper surface to the lower surface of the insulating layer. The semiconductor element is mounted on the upper surface side of the circuit substrate. The conductive shielding layer covers the sealing resin layer and part of an end portion of the circuit substrate. Any of the plurality of vias and the conductive shielding layer are electrically connected.
US09401331B2
A semiconductor device is made by forming a first conductive layer over a carrier. The first conductive layer has a first area electrically isolated from a second area of the first conductive layer. A conductive pillar is formed over the first area of the first conductive layer. A semiconductor die or component is mounted to the second area of the first conductive layer. A first encapsulant is deposited over the semiconductor die and around the conductive pillar. A first interconnect structure is formed over the first encapsulant. The first interconnect structure is electrically connected to the conductive pillar. The carrier is removed. A portion of the first conductive layer is removed. The remaining portion of the first conductive layer includes an interconnect line and UBM pad. A second interconnect structure is formed over a remaining portion of the first conductive layer is removed.
US09401330B1
An integrated circuit (IC) package substrate with non-uniform dielectric layers is disclosed. The IC package substrate is a multilayer package substrate that has dielectric layers and metal layers stacked up alternately. The dielectric layers in the package substrate have different thickness. The metal layers may be ground, signal or power layers. A thicker dielectric layer is placed in between a signal layer and a power layer in the package substrate. The thicker dielectric layer may be at least twice as thick as other dielectric layers in the package substrate. The thicker dielectric layer may provide better impedance control in the package substrate.
US09401328B2
An electric contact structure includes a first structural layer; a second structural layer made of dielectric material extending over the first structural layer; and an intermediate layer made of conductive material extending between the first structural layer and the second structural layer. A trench extends in the second structural layer delimited laterally by a wall of the second structural layer and at the bottom by a surface region of the intermediate layer. A diffusion barrier extends in the trench covering the surface region of the intermediate layer and the wall of the second structural layer. The diffusion barrier is a TiW—TiN—TiW tri-layer.
US09401323B1
A semiconductor structure having a through semiconductor via (TSV) which includes a semiconductor wafer of a semiconductor material and having a front side and a back side; front end of the line (FEOL) components; an insulative annulus extending from the front side to the back side, the insulative annulus having a center including the semiconductor material such that the semiconductor material in the center of the insulative annulus is recessed from the back side to form a recess; a metal filling the recess; a through silicon via (TSV) extending in a straight line from the metal-filled recess, through the center of the semiconductor material in the center of the insulative annulus and into the FEOL components such that there is semiconductor material between the TSV and the insulative annulus.
US09401322B2
A structure having air gaps between interconnects is disclosed. A first insulating material is deposited over a workpiece, and a second insulating material having a sacrificial portion is deposited over the first insulating material. Conductive lines are formed in the first and second insulating layers. The second insulating material is treated to remove the sacrificial portion, and at least a portion of the first insulating material is removed, forming air gaps between the conductive lines. The second insulating material is impermeable as deposited and permeable after treating it to remove the sacrificial portion. A first region of the workpiece may be masked during the treatment, so that the second insulating material becomes permeable in a second region of the workpiece yet remains impermeable in the first region, thus allowing the formation of the air gaps in the second region, but not the first region.
US09401318B2
A quad flat no-lead package includes an encapsulant, and a plurality of chip pads, a plurality of bond pads and a chip disposed in the encapsulant. Each chip pad is connected to at least one of the chip pads adjacent thereto by a first extending portion. The chip pads and the bond pads are arranged in an array. The chip pads are disposed at the center of the array and the bond pads are disposed around the chip pads. Each of the bond pads and at least one of the bond pads or one of the chip pads adjacent thereto each has a second extending portion formed therebetween and corresponding to each other. Every two of the second extending portions corresponding to each other are separated by a groove. The chip is mounted on a top surface of the chip pads and is electrically coupled to the bond pads.
US09401313B2
A method of automated optical inspection (AOI) for a plurality of unique semiconductor packages can comprise providing a plurality of semiconductor die formed as a reconstituted wafer. A plurality of unit specific patterns can be formed by forming a unit specific pattern over each of the plurality of semiconductor die, wherein each of the unit specific patterns is customized to fit its respective semiconductor die. A plurality of images can be acquired by acquiring an image for each of the plurality of unit specific patterns. A plurality of unique reference standards can be created by creating a unique reference standard for each of the plurality of unit specific patterns. Defects can be detected in the plurality of unit specific patterns by comparing one of the plurality of unique reference standards to a corresponding one of the plurality of images for each of the plurality of unit specific patterns.
US09401308B2
Packaging devices, methods of manufacture thereof, and packaging methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, a packaging device includes a first substrate including a post passivation interconnect (PPI) structure including a PPI pad disposed thereon, and a second substrate including a contact pad disposed thereon. A conductive bump is coupled between the PPI pad and the contact pad. A molding material is disposed over portions of the PPI structure proximate the conductive bump. A top surface of the molding material contacts the conductive bump at a height of the conductive bump having a width C, and the contact pad has a width B. A ratio R of C:B comprises about 1.0 or greater.
US09401306B2
A manufacturing process, which we term Self-Aligned Capillarity-Assisted Lithography for manufacturing devices having nano-scale or micro-scale features, such as flexible electronic circuits, is described.
US09401297B2
Proposed are an electrostatic chuck mechanism and a charged particle beam apparatus including a first plane that is a plane of a side in which a sample is adsorbed, a first electrode to which a voltage for generating an adsorptive power between the first plane and the sample is applied, and a second electrode that is arranged in a position relatively separated from the sample toward the first plane and through which a virtual line that is perpendicular to the first plane and contacts an edge of the sample passes, wherein the first plane is formed so that a size in a plane direction of the first plane is smaller than that of the sample.
US09401289B2
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor wafer with an interconnect structure formed over a first surface of the wafer. A trench is formed in a non-active area of the semiconductor wafer from the first surface partially through the semiconductor wafer. A protective coating is formed over the first surface and into the trench. A lamination tape is applied over the protective coating. A portion of a second surface of the semiconductor wafer is removed by backgrinding or wafer thinning to expose the protecting coating in the trench. A die attach film is applied over the second surface of the semiconductor wafer. A cut or modified region is formed in the die attach film under the trench using a laser. The semiconductor wafer is expanded to separate the cut or modified region of the die attach film and singulate the semiconductor wafer.
US09401286B2
Disclosed is a plasma processing device that provides an object to be treated with plasma treatment. A wafer as an object to be treated, which is attached on the upper surface of adhesive sheet held by a holder frame, is mounted on a stage. In a vacuum chamber that covers the stage therein, plasma is generated, by which the wafer mounted on the stage undergoes plasma treatment. The plasma processing device contains a cover member made of dielectric material. During the plasma treatment on the wafer, the holder frame is covered with a cover member placed at a predetermined position above the stage, at the same time, the wafer is exposed from an opening formed in the center of the cover member.
US09401282B2
Provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, which efficiently removes a high permittivity film (high-k film). The method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: (a) supplying a processing gas containing an organic compound into a process chamber to form a predetermined film on a substrate; (b) supplying a first cleaning gas into the process chamber with the substrate being unloaded from the process chamber to remove films adhered to an inner wall of a reaction tube defining the process chamber and members disposed in the process chamber; (c) supplying a modifying gas into the process chamber after performing (b) to modify a carbon-containing film remaining in a nozzle of the members configured to supply the processing gas; and (d) supplying a second cleaning gas into the process chamber to remove a film obtained by modifying the carbon-containing film in (c).
US09401280B2
A semiconductor process includes the following steps. A first gate is formed on a substrate, wherein the first gate includes a stacked gate on the substrate and a cap on the stacked gate. A spacer material is formed to conformally cover the first gate and the substrate. The spacer material is etched to form a spacer on a side of the first gate and a block on the other side of the first gate corresponding to the side. A material covers the substrate, the block, the first gate and the spacer, wherein the top surface of the material is a flat surface. The block, the spacer and the material are pulled down with the same pulling selectivity so that an assisting gate is formed from the block and a selective gate is formed from the spacer.
US09401277B2
Provided are systems and methods for processing the surface of substrates that scan a laser beam at one or more selected orientation angles. The orientation angle or angles may be selected to reduce substrate warpage. When the substrates are semiconductor wafers having microelectronic devices, the orientation angles may be selected to produce controlled strain and to improve electronic performance of the devices.
US09401276B2
An apparatus for forming porous silicon layers on at least two surfaces of a plurality of silicon templates in a batch electrochemical anodic etch process is provided. The apparatus comprises a plurality of edge-sealing template mounts operable to prevent formation of porous silicon at the edges of a plurality of templates. An electrolyte is disposed among the plurality of templates. The apparatus further comprises a power supply operable to switch polarity, change current intensity, and control etching time to produce the porous silicon layers.
US09401271B2
Apparatus and methods for wafer processes such as etching and chemical vapor deposition processes are disclosed. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a susceptor and a ring disposed beneath the susceptor to influence a thickness of the deposited epitaxial layer.
US09401264B2
A plasma system includes an RF generator and a matchbox including an impedance matching circuit, which is coupled to the RF generator via an RF cable. The plasma system includes a chuck and a plasma reactor coupled to the matchbox via an RF line. The RF line forms a portion of an RF supply path, which extends between the RF generator through the matchbox, and to the chuck. The plasma system further includes a phase adjusting circuit coupled to the RF supply path between the impedance matching circuit and the chuck. The phase adjusting circuit has an end coupled to the RF supply path and another end that is grounded. The plasma system includes a controller coupled to the phase adjusting circuit. The controller is used for changing a parameter of the phase adjusting circuit to control an impedance of the RF supply path based on a tune recipe.
US09401255B2
An opening/closing-body drive device is achieved, in which a malfunction, caused by the electrical contacts of the relay switch freezing, can be reliably prevented from occurring. The control unit 60 includes a freeze determiner 61 which determines that the relay switch(es) is frozen when an opening/closing-body drive motor 27a does not drive a specified amount in accordance with opening/closing operational conditions of a back door 3 and when the temperature of the control unit 60 that is detected by a temperature detector 80 is lower or equal to a predetermined value; and a freeze releaser 62 which releases a frozen state of the relay switch(es) by intermittently supplying electric current for a predetermined number of times to the relay switch(es) without supplying a drive current to said opening/closing-body drive motor 27a, when said freeze determiner 61 determines that the relay switch(es) is frozen.
US09401251B2
A circuit breaker includes a housing and a line strap at least partially disposed within the housing. The line strap has a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, a first side surface and an opposing second side surface. A line strap insulator is positioned within the housing and has a first sidewall and a second sidewall. Each of the first sidewall and the second sidewall extend from a point above the line strap top surface to a point below the line strap bottom surface. The line strap insulator is fabricated from an electrically insulative material.
US09401241B2
A solenoid coil assembly for hazardous environments comprises a solenoid coil and an enclosure entirely filled with encapsulation material. The encapsulation material leaves zero or almost zero volume in the enclosure for hazardous material to accumulate in any amount that could explode. This allows the solenoid coil assembly to be constructed without the usual industry standard flame paths. Additionally, the enclosure may be made of physically rigid and strong material such as metal or the like to better withstand harsh and corrosive conditions within hazardous environments without being explosion proof. The walls of such an enclosure need only have a moderate thickness and weight relative to enclosures that are explosion proof, as there is no meaningful risk of an explosion occurring within the enclosure. The combination of a rugged exterior and a zero-volume interior allows the solenoid coil assembly to reduce weight and cost while providing superior environmental protection.
US09401230B2
Cu—Ni—Si—Co copper alloy strip having excellent balance between strength and electrical conductivity which can prevent the drooping curl is provided. The copper alloy strip for an electronic materials contains 1.0-2.5% by mass of Ni, 0.5-2.5% by mass of Co, 0.3-1.2% by mass of Si, and the remainder comprising Cu and unavoidable impurities, wherein the copper alloy strip satisfies both of the following (a) and (b) as determined by means of X-ray diffraction pole figure measurement based on a rolled surface: (a) among a diffraction peak intensities obtained by β scanning at α=20° in a {200} pole figure, a peak height at β angle 145° is not more than 5.2 times that of standard copper powder; (b) among a diffraction peak intensities obtained by β scanning at α=75° in a {111} pole figure, a peak height at β angle 185° is not less than 3.4 times that of standard copper powder.
US09401228B2
Disclosed embodiments include nuclear fission reactor cores, nuclear fission reactors, methods of operating a nuclear fission reactor, and methods of managing excess reactivity in a nuclear fission reactor.
US09401227B2
A post package repair device may include a plurality of bank groups, each of the plurality of bank groups including fuses indicating repair information, configured to share a predetermined number of fuses. The post package repair device may include a resource detection unit configured to determine the availability of the fuses from among the plurality of bank groups.
US09401226B1
A device includes a redundant region of a magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) array that includes first memory cells. The device includes a data region of the MRAM array that includes second memory cells. The device includes a fail address region of the MRAM array, a first row of the fail address region including validity data, wherein the validity data includes multiple validity indicators, a last row indicator, or both.
US09401223B2
A method and apparatus for conducting at-speed testing of a memory array in an integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed. In one embodiment, an IC includes a memory array and a plurality of input circuits coupled to provide input signals into the memory array. Each of the plurality of input circuits includes an input flip-flop having a data output coupled to a corresponding input of the memory array, selection circuitry configured to select a data path to a data input of the input flip-flop and a data path shift register coupled to control a state of a selection signal provided to the selection circuitry, wherein the data path shift register includes a plurality of multiplexers. When operating the IC in a test mode, the plurality of input circuits is configured to provide input signals into the memory array at an operational clock speed of the IC.
US09401220B2
A multi-phase gate driver includes a start/end signal generator circuit and X shift register modules. The start/end signal generator circuit is configured to sequentially output N start signals and N end signals according to a first control signal, a second control signal and N groups of clock signals. Each start and end signals have a delay relative to the previous one. Each group of clock signals includes a first clock signal and a second clock signal, which are inverted to each other. The X shift register modules are electrically coupled to the start/end signal generator circuit and each includes N shift register units. The Mth shift register unit of the first shift register module outputs a gate signal according to the Mth group of clock signals, the Mth start signal, and the gate signal outputted from the Mth shift register unit in the second shift register module.
US09401216B1
In a nonvolatile memory block that contains separately-selectable sets of NAND strings, a bit line current sensing unit is configured to sense bit line current for a separately-selectable set of NAND strings of the block. A bit line voltage adjustment unit is configured to apply a first and second bit line voltages to separately-selectable sets of NAND strings that have bit line currents greater and less than the minimum current respectively, the second bit line voltage being greater than the first bit line voltage.
US09401215B2
A method for driving a nonvolatile memory device includes performing an erase operation with respect to a plurality of memory cells, stopping the erase operation by a suspend command, calculating a residual time of the erase operation that has not yet been performed, performing a first operation, comparing a first vacant time between a completion time point of the first operation and a start time point of a second operation with the residual time, performing the erase operation that has not yet been performed if the residual time is equal to or shorter than the first vacant time, and performing the second operation if the residual time is longer than the first vacant time.
US09401212B2
A method includes, in a plurality of memory cells that share a common isolation layer and store in the common isolation layer quantities of electrical charge representative of data values, assigning a first group of the memory cells for data storage, and assigning a second group of the memory cells for protecting the electrical charge stored in the first group from retention drift. Data is stored in the memory cells of the first group. Protective quantities of the electrical charge that protect from the retention drift in the memory cells of the first group are stored in the memory cells of the second group.
US09401207B2
A memory device includes a first select transistor having a first current electrode coupled to a first bit line, a control electrode and a second current electrode. A second select transistor has a first current electrode coupled to a second bit line, a control electrode and a second current electrode. A first bi-directional resistive element has a cathode coupled to the second current electrode of the first select transistor and an anode coupled to an internal node. A second bi-directional resistive element has a cathode coupled to the internal node and an anode coupled to the second current electrode of the second select transistor. A third transistor has a first current electrode coupled to a third bit line, a second current electrode coupled to the internal node, and a control electrode coupled to a word line.
US09401201B1
A memory and a method for operating a memory are provided. The memory includes a memory cell configured to be powered from a first voltage source, a bitline, and a write driver configured to write to the memory cell through the bitline, the write driver comprising a pull-up circuit to pull up bitline voltage towards a second voltage source while using the first voltage source to limit the bitline voltage, the first and second voltage sources being in different voltage domains.
US09401198B1
A NVDRAM includes a first NV element coupled to a first terminal of a second NV element at a transfer node. A volatile cell has a transfer transistor coupled to the transfer node and has a storage node. A first NV line is coupled to the second terminal of the first NV element. Circuitry applies an alternated signal to the transfer node, couples the second terminal of the second non-volatile element to a second NV line, and applies a program signal across the first and second NV lines during a program mode that establishes a logic state. The circuitry applies a read signal across the first and second NV lines, couples the second terminal of the second NV element to the second NV line, and replaces the alternated signal with floating during a restore mode that loads the logic state into the storage node.
US09401193B2
A memory device includes a memory bank including a plurality of word lines, and a word line controller capable of activating a first word line, which is accessed during a previous write operation, among the plurality of word lines, while activating a second word line corresponding to an input address among the plurality of word lines, during an active operation.
US09401190B1
Systems and methods are provided herein for implementing a programmable integrated circuit device that enables high-speed FPGA boot-up through a significant reduction of configuration time. By enabling high-speed FPGA boot-up, the programmable integrated circuit device will be able to accommodate applications that require faster boot-up time than conventional programmable integrated circuit devices are able to accommodate. In order to enable high-speed boot-up, dedicated address registers are implemented for each data line segment of a data line, which in turn significantly reduces configuration random access memory (CRAM) write time (e.g., by a factor of at least two).
US09401182B2
A rack mount device comprising: a housing; first and second drawer sections to be withdrawable from the housing; storage sections provided in the first and second drawer sections, each of storage sections including memory devices; a control module to control the memory devices; a connection cable to couple an external connection terminal of the housing and the control module and include an excess length portion corresponding to movement of the control module; a cable protective tube to be inserted by the excess length portion, one end of the cable protective tube fixed in a vicinity of a connection portion to the control module of the connection cable, another end of the cable protective tube fixed on a bottom plate side of the housing, the cable protective tube including a folded-up section which moves along with the drawing operation; and a cable protective tube deformation device to move the folded-up section.
US09401178B2
Enables event analysis from sensors including environmental, physiological and motion capture sensors. Also enables displaying information based on events recognized using sensor data associated with a user, piece of equipment or based on previous motion analysis data from the user or other user(s) or other sensors. Enables intelligent analysis, synchronization, and transfer of generally concise event videos synchronized with motion data from motion capture sensor(s) coupled with a user or piece of equipment. Enables creating, transferring, obtaining, and storing concise event videos generally without non-event video. Events stored in the database identifies trends, correlations, models, and patterns in event data. Greatly saves storage and increases upload speed by uploading event videos and avoiding upload of non-pertinent portions of large videos. Creates highlight and fail reels filtered by metrics and can sort by metric. Compares motion trajectories of users and objects to optimally efficient trajectories, and to desired trajectories.
US09401172B2
An optical disc medium includes a land and a groove at which information can be recorded. A predetermined number of address information units which record address information of the land or groove are provided in a circumferential direction of the optical disc medium. The address information unit of the land includes three or more address recording areas capable of recording address information. The address information is recorded on one area selected from among the three or more address recording areas. The address information unit of the land has address information which is recorded, in the same modulation, on the side of the inner adjacent groove and on the side of the outer adjacent groove. The one area to be selected from among the three or more address recording areas for recording the address information of the land is different among three address information units adjacently arranged in a radial direction.
US09401171B2
An aspect of the present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium, which comprises a nonmagnetic layer containing a nonmagnetic powder and a binder and a magnetic layer containing a ferromagnetic powder and a binder in this order on a nonmagnetic support, wherein the nonmagnetic layer has a thickness of equal to or less than 300 nm; a composite elastic modulus as measured on a surface of the magnetic layer ranges from 6.0 to 8.0 GPa; the magnetic layer comprises an abrasive with a specific surface area by BET method ranging from 14 m2/g to 40 m2/g; and a surface abrasive occupancy on a surface of the magnetic layer ranges from 0.2% to 2%.
US09401168B1
A disk apparatus control device including an A/D converting section that samples an analog current amount signal indicating a current amount for a drive current of a motor that moves a head for accessing a storage disk of a disk apparatus, and converts the analog current amount signal into a digital current amount signal indicating the current amount. The device can further include a control signal generating section that, according to digital control, generates a digital control signal corresponding to a manipulation amount of the drive current, based on a difference between the current amount indicated by the digital current amount signal and a target value for the current amount of the drive current. Additionally, the device can include a D/A converting section that converts the digital control signal into an analog control signal, and outputs the analog control signal to a drive current generating section that generates the drive current.
US09401154B2
A method for recognizing an audio sample locates an audio file that closely matches the audio sample from a database indexing a large set of original recordings. Each indexed audio file is represented in the database index by a set of landmark timepoints and associated fingerprints. Landmarks occur at reproducible locations within the file, while fingerprints represent features of the signal at or near the landmark timepoints. To perform recognition, landmarks and fingerprints are computed for the unknown sample and used to retrieve matching fingerprints from the database. For each file containing matching fingerprints, the landmarks are compared with landmarks of the sample at which the same fingerprints were computed. If a large number of corresponding landmarks are linearly related, i.e., if equivalent fingerprints of the sample and retrieved file have the same time evolution, then the file is identified with the sample.
US09401152B2
On the basis of a bitstream (P), an n-channel audio signal (X) is reconstructed by deriving an m-channel core signal (Y) and multichannel coding parameters (α) from the bitstream, where 1≦m
US09401148B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for inputting speech data that corresponds to a particular utterance to a neural network; determining an evaluation vector based on output at a hidden layer of the neural network; comparing the evaluation vector with a reference vector that corresponds to a past utterance of a particular speaker; and based on comparing the evaluation vector and the reference vector, determining whether the particular utterance was likely spoken by the particular speaker.
US09401133B2
Embodiments are directed to an adjustable, floor-mounted electric guitar effect performance and storage apparatus for providing easier access to effect pedals and/or floorboards used by guitarists on stage during practices and/or performances. The apparatus includes two platforms, a lower and an upper, each of which is capable of holding various configurations of electric guitar effect pedals and/or floorboards. The upper platform is extendible and retractable by pushing or pulling with one's foot to gain access to pedals on the lower platform. Extension and retraction (gliding back and forth) is made possible by the use of standard drawer slides, installed in reverse, allowing the upper platform to move away and reveal the lower platform. In addition, the height of the upper platform can be adjusted for performance or storage.
US09401124B2
As to enhance the rendering while minimizing needed computation time, the method comprises the steps of determining noise information, said noise information being representative of noise level estimated for at least a part of said image; the noise information being determined for the achromatic component of the image; sampling said part of the image according to said noise information; and rendering said at least a part of the image according to said sampling.
US09401123B2
A display device having a network function according to an exemplary embodiment is configured to include: a network interface unit that performs data communication with external displays through a network; and a controller that transmits access request signals to the external display devices through the network interface unit and receives a list of input sources information that access is permitted based on the access permission or not according to the access request, wherein the controller transmits a request signal of an image program according to specific input sources based on the received list to the external display devices.
US09401119B2
Upon each detection of an image switch by a display switch detection portion (27) included in a display control circuit (200), a selection frequency determination portion (23) makes a determination for each row corresponding to a scanning signal line as to whether or not the row includes any pixel with a middle tone. Further, a scanning signal output control portion (26) performs drive control such that any scanning signal line corresponding to a row without such a pixel is selected at intervals of one frame period. This results in reduced power consumption in selecting the scanning signal lines.
US09401114B2
A display control apparatus applied for an image display apparatus having a plurality of display regions is provided. The display regions are respectively corresponding to a plurality of backlight modules and the luminance of the backlight modules are independently controlled. The display control apparatus includes a backlight control unit. The backlight control unit receives a first image data to generate a plurality of local backlight control signals accordingly. The local backlight control signals are used for controlling the luminance of the backlight modules. The backlight control unit divides the first image data to be a plurality of local image data respectively corresponding to the display regions. Furthermore, the backlight control unit generates one of the local backlight control signals according to one of the local image data respectively.
US09401108B2
A data driver supplies a data signal to a display panel to control luminance of a plurality of pixels. The data signal comprises a plurality of frames, and each of the frames comprises a plurality of sub-frames. Each of the sub-frames comprises an addressing time, followed by an emission time, followed by an erase time. Subpixels each include a first scan line switch controlled by the first scan line signal to turn on during the addressing time of each sub-frame and to turn off during the emission time and the erase time of each sub-frame. A second scan line switch is controlled by a second scan line signal to provide a discharge path to discharge the storage capacitor during the erase time of each sub-frame.
US09401105B2
A display device is provided which includes a display panel including a plurality of pixels; a gate driving unit configured to drive gate lines; a data driver configured to drive data lines; and a timing controller configured to generate a plurality of control signals for controlling the gate driving unit and the data driver. The timing controller converts the data signals into an image data signal, a horizontal synchronization signal, a vertical synchronization signal, and a data enable signal, a pulse width of each of the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals corresponding to an aspect ratio of the data signals or a size of a black image display area. The timing controller generates the plurality of control signals according to the image data signal, the data enable signal, and pulse widths of the horizontal synchronization signal and the vertical synchronization signal.
US09401104B2
The invention provides a chemical-mechanical polishing composition including (a) an abrasive comprising wet-process silica particles, (b) a water-soluble polymer, (c) an oxidizing agent, (d) a chelating agent, (e) a pH-adjusting agent, and (f) an aqueous carrier, wherein the pH of the polishing composition is about 1 to about 7. The invention also provides a method of polishing a substrate, especially a nickel-phosphorus substrate, with the polishing composition.
US09401100B2
The selective aggregation of marker objects on a map is disclosed. A plurality of marker objects is received in response to a query. The marker objects are each defined by a set of coordinates to a specific location on the map. The map is segregated into a plurality of bounding areas each defined by a set of bounding coordinates. A bounding area count of the number of marker objects having coordinates within a first one of the bounding areas is generated. The bounding area count is compared to a predetermined threshold. If the bounding area count is greater, a first aggregate marker is displayed in the first one of the bounding areas of the map. Otherwise, each of the marker objects within the first one of the bounding areas of the map is displayed. The marker objects are positioned according to the set of coordinates associated therewith.
US09401099B2
Methods and apparatus for displaying closed-captioning content on a display device. In response to determining that closed-captioning is desired, a display area of the display device is partitioned into non-overlapping portions. A first portion of the display area is configured to display the closed-captioning content and a second portion of the display area is configured to display a computer desktop. The closed-captioning content may be transformed by replacing at least some text in the closed-captioning content with at least one symbol based, at least in part, on a context of the at least some text in the closed-captioning content.
US09401095B2
Provided is an information processing system including a position management unit configured to manage positions of avatars operated by users in a virtual space, a schedule management unit configured to manage a schedule of communication of the users, and a control unit configured to cause communication between terminals used by the users who are scheduled to have the communication to be established when the avatars of the users who are scheduled to have the communication gather in a predefined place in the virtual space and to cause at least one of an image and a voice to be transmitted and received.
US09401088B2
A system for predicting a travel time for a traffic route is disclosed. The traffic route comprises one or more road segments. A predicted travel time for each of those segments is calculated based, in part, on traffic speed data for each of the one or more road segments. A total travel time is then calculated for the route, the total travel time including a predicted travel time for each of the one or more road segments.
US09401086B2
A first mobile monitoring system includes one or more mobile monitoring devices, a network, a server and a storage memory. The server is implemented to analyze the collected signals and the traffic information to identify at least one traffic flow according to travel routes of the one or more wireless devices; determine whether the identified at least one traffic flow exceeds an updating threshold based on the collected signals; derive at the server when the traffic flow exceeds the updating threshold, an updating priority indicating an order in which the traffic flows are processed based on the collected signals; and update a dynamic traffic transportation plan map based on the at least one traffic flow, the updating threshold and the updating priority.
US09401084B2
A remote determines an acknowledgement is not received for a command transmitted to a first device, broadcasts a discovery message, receives a response from a second device that received the discovery message and a proximity signal from the remote, and configures itself to control the second device. The remote may also transmit an acknowledgement to the second device. The second device may notify the first device. In various implementations, configuration information in the response may include pairing information and the remote may unpair itself from the first device and pair with the second device. In some implementations, the remote may include a table for controlling devices and the remote may utilize an entry in the table for the second device instead of the first device. In various implementations, the remote may receive responses to the discovery message from multiple devices and may select one to configure itself to control.
US09401077B2
Embodiments provide systems, methods, processes, computer program code and means for using mobile devices to conduct transactions with ATM devices.
US09401065B2
A gaming system is described. The gaming system can include one or more host devices and EGM clients that communicate with one another over a network. Various non-gaming applications can be maintained on the host device. In response to a request received from an EGM client, a non-gaming application program can be executed on the host device. Content from the non-gaming application can be converted to a media stream that is sent to the EGM client for output. The media stream can be processed using a codec executed on the EGM. Input data associated with the content can be received at the EGM and sent to the host device. The content from the non-gaming application executed on the host can be adjusted in response to the input data received from the EGM.
US09401063B2
A personal powered proximity payment device that can be owned by or issued to an individual user is provided. The device is a non-ISO card device that includes an internal dual-mode (contact and contactless) chip card coupled to a display and a robust PIN entry or biometric reading means. The device provides proximity payment functions, and optional proximity payment on/off and local pre-purchase account holder verification functions to the individual user.
US09401052B2
A road toll system comprises a vehicle-mounted unit comprising a satellite navigation system implementing a position tracking function; transmitting means for transmitting position or route information to a remote server; and a unique identification device for attaching to the vehicle, and associated with the satellite navigation receiver. The road toll system function is enabled only when the identification device is present. The identification device comprises an electronic device which is adapted to alter by detachment or attempted detachment such as to prevent the road toll system function being enabled. This system increases the security of this type of system and makes fraudulent use of the system increasingly difficult.
US09401043B2
An efficient numerical method for accurately rendering translucent materials using photon beam diffusion is provided that can account for multilayer materials and directional incident and exitant effects at the surface. In an embodiment, refracted incident light is represented continuously as a photon beam instead of as discrete photons. An integration scheme for calculating a radiant exitance value at a point on the surface of the translucent material is disclosed that uses importance sampling and evaluates a radiant function at a limited number of points along the beam.
US09401042B2
A method of providing image data for constructing an image of a region of a three dimensional target object, comprising providing, from a radiation source, incident radiation directed at a target object, detecting an intensity of radiation scattered by the target object, and determining image data for each of a respective plurality of slices within the target object each indicating one or more characteristics of the target object at a respective depth within the target object, wherein the image data is determined based on the detected intensity of radiation via an iterative process wherein running estimates of the image data for each of the plurality of slices are updated step by step.
US09401034B2
Methods, systems, and computer-storage media for efficiently tessellating two dimensional (2-D) curves using a graphics pipeline running on a graphics processing unit (GPU) are provided. A central processing unit (CPU) converts a geometry having one or more 2-D curves into an intermediate tessellation having at least one Bezier fan with a fan origin and four control points. The intermediate tessellation is sent on to the graphics pipeline. A hull shader in the graphics pipeline is configured to approximate the Bezier fan curve by subdividing the curve into a defined number of triangles based on a maximum value of a width or a height of a bounding box containing the four control points of the Bezier fan. A domain shader in the graphics pipeline is configured to determine a vertex position for each of the defined triangles along the curve of the Bezier fan.
US09401029B2
A moving object detection method according to an embodiment performs a stacking process step of: dividing captured images into p groups each including m successive images; and for each group, applying a stacking method to the m images. Subsequently, for each group, the method extracts a candidate for space debris based on an evaluation value for space debris detection, which is obtained from pixel values at the same pixel positions overlapping one another across the m images superposed one another. Thereafter, the method judges whether the extracted candidate for the space debris in each group is chosen as a final candidate for the space debris based on the coincidence or proximity in terms of the movement direction and the moving velocity.
US09401026B2
Cluster centers of an image are initialized. The image includes a plurality of pixels. Pixels of the plurality of pixels in a pattern are labeled. The cluster centers are recomputed based on the labeling of the plurality of pixels.
US09401023B2
A first size adjusting unit adjusts a size of a first clothing image which is an image of a first piece of clothing worn on an upper half of a body based on a width of a shoulder part of the first piece of clothing in the first clothing image. A second size adjusting unit adjusts a size of a second clothing image which is an image of a second piece of clothing worn on a lower half of a body based on a width of a waist part of the second piece of clothing in the second clothing image. A display control unit causes a display to display a screen on which the first piece of clothing and the second piece of clothing are vertically displayed, based on the first clothing image and the second clothing image.
US09401019B2
An imaging tomosynthesis system, in particular a mammography system, includes a computer system which generates x-ray projections of an examination object from a plurality of projection angles. The system further reconstructs a stack of tomosynthetic slice images, generates at least one overview image of density values of an examination object from the tomosynthetic image data, selects characteristic density values in the stack at at least one plane position, and determines the geometric level of the at least one selected characteristic density value. The overview image is then displayed with a color value correlated to the geometric level of the at least one characteristic density value.
US09401017B2
Systems and methods for segmenting a medical image are provided. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving an image acquired from at least a portion of a subject's anatomy, selecting a first point within a target structure identified on the image, and determining a second and a third point associated with extents of a target biological tissue, the first, second and third points defining a sector described by the first point, a central angle and a subtended arc. The method also includes determining a plurality of arc points along the subtended arc, and extending a plurality of linear segments along directions determined by the first point and the plurality of arc points. The method further includes determining an intensity profile along each linear segment to identify boundaries of the target biological tissue, and generating a contour of the target biological tissue using the identified boundaries.
US09401012B2
A computing device and a method for correcting color distortion are provided, in particular for correcting purple flare. A digital image has an array of pixels each represented by a green (G), a red (R) and a blue (B) primary color, and for each pixel, the computing device establishes a minimum value between the R and B intensity values, and compares the minimum value and the G intensity value. The original R, G and B intensity values are maintained if the G intensity value is equal or greater than the minimum value. The R and B intensity values are attenuated by an adjustment value if the G intensity value is less than the minimum value. The adjustment value is calculated as the difference of the minimum value and the G intensity value.
US09401009B2
A method of enhancing a quality of a 3 dimensional (3D) image includes classifying an input 3D image into a plurality of sub-areas based on noise characteristics of the plurality of sub-areas of the input 3D image, denoising each of the plurality of sub-areas of the input 3D image by using different denoising methods according to noise characteristics of each of the classified plurality of sub-areas and obtaining a second 3D image after the denoising, and enhancing a contrast ratio of the second 3D image after the denoising.
US09401007B2
An image providing system includes: a terminal to run at least one application, to request an image from a service device, to determine whether the application supports all screen densities, to extract and transmit a resolution value of an area for displaying the image when all screen densities are supported, and to extract and transmit screen density information supported in the application when not all screen densities are supported; a service device to resize the image to match at least one resolution, to check a resolution value of the terminal and provide the image resized to match the checked resolution value to the terminal when the image is requested from the terminal, and when only screen density information is transmitted from the terminal, to calculate a resolution value from the screen density information and provide the image resized to match the calculated resolution value to the terminal.
US09401004B2
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for tracking and filtering state change methods provided to a graphics pipeline. State shadow circuitry at the start of the graphics pipeline may be configured in different modes. A track mode is used to capture the current state by storing state change methods that are transmitted to the graphics pipeline. A passthrough mode is used to provide different state data to the graphics pipeline without updating the current state stored in the state shadow circuitry. A replay mode is used to restore the current state to the graphics pipeline using the state shadow circuitry. Additionally, the state shadow circuitry may also be configured to filter the state change methods that are transmitted to graphics pipeline by removing redundant state change methods.
US09400999B2
Technology is disclosed for detecting, classifying, and/or enforcing policies on social networking activity. The technology can store a content policy, classify content posted to a social network, determine that the classification corresponds to the content policy, and apply an action specified by the content policy to the posted content.
US09400998B2
A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to a message-based communication arrangement, an organizational center replication request, and a payment schedule business object.
US09400996B2
Systems and methods for collecting, selecting, and displaying an image or image set in a network based environment are described. The systems and methods can collect multiple images for any given item from multiple sources, select a desired image (or set of images) that best depicts that item, and then display that selected image (or image set) in the network based environment. The desired image (or image set) that best depicts the item can be selected using any number or combination of pre-selected criteria. By using the pre-selected criteria, the process needs no manual intervention, and can therefore be automated or semi-automated to save both time and cost.
US09400995B2
Content recommendation includes: determining a plurality of user behavior categories pertaining to a plurality of user behaviors by a plurality of users within a period of time, and a plurality of user behavior frequencies corresponding to the plurality of user behavior categories; determining whether the number of user behavior categories exceeds a preset category threshold; in the event that the number of user behavior categories exceeds the preset threshold, excluding one or more user behavior categories such that the number of remaining user behavior categories does not exceed the preset threshold; determining, based at least on the remaining user behavior categories and corresponding user behavior frequencies, user preference data comprising frequency distribution information of a plurality of pieces of content information targeted by user behaviors in the remaining user behavior categories; and recommending content information to a user based on the user preference data.
US09400994B2
A method for providing an item suggested by a retailer to a user prior to an upcoming transaction at a point of sale terminal includes detecting a presence of the user at an item impulse device in a facility of retailer, wherein the item impulse device is located proximate to the point of sale terminal. When the presence of the user is detected at the item impulse device and prior to the upcoming transaction a purchase history of the user and one or more items the user currently possesses are obtained. The item suggested the retailer for the user to purchase is determined based on at least one of the purchase history and the one or more items the user currently possesses. A notification indicating the item suggested by the retailer is generated and provided to the user.
