US09468729B2
A device for monitoring patient usage of a medicament inhaler, the medicament inhaler being adapted to deliver doses of medicament, and the medicament inhaler including parts which move during the dispensing of a dose of medicament. The device includes a housing, for releasable attachable to the medicament inhaler, and an optical dose counter, associated with said housing, the optical dose counter being adapted to determine when a dose of medicament has been dispensed by transmitting optical signals through the medicament inhaler. The device is attachable to the medicament inhaler, and is subsequently operable, without any modifications being required to be marks to the medicament inhaler. The device may also include an electronic control module which is in communication with the optical dose counter, the electronic control module being adapted to monitor and/or store data relating to patient usage of the medicament inhaler.
US09468726B2
A prefilled syringe for injecting medicament into a patient includes a barrel constructed of a polymeric material, a cannula and a hub. The barrel has a diameter, a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end. The cannula has a proximal end and a tip opposite the proximal end. The proximal end of the cannula is fixed to the distal end of the barrel. The cannula is positioned generally coaxially with the longitudinal axis. The hub is integrally formed with the distal end. The hub includes a rib section and a cap. The rib section has a generally cruciform cross-section taken along a rib plane. The rib plane is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The cap has a generally U-shaped cross-section taken along a longitudinal plane. The longitudinal plane is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis.
US09468719B2
Described is an autoinjector comprising a spring holder, a guide cylinder releasably coupled to the spring holder, a drive assembly releasably coupled to the spring holder, a drive spring adapted to apply a force on the drive assembly, and a penetration spring adapted to apply a force on the guide cylinder. The guide cylinder is adapted to accommodate a syringe having a plunger. The drive assembly is coupled to the guide cylinder and adapted to engage the plunger.
US09468717B2
Valves, valved fluid transfer devices and ambulatory infusion devices including the same.
US09468714B2
An IV set is configured for coupling with a pump device. The IV set comprises a fluid lumen adapted for passage of an infusion fluid toward a patient. A frame is coupled to the fluid lumen and is adapted to be inserted into a seat of a pump device, wherein the frame provides a platen relative to the fluid lumen, wherein the frame is sized and shaped such that the frame can only be inserted into the pump device when aligned in a predetermined orientation relative to the pump device. An information device is adapted to store information associated with the IV set, wherein the information device is accessed in response to proper placement of the IV set in the pump device.
US09468713B2
A free flow mitigating device for a fluid administration set includes a pump driver mechanism having a locator pin attached and positioned to register with a locator hole on the administration set, for example in a cassette. The locator pin has a surface area. A compressible material is attached to at least a portion of the surface area of the locator pin. The compressible material has a thickness such that it is frictionally received within the locator hole of the cassette sufficient to provide a retaining force to resist cassette movement during closing of a flow regulator valve of the cassette.
US09468711B2
A syringe container includes a cylindrical syringe including a distal end portion having a discharge opening for discharging a liquid, a proximal end portion, and a side peripheral section connected to the distal end portion and the proximal end portion; an attachment member configured to be attached to the distal end portion and having an outer radius larger than an outer radius of the side peripheral section; a container body including a bottom portion and a peripheral wall portion extending upward from a periphery of the bottom portion; and a syringe holding section configured to be placed within the peripheral wall portion so as to face the bottom portion.
US09468710B2
A method and apparatus for injecting saline into an open cavity of a patient's body, and, alternatively, vacuuming fluids from said cavity, during laparoscopic surgery that provides constant feed and amplified pressure to provide a steady fluid output, in a disposable, single use handheld surgical device.
US09468707B2
The present invention is directed to polymeric materials made of biodegradable, bioabsorbable triblock copolymers and implantable devices (e.g., drug-delivery stents) containing such polymeric materials. The polymeric materials may also contain at least one therapeutic substance. The polymeric materials are formulated so as to improve the mechanical and adhesion properties, degradation, biocompatibility and drug permeability of such materials and, thus, implantable devices formed of such materials.
US09468701B2
The present invention relates to an isocyanate functional prepolymer that can be achieved through a) a reaction of an H functional starter compound having at least one Zerewitinoff active H atom with an alkylene oxide and a comonomer to a preliminary stage bearing hydroxyl groups, wherein said comonomer is selected from the group comprising lactides, glycolides, cyclical dicarboxylic acid anhydrides as well as combinations thereof and wherein said comonomer is integrated through statistical copolymerization into the polymer chain(s) of the preliminary stage bearing hydroxyl groups, and b) a reaction of the preliminary stage bearing hydroxyl groups from step a) with a polyfunctional isocyanate to an isocyanate functional prepolymer. The invention additionally relates to a process for producing this isocyanate functional prepolymer, a tissue adhesive system containing such an isocyanate functional prepolymer and a dispensing system having at least two chambers and this type of tissue adhesive system.
US09468694B2
The invention relates to a process for preparation of a compound of formula (I): R1 is selected from C1-6alkyl, C2-6alkenyl, and C2-6alkynyl; which comprises: (i) reaction with fluoride, suitably [18F]fluoride, of a corresponding compound of formula (II): wherein R2 is selected from hydrogen, C1-10alkyl, C1-10haloalkyl, C6-14aryl, C6-14arylalkyl, —(CH2CH2O)q—CH3 wherein q is an integer of from 1 to 10; R1 is as defined for the compound of formula (I); and R3 is a leaving group. Certain novel precursors of formula (II) and radiopharmaceutical kits containing such precursors are also claimed.
US09468687B2
Pharmaceutical compositions comprising a nucleic acid, a gene delivery polymer, and at least one adjunctive chemotherapeutic drug for the treatment of mammalian cancer or hyperproliferative disorders and methods of using thereof for the treatment of mammalian cancer or hyperproliferative disorders by intratumoral, intraperitoneal or systemic injection.
US09468681B2
Described herein are carrier nanoparticles comprising a polymer containing a polyol coupled to a polymer containing a boronic acid, configured to present the polymer containing a boronic acid to an environment external to the nanoparticle. Targeted versions of the described nanoparticles are also described, as are related compositions, methods and systems.
US09468676B2
The present invention is directed to therapeutic methods using IL-6 antagonists such as antibodies and fragments thereof having binding specificity for IL-6 to prevent or treat thrombosis or hypercoagulation in patients having, or at risk of developing, diseases associated with abnormal blood coagulation or fibrinolysis and/or patients which are at increased risk or are being treated by a regimen that renders the patient at increased susceptibility to hypercoagulation or thrombosis such as patients who have previously had a stroke or heart attack or persons on a treatment regimen with a drug or chemotherapy and/or radiation that is associated with increased risk of thrombosis or hypercoagulation. In preferred embodiments these patients will comprise those exhibiting elevated D-dimer or other coagulation cascade related proteins and optionally will further exhibit elevated C reactive protein prior to treatment. The subject therapies also may include the administration of other actives such as chemotherapeutics, anti-coagulants, statins, et al.
US09468675B2
The present invention provides novel methods for reducing the serine protease and/or serine protease zymogen content of a plasma-derived protein composition. Also provided are methods for manufacturing plasma-derived protein compositions having reduced serine protease and\or serine protease zymogen content. Among yet other aspects, the present invention provides aqueous and lyophilized compositions of plasma-derived proteins having reduced serine protease and/or serine protease zymogen content. Yet other aspects include methods for treating, managing, and/or preventing a disease comprising the administration of a plasma-derived protein composition having a reduced serine protease or serine protease zymogen content.
US09468674B2
Described herein are methods of preventing and/or treating inflammation in a barrier surface structure in an individual in need thereof by orally administering to the individual an anti-inflammatory amount of secretory IgA.
US09468671B2
Neural outgrowth in the central nervous system is achieved by administering chondroitinase AC and/or chondroitinase B to degrade chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans that inhibit or contribute to the inhibition of nervous tissue regeneration.
US09468670B2
Methods and composition for a melatonin signaling modulator-based diagnosis and therapy are described. For example, in certain aspects methods for administering an anti-tumor therapy using a melatonin signaling modulator are described. Furthermore, the invention provides compositions and methods for detecting biliary tract disease such as cholangiocarcinoma.
US09468655B2
Compositions and methods are disclosed herein for producing one or more immunoglobulins in an isolated B lymphocyte cell line. An isolated recombinant cell line includes an isolated B lymphocyte cell line capable of expressing at least one endogenous membrane immunoglobulin reactive to a first antigen and at least one exogenously incorporated nucleic acid encoding at least one secreted immunoglobulin reactive to a second antigen.
US09468650B2
The present invention relates, in general, to pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs), including toll-like receptors (TLRs), and, in particular, to a method of inhibiting nucleic acid-induced activation of, for example, endosomal TLRs using an agent that binds to the nucleic acid (“nucleic acid binding agent”), preferably, in a manner that is independent of the nucleotide sequence, the chemistry (e.g., DNA or RNA, with or without base or sugar modifications) and/or the structure (e.g., double-stranded or single-stranded, complexed or uncomplexed with, for example protein) of the nucleic acid(s) responsible for inducing TLR activation. The invention also relates to methods of identifying nucleic acid binding agents suitable for use in such methods.
US09468643B2
The invention features methods and compositions featuring a PDE5 inhibitor for treating or preventing immunological-mediated disease in a subject.
US09468642B2
The present invention relates to imidazopyrazine compounds of general Formula (I): in which X, R1, R2, R3a, R3b, R4a, R4b, R4C, and R4D are as given in the description and in the claims, to methods of preparing said compounds, to pharmaceutical compositions and combinations comprising said compounds, to the use of said compounds for manufacturing a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment or prophylaxis of a disease, as well as to intermediate compounds useful in the preparation of said compounds.
US09468641B2
Disclosed herein is an anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical composition comprising a benzopyranyl tetracycle compound represented by Chemical Formula 1 as an active ingredient. The compound exhibits excellent anti-inflammatory activity by perturbing the post-translational modification of the inflammation mediator HMGB, and thus finds applications in pharmaceutical compositions superior in the treatment or prevention of inflammation-related diseases.
US09468638B2
Provided herein is a pharmaceutical injectable formulation of itraconazole (10 mg/g) where the formulation comprises a solubilizer, a nonionic surfactant/emulsifier, a co-surfactant and a stabilizer. Further provided is a pharmaceutical formulation of itraconazole, said formulation comprising a solubilizer in a concentration of from about 20% to about 75%, a nonionic surfactant/emulsifier in a concentration of from about 20% to about 50%, a co-surfactant in a concentration from about 10% to about 45% and a stabilizer in a concentration of from about 1% to about 15%.
US09468634B2
The invention relates to perhexiline, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for use in the treatment of heart failure, as well as to a method for treating heart failure, which comprises administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of perhexiline, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to treat said heart failure. The invention further relates to a treatment programme for treating heart failure, which involves the co-use or co-administration of perhexiline with one or more other compounds that are advantageous in treating heart failure or the symptoms thereof.
US09468632B2
The present invention relates to chemical compounds, methods for their discovery, and their therapeutic and research use. In particular, the present invention provides compounds as therapeutic agents against cancer stem cells.
US09468631B1
The subject invention describes a method of use of Ropinirole™ to alleviate and control menopausal symptoms in women, and in particular, hot flashes. The invention describes the use of Ropinirole as a dopamine agonist with affinity for the dopamine D2, D3, or D4 receptors. Ropinirole may also be used to treat menopausal symptoms in conjunction with Tizanidine™ to further reduce the effects menopausal symptoms by providing a sedative and muscle relaxant effect which aids in sleep. The combination of Ropinirole and Tizanidine provides a useful new compound for treatment of menopausal symptoms that are most disruptive to the functioning in activities of daily living.
US09468627B2
The present invention concerns the treatment of serotonergic dysregulation disorders and/or augmentation of serotonin levels in the brain by add-on treatments to serotonin enhancers, and slow-release formulations of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) therefor.
US09468624B2
A novel small molecule antagonizes two types of acyl homoserine lactone receptors: membrane-bound and cytoplasmic. A focused library of analogs and derivatives of the original antagonist was synthesized. Analog and derivative molecules harbor a range of activities. The novel small molecule and most potent antagonist protects the eukaryote Caenorhabditis elegans from quorum-sensing-mediated killing by the bacterial pathogen Chromobacterium violaceum. The saving of C. elegans demonstrates the use of these molecules as small molecule antimicrobials.
US09468623B1
The present invention provides compound extracted from Garcinia species and the use of said compound in preventing and treating cancer.
US09468620B2
The present invention relates to use of DHA analogs and their pharmaceutical compositions for treating ototoxicity, by administering these compounds or pharmaceutical compositions to subjects in need thereof. Ototoxicity is defined as damage to the structures of the ear, such as the cochlea and vestibular system, by drugs or toxins. Ototoxicity can result in irreversible hearing loss, tinnitus, dysequilibrium, Meniere's disease, or vertigo.
US09468615B2
Provided herein are compounds and pharmaceutical compositions for use in the treatment of neuropathic pain and the neuropathic pain syndromes.
US09468606B2
A powder is disclosed including core/shell particles having an average particle size of less than 1000 microns, each particle contains a liquid core that is substantially free of water and includes A) a polar liquid having a percent surface polarity of at least 24%, an active ingredient, and C) from about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of at least one solubility enhancing agent that is not an active ingredient; and a shell comprising hydrophobic particles. The powder can be used to topically administer the active ingredient to a human or animal.
US09468602B2
The present invention refers to a microemulsion formulation suitable for preventing assembly of amphiphilic drug molecules which may cause hypersensitivity reactions and other unwanted side effects.
US09468594B2
The present invention relates to the use of specific organic compounds as flavor and fragrance material. Furthermore the invention relates to a new specific organic compound, as well as to flavor and fragrance formulations comprising at least one of the specific organic compounds.
US09468589B2
Composite particulates, topical composition containing composite particulates, methods for improving the appearance of skin depth, dimensionality or undertones; a method for improving the ashy, chalky or mask-like appearance of color cosmetic compositions on the skin; and a method for reducing the number of shades in a color cosmetic shade range by formulating the cosmetic with composite particulates.
US09468587B2
A tray for holding medical containers, including a plurality of elongated parallel cavities that are intended to receive at least one container is disclosed. Each of the cavities includes a first set of contact surfaces for holding the at least one container, and each of the cavities includes a second set of contact surfaces for holding the at least one container when provided with a cap. The first set of contact surfaces and the second set of contact surfaces are arranged such that the at least one capped container is held in the cavity in a reverse orientation with respect to the at least one container when provided without a cap. A packaging for medial containers and a method for packaging medical containers are also provided herein.
US09468586B2
A pierce and fill connector cap for a vial sealed by an elastomeric septum includes a vial collar and a needle holder. The vial collar body defines a collar aperture to be positioned in overlying registry with the septum of the vial, and the needle holder includes a needle holder body providing a means for holding a pair of elongate needles in registry with the collar aperture. The needle holder body holds at least one needle therein in a bent or deflected orientation and is moveable with respect to the vial collar between a first position spaced from the vial collar and a second position proximate the vial collar, such that the needled held by the needle holder will puncture through the vial septum.
US09468585B2
The invention relates to a bag (10) for storing a therapeutic solution, including at least one compartment (11) for receiving a solution and defined by a diaphragm (12). The bag further includes at least one appendage (13) forming an extension of the diaphragm (12) and comprising a writing area (14). The bag for storing a therapeutic solution according to the invention makes it possible to write on the bag with a reduced risk of contamination.
US09468571B2
A front wheel drive powered wheelchair is provided and may include a support frame, a pair of opposing drive wheels, a pair of drives, and a pair of rear wheels. The frame may include a front portion, a seat post, and two independent arms extending rearward from the front portion. Each drive wheel may be coupled to the front portion of the frame. Each drive may be mounted to the front portion of the frame and may be operatively connected to a respective drive wheel of the pair of drive wheels. Each rear wheel may be coupled to a respective independent arm of the support frame. Each independent arm may be capable of flexing independent of the other.
US09468566B2
Absorbent structures for diapers are provided, comprising, immobilized onto a supporting sheet, an absorbent layer with absorbent material containing superabsorbent polymer particles and therein, in the front region, a first and a second substantially longitudinal channel, each being free of said superabsorbent polymeric particles, for improved fit and/or performance throughout the use thereof.
US09468565B2
An absorbent article of the present invention may comprise a backsheet, a wetness indicator composition, and an absorbent core. The wetness indicator composition may comprise a stabilizer, a colorant, and a matrix. The absorbent core may comprise a nonwoven layer and an absorbent polymer material, and optionally, a thermoplastic adhesive material. The wetness indicator composition may be in direct contact with an inner surface of the backsheet and an outer surface of the nonwoven layer. And, the absorbent polymer material, and optionally, the thermoplastic adhesive material, may be in direct contact with an inner surface of the nonwoven. Further, the absorbent core may be substantially cellulose free and may be oriented in at least one row.
US09468564B2
The present disclosure provides methods of manufacturing a body adhering absorbent article oriented in the machine direction wherein the body adhering absorbent articles have reduced or eliminated curl. The articles are manufactured with reduced curl by selectively reducing or eliminating the shell elastic tension in regions where components of the body adhering absorbent article are to be attached to form the composite absorbent article web. In certain aspects the body adhering absorbent articles are manufactured by supplying an elastic web of shell material having a longitudinal and transverse direction, stretching the web of shell material in the longitudinal direction, deadening at least one region of the stretched web of shell material, attaching at least one absorbent article component to at least a portion of the longitudinal deadened zone to form a composite web material, and cutting the composite web material to form a body adhering absorbent article.
US09468557B2
A compact heat exchanger for veno-venous perfusion-induced hyperthermia includes an integral pneumatic pump and a hollow tubule heat exchange array. A veno-venous perfusion-induced hyperthermia system incorporating the compact heat exchanger is described. The heat exchanger provides a compact, efficient design allowing a lesser heat exchanging surface area and lesser required pumping power compared to conventional systems. In turn, the system provides a shorter blood circuit compared to conventional systems, allowing maintaining a lower blood temperature than such conventional systems while supplying sufficiently heated blood to patient visceral organs to provide a therapeutic effect, such as in supplementing chemotherapy drugs.
US09468555B2
A support shell arrangement (20) is provided for arranging on a lower leg, having a foot part (23) and a calf part (21). The calf part includes two calf struts (29, 30) disposed at the side of an entry opening (32) of the calf part, extending in the longitudinal axis of the calf part, and a heel strut connected to the calf struts in a strut connection and extending toward a heel part of the foot part. A support bow arrangement (24) has two bow struts (34, 35) extending in a U-shape about a sole area, the free strut ends thereof being pivotally connected in pairs in a common pivot joint (43, 44) on a joint axis corresponding to the ankle joint and connected to a calf strut, and connected to each other in a V-shape by a common support basis (36). The support base is pivotally connected to the heel strut of the calf part at the heel side end thereof.
US09468554B2
A method for providing abduction and adduction adjustment in a hip orthosis, comprises the steps of: providing a hip orthosis having a hip plate with a pad, and a first strut coupling at a hinge to a second strut received by the hip plate; providing the first strut with an anatomical curvature; providing an intermediate shell carrying a pad slidably engages and engaging the first strut; biasing the intermediate shell by the curvature inwardly toward a user; and adjusting an angle between first and second parts of the hinge in a variety of angles, the first and second parts connecting to the first and second struts, respectively.
US09468550B2
Devices and methods for treating obesity are provided. More particularly, intragastric devices and methods of fabricating, deploying, inflating, monitoring, and retrieving the same are provided.
US09468539B2
Vertebral body replacements are provided, including at least one vertebral body replacement in the shape of an oblong object. The oblong vertebral body replacement includes a nose shape to provide as minimally invasive an installation as possible, serrations formed in the side wall of the body replacement's body to prevent expulsion once the body replacement is in place, a tapered asymmetric shape to provide spinal lordosis, and an integral protrusion for stability and to increase the bearing area to reduce contact pressure between the body replacement and the vertebral plate. Hollow passages are typically filled with bone tissue. The body is also provided with holes passing therethrough to promote tissue growth.
US09468537B2
A methodology for grafting together adjacent bony structures is provided using an implant device having an endplate with an inner disc portion and outer ring portion spaced from the inner disc portion by a connecting wall disposed there between. An endplate interior surface includes a retaining structure for securing the endplate to one of the bony structures, and endplate an exterior surface has an integrally formed socket. A ball-joint rod has a longitudinally extending body and an end, and at least a portion of the ball-joint rod end is curvilinear in shape. The curvilinear ball-joint rod end is rotatably disposed in the endplate socket to fixedly interconnect the bony structures.
US09468528B2
Devices and methods provide enhanced treatment of a cardiac valve annulus. Methods generally involve contacting an anchor delivery device with the valve annulus and releasing a plurality of coupled anchors from the anchor delivery device to secure the anchors to the annulus. Anchors, which in some embodiments are super-elastic or shape memory self-securing anchors, are then drawn together to tighten the annulus. Devices generally include an elongate catheter having a housing at or near the distal end for releasably housing a plurality of coupled anchors. The housing may be flexible, may conform to a valve annulus, and in some embodiments may be coupled with an expandable member to enhance contact of the housing with annular tissue. In one embodiment, self-securing anchors lie approximately flat within the delivery device housing, allowing anchors with relatively large deployed shapes to be housed in and deployed from a relatively narrow delivery device.
US09468527B2
A cardiac implant system including a cardiac implant such as an annuloplasty ring, a prosthetic heart valve, or a valved conduit pre-assembled at the time of manufacture with devices for securing the implant to a heart valve annulus using knotless suture fasteners. The knotless suture fasteners may be embedded within a pliant sealing edge of the cardiac implant, or they may be positioned adjacent to the sealing edge. The knotless suture fasteners are spring-biased so as to grip onto annulus anchoring sutures pass to therethrough upon removal of a restraining device, such as a hypotube inserted within the suture fasteners. Guide tubes are assembled in line with the suture fasteners to permit introduction of suture snares that pass through the suture fasteners and through the sealing edge to facilitate capture of the pre-installed annulus anchoring sutures.
US09468524B2
Advances in filling apparatus, handheld tools, surgical techniques and intraoperative biometry for implanting and adjusting an accommodative liquid lens are disclosed. The lens may be attached to or retained within a handheld surgical tool, which can be fluidly connectable to a filling console to fill the lens with a liquid. In various embodiments, a filling console facilitates aspirating liquid out of the lens in order to ensure the absence of residual bubbles and filling of the lens with fluid during surgery, as well as during post-operative adjustments to the lens. Actuated by the surgeon, the filling console can aspirate fluid from the lens and inject fluid into the lens following insertion thereof.
US09468515B2
A method for performing a percutaneous valve bypass, the method comprising providing a bypass conduit having a first end and a second end; connecting the first end of the bypass conduit to a first vascular structure at a first anastomosis; connecting the second end of the bypass conduit to a second vascular structure at a second anastomosis; advancing a percutaneous valve along the bypass conduit to a deployment site located within the bypass conduit; and deploying the percutaneous valve at the deployment site so that fluid is permitted to pass from the second vascular structure to the first vascular structure but is prevented from passing from the first vascular structure to the second vascular structure.
US09468514B2
Everting filter devices and methods for using the devices, including using the devices as intra-vascular filters to filter thrombus, emboli, and plaque fragments from blood vessels. The filter devices include a filter body nominally tubular in shape and having a large proximal opening. The filter body can extend from a proximal first end region distally over the non-everted exterior surface of the filter, further extending distally to a distal-most region, then converging inwardly and extending proximally toward the filter second end region, forming a distal everted cavity. The degree of eversion of the filter can be controlled by varying the distance between the filter first end region near the proximal opening and the closed second end region. Bringing the filter first and second end regions closer together can bring filter material previously on the non-everted filter exterior to occupy the distal-most region.
US09468512B2
Described are methods, devices, and systems related to implants for the treatment of a female pelvic condition. The implants include absorbable and non-absorbable materials and can be introduced into the pelvic area transvaginally. Meshes of the invention provide benefits relating to improved tissue integration into the mesh, reduced infection likelihood, improved patient comfort following implantation, or combinations of thereof.
US09468504B2
A dental cutting system and method for cutting a patient's tooth includes a hand piece to be held and carrying a cutting burr to cut the patient's tooth. A plurality of guide pins is attached to and extends from the hand piece of the cutting tool remote from the cutting bur. One or more cutting guides each have a cavity coinciding with at least a portion of teeth inside a patient's mouth that are adjacent to or remote from the patient's tooth to be cut. The guide pins of the handpiece slide in slots in the cutting guide to guide the cutting burr to cut the patient's tooth.
US09468498B2
A system for providing current to perform a surgical procedure includes an electrosurgical device having a conductive cutting wire and a power source with a power cord providing current to the cutting wire from a power source. The power cord and device are connected via a magnetic connection. The magnetic connection includes a device housing coupled to a cord housing, where a magnetic post is received in a recess for mechanically and electrically connecting the cutting wire and an active wire of the power cord. The recess and the magnetic post can be coaxial, with the axes being perpendicular to longitudinal axes of the device housing and the cord housing so that the connection can withstand a force exerted along the longitudinal axis, but a sufficient force transverse to the longitudinal axes and along the axes of the recess and the post can de-couple the magnetic connection.
US09468497B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for monopolar neuromodulation, e.g., via a pulsed electric field. Such monopolar neuromodulation may effectuate irreversible electroporation or electrofusion, necrosis and/or inducement of apoptosis, alteration of gene expression, action potential attenuation or blockade, changes in cytokine up-regulation and other conditions in target neural fibers. In some embodiments, monopolar neuromodulation is applied to neural fibers that contribute to renal function. In some embodiments, such monopolar neuromodulation is performed bilaterally.
US09468489B2
A method of controlling an electrosurgical system is described, the system including an electrosurgical generator and an electrosurgical instrument connected to the generator by means of a cable. A radio frequency signal is supplied to the electrosurgical instrument at an operating frequency, and the voltage of the radio frequency signal is monitored at a frequency corresponding to the frequency of a resonant circuit established by the electrosurgical instrument together with the cable. The monitored voltage is capable of indicating the initiation of arcing from the electrosurgical instrument, such that the voltage of the radio frequency signal can be adjusted in response to the monitored voltage at the resonant frequency. The magnitude of the monitored voltage is an indication of the degree of arcing. An electrosurgical system including an arc detector is also disclosed.
US09468481B2
Disclosed embodiments relate to a fastener operable to be received into an opening defined in a plate. The fastener may include a modular sleeve having an actuatable mechanism operable to prevent the rotation of the fastener relative to the plate. The modular sleeve may be moved from a non-actuated first position and an actuated second position to actuate the actuatable mechanism. A portion of the modular sleeve may be accessible from a top side of the head of the fastener through a plurality of channels in the head, and the modular sleeve may be accessible through the plurality of channels in the head in order to actuate the modular sleeve.
US09468479B2
Bones fracture in any number of various ways and, in order to properly reduce a fracture, it may be necessary to place compression screws in any number of combinations along a bone plate to bring the various bone fragments together. A bone plate is provided with an optimal number and combination of threaded holes and non-threaded holes. In embodiments, the bone plate comprises one or more “hole pairs” in which a non-threaded hole and a threaded hole are placed adjacent to one another. The use of hole pairs enables a surgeon to place a compression screw and a locking screw in close proximity, facilitating both bone reduction and bone plate stabilization in a proximate location on the bone plate. In embodiments, the bone plate has an optimal thickness that promotes structural integrity while maximizing the number and combination of holes and reducing the profile of seated screws.
US09468473B2
Devices and methods are disclosed for treating an intervertebral space. A device is provided that extends from the middle of at least one vertebral body to the disc space between two adjacent vertebrae. The device allows nutrients, such as bone marrow, blood, etc., to migrate from the vertebral body to the disc space to help promote fusion of the two adjacent vertebral bodies. The device can be tubular, perforated and can be made of an absorbent or wicking material that is able to promote the nutrients to travel through the apparatus.
US09468468B2
A transverse connector of a stabilizing system for correcting a spinal deformity includes a mounting portion adapted to be secured to a vertebra, a head portion having a pocket for receiving a spinal rod, a connection portion extending between the mounting portion and the head portion, and an arm portion extending from the mounting portion to a terminal end. The arm portion is substantially elongate in shape and is adapted to extend laterally across a vertebra of a spine. A flexible tether is secured to the terminal end of the arm portion.
US09468461B2
The present disclosure relates to catheterization systems and components thereof. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a catheterization system is disclosed that includes a catheter including a body with proximal and distal ends and defining first and second lumens extending therethrough, and a stylet. The stylet includes first and second stylet portions each having proximal and distal end regions, wherein the distal end regions of the first and second stylet portions together define a tapered penetrating portion. The first and second stylet portions are configured and dimensioned to be slidably positioned within the first and second lumens of the catheter, respectively. The first and second stylet portions extend from the proximal end of the catheter and beyond the distal end of the catheter, and are independently movable in relation to each other to facilitate selective removal of the first stylet portion and/or the second stylet portion from the catheter.
US09468458B2
An aortic valve cutter of the present disclosure has a flexible housing with a central lumen for receiving a guide wire. A high-speed rotating wire is disposed within the housing near an edge of the housing. A trough cut into a side of the housing exposes a portion of the rotating wire such that the rotating wire can be used as a cutter. Two pusher wires are disposed on an opposite side of the housing from the rotating wire. Troughs cut into the side of the housing form openings from which the pusher wires can extend. The pusher wires are staggered with respect to one another in the longitudinal direction. When the pusher wires are advanced, they extend outwardly from the troughs and can be used to stabilize the cutter at the aortic valve and push the cutting wire against the valve on the opposite side.
US09468456B2
A medical/surgical device for performing tissue resection can include an endoscope with proximal and distal ends, defining working channels, and a snare assembly located in one of the working channels. The working channel may include a bend near the distal end and towards the outward radial wall of the endoscope. The snare assembly may include a snare loop and an actuation element imparted with the pre-formed angular bends and an actuation control handle. The bends of the actuation element and the working channel may be the same. The rotational manipulation of the actuation element may synchronize the pre-formed bend of the actuation element with the bend of the working channel to concentrically (or otherwise) align the deployed snare loop with the endoscope or endoscope attachments.
US09468446B2
Described are methods, processes, tools, techniques and/or devices suitable for use in total or partial knee arthroplasty procedures, which can be used to balance the knee and/or allow confirmation of the various gaps in flexion and/or extension prior to resecting the distal and posterior cuts of the femur and/or the resection of the tibia. The various techniques and embodiments described herein may be particularly useful in optimizing and/or reducing the number of resection cuts and/or improper resection cuts made during knee surgery which could result from resecting the knee before balancing.
US09468445B2
Sensing technology methods related thereto for determining cut through of bone and a depth of penetration of a working portion of a surgical instrument (e.g., an oscillating saw blade in a cut). A first sensor outputs a first signal representative of a displacement of the cutting edge of the saw blade in the cut. A second sensor outputs a second signal representative of a force applied to the cutting edge of the saw blade. As such, monitoring the first and/or second sensor may allow for the saw to be stopped upon completion of a cut (e.g., when the saw passes completely through a medium to be cut or upon reaching a predetermined depth for the cut).
US09468444B2
This invention provides hermetically-sealed handle assembly with a rotating trigger for use with disposable components, such as surgical clip appliers. The rotating trigger reduces the gripping force necessary to fully control the internal actuator mechanism to operate a disposable surgical clip applier to fully ligate a vessel or other tissue. The hermetic seal on the handle assembly prevents any patient fluids and other bioburden from entering the internal structures. This reduces the possibility of cross-contamination and the costs of sterilization.
US09468442B2
An intraluminal apparatus including a catheter and device is positionable at a junction of afferent and efferent vessels of a bifurcation having an aneurysm. After positioning the device to substantially conform the device to the shape of the junction, the device acts as a scaffolding to inhibit herniation of objects out of the aneurysm and the device permits perfusion to the efferent vessels. Positioning the device may include deployment and optional release from a catheter. Embolic material may be inserted in the aneurysm before or after positioning the device. The device may have a proximal end, a distal end, and a plurality of filaments extending between and coupled at the proximal end and the distal end. The device may include a central filament configured to reshape the device. The distal end of the device may include a covering. The device may be football shaped, pumpkin shaped, or acorn shaped.
US09468431B2
A tissue support device is provided for managing access through tissue. The tissue support device engages the tissue proximate an opening in the tissue and biases the tissue support device to bring the engaged tissue together.
US09468426B2
Methods and devices are provided for performing minimally invasive surgical procedures. In one embodiment, a surgical device is provided that include an elongate shaft having a distal portion configured to be movable between a first configuration in which the distal portion of the shaft is substantially straight or linear and a second configuration in which the distal portion of the shaft is articulated at a compound angle. The shaft's distal portion can include two articulation joints to facilitate formation of the compound angle.
US09468422B2
Sensor coupled to the ultrasound probe provides position information related to an ultrasound imaging position in the object. A processor performs first registration between the medical image and the ultrasound image based on the anatomical feature in the ultrasound image and a medical image of the object acquired by imaging modality different from the ultrasound apparatus, obtains first registration information which provides a relationship between a coordinate system of the medical image and a coordinate system of the ultrasound image based on the first registration, performs second registration between the sensor and the medical image based on the position information and the first registration information, and obtains second registration information based on the second registration. A display may display a portion of the medical image corresponding to the ultrasound imaging position based on the second registration information.
US09468413B2
An apparatus for tracking movement of a foreign object within a subject has an X-ray fluoroscopic system with an X-ray detector and an ultrasound system that has a probe with a position sensor. A display is configured to display a static X-ray image acquired by the X-ray fluoroscopic system and a real-time ultrasound image acquired by the ultrasound system. The X-ray image and the ultrasound image each display at least a portion of the foreign object and at least a portion of surrounding area. A tracking module is configured to track movement of the foreign object within the ultrasound image and the display is further configured to display an indication of the movement of the foreign object on the X-ray image.
US09468412B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide for a system and method for assessing the accuracy of a surgical navigation system. The method may include acquiring an X-ray image that captures a surgical instrument. The method may also include segmenting the surgical instrument in the X-ray image. In an embodiment, the segmenting may be performed using edge detection or pattern recognition. The distance between the predicted location of the surgical instrument tip and the actual location of the surgical instrument tip may be computed. The distance between the predicted location of the surgical instrument tip and the actual location of the surgical instrument tip may be compared with a threshold value. If the distance between the predicted location of the surgical instrument tip and the actual location of the surgical instrument tip is greater than the threshold value, the user may be alerted.
US09468409B2
Systems, methods and non-transitory computer readable media for imaging. The system includes one or more radiation sources and detectors configured to transmit x-ray radiation towards a subject for imaging a dynamic process in a ROI of the subject and to acquire projection data corresponding to the ROI, respectively. The system also includes a computing device operatively coupled to one or more of the radiation sources and the detectors. The computing device is configured to provide control signals for performing one or more reference scans for acquiring reference data from a plurality of angular positions around the subject and for performing one or more tomosynthesis scans using one or more tomosynthesis trajectories for acquiring tomosynthesis data following the onset of the dynamic process. Additionally, the computing device is configured to reconstruct one or more images representative of the dynamic process using the reference data and/or the tomosynthesis data.
US09468401B2
A system and method are provided for capturing hearing characteristics from self-administered hearing tests, including loudness tolerance levels at different sound frequencies, as an individualized shaped auditory profile for automatically enhancing audio to complement and address as closely as possible an individual's hearing deficits experienced via a particular signal pathway, the signal pathway including the audio device used to administer the test, the sound environment, and the user's hearing capabilities. The user may self-administer a hearing test on a convenient personal apparatus, such as a smartphone. The shaped auditory profile may then be used to produce enhanced sound subsequently transmitted to the individual via the same signal pathway. In certain of its aspects, the invention is useful for any individual seeking an enhanced hearing experience, whether having hearing within normal range or hearing that is impaired.
US09468400B2
An audiologic test apparatus includes: a processing unit configured to conduct a first and second audiologic tests; a first probe connector for connecting a first probe for the first audiologic test; a second probe connector for connecting a second probe for the second audiologic test; and a pump module connected to a first fluid port of the first probe connector with a first fluid channel and to a second fluid port of the second probe connector with a second fluid channel, wherein the pump module in a first operating mode is in fluid communication with the first fluid port, and in a second operating mode is in fluid communication with the second fluid port, the pump module configured to modify pressure in the first fluid channel when in the first operating mode, and to modify pressure in the second fluid channel when in the second operating mode.
US09468399B2
Methods and apparatuses for detecting when a subject gets up out of bed or out of chair by detecting changes in body flexion angle with respect to a threshold. Also described herein are systems for monitoring one or more subjects each wearing an angle-sensing unit.
US09468389B2
A connection facility for connecting an electrocardiogram electrode to a data acquisition and/or transfer facility includes a signal line and a connecting element for connecting the signal line to the electrocardiogram electrode. The connecting element has a clamping body with two clamping jaws connected by an elastic reset element between a front and a rear end of the clamping body, and a contact element for making contact with the electrocardiogram electrode arranged at the front end of the clamping body and connected in an electrically conducting manner to the signal line. The connecting element has a grip region, in which the jaw width is wider than the jaw width at the front end. The contact element is arranged centrally in the jaw width of the clamping jaws and has an extension in the direction of the jaw width, which is smaller than the jaw width at the front end.
US09468388B2
An electrocardiographic waveform measuring apparatus mounted in a seat with a seat skin element includes: a sensor electrode at a seat interior side of the seat to be covered with the seat skin element; an insulating elastic element at the seat interior side of the sensor electrode in the seat opposite to the seat skin element to face the sensor electrode; a guard electrode at the seat interior side of the insulating elastic element in the seat opposite to the sensor electrode to be opposed to the sensor electrode through the insulating elastic element; and a housing case at the seat interior side of the insulating elastic element in the seat opposite to the sensor electrode to be opposite to the insulating elastic element. The housing case accommodates a sensor circuit with an amplifier circuit, to which a potential signal of the sensor electrode is initially input.
US09468385B2
A medical device system for monitoring a patient's heart includes an implantable medical device (IMD) configured to determine sensing vector data for multiple sensing vectors selected from electrodes coupled to the IMD. The system further includes an external device configured to receive the sensing vector data and provide at least a portion of the sensing vector data to a user display configured to display sensing vector criteria and the sensing vector data as part of a graphical user interface for programming a sensing vector used by the implantable medical device for monitoring a patient's heart rhythm.
US09468384B2
An implantable electrode lead for transmitting electrical impulses to excitable bodily tissue and/or for transmitting electrical signals tapped at bodily tissue to a detection unit. The electrode lead including a distal electrode, a proximal electrode connector, and an electrode supply lead which connects the electrode, or each electrode, to the electrode connector, or each electrode connector, and extends in a lead body, wherein the lead body includes a hinged alignment of hard elements.
US09468374B2
A fundus imaging apparatus for acquiring a fundus image; and a measurement unit that extracts a characteristic image of a fundus image from a first fundus image captured by the fundus imaging apparatus, detects the characteristic image from a second fundus image that is different from the fundus image, and measures a position change in the fundus images from coordinates of the extracted characteristic image and the detected characteristic image in the respective fundus images, wherein a region in which the characteristic image is detected from the second fundus image is determined so that a region searched for the characteristic image from the first image includes the extracted characteristic image and is broader than a range of movement of the characteristic image resulting from movements of the eye ball within measurement time.
US09468373B2
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to eye tracking systems and methods which track eyes by illuminating the eyes using a light source and detecting the eye illuminations using a sensor. Implementations of the present disclosure may utilize a light source with a dynamic lighting position to account for changes in lighting conditions during the tracking which interfere with detection of the eye illuminations, such as reflections in glasses which may obscure a user's eyes.
US09468371B2
Methods for determining a prescription (Rx) for a person include providing aberrometric data characterizing wavefront errors of the person's eye, the aberrometric data being obtained using an wavefront sensor and comprising one or more coefficients characterizing the wavefront errors; determining a starting Rx for the person's eye based on the one or more coefficients and on predetermined information relating aberrometric data and subjective refraction data for a plurality of people's eyes; and reporting the starting Rx to an eye care professional.
US09468364B2
Image processing systems are described which utilize various methods and processing algorithms for enhancing or facilitating visual detection and/or sensing modalities for images captured in vivo by an intravascular visualization and treatment catheter. Such assemblies are configured to deliver energy, such as RF ablation, to an underlying target tissue for treatment in a controlled manner while directly visualizing the tissue during the ablation process.
US09468351B2
A carpet cleaning system having a single, hand-held wand and mounted on it, a pre-spray canister, a venturi tee fluidly connected thereto, and valves for directing pressurized hot water into first and/or second flow streams. Downstream of a flow-splitting tee, a single valve regulates the first flow stream; and a pair of valves, sandwiching the venturi tee, regulate the second flow stream. This pair also controls cleaning solution discharging from the pre-spray canister via the venturi tee. Positioned at the operator's fingertips are the single valve's handle and a bar for moving the paired valves' handles simultaneously, thus allowing one to momentarily turn on or off either flow stream or adjust a mix thereof. Importantly, without interrupting any steam cleaning then in progress, one can immediately reapply the cleaning solution to a stain and, as a consequence, substantially upgrade the quality of the finished carpet cleaning job.
US09468332B2
A docking station for a beverage dispenser having a reservoir is provided. A spout configured for selectively directing a flow of water into the reservoir of the beverage dispenser. A water level sensor is configured for assessing a level of water within the reservoir of the beverage dispenser. The flow of water from the spout may automatically fill the reservoir of the beverage dispenser based at least in part upon signals from the water level sensor.
US09468327B2
A method and a system for dispensing shoe covers are disclosed. The shoe cover dispensing method comprises the following steps: propping a shoe cover open; inverting; determining if relay has been reset and if not then repeating the determining; opening; relaying; waiting for use; completing usage; resetting the relay; determining if the inverting has been completed and if not then repeating the determining; jumping to the opening step. The shoe cover dispensing system comprises a shoe cover storage module (100), an extracting module (200), an opening module (300), and a relay module (400). Compared with the prior art, the method and system for dispensing shoe covers of the present invention are convenient for pre-storing shoe covers with more pre-stored shoe covers contained at one time, the pre-storing is convenient, the accuracy requirements for pre-storing the shoe covers are low, the occupied space is saved, and the operating efficiency is high.
US09468323B2
The Bottle Buddy is a new product to help keep bottled beverages cold while allowing them to stand firmly on a flat surface and also fit firmly in today's modern cup or drink holders. The Bottle Buddy is buoyant so if dropped in water it floats whether bottle is full of fluid or empty. The main improvement to current products on the market is the fact that the Bottle Buddy stands on the bottle's own firm base and also allows for a firm grasp inside a cup holder. It provides for a nice comfortable grip on the beverage and provides floatation if dropped into the water while a bottle is inside the Bottle Buddy.
US09468316B1
A display fixture includes a main support frame, a table top supported by the main support frame, an underframe attached to the main support frame and located underneath the table top and at least one display hook that supports hanging products. The at least one display hook has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is removably coupled to and supported by the underframe.
US09468315B2
A product display assembly (100) includes a product display device (110) and a security device (160). The display device (110) includes a boom (112) and a peg hook (114). The hook (114) exhibits merchandise along a length of the hook (114). The security device (160) includes a base (118), an arm portion (164) pivotally mounted to the base (118) for rotation, and a foot portion (166) coupled to and extending away from the arm portion (164). In a securing position, movement of merchandise (130) contacts the security device (160). In a retrieval position, the security device (160) is rotated away from the peg hook (114) such that movement of merchandise does not contact the security device (160) and merchandise (130) is removable from the hook (114). In a locking position, the security device (160) rotates away from the hook (114) by continuing contact with the merchandise (130). At a point of the contact, rotation of the security device (160) is inhibited to prevent removal of the merchandise (130) from the display device (110).
US09468313B2
A product display tray comprises a tray frame having a product support shelf a front support wall extending upwardly from the front edge of the support shelf and two opposing lateral support walls extending upwardly from the lateral edges of the support shelf and rearwardly from the side edges of the front support wall forming a product retaining enclosure, and attachment flanges extending outward laterally from the rear edges of the lateral support walls, the bottom surface of the support shelf including an arcuate reinforcement beam wherein the middle portion is disposed closer to the back edge of the product support shelf than the end portions thereof, and one or more dividers detachably attached to the front support wall and movable laterally for dividing the enclosure into two or more product retaining partitions.
US09468306B2
A support device designed to extend between two long sides of a bed base frame or of a seat base frame so as to support a mattress. Implementations of the device may include a lower section comprising at least one elongate crosspiece suitable for being fastened to respective ones of the two long sides of the frame, an upper section comprising a platform suitable for supporting the mattress, and an intermediate section resiliently interconnecting the lower section and the upper section via a plurality of resilient members that are disposed along the crosspiece. In various implementations, the longitudinal spacing between the two first resilient members that are closest to the first end of the crosspiece is greater than the longitudinal spacing between the two first resilient members that are closest to the middle of the crosspiece.
US09468305B2
A folding bed for storage within a cabinet has a flat platform made from a front panel and an inside front panel. Rear extension panels are hingedly attached to the rear face of a drawer such that in the closed cabinet position the rear extension panels are parallel to the rear drawer face and moveable when in the open bed position to be parallel with the side drawer faces. The cabinet sides and the cabinet top have hinges to permit opening up the upper structural section.A method of transforming an apparatus from a cabinet to a bed pulling out a base drawer involves unfolding panels to form a platform out of a front panel, an inside panel and a cabinet floor, unfolding a mattress from within the apparatus onto the platform, and unfolding side panels to reduce visible obstructions.
US09468302B2
An armrest expansion device. The armrest expansion device can include two or more planar housings and couplings for reversibly coupling the device to a pre-existing armrest, for example a commercial passenger vehicle's armrest, or any other desired armrest. At least one of the planar housings may extend the useable area available as an armrest. Further, the armrest expansion device may additionally increase the effective height of the pre-existing armrest.
US09468299B2
Cushions configured to relieve pressure on the piriformis muscle/sciatic nerve area and/or perineum pressure. In some embodiments, a cushion may comprise a first lobe and a second lobe connected by a bridge region to define a low-profile region. The width of the entire cushion may be limited to reduce or eliminate pressure on the hollow of the buttocks, the location of the sciatic nerve, and piriformis muscle. In some embodiments, the cushion may comprise a rear seat portion configured to support a user's buttocks during use and a front seat portion configured to support a user's legs. The front seat portion may have a greater width than the rear seat portion to further reduce or eliminate pressure on the perineum region.
US09468298B2
A furniture assembly and structuring systems comprising the insertion of tenons of multilayered corrugated Kraft into mortises in panels of corrugated Kraft in order to obtain furniture structures and other structures that are sturdy, as well as being light and self-supporting and optionally made from recyclable material. The tenons have a folding flap and tuck slot that form an interlocking connection. The invention also relates to a furniture assembly and structuring systems made from panels comprising layered corrugated Kraft comprising a dovetail and slot assembly. The applications are multiple, ranging from items of furniture such as chairs, tables, benches, shelves, items for loading products, display units, and packagings. The assembly systems are also designed to be set up in such a way that it is practical and easy for the user without needing to use tools. It enables and facilitates the transport of the structures prior to assembly in parts arranged in a compact manner, occupying a relatively small space.
US09468296B1
An asymmetric swing has a large seat having a large seat seat bottom. A large seat frame connected to the large seat. The large seat frame includes a large seat right frame and a large seat left frame. A small seat has a small seat seat bottom that is smaller in supporting surface area than the large seat seat bottom. A small seat frame is connected to the small seat. A pair of suspension brackets include a first suspension bracket and a second suspension bracket. The large seat frame and the small seat frame are suspended from the pair of suspension brackets. The large seat is connected to the foot pedal and the small seat is connected to the foot pedal. The large seat frame, the small seat frame, the foot pedal, and the pair of suspension brackets are pivotally jointed to form a four bar mechanism.
US09468295B2
A seating unit that includes a linkage mechanism adapted to move the seating unit between closed, extended, reclined, and seat-lift positions is provided. The linkage mechanism includes a footrest assembly, a back-mounting link coupled to a seat-mounting plate, a base plate coupled to a lift-base assembly via a lift assembly, a motor tube, and two linear actuators for automating adjustment of the linkage mechanism. A first phase involves a second linear actuator rotating the motor tube angularly within a first range of degrees, causing the seat-adjustment assembly to bias the seat-mounting plate. A second phase involves the second linear actuator rotating the motor tube angularly within a second range of degrees, causing the footrest assembly to extend or retract without affecting the back-mounting link bias. A third phase involves a first linear actuator causing the lift assembly to raise and tilt the base plate directly over the lift-base assembly.
US09468293B2
A combined rack for connecting two sliding rails includes a front plate, a back plate, a left component, a right component and a carrying component. The front plate, the back plate, the left component, the right component and the carrying component together form an accommodation space. The left component and the right component are used for being installed on the two sliding rails respectively, in a slidable manner. The carrying component includes a carrying member, a front combining component and a back combining component. The lower edge of the front plate includes a back support structure, and the front combining component and the back combining component on opposite two sides of the carrying component are installed on the front support structure and the back support structure respectively.
US09468291B2
The combination sheet music stand and dry erase board is a supplemental sheet music stand for use in combination with a music rack of a conventional piano. The combination sheet music stand and dry erase board includes a planar support having opposed upper and lower ends and opposed front and rear surfaces. The planar support is formed from a transparent material adapted for receiving erasable ink on the front surface thereof. Indicia indicative of at least one musical staff is formed on the rear surface of the planar support, allowing a user to erasably write musical notation directly on the front surface of the planar support. A shelf for supporting sheet music or the like is mounted on the lower end of the planar support. A retaining member is mounted on the upper end of the planar support for suspension from an upper edge of the music rack.
US09468285B2
The present invention is a multipurpose strap device for securing, fastening, removably attaching, carrying, storing holding, and/or locking items and/or objects. One current embodiment allows for carrying a helmet on a motorcycle by securing said helmet to said motorcycle via the multipurpose strap device. Other embodiments find use of the invention as a wallet, carrying case, or other storage device.
US09468284B2
A hanging chair that includes an upper frame member that is connectable to an external support structure, a lower frame member, and a plurality of upright supports that each extend from the upper frame member to the lower frame member. The plurality of upright supports are pivotally moveable between a collapsed position and an expanded position.
US09468281B2
An applicator for a cosmetic product, in particular mascara, comprises a twisted core and fibres that extend from the core being held by the core, the core having a distal end and a proximal end, the fibres forming an envelope (E) with their free end, characterised in that the envelope (E) has curved faces (F1-F4) with at least one slope, or inclination, from the distal end to the proximal end, the slope or inclination changing direction from one face (F1, F3) to the other (F2, F4) so that the envelope (E) has hollows alternating with raised parts around the core.
US09468279B2
A fluid transfer assembly comprises a housing for accommodating a fluid. A bellows member disposed in the housing defines an opening therethrough adapted to be in fluid communication with an applicator assembly. The bellows member is adapted to operatively engage the applicator assembly for extension in a first direction and contraction in a second direction. The bellows member seals against the inner surface of the housing during extension and contraction for defining a variable volume chamber with the housing. Expansion of the bellows member in the first direction reduces the chamber volume for generating positive pressure in the housing and forcing fluid through a valve to the applicator assembly. Contraction of the bellows member in the second direction increases the chamber volume for generating negative pressure within the housing for drawing fluid into the chamber.
US09468277B2
A luggage case may include front, back, side, top, and bottom walls. At least one recess may be defined by at least one of the walls near the luggage case's bottom end. Two or more spinner wheel assemblies may be joined to at least one of the walls proximate the luggage case's bottom end. Each spinner wheel assembly may be configured to pivot its at least one wheel from a first position where the at least one wheel engages a support surface to allow the luggage case to be wheeled on the support surface to a second position where the least one wheel is positioned within one of the at least one recess and does not project beyond the bottom wall. An actuation mechanism that includes a user engagement component and at least one actuation assembly may be used to move the wheels between their first and second positions.
US09468275B2
An improved beach umbrella that includes a canopy, a cylindrical shaft with a point on the lower end, and one or more wedges that are attached to the shaft. The wedges act as anchors for the umbrella when placed into the ground to prevent the umbrella from being uplifted from the ground due to a strong force of wind.
US09468266B2
An automatic gripping closure device comprising a first element with hooks comprising a first base band and at least two first hooks originating from the first band and placed in at least one row of first hooks (9), each first hook being delimited by two faces (11, 12) that are mutually opposed and transverse to the direction of the at least one row of first hooks and at least one coupling portion (13, 14) protruding laterally from the stem, preferably at the top of the latter, while extending in a direction transverse to the direction of the row, and a second element with hooks comprising a second base band and at least two second hooks originating from the second band and placed in at least one row.
US09468262B2
A one-piece locking device for a shoelace. The locking device includes a top portion hingeably connected to a bottom portion proximate a first end of the top and bottom portions. A shoelace coupling opening is located on a bottom surface of the bottom portion. A hook and latch mechanism is formed by a hook and latch, one each of which is disposed proximate a second end of the top and bottom portions. One or more shoelace clamping bars are located on a bottom surface of the top portion and a top surface of the bottom portion which together serve to clamp and retain a shoelace. The top portion also includes one or more openings configured for interconnecting with one or more corresponding protrusions on the bottom surface of a decorative element or RFID type chip. The decorative element is selectable by a user to provide visual decoration of the locking device.
US09468251B2
A sole assembly for an article of footwear is disclosed. The sole assembly includes a central support structure that extends along the sole assembly in the longitudinal direction. The sole assembly includes forefoot wing portions extending away from the central support structure in the lateral direction in the forefoot region of the sole assembly. The sole assembly also includes stability rib portions extending away from the central support structure in the lateral direction in the midfoot region of the sole assembly. The central support structure provides varying amounts of stiffness and flexibility to the sole assembly and the forefoot wing portions and stability rib portions provide additional stiffness and flexibility to desired portions of the sole assembly.
US09468248B2
A protective helmet for successive impacts includes a head cap adapted to surround and move with a wearer's head and an outer shell which surrounds the head cap. An energy absorbing flexible liner predominantly comprised of radially oriented foam columns is attached to both the head cap and outer shell. The liner establishes a preset initial relative position and spacing between the head cap and the outer shell and compliantly absorbs energy imparted to the outer shell during a helmet impact to enable the outer shell to move linearly and angularly relative to the head cap during the helmet impact and to be returned to the initial relative position with the head cap following the impact.
US09468246B2
A button replacement and reinforcement system which provides a quick and simple alternative to sewing a button into place. This system is versatile in that it can be used on buttons with one or up to four holes. It provides a secure attachment or reinforcement to button placement, and is also able to add buttons as an embellishment to a variety of materials, including materials. It is quick and simple to use, and hold buttons securely in place without the need for a needle or thread.
US09468243B2
A detachable wrist coach has a detachable sheet of football plays in a transparent pocket joined to a sweatband by hook-and-loop fasteners. The detachable sheet can be separated from the sweatband so that the sweatband can be cleaned without degrading the transparent pocket or getting water into it. The hook-and-loop fasteners may have a fold over configuration for greater strength while still retaining the ability to be pealed apart.
US09468241B2
Variable compression garments may use an elastomer such as silicone printed on a textile to create a varying amount of compressive force along a limb. Greater amounts of elastomer may be used to create greater amounts of compressive force.
US09468238B2
A garment comprises a torso portion including a volume reduction arrangement. The volume reduction arrangement includes a first strap that crosses a second strap, a first strap adjustment member, and a second strap adjustment member. The first strap adjustment member is coupled to a right side of the torso portion. A first portion of the first strap is coupled to a left side of the torso portion, and a second portion of the first strap engages the first strap adjustment member on the right side of the torso portion. The second strap adjustment member is coupled to the shell on the left side of the torso portion. A first portion of the second strap is coupled to the right side of the torso portion, and a second portion of the second strap engages the second strap adjustment member on the left side of the torso portion.
US09468237B2
A system and method which allows for a pre-constructed article of clothing to having printing on substantially all of its external surface area. Specifically, an image may be simultaneously printed across multiple components of a clothing article. The method generally provides for transfer of a digital image, such as a digital photograph, to be applied to an article of clothing in a manner that prints an entire two-dimensional surface of the clothing with a coherent image, that maintains coherency when the article of clothing is worn. There is also provided an article of clothing produced using the systems and methods.
US09468222B2
A sweet tea brewing product and system for brewing and sweetening tea in a brewing basket of a tea making machine is disclosed comprising at least one water permeable mesh pouch for placement in the brewing basket during brewing. The tea particles and sugar granules are contained in the mesh pouch. The mesh pouch has mesh openings being generally smaller than the size of said sugar granules and said tea particles for retention of said granules and particles. The tea particles and sugar granules are brewed and dissolved in the brewing basket during steeping of the tea particles and sugar granules in hot water to produce a concentrated sweet tea solution delivered from said basket for accurate and consistent brewing of sweat tea.
US09468214B2
A biocide is formed by mixing at least one of ammonium sulfamate and ammonium carbamate with an aqueous solution of a hypochlorite oxidant at a molar ratio of ammonium to hypochlorite of at least 1:1. The biocide is useful in treating microbial or biofilm growth, pulp and paper process water, cooling tower water, waste water, reclaimed waste water, sludge, colloidal suspensions, irrigation water or a medium having a reducing capacity.
US09468212B2
The present invention relates to new antifungal compositions and their use in the treatment of agricultural products.
US09468211B2
The present invention relates to N-cycloalkyl-N-bicyclicmethylene-carboxamide or thiocarboxamide derivatives, their process of preparation, preparation of intermediate compounds, their use as fungicide active agents, particularly in the form of fungicide compositions, and methods for the control of phytopathogenic fungi, notably of plants, using these compounds or compositions.
US09468199B2
A reel part is provided for a fishing reel. The reel part includes an inner member and an outer member. The inner member has a surface treatment layer. The outer member is fixed to an outer peripheral side of the inner member. The outer member includes a processed part that is processed after being fixed to the inner member.
US09468196B2
A strap releasing control mechanism for pet leash includes a shell (1), a press key (2), a slide key (3), a slide block (4) and a stop member (5); a key hole (11) is opened on the shell (1); a channel (6) is provided inside the shell (1) and the channel (6) connects and communicates with the key hole (11); the channel (6) is provided with a lock member (10) and a guiding panel (7); a stop member (5) is provided inside the channel (6); a key accommodating hole (9) is opened on the slide key (3); the press key (2) is inserted into the channel (6) through the key accommodating hole (9); a lower end of the press key (2) is provided with a connecting member (12) which is connected to the slide block (4); a lower end of the slide block (4) abuts against the stop member (5).
US09468194B2
According to the invention, a system for stimulating eating by an animal is disclosed. The system may include a primary unit and a secondary unit. The primary unit may be configured to be at least partially supported by a rear portion of the animal's spine. The secondary unit may be coupled with the primary unit and configured to be coupled with a top dorsal portion of the animal's tail. The primary unit may include a first power supply, a processor powered by the first power supply, a second power supply, and a speaker powered by the second power supply and controlled by the processor. The secondary unit may include a vibration generation device powered by the second power supply and controlled by the processor, and a pressure generation device powered by the second power supply and controlled by the processor.
US09468190B2
There is provided a distributor device (22) for distributing treatment fluid to the teat cups of a milking cluster. The distributor device has at least one distributer inlet (18) for treatment fluid, at least one distributor outlet (20) for connection to a teat cup, and a safety valve The safety valve is selectively operable to permit flow between the at least one inlet (18) and the at least one outlet (20) and, in a rest position, to shut off flow between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet and vent the at least one inlet to atmosphere.
US09468178B1
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH111760. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH111760, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH111760 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 CH111760.
US09468176B1
A novel maize variety designated PH24FW and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH24FW with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH24FW through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH24FW or a locus conversion of PH24FW with another maize variety.
US09468175B1
A novel maize variety designated X05F813 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are produced by crossing inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant by crossing hybrid maize variety X05F813 with another maize plant are disclosed. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X05F813 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X05F813, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X05F813. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X05F813.
US09468174B1
A novel maize variety designated X08F118 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are produced by crossing inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant by crossing hybrid maize variety X08F118 with another maize plant are disclosed. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08F118 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08F118, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08F118. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08F118.
US09468168B2
A new and distinct Guzmania hybrid named ‘RETRO’ characterized by solid growth habit; funnel-form rosette plant, measuring about 20-25 cm in height (above the pot when flowering); numerous, green color foliage (measuring about 19 to 28 cm length and about 3 cm in width). Superior floral bract production; bracts are red in color (closest to RHS 44C), singular hear inflorescence, measuring about 9 cm in height and about 13 cm in diameter, and long-lasting habit.
US09468164B2
An automated irrigation purge system utilizes a pressure purge method of discharging compressed air from a reservoir through selected irrigation zones with feedback from pressure switches to determine when to open and close each zone valve. No programming or user interaction is required beyond starting the system. The system can operate with a wide variety of irrigation systems, with varying number of zones, pipe lengths, pipe diameters, number and variety of sprinkler heads or outlets, and terrain slope. The system tracks the pressure transition time from high pressure to low pressure for each zone as it is blown out. When the current transition time is within a specified range from the previous transition time, the system knows the water has been sufficiently purged from that zone. The purge system can protect the irrigation system from high-pressure conditions, handle multiple error conditions, and maintain water valve settings during power loss.
US09468158B2
Apparatus for controlling an environment in a greenhouse, the apparatus comprising: first and second heat exchangers, each comprising a radiator and a fan system for driving air through the radiator; a first refrigerant circulation system that circulates a refrigerant fluid between and through the radiators; a heater controllable to heat the refrigerant; a controller that controls the apparatus to operate selectively in a maintenance mode or a flush mode, wherein in the maintenance mode the heater heats the refrigerant and the first and second fan systems drive air from outside to inside the greenhouse and through the radiators to acquire heat from the refrigerant, and in the flush mode the first fan system vents air from inside to outside the greenhouse through its respective radiator to deposit heat in the refrigerant and the second fan system drives air from outside to inside the greenhouse and through its respective radiator to acquire the heat deposited in the refrigerant.
US09468148B2
A feederhouse for attaching a header to an agricultural combine has a sill plate that supports a support beam of the header during operation of the header. A mounting hook with a hooked end is supported for forward and rearward movement with respect to the sill plate. A locking pin is configured to lock the mounting hook at either of a first position and a second position with respect to the sill plate. When the support beam is supported by the sill plate and the mounting hook is locked in the first position, the header is disposed at a first angle with respect to the feederhouse. When the support beam is supported by the sill plate and the mounting hook is locked in the second position, the header is disposed at a second angle with respect to the feederhouse.
US09468147B2
A combination of a towing vehicle, such as a tractor, and an agricultural harvesting machine drawn thereby, such as a baler or a self-loading forage wagon, operates to detect whether the harvesting machine is in a harvesting situation (S1) or in a field-end situation (S2) by use of a control device. The control device is operated to specify at least one parameter setting for at least one functional device, by which the combination is operated in a harvesting configuration (K1) or in a field-end configuration (K2), depending on the situation (S1, S2) that is detected.
US09468146B2
The embodiments are directed to a fruit harvesting system that includes at least one end-effector coupled to a distal end of the manipulating arm and configured using at least one of a jaw and a clamp to couple to one or more branches of a fruit tree or a trellis wire that is coupled to the fruit tree residing in a trained orchard. The embodiments also include a pair of dual motor actuators eccentrically coupled to the at least one end-effector and directed to manipulate the at least one end-effector with a same or different frequency, and amplitude, and with same or counter-propagating motions, wherein the directed same or different frequency and amplitude, and same or counter-propagating motions provide one or more eccentric shaking patterns to the coupled branches or the trellis wire so as to enable fruit to be removed and collected by catch frames.
US09468145B2
An unloading conveyor arrangement for an agricultural machine includes a conveyor having a discharge end, and a spout arrangement at the discharge end of the conveyor. The spout arrangement includes a spout which is connected to the discharge end and movable relative to the conveyor. The spout and the discharge end have an interspatial gap therebetween. The spout arrangement further includes a seal which is attached to the conveyor and/or the spout and extends across the interspatial gap.
US09468144B2
A lawn mower includes: a rotation shaft extending vertically in a downwardly-opening housing; and a cutter blade rotatably mounted on the rotation shaft. The cutter blade is an elongated member extending in opposite horizontal directions and having two bent sections formed on respective ones of its longitudinally opposite end portions. The two bent sections are bent in opposite directions as viewed in the axial direction of the rotation shaft. The cutter blade has, on each of the bent sections, a convex cutter blade section formed along a convex edge of the bent section and a concave cutter blade section formed along a concave edge of the bent section. The convex cutter blade section on each of the bent sections has a smaller cutting edge angle than the concave cutter blade section.
US09468142B2
A method and assembly for distributing a granular agricultural material. The assembly includes a container that is configured to be supported by a chassis of a self-powered vehicle. A first conveyor and a second conveyor are associated with the container and configured to receive the granular material contained therein. The first conveyor and the second conveyor each extend in a longitudinal direction that is generally aligned with and offset in opposite lateral directions from a longitudinal centerline axis of the chassis. Preferably, each of the first and second conveyors are independently operable to manipulate the amount of commodity distributed to the alternate lateral sides of the underlying vehicle.
US09474191B2
Each of a plurality of power semiconductor module includes a can-type cooling case that is formed with a plate spring portion that generates compressive stress in the semiconductor circuit unit, an adjustment portion that is deformed to adjust elastic deformation of the plate spring portion, and a sidewall portion to which the plate spring portion and the adjustment portion are joined.
US09474187B2
Systems and methods for thermal management for telecommunications enclosures are provided. In one embodiment, a method for thermal management for modular radio frequency (RF) electronics housed within an electronics enclosure comprises: distributing heat generated from an RF electronics component installed on a first thermal region of an electronics module base plate across the first thermal region using at least one primary heat pipe that laterally traverses the first thermal region; distributing heat generated from the RF electronics component to a second thermal region using at least one secondary heat pipe not parallel with the at least one primary heat pipe; conductively transferring heat across a thermal interface between the electronics module back-plate and a backplane of an electronics enclosure that houses the electronics module, wherein the backplane comprises a plurality heat sink fins aligned with the at least one primary heat pipe and the at least one secondary heat pipe.
US09474175B2
An electronic apparatus includes a rack, a chassis slidably moved into the rack, and a fixing assembly. A positioning hole is defined near a front edge of the rack. The fixing assembly includes a fixing device fixed on a front wall of the chassis, a pushing member rotatably coupled with a lower portion of the front wall, and a threaded member. The pushing member includes a pushing tip capable of extending into the positioning hole. A rotary member and a sliding member are assembled in the fixing device; an elastic member is disposed between the fixing device and the sliding member. The rotary member defines a threaded hole; the threaded member extends through the pushing member to engage in the threaded hole. A number of teeth extend from a periphery of the rotary member, a bulge of the sliding member and is capable of insetting between two adjacent teeth.
US09474173B2
Provided is portable terminal. The portable terminal includes: a front housing forming a frame of the portable terminal: a rear housing disposed beneath the front housing, a shield can interposed between the front housing and the rear housing for shielding electromagnetic waves and coupled with the front housing; wherein the rear housing is coupled with the shield can, and wherein the front housing and the rear housing are coupled through the shield can.
US09474171B2
The invention described herein generally pertains to batteries for a welding operation having insulating structure thereabout. Particularly, various welding batteries can be provided one one or more battery wraps that can be opened or closed to increase or decrease the insulating effect thereof. In some embodiments, battery wraps can be integrated with batteries used in hybrid welders.
US09474168B2
The Electronic Module includes body case 2 that comprises a plurality of case members 3, 4 by abutting each other and that has an internal space (S) where the first opening P1 is formed on one side surface of the internal space (S) and the second opening P2 that opens in a direction different from that of the first opening P1 is in an exposed state when a plurality of the case members 3, 4 are separated each other, a substrate 5 on which a sensor IC 51 is mounted and that is housed in the internal space (S) of the body case 2, and a resin body 6 that covers the substrate 5 by being filled in the internal space (S) of the body case 2 and solidified or hardened, and is characterized by that a plurality of the case members 3, 4.
US09474162B2
A circuit interconnecting substrate manufacturing method includes depositing a first layer of metallic powder on top of a carrier, and then forming a first layer of electrically conductive traces from the first layer of metallic powder. A second layer of metallic powder is then deposited onto at least one region of the first layer of electrically conductive traces. Then a second layer of electrically conductive traces is formed from the second layer of metallic powder and each trace of the second layer is electrically coupled to a trace of the first layer. An insulating material is deposited onto the carrier to provide an insulating substrate that supports the traces. The method does not require the use of any wet chemicals or chemical etching steps.
US09474161B2
A circuit substrate includes: an insulative substrate formed with a pattern of a recess, the recess being defined by a recess-defining wall that has a bottom wall surface and a surrounding wall surface extending upwardly from the bottom wall surface; a patterned metallic layer structure including at least a patterned active metal layer disposed within the recess, formed on the bottom wall surface of the recess-defining wall, and spaced apart from the surrounding wall surface of the recess-defining wall, the patterned active metal layer containing an active metal capable of initiating electroless plating; and a primary metal layer plated on the patterned metallic layer structure.
US09474160B2
Printed circuit board apparatus with electromagnetic interference shields and methods of making the same.
US09474158B2
A wiring board includes a first resin insulation layer, an electronic component positioned on first surface of the first insulation layer, a second resin insulation layer formed on the first surface of the first insulation layer such that the second insulation layer is embedding the electronic component, a conductive layer formed on the second insulation layer, a third resin insulation layer formed on the conductive layer and second insulation layer, and a connection via conductor formed in the second insulation layer such that the connection via conductor is connecting electrode of the electronic component and conductive layer on the second insulation layer. The first insulation layer has a pad structure on second surface side of the first insulation layer on opposite side of the first surface, and the first insulation layer has coefficient of thermal expansion set lower than coefficients of thermal expansion of the second and third insulation layers.
US09474155B2
The present invention pertains to a submount for mechanically and electrically coupling an electronic component to a carrier. The submount has a mounting portion for mounting the submount to the carrier and has attachment portions for holding the electronic component. The submount further has primary electric contacts for cooperation with respective electrical conductors in the carrier, and secondary electric contacts for cooperation with respective electric contacts of the electronic component. The secondary electric contacts are electrically connected to primary electric contacts. The attachment portions are coupled to the mounting portion by respective extension portions that are laterally stretchable in a plane defined by the mounting portion to allow a displacement of the attachment portions in a direction away from the mounting portion.
US09474149B2
The invention relates to an angle-adjustable and/or printed circuit board structure having at least two printed circuit board sections arrangeable or arranged angularly with respect to one another, wherein the printed circuit board structure contains at least one conduction element which is embedded at least predominantly in the printed circuit board structure and which extends between two contact pads and is electrically conductively connected to said contact pads, wherein the two contact pads are situated on different printed circuit board sections, wherein the printed circuit board sections are angle-adjustable and/or angled relative to one another with maintenance of the connections between the contact pads and the at least one conduction element and with bending of the at least one conduction element via a bending edge between the printed circuit board sections. In order to improve the electrical and mechanical connection between the printed circuit board sections, the invention provides for the conduction element to have a larger extent along the bending edge than perpendicularly thereto, as viewed in cross section. A corresponding method for producing this printed circuit board structure is like wise claimed.
US09474143B2
A vectorial optical field generator includes a radiation source a modulator surface, a first quarter wave plate, a second quarter wave plate, and an output plane. The radiation source emits an input radiation along a path and the modulator surface is positioned along the path and configured to modulate a phase, an amplitude, a polarization ratio, and a retardation of the input radiation along a fourth area of the modulator surface. The output plane is positioned along the path and receives output radiation resulting from modulating the input radiation with the modulator surface, the first quarter wave plate, and the second quarter wave plate.
US09474137B1
A networked collaborative lighting effect system for an event at a venue, having a plurality of portable collaborative lighting devices in communication with the network. Each portable collaborative lighting device can be configured to be attached to at least one of: a member of the audience an object, a fixture or combinations thereof. Each portable collaborative lighting devices comprising an active or passive RFID chip for encoding wearer information including financial information. Each collaborative lighting effect system having a plurality of lights connected to a power supply and the collaborative lighting effect system further having a processor connected to the network to receive commands from the network, which can include commands from a DJ connected to the network at the venue.
US09474136B2
An individual lighting control apparatus and method are disclosed herein. The individual lighting control apparatus includes a reception unit, a terminal connection unit, a sensor unit, and a lighting environment sensing and terminal state determination unit. The reception unit receives the location information of a corresponding individual illumination light. The terminal connection unit acquires the state information of a terminal corresponding to the location information of the illumination light. The sensor unit acquires the sensor information of the set surrounding area of the terminal. The lighting environment sensing and terminal state determination unit sets operation mode based on the state of the connection with the terminal, and then monitors the state of the terminal or the state of the set surrounding area of the terminal in accordance with the set operation mode. The individual illumination light is controlled by providing state change information to a lighting control scheduler.
US09474134B2
A remote control device (100) for controlling lighting systems includes a sensor (155) configured to determine a location of the remote control device (100) in relation to the lighting systems (115). A controller (145) is configured to determine a nearest light source (120) of the lighting systems (115) relative to the location of the remote control device (100) and to control this nearest light source (120). The controller (145) is configured to change a configuration of the remote control device (100) in response to changing its location. A transceiver (105) transmit a signal to multiple light sources (120) which measure the strength and/or time of flight of this signal for use in determining the location of the remote control device (100). The light sources (120) provide the remote control device (100) with identifying information unique to each one of them including their locations.
US09474131B2
A lighting system includes: a plurality of lighting devices each including one or more light emitting units; and an integrated control module; and an integrated control module that communicates with the wearable device with at least one camera, receives an image of a user's eye captured by the camera, detects a pupil image based on the image, and controls the number of lighting devices to be activated among the plurality of lighting devices based on the pupil image.
US09474128B2
A lighting device may be implemented to automatically adjust a projected light level based on ambient lighting conditions detected at a sensor. In one example, a lighting device includes a light source adapted to project light. The lighting device also includes a sensor adapted to provide illumination measurements based on ambient light detected by the sensor including at least a reflected portion of the projected light. The lighting device also includes a controller adapted to select a range of illumination levels and adjust the projected light based on the provided illumination measurements to transition the projected light through a plurality of projected light levels until at least a new illumination measurement provided by the sensor is within the range of illumination levels. Additional devices and related methods are also provided.
US09474124B2
There is provided an output circuit for supplying an output current to a load coupled to an output terminal in response to an input signal. The output circuit includes an output transistor for supplying the output current to the output terminal, an output-drive circuit for driving the output transistor, a constant-current limiting circuit for generating a current control signal for limiting the output current to a predetermined current value, and a control circuit for implementing a control such that the output current is controlled on the basis of the current control signal if a voltage at the output terminal is at a predetermined voltage, or less after the input signal is supplied while the output transistor is driven by the output-drive circuit if the voltage at the output terminal is in excess of the predetermined voltage.
US09474102B2
A relay communication system is described in which a relay node communicates with a base station using a sequence of frames, each frame comprising a plurality of sub-frames. The relay node has an energy saving mode in which it monitors for communications from said base station in at least one pre-determined sub-frame of each frame and does not monitor for communication from said base station in at least one other sub-frame of that frame.
US09474091B2
A system for establishing and sustaining a broadband communication is provided wherein: the first master post is suitable for transmitting a known test sequence on a sub-band Bk to the second called post as soon as the said second called post acknowledges the receipt of a communication setup message on a frequency fi; the said second controller being suitable for determining quality scores on the Mk frequencies of the sub-band Bk and for transmitting the said values of quality to the first master post. The first master post is suitable for determining and for evaluating the capability of the sub-band Bk to respond to the SLA target service a sub-channel on the basis of the scores of qualities received, and for selecting the sub-band Bk which exhibits the required capability and thereafter for triggering the communication with the said second post. Application to HF broadband systems.
US09474085B2
A technique for coordinating transmission and reception activities of two or more radio interfaces (12, 14) integrated in a communication device (10) is described. A priority setting is associated with information intended for transmission via the first radio interface (12). In a method implementation of the technique, the following steps are performed for the first radio interface (12). First, a signal indicative of an upcoming reception via the second radio interface (14) is received. Then, for an ongoing or scheduled transmission of information via the first radio interface (12), the priority setting associated with the information is determined. In a next step a decision regarding an interruption or a delay of the transmission is performed depending on the priority setting associated with the information.
US09474081B2
Timing control procedure is needed for uplink transmissions in several communication networks. Some networks and bands have physical and regulatory limitations for obtaining timing advance value in conventional manner. One example of these limitations is disabled downlink channel in TV white spaces. The present invention provides an arrangement for obtaining timing advance value in a situation wherein the use of downlink channel is disabled.
US09474077B2
Each of a plurality of first radio units are installed in a plurality of first cells making up a first area, each of a plurality of second radio units are installed in a plurality of second cells making up a second area being separated from the first area, a first radio control unit is constantly connected to a plurality of the first radio units that serve about half of traffic peak in the first area and constantly connected to a plurality of the second radio units that serve about half of traffic peak in the second area, a second radio control unit is constantly connected to the remaining plurality of the first radio units and constantly connected to the remaining plurality of the second radio units, and an upper controller is connected to the first radio control unit and the second radio control unit.
US09474074B2
A base station includes a transmitter configured to transmit a downlink control information to a user equipment, the downlink control information being generated based on one of a first uplink allocation information and a second uplink allocation information, and a receiver configured to receive a first reference signal in a case where the transmitted downlink control information is generated based on the first uplink allocation information, and a second reference signal in a case where the transmitted downlink control information is generated based on the second uplink allocation information.
US09474067B2
Techniques for improving uplink throughput of UE uplink transmissions are disclosed. The UE may communicate with an eNB over an LTE wireless link using a first radio, and with a WLAN access point over a WLAN wireless link using a second radio. The UE may schedule a first portion of uplink data from an aggregating layer of the UE for transmission over the WLAN wireless link during a scheduling window, the scheduling based on an availability of access to the LTE wireless link. The UE may transmit the first portion of the uplink data over the WLAN wireless link during the scheduling window. The aggregation of the LTE wireless link with the WLAN wireless link may allow the UE to transmit uplink data from the aggregating layer of the UE over both the LTE wireless link or the WLAN wireless link.
US09474065B2
The present disclosure provides a system for transmitting data. The system comprises: a base station and a first user equipment, the first user equipment receives downlink data sent from a base station through downlink resources of a special subframe; acquires a position of uplink resources corresponding to the first user equipment in guard period resources of the special subframe, wherein the position of the uplink resources corresponding to the first user equipment in the guard period resources of the special subframe is staggered from a position of downlink resources corresponding to a second user equipment in the special subframe, and a round-trip time of the second user equipment is greater than a round-trip time of the first user equipment; and sends uplink data to the base station through the uplink resources corresponding to the first user equipment in the guard period resources of the special subframe.
US09474064B2
A smoothed transport block size is forecasted by predicting future value information based on historical time series data obtained at an e-Node B. The historical time series data includes historical transport block size information and historical modulation and coding scheme information. A mapping function is used to correlate the future value information with historical transport block size information. Once the mapping function is determined, the mapping function forecasts the average transport block sizes by inputting the future value information into the mapping function. The smoothed transport block sizes and the future value information is then transmitted to an application server and/or an application client at a user equipment to control an operation of an application.
US09474061B2
A mobile station is capable of exchanging control information in a communication system. A mobile station transceiver receives downlink control information on an Enhanced Physical Downlink Control Channel (EPDCCH) comprising a Enhanced Control Channel Elements (ECCE). A mobile station controller identifies a first resource for uplink control information based on the first ECCE of the at least one ECCE, a resource offset configured for the EPDCCH, and ACK/NACK resource offset on the EPDCCH, when the EPDCCH is distributed transmission, and also identifies a second resource for uplink control information based on the first ECCE of the at least one ECCE, a resource offset configured for the EPDCCH, ACK/NACK resource offset on the EPDCCH and C-RNTI, if the EPDCCH is localized transmission. The transceiver also transmits the uplink control information on the first resource or the second resource according to whether the EPDCCH is distributed transmission or localized transmission.
US09474053B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure include a method of resource allocation. The method includes assigning resources intended for a control channel of a mobile network to multiple resource groups. At least one resource group may include multiple resources, where the resources have at least an associated periodicity and an associated delay tolerance. The assignment may be based on the delay tolerances of the resources. The method further includes determining a composite delay tolerance of the resource groups based on the corresponding delay tolerances of the resources in the resource group. The method further includes reserving resources associated with the control channel for the resource groups based on the composite delay tolerance of the resource groups. The method further includes establishing the control channel with a user equipment (UE), where the control channel is established using the reserved resources.
US09474049B2
A method of controlling uplink transmission on an acquired common channel by user equipment in a wireless communications network. User equipment and a computer program product operable to perform that method. The method comprises: determining a predetermined acquired common channel retention period; requesting allocation of common network resource for an uplink transmission; receiving an indication of an allocated acquired common channel; assessing whether said uplink transmission meets uplink criteria for said allocated acquired common channel and, if said uplink criteria are met, transmitting said uplink transmission on said allocated acquired common channel within said common channel retention period. Aspects allow common channels in a network to be used by user equipment if it is determined that a pending uplink transmission is suitable for transmission on an allocated common channel.
US09474048B2
The present invention relates to devices, methods, mobile communication terminals, computer programs and storage mediums for frequency control. The frequency control device for a mobile communication terminal only uses one crystal oscillator, but can access different access networks at the same time. The frequency control device may control the output of the crystal oscillator based on a plurality of frequency offset estimation results and the service performance of access network corresponding to the frequency offset estimation results. Therefore, the flexibility of frequency offset control may be improved and better service may be provided to users.
US09474047B2
A controller receives a new resource request from a user equipment associated with a first talk group. The new resource request is a request for an assignment of one of MBMS resources and unicast resources for user equipment associated with the first talk group. The controller identifies a second geographical area in which members of the first talk group are located, determines that MBMS resources are available in the second geographical area, and determines whether the first talk group is an MBMS eligible talk group in the second geographical area. In response to determining that the first talk group is an MBMS eligible talk group in the second geographical area, the controller assigns MBMS resources to the first talk group; otherwise, the controller assigns unicast resources to the first talk group.
US09474042B1
Systems and methods for detecting the presence of a body in a network without fiducial elements, using signal absorption, and signal forward and reflected backscatter of RF waves caused by the presence of a biological mass in a communications network.
US09474038B2
A method of bearer deletion is provided to improve the universality of the bearer deletion process. The method includes: receiving, by the original intermediate NE, the cancellation type indication parameter sent by the HSS, and deleting the bearer between the serving gateway (S-GW) and a packet data network gateway (P-GW), if the original intermediate network element obtains an attach type according to the cancellation type indication parameter indicating an attach type and a corresponding bearer exists on the original intermediate NE. This method helps efficiently improve the universality of the bearer deletion flow.
US09474037B2
In one aspect, a method may include grouping a plurality of wireless communication devices on a moving platform into two or more non-overlapping groups of the wireless communication devices, distributing a first list of tracking areas to the groups of the wireless communication devices, changing the first list of tracking areas to a second list of tracking areas for a first group of the wireless communication devices in response to the moving platform entering into an overlapping region between a first tracking area and a second tracking area of the first list of tracking areas, and changing the first list of tracking areas to the second list of tracking areas for a second group of the wireless communication devices in response to the moving platform entering into an overlapping region between the second tracking area and a third tracking area of the first list of tracking areas.
US09474036B2
A method for attaching a user terminal to a packet network via a meshed radiocommunications network infrastructure includes selecting a host packet network dedicated to at least a category of users to which a user terminal belongs based on a second user identification code of the meshed network and/or access information pertaining to rights for attachment of user terminals to at least one packet network. The method finds an application in all types of infrastructure of meshed radiocommunications networks and finds a particularly interesting application in the case of PMR type professional radiocommunications networks.
US09474032B2
The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for controlling transmit power of a user equipment, the method includes reducing a gain factor of a first-type channel of the UE when total uplink transmit power of the UE exceeds maximum allowed transmit power. The method further includes determining total uplink transmit power of the UE and if the total uplink transmit power of the UE exceeds the maximum allowed transmit power and the gain factor of the first-type channel is reduced to a preset gain factor threshold, reducing a gain factor of a second-type channel of the UE so that total uplink transmit power of the UE does not exceed the maximum allowed transmit power.
US09474025B2
A method and an apparatus for controlling in-device coexistence interference (IDC) in a wireless communication system are provided. The present invention comprises transmitting IDC indication information including an unusable frequency band that is a frequency band in which performing communication is difficult because of IDC interference to a evolved NodeB (eNB), receiving Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection reconfiguration including IDC Discontinous Reception (DRX) configuration reconfiguring DRX relating the unusable frequency band based on the IDC indication information from the eNB and performing autonomously denial of Industrial Scientific Medical (ISM) transmission in the unusable frequency band by reconfiguring DRX based on the IDC DRX configuration.
US09474022B2
Saving power in a mobile terminal includes determining alignment processing moments after the mobile terminal enters a standby mode. Alignable wakeup events, which occur during alignment processing periods corresponding to each alignment processing moment, are thus controlled to commence related processing at each of the alignment processing moments. Power consumption caused by various wakeup events in a standby mode may thus be reduced and battery life of the mobile terminal may thus be improved.
US09474002B2
A user equipment (UE) enables reselection by supplementing dedicated priority information received from a network with proprietary priority-based reselection parameters stored in a UE memory. The reselection is performed when a currently camped-on cell does not broadcast priority-based reselection parameters. The proprietary priority-based reselection parameters include threshold parameters such as high priority thresholds, low priority thresholds, signal strength thresholds and related reselection timers.
US09473999B2
Provided are methods and systems of managing vertical handoffs in a wireless communication network. Embodiments include analyzing wireless device usage to determine usage patterns, which may include locations and times at which the wireless device is typically accessing the network. The network may recognize points in the usage patterns at which signal quality parameters are typically reduced. Such reductions in signal quality parameters may lead to inefficient vertical handoffs. The network may decrease adverse effects of inefficient vertical handoffs by reducing ping ponging, selecting links between wireless devices and network nodes, or indicating to a user of the wireless device that delays and/or data loss may occur.
US09473998B2
A node of a secondary RAT that is in communication with a primary node of a primary RAT and UEs that are able to communicate by way of the primary and secondary RATs. The node includes a network interface unit of the node which receives a message from the primary node that indicates that the primary RAT is in an overload condition. The node includes a processing unit of the node which forms UE messages for the UEs not to try to communicate with the primary RAT, the network interface unit of the node sending the messages to the UEs. A method of a node of a secondary RAT that is in communication with a primary node of a primary RAT and UEs that are able to communicate by way of the primary and secondary RATs.
US09473992B1
Systems and methods are provided to facilitate the performance of a Session Border Controller (SBC)-localized handoff. As part of the SBC-localized handoff, a communication device may transmit packets within a data call to an SBC via a first IP address. Subsequently, the communication device may be assigned a second IP address. The communication device may then transmit further packets to the SBC via the second IP address. In response, the SBC may route all traffic within the data call direct to the communication device via the second IP address, regardless of whether the traffic indicates that the traffic should be delivered to the first IP address.
US09473989B2
A method and apparatus for assigning a slot, including: constructing a HELLO packet, the packet including slot request information of a local node and/or slot request information of a neighbor node of the local node; and transmitting the packet, so that a node receiving the packet authenticates a reservation slot requested by a sender; wherein the slot request information of the local node includes an address of the local node and of a receiving node of a data packet to be transmitted and an index of the reservation slot requested by the local node; and the slot request information of the neighbor node includes an address of the neighbor node, an address of a receiving node of a data packet to be transmitted, an index of a reservation slot requested by the neighbor node, and confirmation information of the reservation slot requested by the neighbor node.
US09473986B2
Methods, systems and apparatus for managing and/or enforcing one or more policies for managing internet protocol (“IP”) traffic among multiple accesses of a network in accordance with a policy for managing bandwidth among the multiple accesses are disclosed. Among the methods, systems and apparatus is a method that may include obtaining performance metrics associated with the multiple accesses. The method may also include adapting one or more rules of one or more the policies for managing IP traffic among the plurality of accesses based, at least in part, on the performance metrics and the policy for managing bandwidth among the plurality of accesses. The method may further include managing IP traffic associated with at least one wireless transmit and/or receive unit (“WTRU”) among the plurality of accesses responsive to the adapted rules.
US09473985B2
The present invention relates to control of downlink data in a packet based telecommunications network and in particular to UE control of downlink data. This is provided in devices and methods for handling such control, for instance a user equipment (101), UE, in a telecommunications network (100). The UE has an associated Internet Protocol, IP, address. The UE comprise at least one processing unit (201), at least one computer readable storage unit (202), at least one communications interface (203), and wherein the processing unit is arranged to execute instructions sets stored in the storage unit for determining that only some downlink data is to be received on the communication interface and sending a message using the communication interface to an infrastructure node (103, 104) indicating that downlink data is to be filtered depending on type of service when transferred to the UE.
US09473979B2
A method and system for data transmission is provided. Compressed payload packets are transmitted on one or more payload channels. On a header restoration channel, header restoration packets are transmitted for restoring headers of at least some of the compressed payload packets.
US09473975B2
A capacity allocation method comprises receiving (303), in a network apparatus (101), a capacity request message regarding a user terminal (102). In response to receiving the capacity request message, the apparatus (101) checks (303) one or more service parameters related to the user terminal (102). If the checking (303) reveals that enhanced network service activation criteria are fulfilled, the service parameters are used to define (303), by using a suitable network algorithm, a temporarily enhanced network service for the user terminal (102) such that the temporarily enhanced network service exceeds the service level originally agreed for the user terminal (102).
US09473974B2
In order to maintain a small, stable backlog at an internet router buffer, active queue management (AQM) algorithms drop packets probabilistically at the onset of congestion. This causes Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) data flow rates to reduce. However, wireless losses may be misinterpreted as congestive losses and induce spurious reductions in flow rates. A prior art AQM with random early detection (RED), fails to maintain a stable backlog under time-varying wireless losses. However, the present invention can resolve the problem and provide a robust tracking of the backlog to a preset reference level by applying a control-theoretic vehicle, Internal Model principle, to realize such tracking. An integral controller (IC) is used as an embodiment of the principle that is robust against time-varying wireless losses under various network scenarios.
US09473968B2
A method for configuring a cooperative cell by a master Base Station (BS) in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes instructing a Mobile Station (MS) and adjacent BSs to measure channels, receiving channel measurement results from the MS and the adjacent BSs, and determining at least one BS constituting a cooperative cell according to the channel measurement results. The at least one BS constituting the cooperative cell provides one of an UpLink (UL) service and a DownLink (DL) service to a same MS.
US09473966B2
Methods and apparatus for informing a network node of a wireless communication network of the presence of logged measurements are disclosed. A first mobile station performs measurements concerning one or more connectivity aspects for the first mobile station in relation to the wireless communication network and stores the measurements in an internal log, where the measurements are performed according to a reporting configuration for the first mobile station. The first mobile station then sends a notification to the first network node regarding the presence of logged measurements in order to enable the first network node to respond to the notification with a request for a logged measurement report.
US09473964B2
A method carried out by a first node for estimating network performance by selecting at least one network interface of the first node and at least one network interface of a second node and then transmitting reference packets to the second node. The reference packets are transmitted through the selected network interfaces of the first node to the selected network interfaces of the second node. After receiving the reference packets, the second node generates arrival information and sends the arrival information to the first node. The first utilizes the arrival information for estimating the network performance. The network interfaces are selected according to a policy and end-to-end connection(s) may be established between selected network interfaces of the first node and selected network interfaces of the second node. The end-to-end connection(s) may be aggregated to form an aggregated end-to-end connection. Alternatively, the network interfaces are selected according to an end-to-end connection profile or an aggregated end-to-end connection profile.
US09473956B2
Optimization of a wireless communications network may be accomplished by collecting information for a plurality of target cells neighboring a source cell, calculating a tilt score based on the collected information, and adjusting an antenna of the source cell based on the tilt score.
US09473951B2
A mobile communication apparatus is provided, which may have a receiver, and may ascertain whether a movement of the apparatus is below a prescribed limit and on that basis may prompt the receiver of the mobile communication apparatus to perform a signal reception quality measurement. A mobile communication apparatus is also provided, which may have a transmission/reception device, and may ascertain whether a movement of the apparatus is below a prescribed limit based on a set of radio cells in a mobile radio communication that is active, a radio cell that serves the mobile communication apparatus, or a set of adjacent radio cells that is configured for the mobile communication apparatus.
US09473945B1
A user equipment (UE) is disclosed. The UE comprises a radio frequency transceiver, processor, a memory, and an application stored to the memory. The application, when executed by the processor establishes a communication link from the UE to a communication terminal. The application sends a validation message to the communication terminal over the communication link, wherein a passcode is appended to the validation message send to the communication terminal. The application receives the validation message back from the communication terminal via the communication link, wherein the received validation message has an appended aggregate security signature on the message that shows that the message was read and validated by the communication terminal. The application sends a short message over the communication link to the communication terminal. The application then tears down the communication link.
US09473935B2
Secure storage of important/relevant information on a device and/or internet cloud is facilitated, and enables automatic transmission of that important/relevant information when certain user-defined criteria are met, e.g., when 911 is dialed on a corresponding subscriber device. A baseline data collection and maintenance interface enables a subscriber to provision important/relevant information (e.g. medical/emergency information) authorized for transmittal, intended recipients of data (e.g. emergency personnel), and one or more information exchange events (e.g., dialing 911 on a corresponding subscriber device), in to a subscriber information database. A trigger monitoring server monitors a subscriber device for the occurrence of one or more information exchange events defined in an affiliated subscriber information database. The trigger monitoring server accesses a relevant subscriber information database to dynamically facilitate stored subscriber information to one or more predetermined data recipients, each instance an information exchange event is detected on a corresponding subscriber device.
US09473929B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for detecting, by a first device including a least one processor and a first Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC), a second device having a second UICC, detecting, by the first device, that the second UICC is unprovisioned, selecting, by the first device, one of a plurality of selectable options, where the selection identifies a first Mobile Network Operator (MNO) selected from a plurality of MNOs, receiving, by the first device, first credential information of the first MNO, and transmitting, by the first device, to the second device the first credential information for enabling the second device to facilitate establishment of communication services with network equipment of the first MNO according to the first credential information. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09473924B2
Particular embodiments described herein provide for an apparatus, such as a wireless electronic device, that includes a memory element configured to store electronic code, a processor operable to execute instructions associated with the electronic code, and at least one module. The at least one module is configured to receive first location information identifying a first location associated with an electronic device. The at least one module is further configured to receive first connection location information indicative of a second location of the electronic device at a time of connection with a first wireless device. The at least one module is further configured to evaluate for a presence of the first wireless device when the first location is within a predetermined distance of the second location.
US09473913B2
Information such as navigation information is delivered to a mobile device user in a cellular communications network via a device other than the mobile device. A small cell telecommunications base station receives from the mobile device an identification of the mobile device, and determines a location of the user within the small cell. Based on the identification of the mobile device and the location of the user of the mobile device, the information is delivered to the user via a device other than the mobile device.
US09473902B2
Disclosed are various embodiments for flexible, low-cost tracking devices capable of seamless indoor and outdoor tracking transitions. A tracking device may comprise, for example, circuitry combined with one or more transceivers on a flexible substrate. At least a portion of the circuitry may be printed using a conductive medium, such as nanoparticle ink. The tracking device may be configured to localize the tracking device via GPS or an alternative localization strategy based on a determination of whether GPS communication is available.
US09473896B1
A technique for providing a location estimate of a mobile station, with increased accuracy. An unenhanced estimate of the location of a target mobile station is first obtained. A portable transmitter is then situated in an initial geographic area of interest defined by the unenhanced estimate. The portable transmitter is then tuned to transmit on a particular neighbor base station frequency being reported by the mobile station. When the portable transmitter is moved close enough to the target mobile station, the mobile station stops reporting the neighbor to the mobile's wireless telecommunications network, on account of the interference introduced by the portable transmitter being on that frequency. The estimated distance from the portable transmitter to the target mobile station depends on the transmit signal strength used by the portable transmitter. By considering these details, an enhanced estimate of the location of the mobile station can then be deduced.
US09473895B2
An approach, carried out by one or more processors, for providing volume information to communication devices. The approach may further comprise receiving a query for a set of volume information for a first communication device. The volume information includes at least a volume range for audible communicating. The approach may further comprise determining if a second communication device is in a vicinity of the first communication device. Responsive to determining the second communication device is in the vicinity of the first communication device, the approach may further comprise determining a first location and a second location for the respective first communication device and second communication device. The approach may further comprise determining the set of volume information for the first communication device based on at least the second location of the second communication device.
US09473891B2
A mechanism is described for facilitating detection and communication of geo-locations for devices according to one embodiment. A method of embodiments, as described herein, includes tracking, at a first smart device, one or more devices including a second smart device, and first and second smart devices including a computing device, and establishing a first connection with the second smart device, establishing further comprising exchanging first location data between the first smart device and the second smart device, establishing further including communicating a first current location associated with the first smart device to the second smart device. The method may further include identifying a second current location associated with the second smart device. The second current location may be initially recorded and iteratively rewritten at a first local memory of the first smart device.
US09473884B2
A management apparatus including a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to: receive identification information of the management target apparatus and positional information of a mobile apparatus from the mobile apparatus installed at a same location as a management target apparatus, and generate management information of the management target apparatus including information identifying an installation site of the management target apparatus based on the received identification information and positional information.
US09473883B2
An application can specify a location service authorization type to be enforced by a mobile device. After the user authorizes the location service through an authorization dialog, the application can receive location service according to the authorization type. A first authorization type allows the application to receive continuous location updates and location events from a location service on the mobile device only when the application is in use. A second authorization type allows the application to always receive continuous location updates and location events when the application is running in a foreground or background. The text of the authorization dialog can be customized by the application to provide more detail on how the location data will be used by the application.
US09473882B2
A method for enhanced data throughput on a windowed revert repeater channel in a radio communication system includes requesting, by a subscriber unit and via a control channel of the radio communication system, a window in which to transmit data updates on the windowed revert repeater channel of the radio communication system; receiving, by the subscriber unit and via the control channel, an assigned window on the windowed revert repeater channel for the data updates; monitoring, by the subscriber unit, the control channel repeater and determining a timing of the windowed revert repeater channel based on the monitoring; and reverting to the windowed revert repeater channel based on the timing and the assigned window, and transmitting the data updates during the assigned window. A subscriber unit and radio communication system are also disclosed.
US09473877B2
The present embodiment discloses an uplink transmission method and apparatus for a small amount of data, and the method includes: when a terminal needs to transmit a small amount of data, transmitting an indication to a mobility management unit, the indication being used for notifying the mobility management unit that the terminal is to transmit the small amount of data; and the terminal transmitting uplink universal Non-Access Stratum (NAS) transmission signaling to the mobility management unit, and including the small amount of data needed to be transmitted in the signaling.
US09473870B2
In general, techniques are described for compensating for loudspeaker positions using hierarchical three-dimensional (3D) audio coding. An apparatus comprising or more processors may perform the techniques. The processors may be configured to perform a first transform that is based on a spherical wave model on a first set of audio channel information for a first geometry of speakers to generate a first hierarchical set of elements that describes a sound field. The processors may further be configured to perform a second transform in a frequency domain on the first hierarchical set of elements to generate a second set of audio channel information for a second geometry of speakers.
US09473869B2
An audio signal processing device includes: an input section to which an audio signal is input; a bias processing section configured to add a bias signal to the audio signal; a calculation section configured to perform a power calculation on the audio signal to which the bias signal has been added by the bias processing section; and an adding unit configured to add the audio signal on which the power calculation is performed by the calculation section to the audio signal having been input to the input section.
US09473866B2
A system and method may be configured to analyze audio information derived from an audio signal. The system and method may track sound pitch across the audio signal. The tracking of pitch across the audio signal may take into account change in pitch by determining at individual time sample windows in the signal duration an estimated pitch and a representation of harmonic envelope at the estimated pitch. The estimated pitch and the representation of harmonic envelope may then be implemented to determine an estimated pitch for another time sample window in the signal duration with an enhanced accuracy and/or precision.
US09473857B2
A hearing aid (21) is devised, comprising a first output converter (26), a second output converter (27), a first acoustic output transducer (34) and at least a second output transducer (35). The first output converter (26) and the first output transducer (34) are configured to reproduce the high frequencies of the processed signals, and the second output converter (27) and the second output transducer (35) are configured to reproduce the low frequencies of the processed signals. The output converters (26, 27) may preferably be embodied as direct digital drive output converters.
US09473855B2
Moving armature receiver assemblies wherein a first U-shaped armature and a second U-shaped armature are configured for suppression of vibration of a housing structure along a longitudinal housing plane. The first and second U-shaped armatures may be shifted away from each other along a longitudinal housing plane to render the first and second U-shaped armatures partially overlapping in the orthogonal plane with a predetermined overlap distance.
US09473848B2
An electro-acoustic driver including an acoustic waveguide includes an enclosure, an acoustic transmission line formed within the enclosure, and a plurality of acoustic transducers contained within the enclosure and disposed along a length of the acoustic transmission line. Each acoustic transducer is configured to emit acoustic energy directly into the acoustic transmission line at two separated locations along the length of the acoustic transmission line.
US09473840B2
A dynamic headphone unit includes a diaphragm to which a voice coil is fixed, a permanent magnet, a pole piece disposed adjacent one of the magnetic poles of the permanent magnet, and a yoke disposed adjacent the other magnetic pole of the permanent magnet. The pole piece and the yoke define a magnetic gap therebetween, and the voice coil is vibratably supported by the diaphragm in the magnetic gap. The voice coil includes a lead line for transmitting signal current. The lead line is bonded to the inner surface of a peripheral dome of the diaphragm with a pressure-sensitive adhesive.
US09473831B2
This invention encompasses embodiments for multi-modal integrated simultaneous measurement of various aspects of fluids contained in circulating systems such as automotive reciprocating engines and vehicle transmissions. These circulating systems perform constant internal lubrication, and heat and contaminant removal to protect the internal moving parts from the inherent friction and damage in normal operation. Most commonly this is achieved with fluids based on hydrocarbon and/or related synthetics, which, over time, can lose their protective properties, and vary in their performance or breakdown/decay due to internal and external events. Several components within the lubricant fluid can be measured and can provide insight into the efficacy of the system to perform its designed mission. Described herein is a real-time, simultaneous, integrated, multi-modal sensor system for early warning notification that can be further enhanced using specifically designed nanoparticles that can be introduced into the system, engineered to specifically bind with the contaminants and/or undergo an irreversible state change upon certain experienced conditions to both increase the detectability as well as provide for a framework to improve filter performance.
US09473828B2
In accordance with an embodiment, a method of matching video content to advertising content includes electronically receiving a video content metadata from a content provider, and matching the video content metadata to advertising content metadata of a global list of advertisements. The video content metadata corresponds to video content being sent to a user device and includes at least one keyword. Furthermore, the advertising content metadata corresponds to advertising content and includes at least one keyword. Matching the video content metadata to advertising content metadata includes comparing the at least one keyword of the video content metadata to the at least one keyword of the advertising content metadata.
US09473825B2
A computer-implemented method includes identifying a computer-based portable program module, automatically altering code in the portable program module to permit display of the module on a television-based display so that the displayed module has a substantially similar appearance on the television-based display as on a computer display, and providing the altered code for execution on a processor connected to a television-based display.
US09473824B2
An alert generation method and system. The method includes receiving by a computer processor, alert data indicating filters for specified alert types associated with possible future events. The computer processor receives monitor definition data and media generated audio/video data; compares the alert data to the media generated audio/video data; determines a first alert type matches first audio/video data of the media generated audio/video data; and determines that the first audio/video data comprises a primary event. The computer processor broadcasts the primary event.
US09473820B2
Audio fingerprinting and other media matching technologies can be used to identify broadcast media, such as television shows and radio broadcasts. A user device can record image, audio, and/or video information and upload information to a matching service that is able to use matching technology to identify the media and provide supplemental content or information to the user. The user might receive information identifying a product in an advertisement, identifying an actor on screen in a movie at a particular time, or other such information. In some embodiments, the user can receive access to a digital copy of the captured media, such as the ability to download a copy of a program in which a user expressed interest. Since a user might capture media information after the point of interest, a device can buffer a window of recently captured media in order to attempt to identify the intended media.
US09473805B1
A customized content selection and delivery system is operable to create a customized content channel package for a subscriber and customized content channel package to a customer premises over a content delivery network. A multi-level analysis based on measured content consumption metrics is performed to select content provider channels for the customized content channel package.
US09473803B2
A personalized channel recommendation method includes recording video programs of a plurality of channels, extracting image features of the recorded video programs of the plurality of channels, and storing the extracted image features of the recorded video programs of the plurality of channels in a feature database. The method also includes obtaining image feature data extracted from a video program being viewed by at least one user of a user device on a current channel, and detecting that the video program being watched by the user is an undesired program and determining a channel number of a channel of the video program being watched based on the image feature data and the feature database. Further, the method includes determining channel recommendation including at least one desired channel to be switched to from the undesired program, and generating an adaptive TV guide for the user to skip the undesired program and to switch to the desired channel.
US09473802B2
Systems, devices and methods are described to obtain a lower-quality replacement when the reception of a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) or other broadcast television signal becomes weak or unavailable due to weather, maintenance or other circumstances. The received broadcast television signal is monitored by a receiver, antenna, outdoor unit or the like. When the received broadcast signal becomes weak or unavailable, the television receiver obtains a lower quality replacement for received broadcast signal from a network service or other alternate source to thereby continue the playback of the television program. Lower quality alternatives may include lower quality video streams, audio streams, text tickers, web pages or the like.
US09473801B1
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for causing a stunt switcher to run a bug-removal digital-video effect (DVE). In one aspect, a method involves selecting a first log-entry from a traffic log, wherein the first log-entry corresponds to a bug-removal DVE stored in the stunt switcher; selecting a second log-entry from the traffic log, wherein the second log-entry corresponds to a show-segment video-component (VC) and a start time; causing the VC to start being channeled through the stunt switcher proximate the start time; making a determination that a threshold time-period remains in a show portion of the VC; and responsive to making the determination that the threshold time-period remains in the show portion of the VC, causing the stunt switcher to run the stored bug-removal DVE, thereby removing any bug overlayed on the VC as a remainder of the VC is being channeled through the stunt switcher.
US09473799B1
A distributed execution environment provides resources such as computing resources, hardware resources, and software resources. One or more resource data providers might also operate in conjunction with the distributed execution environment to provide resource data describing various aspects of the resources in the distributed execution environment. A query service may obtain resource data provided by the resource data providers in order to generate responses to queries. In order to obtain the resource data from the resource data providers, the query service may utilize various “pull” and “push” mechanisms. Using a push mechanism, the resource data providers push resource data to the query service. Utilizing a pull mechanism, the query service pulls the resource data from the resource data providers. The query service might also store resource data received from the resource data providers in a cache and utilize the cached resource data when responding to queries for resource data.
US09473793B2
There is provided an image processing apparatus including a tone mapper that losslessly tone maps image data in a floating-point representation, a base layer generator that generates base layer image data by reducing a bit depth of the image data tone mapped by the tone mapper, and an enhancement layer generator that generates enhancement layer data by using the image data tone mapped by the tone mapper and the base layer image data generated by the base layer generator.
US09473791B2
Coding techniques for a video image compression system involve improving an image quality of a sequence of two or more bi-directionally predicted intermediate frames, where each of the frames includes multiple pixels. One method involves determining a brightness value of at least one pixel of each bi-directionally predicted intermediate frame in the sequence as an equal average of brightness values of pixels in non-bidirectionally predicted frames bracketing the sequence of bi-directionally predicted intermediate frames. The brightness values of the pixels in at least one of the non-bidirectionally predicted frames is converted from a non-linear representation.
US09473790B2
A video decoding method using inter-prediction, includes: identifying, based on information included in a bitstream, whether a first picture is a picture which allows a second picture preceding the first picture in a display order to refer to at least one picture decoded before the first picture, the first picture serving as a random access picture; decoding the first picture without referring to a reference picture which has already decoded; and when the first picture is a picture which allows the second picture to refer to the at least one picture decoded before the first picture, inter-prediction decoding, after decoding the first picture, the second picture by using at least one reference picture which is decoded before the first picture depending on reference picture information of the second picture.
US09473789B2
Provided is an apparatus for decoding a moving picture. An entropy decoding unit restores a quantization coefficient sequence from a bitstream. An inverse quantization/transform unit generates a residual block. An inter prediction unit generates a prediction block of a current block based on motion vector information. When the prediction block is encoded in skip mode, motion information of the current block is restored using an available spatial or temporal skip candidate and the prediction block of the current block is generated using the motion information. The temporal skip candidate includes a reference picture index and a motion vector, the reference picture index of the temporal skip candidate is set to 0, and a motion vector of the temporal skip candidate is a motion vector of the temporal skip candidate in a temporal skip candidate picture. A scan pattern for inversely scanning the plurality of subsets is the same as a scan pattern for inversely scanning coefficients of each subset. The quantization step size is generated by adding a quantization step size predictor and a remaining quantization step size predictor.
US09473782B2
A video encoder comprises a loop filter to filter luminance and chrominance pixel values, first and second loop filter working buffers accessible to the loop filter, and ping and pong loop filter data buffers accessible to the loop filter and to a direct memory access (DMA) engine. The loop filter filters pixels about a plurality of vertical edges and a plurality of horizontal edges for each macroblock in a video frame. The loop filter distributes partially filtered luma and chrominance pixel values across the first and second loop filter working buffers as well as the ping and pong loop filter data buffers, and does not save partially filtered luma and chrominance pixel values to external memory via the DMA engine.
US09473773B2
A video encoding/decoding apparatus including a video encoder for generating a prediction block, generating a residual block by subtracting the prediction block from the current block. The video encoder is for generating a frequency-transformed block by transforming and quantizing the residual block, generating a masked frequency-transformed block by masking the frequency-transformed block by using one or more frequency mask tables. The video encoder is for encoding information about a frequency mask table used for masking the masked frequency-transformed block. The apparatus includes a video decoder for extracting a masked quantized frequency coefficient string recorded in the bitstream. The video decoder is for generating a quantized frequency coefficient string by zero setting all quantized frequency coefficients at positions of no records in the bitstream from a masked quantized frequency coefficient string. The video decoder is for generating a quantized frequency-transformed block by inversely scanning the generated quantized frequency coefficient string.
US09473772B2
A method for decoding a video bitstream is disclosed. The method comprises: entropy decoding a first portion of a video bitstream, wherein first portion of video bitstream is associated with a video frame, thereby producing a first portion of decoded data; entropy decoding a second portion of video bitstream, wherein second portion of video bitstream is associated with video frame, thereby producing a second portion of decoded data, wherein entropy decoding second portion of video bitstream is independent of entropy decoding first portion of video bitstream; and reconstructing a first portion of video frame associated with video bitstream using first portion of decoded data and second portion of decoded data.
US09473769B2
A method for encoding a picture of a video sequence in a bit stream that reduces slice header parsing overhead is provided. The method includes determining weighting factors that may be used for weighted prediction in encoding at least one slice of the picture, wherein a total number of the weighting factors is constrained to not exceed a predetermined threshold number of weighting factors, wherein the threshold number is less than a maximum possible number of weighting factors, and signaling weighted prediction parameters including the weighting factors in a slice header in the bit stream.
US09473768B2
Optical non-uniformity correction (NUC) of an active mode image sensor scans a spot over a portion of the sensor's FOV within a frame time so that the net response of the sensor is approximately uniform. Scanning the laser spot simultaneously performs the NUC and provides the illumination of the FOV for imaging the scene. The laser spot is suitably scanned in an overlapping geometrical pattern relative to a line-of-sight of the sensor's imager while modulating a spacing between overlapping laser spots, the size of the spot, a dwell time of the laser spot or the energy of the laser spot or combinations thereof as a function of the scan position of the laser spot so that the laser illumination is inversely proportional to the imager response at the scan position of the laser spot. A liquid crystal waveguide may be used to form and scan the small laser spot over the FOV within the frame time.
US09473767B1
A display system comprising a display screen for displaying a stream of images, a viewer positioning module and an image generator module. The viewer positioning module is for determining a viewer's sightline by defining a first factor of the sightline as a lateral position of a viewer's body part located between the viewer's chin and the viewer's waistline, defining a second factor of the sightline as a depth position of the body part and computing the sightline based at least on the first factor and the second factor. The image generator module is for generating the stream of images considering the determined sightline. A method comprising defining the first factor, defining the second factor, computing the sightline based at least on the first factor and the second factor, generating the stream of images considering the determined sightline and displaying the stream of images on a first display screen.
US09473757B2
In embodiments, apparatuses, methods and storage media are described that are associated with presentation of video data during pause. In embodiments, upon receipt of a pause command, a video presentation engine may repeatedly present a multi-frame segment of video content until a resume command is received. In embodiments, the multi-frame segment may begin at a point when the pause command is received or at an earlier point. Sound may be selectively played, in embodiments, along with the multi-frame segment. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09473755B2
Color filter for a digital sensor formed of a two-dimensional array of pixels, each pixel corresponding to a given color. The pixels are arranged in at least one base pattern repeated over a given surface, which has at least three pixels of three different colors. The color filter is characterized in that it includes a plurality of distinct base patterns, each of these patterns having predefined optical properties of sensitivity, of color quality and of resolution, and in that it is subdivided into a plurality of distinct areas, each corresponding to a two-dimensional sub-array of pixels. Each of the base patterns is repeated several times along each dimension of the two-dimensional sub-array, respectively over the entirety of a corresponding area.
US09473754B2
A system and apparatus for dynamically distributing light are provided. The apparatus includes a source conduit configured to collect light from a light source and transmit the collected light for emission towards an optical switch. The optical switch is moveable between several discrete resting positions, each corresponding to a different one of a plurality of projector conduits. In each resting position, the optical switch directs light from the source conduit to a corresponding projector conduit. Each projector conduit receives the directed light from the optical switch and transmits the light to a corresponding one of a plurality of projectors. The optical switch is also configured to rest at each of the resting positions for respective portions of a given period of time, to regulate what amount of the light emitted by the source conduit during the period of time is received by each projector conduit.
US09473746B2
An image processing device includes: an acquisition section configured to acquire image data of a captured image; a dividing section configured to divide the acquired image data into divisional regions; a characteristic-amount calculation section configured to calculate a characteristic amount of the image data in each of the divisional regions; a characteristic-amount storage section configured to update the calculated characteristic amount and store the updated characteristic amount sequentially; and a change determination section configured to perform first and second processings, the first processing being provided to calculate a change amount or an agreement amount between the characteristic amounts, the second processing being provided to calculate a difference value between the characteristic amounts, and the change determination section being configured to determine, based on processing contents of the first and second processings, whether or not the update region is a changed region.
US09473741B2
A teleconference terminal includes a positional relationship determining unit, a video switching unit, a first video output unit, and a second video output unit. The positional relationship determining unit sets relationship information indicating a displaying position relationship between a location video received from another teleconference terminal and shared information shared among a plurality of locations on the local teleconference terminal based on relationship information indicating a displaying position relationship between the location video and the shared information set on the other teleconference terminal. The video switching unit displays the location video received from the other teleconference terminal and shared information on a first display unit and a second display unit in the displaying position relationship specified in the relationship information set by the positional relationship determining unit.
US09473738B2
Communication systems, video endpoints, and related methods are described. A video endpoint is configured to receive commands corresponding to functions of the video endpoint from a mobile electronic device responsive to a user interacting with a remote control interface of the mobile electronic device. The functions include in-call functions. A method includes performing the functions responsive to receiving the commands from the mobile electronic device. A method of transforming a mobile electronic device into a remote control device for the video endpoint includes storing computer-readable instructions at one or more servers. The computer-readable instructions are configured to instruct the mobile electronic device to provide the remote control interface and transmit the commands to the video endpoint. A communication system includes a software distribution server including a data storage device including the computer-readable instructions, and one or more communication elements configured to transmit the computer-readable instructions to the mobile electronic device.
US09473736B2
In response to receiving from a subscriber both a request to record content and a unique requester key, a network DVR identifies an asset associated with the request. The network DVR segments the asset in to a series of segments, assigns a mediaword to each segment for compression, encrypts each of the segments using an encryption key, and records the encrypted asset segments in an encrypted dictionary storage as definitions, i.e., dictionary entries. The encrypted key and the mediaword are forwarded to a requester handler flow in the network DVR that generates requester-specific encrypted copies using the requester key received from the subscriber. The mediaword, encrypted encryption key, and the encrypted asset segments are stored in and retrievable for the corresponding requester.
US09473730B1
A method and system for modeling the interests of an individual television viewer based on logging the user's television usage activities for the purpose of determining personalized recommendations is presented. According to one aspect of the claimed subject matter, user input in response to a questionnaire, the user's recorded television usage, the user's previous interactions with the personalized recommendations and contextual data such as external events and social group influences are used to model the probability of a user's interest in available media content. Data from the model is subsequently arranged to display units of available media content with the highest probabilities of user interest to the user. According to further embodiments, specific user behavior in previously consumed media content such as a user's selection, a user's continuous consumption, and a user's discontinuation of consumption is tracked and used as input.
US09473726B2
An ultra high definition display device and a video signal converting method are provided. The ultra high definition display device comprises a first input port configured to receive a first signal; a control module configured to generate a first enabling signal; a first receiver module configured to receive the first signal from the first input port according to the first enabling signal, and generate a second signal by a format conversion, both the first signal and the second signal being full high definition signals; a resolution transformation module configured to transform the second signal in resolution to generate a third signal, the third signal being an ultra high definition signal; and a transmission module configured to convert the third signal into an ultra high definition display signal and output the display signal. The device and method according to embodiments of the present invention may receive a full high definition signal, and achieve conversion from a full high definition signal to an ultra high definition signal display signal for output under the control of the control module.
US09473724B2
There is provided an imaging device. In the imaging device, when a range of the signal amplitude available for a signal output from a pixel cell is small, a period, in which a signal in a buffer unit is output, is set shorter than that when the range is large.
US09473723B2
Provided is a solid-state image sensing device that performs an A/D conversion operation at high speed. A sample-and-hold section 12 included in an A/D converter in a CMOS image sensor includes switches S1a and S1b and capacitor C1 that sample and hold a dark signal during each cycle period, switches S2a and S2b and capacitor C2 that sample and hold a bright signal during an odd-numbered cycle period, and switches S3a and S3b and capacitor C3 that sample and hold a bright signal during an even-numbered cycle period. While a bright signal is held with switch S2b placed in a conducting state, the next bright signal can be sampled by placing switch S3a in a conducting state.
US09473722B2
A solid-state imaging device having an analog-digital converter, and an analog-digital conversion method are described herein. An example of a solid-state imaging device includes a column processing section that includes a low-level bit latching section. The low-level bit latching section receives a comparator output from a comparator and a count output from a counter, and the low-level bit latching section latches a count value.
US09473720B2
A solid-state image-capturing device has a plurality of pixels and first and second substrates in which circuit elements constituting the pixels are arranged and which are electrically connected through a connection unit. The solid-state image-capturing device includes: a photoelectric conversion element included in the pixel of the first substrate; a first current source; a first amplification transistor having a source or a drain connected to the first current source and a gate to which a signal generated by the photoelectric conversion element is input; a second current source; a switch configured to switch ON and OFF of a connection between a vertical signal line and the second current source and to be turned off when the gate of the first amplification transistor is reset; a voltage output circuit configured to output a power supply voltage to the vertical signal line when the gate of the first amplification transistor is reset.
US09473712B2
Systems and methods prevent friendly fire using infrared object recognition. An IR projector projects a beam of IR radiation at a first wavelength onto the object and an IR detector, having a field of view of the object, detects IR fluorescence from the object, where a wavelength of the fluorescence is a function of the first wavelength. The system includes a memory for storing software having machine readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform the steps of: (a) controlling the IR projector to generate IR at the first wavelength; (b) controlling the IR detector to capture the object fluorescence; and (c) identifying the object as friendly or non-friendly based upon the object fluorescence. The system further includes an inhibitor for preventing firing of a gun or missile when the object is identified as friendly.
US09473706B2
An image sensor includes an imaging area and one or more flicker detection regions. The imaging area includes pixels that capture one or more images. Each flicker detection region includes pixels that are sampled multiple times while an image is being captured. The samples can be analyzed to detect flicker in the scene being imaged.
US09473705B2
In a method for determining a field of view of a camera device, a location device sends position information to establish anchor points. The camera device captures images of the anchor points, and obtains vertical angles of the anchor points, horizontal angles of the anchor points, and distances between the camera device and the anchor points. Each anchor point corresponds to one or more speakers. The method calculates rotation angles of speakers according to the vertical angles, the horizontal angles, the distances and anthropometric values of the speakers. The method further determines the field of view of the camera device according to the rotation angles.
US09473704B2
A camera apparatus includes: a display signal generation section configured to generate an indicator display signal for displaying an indicator at a position in accordance with an inclination of a camera body in a predetermined direction; and a combination section configured to combine a captured image signal with the indicator display signal in order to obtain a view finder image signal, wherein the display signal generation section generates the indicator display signal such that a display of the indicator is masked using a mask area having a predetermined width and with a position corresponding to a predetermined inclination of the indicator in a movement direction as center.
US09473703B2
A blur correction apparatus includes a first fixing member, a moveable member and a second fixing member. A coil for generating a magnetic flux is arranged on the first fixing member. The movable member includes (1) an optical element, (2) a first magnet facing the coil, and (3) a second magnet arranged along a line parallel with an optical axis of the optical element and facing the first magnet, such that the first magnet is arranged between the second magnet and the coil. The movable member can move in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. The second fixing member includes a hall element that is arranged adjacent to the second magnet. The second magnet is arranged between the first magnet and the hall element. The coil, the first magnet, the second magnet and the hall element are sequentially disposed in a line parallel with the optical axis, in this order.
US09473699B2
From a panorama moving image storage unit storing a panorama moving image, a panorama moving image is read and sequentially acquired. A display range, of the acquired panorama moving image, which is to be displayed on a display device is set in accordance with an operation made by a user. A sound to be output in synchronization with display of the image on the display device is generated based on the display range. Control of sequentially displaying the display range of the acquired panorama moving image on the display device is performed. Control of outputting the generated sound from the speaker in synchronization with the display of the image on the display device is performed.
US09473678B2
To apportion desired video processing between a video source device and a video sink device, at one of the devices, and based upon an indication of video processing algorithms of which the other device is capable and an indication of video processing algorithms of which the one device is capable, a set of video processing algorithms for achieving desired video processing is identified. The identified set of video processing algorithms is classified into a first subset of algorithms for performance by the other device and a second subset of algorithms for performance by the one device. At least one command for causing the other device to effect the first subset of video processing algorithms is sent. The one device may be configured to effect the second subset of algorithms.
US09473674B2
A data migration system includes a migration source device and a migration target device that are capable of reading and writing data from and to an IC card. The migration source device includes a first storage section and a data write section. The first storage section stores user information. Upon detection of a waving of an IC card of a user, the data write section authenticates the user of the IC card and stores a user information piece about the authenticated user stored in the first storage section to the IC card. The migration target device includes a second storage section and a data receiving section. Upon detection of a waving of the IC card of the user, the data receiving section authenticates the user of the IC card and stores the user information piece stored in the IC card to the second storage section.
US09473672B2
An image reading apparatus capable of accurately detecting abnormal pixels caused by a contaminant such as dirt, stain, or flaw on a moving document reading glass being read. An image processing unit of the image reading apparatus performs a first abnormal pixel detection process to detect pixel signals representing abnormal pixels and output from image sensors for respective colors when a reading unit reads a guide plate in a main scanning direction in a state before an original passes through a moving document reading position, performs a second abnormal pixel detection process to detect pixel signals representing abnormal pixels and output from the image sensors when an original being conveyed is read by the reading unit in the main scanning direction, and detects a main scanning direction of abnormal pixels based on results of these detection processes.
US09473667B2
A method for capturing an image with audio data includes recording and storing audio data, capturing an image on request, and matching and storing the recorded audio data with the captured image, thereby allowing a user to more lively record an audio signal when an image is captured. An apparatus for capturing an image with audio data includes a camera unit configured to capture an image, an audio data recording unit configured to record audio data, and a controller configured to store an image captured by the camera unit, and match and store audio data recorded by the audio data recording unit for a predetermined period of time after the camera unit captured the image.
US09473662B2
An image forming apparatus has a plurality of functions that includes at least one predetermined function on which a usage restriction is imposed. The image forming apparatus includes a printing section and a control section. The printing section supplies toner to an electrostatic latent image to develop the electrostatic latent image into a toner image and print the toner image on a sheet. The control section counts sheets printed by the printing section and removes the usage restriction on the at least one predetermined function when a cumulative number of sheets printed by the printing section reaches a predetermined number.
US09473658B2
An electronic device may include a main system that can operate in a normal state and an energy-saving state, a data retaining unit that stores data, and a subsystem that may execute transmission and reception of data to and from an external apparatus. While the main system is in the energy-saving state, if the subsystem receives main dedicated specific data of pieces of main dedicated data required to be processed by the main system, the subsystem may store the main dedicated specific data. While the main system is in the energy-saving state, if the subsystem receives main dedicated data other than the main dedicated specific data from an external apparatus, the subsystem may transition the main system to the normal state and cause the main system to process the main dedicated specific data stored and the main dedicated data other than the main dedicated specific data.
US09473655B2
An image reading device includes: an image reading section configured to read an image of an original document; a document size detecting section configured to use image data acquired by the image reading section with an original cover open to detect a size of the original document in a main scanning direction; and a control section configured to allow the document size detecting section to perform a detection of the size of the original document by lighting a light source of the image reading section at an initial light intensity, subsequently allow the document size detecting section to perform another detection of the size of the original document by lighting the light source at a reduced light intensity, and set, when the same size has been detected in the two detections of the size of the original document, the reduced intensity as a document size detection light intensity.
US09473652B2
An image display unit capable of displaying image data page-wise includes: a scanner portion; a display panel for displaying input image data in preview representation; an input condition determiner that compares the image data successively input through the scanner portion, as to input condition and determines whether there is any change in the image data input condition; and a display controller that, when the input condition determiner determines that the input image data has changed in the input condition, makes control such as to display the image data that was determined to have changed in the input condition and the image data input immediately before the image data in question, together on the display panel.
US09473651B2
A scanning system provides for scanning documents and generating respective electronic copies with associated metadata. A scanner scans one or more documents to produce respective electronic copies. A user interface captures metadata entered by a user regarding the documents. A controller is communicatively coupled to the scanner and the user interface, and enables the user interface to capture the metadata concurrently with the scanner's scanning the documents. The electronic copy and the metadata can be associated with one another or incorporated into a common file. Parallel metadata entry and physical scanning reduces time a user spends to perform the overall process, resulting in increased user satisfaction.
US09473639B2
A resource selection management computer system and method for selecting at least one agent for at least one communication session includes a monitoring module for monitoring one or more parameters of the at least one communication session involving the at least one agent; a database for storing the one or more monitored parameters; a computing module for computing at least one data value based on the one or more monitored parameters by using at least one fuzzy logic; a determination module for determining at least one attribute of the agent based on the at least one computed data value; and an agent selection module for selecting at least one agent based on the at least one determined attribute.
US09473635B2
A web-based solution through which business entities create and manage communications campaigns, such as campaigns that afford target recipients an opportunity to be connected to a third party call center. A web interface is provided to enable a business entity customer to create a set of one or more rules that, when triggered during the campaign, cause the solution to take certain control actions in real-time, based on campaign performance. Preferably, this campaign performance is measured indirectly, i.e. without requiring a direct connection to an on-premises call center ACD. The interface provides the business entity customer with a convenient and easy-to-use display that identifies any rule that has been (or may be getting ready to be) triggered, together with a then current status of the campaign. The system takes a control action (e.g., campaign suspension, adjusting an outbound call rate, or the like) when a customer-configurable rule is triggered.
US09473634B1
A call center compliance system is used to ensure that agents adhere to call center policies and applicable regulations when handling calls. A call handler processing a call between an agent and a remote party bridges on a speech analytics component. A keyword set is used by the speech analytics component to analyze the remote party's or the agent's speech. If a keyword is detected, an event notification is provided from the speech analytics component to the call handler. A logic script executing in the call handler defines what actions are to occur in response to receiving the event notification. The call handler can provide information to the agent, record a violation, or await further event notifications. In one embodiment, detection of a first keyword in a first keyword set spoken by a remote party causes the agent's speech to be monitored using a second keyword set.
US09473629B2
Messages received by a mobile device can be processed in one of at least two modes. In the normal mode, the messages are handled in accordance with the normal settings of the mobile device. In the filtered mode, or “night-time” mode, incoming messages are examined to determine if they are to be filtered or if they are exempt from filtering. If a message is exempt from filtering, it is processed in accordance with the normal mode. However, if the message is to be filtered, the mobile device is prevented from providing normal message reception alert notifications. Messages can be identified as being exempt to being filtered by editing an address book or selecting entries from an address book. All messages not identified as exempt then get filtered.
US09473626B2
Methods, apparatus and systems for computer-aided determination of quality assessment for locate and marking operations. In one example, a quality assessment decision is solely under the discretion of a human reviewer, albeit facilitated in some respects by computer-aided display of information, and electronic record keeping and communication functions associated with the quality assessment result(s). In another example, information related to a locate and marking operation is electronically analyzed such that a quality assessment is not based solely on human discretion, but rather based at least in part on some predetermined criteria and/or metrics that facilitate an automated determination of quality assessment.
US09473622B2
In a communication system that includes a communication terminal that originates and receives a call through a call control server, the call control server receives destination information from the communication terminal as a call request. The call control server checks an address of the communication terminal and determines based on the destination information whether transmission to a destination terminal is permitted for the communication terminal. Only when the transmission is permitted, the call control server originates a call to an address corresponding to the destination information to connect the communication terminal to the destination terminal.
US09473606B1
An assembly is provided including a pole and a smartphone support. The pole is preferably adjustable in length and removably attachable to the smartphone support. The smartphone support is preferably configured as a clamp with an upper arm biased toward a base and with fingers therebetween which can engage edges of a smartphone to hold the smartphone therebetween. A trigger is provided on a handle of the pole which interfaces with the smartphone, such as by a cable removably connectable to an accessory port on the smartphone or wireless transmitter to a receiver in the smartphone, so that the trigger on the handle can operate a camera within the smartphone. A vent coupling is also provided on the support for attachment to a louver of an air conditioning vent or similar structure, typically with the pole removed from the support.
US09473604B2
A mobile terminal is disclosed, by which a display and a case can be uniformly attached to each other with a reinforced adhesive strength. The present invention includes a case, a display unit installed on the case, a seating part provided to the case, the seating part configured to support the display unit, and a channel provided to the seating part, the channel configured to receive an adhesive for coupling the display unit and the case together. The channel includes a bottom portion, a first wall surface extending from the bottom portion and a second wall surface extending from the bottom portion. The second wall surface is disposed closer to a center of the case than the first wall surface. And, the second wall surface tilts at a prescribed angle toward the center of the case.
US09473583B2
Method, apparatus, and articles of manufacture for presenting a decision user interface to a first member of a social network service, receiving information identifying a set of interests of the first member entered at the decision user interface, searching at least one of the group consisting or profiles of members of the social network service and user decision interfaces presented to members of the social network service and, responsive to searching, providing information relating to the set of interests to the first member. The set of interests may include a field of study or an organization or an academic degree.
US09473582B1
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method, a system, and an apparatus are presented for mediating ambiance outputs among a plurality of users located in a common area. In some implementations, said ambiance outputs can be adaptive or interactive shared digital works. In other implementations, said ambiance outputs can be shared mediated augmented reality. In other implementations, said ambiance outputs can be the result of hierarchical schemes and algorithms.
US09473578B2
A system is provided for reducing latency data collection from space-based sensor satellites. A mobile vehicle platform includes a sensor module configured to monitor certain conditions, circumstances, environments and situations occurring on or around, or associated with, the Earth, and to generate sensor data resulting from the monitoring. A relay satellite terminal is configured to execute data communications via a communications channel of a first satellite beam, wherein the data communications are configured to relay the sensor data, via satellites, to respective gateways for forwarding to a central processing facility for one or more of aggregation, processing, analysis and dissemination of the data. The relay satellite terminal is further configured to switch the data communications from the communications channel of the first satellite beam to a communications channel of a second satellite beam based on a position of the relay satellite terminal relative to the first and second satellite beams.
US09473573B2
A method for providing cloud embedding using Network followed by Compute Load Balancing (NCLB) by mapping one or more virtual links over one or more physical links while balancing network resources, and mapping one or more virtual nodes over one or more physical nodes while balancing different types of computational resources.
US09473571B2
A plurality of server computers in a network that includes load balancing processes to enhance performance employs a non-performance related variable, such as power consumption, and modifies the load balancing processes in response to the reading of the non-performance variable. Such variables do not affect the response and performance as perceived by a browsing client but do provide other advantages with in the environment as a whole. The non-performance related variable is employed such that one or more of said server computers are de-activated to reduce power consumption, and the load balancing processes balance load across the remaining active server computers.
US09473563B2
A method and system for loading data into a terminal device are disclosed. The method includes the steps of displaying icons in a user interface of the terminal device and determining whether data correspond to an icon in a defined display area. The method further includes loading the data into the terminal device if the data correspond to an icon in the defined display area and deleting the data from the terminal device if the data do not correspond to an icon in the defined display area. The method and system consistent with the present disclosure may improve the user experience for browsing and reading online storybooks.
US09473561B2
Techniques are disclosed to transmit arbitrarily large data units for transaction processing in a networked environment. A request is received to store a data unit of a size exceeding an allocated memory address space of a transaction gateway component of the networked environment. A predefined store function, provided by a repository interface component, is invoked to store the data unit to a data repository component of the networked environment and without segmenting the data unit. A repository handle of the stored data unit is identified. A predefined load function, provided by the repository interface component, is invoked to load a portion of the stored data unit, based on the identified repository handle, where the portion is smaller than the stored data unit.
US09473553B2
Method for distributing and controlling traffic in cloud computing system and cloud computing system using the same. The cloud computing system may include a plurality of local data centers located at different regions and a control center coupled to the plurality of local data centers through a network. The plurality of local data centers each may be configured to process packets from user equipments in order to provide a requested service. The control center may be configured to distribute packets transmitted to one local data center into at least one other local data centers based on at least one given factor when an amount of the packets to the one local data center exceeds a given threshold.
US09473549B2
A method of playing an internet video for an electronic device is disclosed. The method includes receiving data associated with the internet video from a network, wherein the video data includes information of a highest resolution and a lowest resolution of the internet video; determining a first display resolution range according to a network bandwidth utilized by the electronic device; and selecting a first resolution for playing the internet video according to the first display resolution range and whether the electronic device has stored a complete data associated with the internet video with the highest resolution.
US09473542B2
Method for accessing a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) server from a user equipment. The method comprises the steps of transmitting, by the user equipment, an HTTP message destined for that HTTP server to an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) server with which the user equipment is in a connection, determining, by the IMS server, on the basis of the HTTP message whether a trust relation exists between the IMS server and the HTTP server, and if a trust relation exists transmitting the HTTP message from the IMS server to the HTTP server.
US09473532B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure include data loss prevention methods by a cloud-based service including third party integration architectures. The disclosed techniques of the cloud-based platform (e.g., collaboration platform in an enterprise environment) can detect (and may optionally prevent) violations to, e.g., corporate policies, which can be configurable by a corporate administrator, for example, regarding the use, storage, and/or transmission of sensitive information. The types of sensitive information can include, for example, financial information—credit card and bank account numbers, Personally Identifiable Information (PII)—Social Security Number (SSN), health/healthcare information, Intellectual Property—earnings forecasts, sales pipeline, trade secrets, source code, etc.
US09473531B2
According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for detecting malware in a network stream to at least one host computer is provided. The method may include initializing a browser profile corresponding with a first website having a first website source and a first plurality of content features. The method may include recording the first plurality of content features and a trusted source based on the first website source. The method may include scanning the network stream for a second content feature within a second plurality of content features associated with a second website. The method may include determining if the second content feature matches a first content feature. The method may include determining if the second plurality of content features is consistent with the first plurality of content features. The method may include determining if a second website source matches the trusted source. The method may include generating an alert.
US09473521B2
A method for mitigating false positive type errors while applying an information leak prevention policy to identify important information and to prevent outward leakage. A positive criterion is defined for a positive set, and a negative criterion for a negative set of benign traffic. An ambiguity set contains items showing indications for both positive and negative sets. An ambiguity resolution criterion allows ambiguous items to be placed in/removed from the positive set or negative set. Each information item is searched for matches with the positive set. Each item in the positive set is checked for membership in the ambiguity set. The ambiguity resolution criteria are used for each member of the ambiguity set and to remove items from the positive set accordingly. The leak prevention policy is applied for all items remaining in the positive set thus protecting the important information.
US09473514B1
A method is provided to enhance efficiency of sensor event data transmission over network. Specifically, a method is described to buffer a set of sensor data, to group one or more of the set of sensor data having a same type for batch processing. The batch processing includes compressing and securing operations on the grouped sensor data, and restore the original message sequence of the grouped sensor data.
US09473510B2
Location data from one or more geolocation engines such as GPS, a system that determines location from relative signal strengths or transit times, etc., within and/or connected to a device, such as a mobile phone, vehicle, movable electronic device, computer, etc., is included in a digital record that submitted to obtain a digital signature such that the presence of the device at the particular location can later be proven. The digital record may include data that encodes a message, as well as other parameters such as time. The digital signature may include recomputation parameters for recomputing a verifying calendar value, formed by a keyless, hash tree-based signing infrastructure as an uppermost hash value in a calendar period.
US09473507B2
Methods and systems for proximity-based access control include determining whether a distance from a first mobile device to each of one or more safe mobile devices falls below a threshold distance; determining whether a number of safe mobile devices within the threshold distance exceeds a safe gathering threshold with a processor; and activating a safe gathering policy in accordance with the safe gathering threshold that decreases a security level in the first mobile device.
US09473506B1
A system, method and computer readable medium for secure file transfer is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system encrypts a file; sends, via a secure channel, a packet to a group having one or more members, the group authorized to access the encrypted file, the packet associated with the encrypted file and including access information for the encrypted file; receives a first request for the encrypted file from a first requestor; and sends the encrypted file to the first requestor via an unsecured channel that performs caching, wherein the first requestor is able to access the encrypted file using the packet when the first requestor is a member of the group authorized to access the encrypted file and received the packet via the secure channel and unable to access the encrypted file when the first requestor is not a member of the group authorized to access the encrypted file.
US09473500B1
A method, system, and computer program product for detecting and enforcing compliance with access requirements for a computer system in a restricted computer network. A compliance validation configuration file is created for the computer system. A maintenance service utility is configured to launch a compliance validation executable file at a specified time during operation of the computer system. A digital hash is generated for the compliance validation executable file and for the compliance validation configuration file. A determination is made if the computer system or a computer system user is a member of a configured restricted group. If the computer system or the computer system user is a member of a configured restricted group, a determination is made if a directory site code for a subnet of the restricted computer network to which the computer system is connected corresponds to a configured and allowed site. If the directory site code does not correspond to a configured and allowed site, compliance with access requirements are enforced. Enforcement actions can include a forced logoff of the computer system user, and/or a forced shutdown of the computer system.
US09473497B1
An exclusion engine for electronic communications in controlled-environment facilities. In some embodiments, a method may include method may include receiving, at one or more computer systems, a request for an electronic communication between a resident and a non-resident of a controlled-environment facility and determining, via the one or more computer systems, whether an exclusion list adopted by the controlled-environment facility allows the non-resident to communicate with the resident, where the exclusion list is of a type selected from the group consisting of: a permissive list, and a restrictive list. For example, a permissive list may identify one or more non-residents that are allowed to communicate with the resident, and a restrictive list may identify one or more non-residents that are not allowed to communicate with the resident.
US09473488B2
Disclosed are a control device and a control method for electronic atomization device based on mobile terminal. The device includes a Bluetooth control module, a matching module and an authentication module. The control method includes steps of: building a Bluetooth connection between battery and mobile terminal; sending atomizer identification information stored in atomizer to the mobile terminal and then carrying out a match by comparing the atomizer identification information and original identification information; and searching corresponding user identification information according to serial number of the battery, receiving authentication information entered by user and then carrying out an authentication by comparing the authentication information entered by user and the user identification information. By using authentication device and powerful computing ability of the mobile terminal directly, both of authentication for the electronic atomization device and match between the battery of electronic atomization device and atomizer can be achieved on the mobile terminal.
US09473484B2
A technique for network authentication interoperability involves initiating an authentication procedure on a first network, authenticating on a second network, and allowing access at the first network. The technique can include filtering access to a network, thereby restricting access to users with acceptable credentials. Offering a service that incorporates these techniques can enable incorporation of the techniques into an existing system with minimal impact to network configuration.
US09473482B2
In accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the invention there is at least a method and apparatus to perform operations including deploying, with a device of a private network, an application instance with an application web service in a cloud network; and based on the deploying, communicating with the application web service in the cloud network to establish a trust relationship with the application web service for the application instance.
US09473480B2
User access to a protected resource is controlled by: intercepting a request from a client browser (80) directed to a server (50); requesting user credentials from the client browser (80); processing user credentials received from the client browser (80) to authenticate the user (20); redirecting the client browser (80) to an authorization server (70) configured to issue a token credential; intercepting an authorization request from the browser (80) to the authorization server (70), and inserting into the authorization request an HTTP header variable indicating the authentication status of the user (20). The authorization server (70) is arranged to issue a token credential, which may be used by the user (20) to obtain a token for indicating to a server (50) hosting the protected resource authorization of the user (20) to access the protected resource.
US09473471B2
A method for performing proxy transformation between a user and a server includes: selecting a first proxy relationship between a target user and a first user from a proxy relationship library; selecting a random value, and generating a second proxy relationship according to the random value and the first proxy relationship; and encrypting original information according to the public key of the first user and the random value to obtain the encrypted information, and transmitting the encrypted information and the second proxy relationship to the server, so that the server performs proxy transformation on the encrypted information according to the second proxy relationship to obtain the transformed information. The method for performing proxy transformation thoroughly solves the security hazard that the server performs proxy transformation without user permission. The present invention further discloses a user terminal and a system for performing proxy transformation.
US09473470B2
A method for supply of data, including generating an empowerment certificate signed with a signing entity's electronic signature. The empowerment certificate includes attributes of a described entity, information identifying the signing entity, indication of data relating to the described entity, indication of a source of the data, and identification of a relying entity to which the data can be supplied. The relying entity forwards the empowerment certificate to a source supplying the data indicated in the empowerment certificate.
US09473468B2
Mechanisms and methods are provided for managing OAuth access in a database network system, and extending the OAuth flow of authentication to securely store the OAuth encrypted refresh token in the storage available with current browsers or any other non-secure storage on user system.
US09473456B2
Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for increasingly applying network resources to traffic flows based on heuristics and policy conditions. A network determines that a traffic flow satisfies a first condition and transmits a first portion of the traffic flow to a network service. A network service then inspects the first portion of the traffic flow at a first level of detail and determines that the traffic flow satisfies a second condition. The network can then transmit a second portion of the traffic flow to the network service based on the determining the traffic flow satisfies the second condition. The network service can inspect the second portion of the traffic flow at a second level of detail, wherein the inspecting at the second level of detail requires a different amount of computing resources than the inspecting at the first level of detail.
US09473450B2
A technique and apparatus to provide status tracking of presence and/or location of wireless devices to requesting entities inside and/or outside a particular wireless system. Presence and/or location information is provided to entities outside a particular servicing wireless network via mechanisms of call processing components of a mobile network and standard mechanisms available to any appropriately conforming MSC element. In one embodiment, a wireless chat automatic status tracking system utilizes a change in mobile registration status to automatically forward or copy a registration notification (REGNOT) message to an external IP application, to notify a chat group system outside the wireless network of current status information activity regarding a relevant device. Change in mobile registration is communicated via a suitable signaling link between a HLR and the chat group system. REGNOT messages are pushed over TCP/IP connections to external applications to automatically notify the external system of a particular user's location.
US09473444B2
A method for generating content sharing platform playlists and subscriptions based on user history is disclosed. The method includes identifying one or more entities of a content sharing platform to which a user is not subscribed, providing a user interface (UI) associated with the user, the UI displaying the identified one or more entities as recommended suggestions to the user, receiving, by the user via the UI, an indication of a selection of an entity of the identified one or more entities, generating a subscription to the selected entity for the user on the content sharing platform, using content items associated with the subscribed entity to originate a playlist for the user, and providing the playlist on the UI associated with the user.
US09473435B2
Systems and methods for transmitting an e-mail having an attached file are provided. The system includes a mail server configured to receive the e-mail including the attached file, store the attached file at a storage location in a cloud storage system, and replace the attached file with location information. The location information may indicate the storage location. The system includes the cloud storage system configured to store the attached file at the storage location. The mail server may be further configured to send the e-mail with the location information and without the attached file.
US09473429B2
A low latency messaging chat service may provide for receiving from a chat client a connection request via a network; authenticating the chat client by a registration process; allocating to the chat client at least a first topic corresponding to a first message queue and a second topic corresponding to a second message queue, the first topic assigned a first format and the second topic assigned a second format; enabling the chat client to post messages in the first topic; and enabling the chat client to receive messages in the second topic.
US09473425B2
An information handling system is provided herein. The information handling system includes a controlling bridge having a plurality of bridge ports and at least one port extender coupled to one of the bridge ports of the controlling bridge to form an extended bridge. The port extender has a plurality of extension ports. The information handling system further includes an access point coupled to the port extender such that a wireless association between the access point and one or more stations appears as a logical bridge port to the controlling bridge and to an access controller system. The access point has a wireless transceiver to communication with the one or more stations. Associated methods are provided herein for providing wireless network access to a local area network.
US09473405B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for performing concurrent hashing of packet streams. During operation, the system receives a stream of packets at a controller. The controller then identifies types and parameters for a plurality of different hashing operations based on a received packet. The controller further sends the packet concurrently to corresponding different hashing modules to produce different hash values, which can be used to facilitate packet forwarding.
US09473388B2
Example implementations are directed to more efficiently delivering a multicast message to multiple destination components from a source component. Multicast environment is achieved with transmission of a single message from a source component, which gets replicated in the NoC during routing towards the destination components indicated in the message. Example implementations further relate to an efficient way of implementing multicast in any given NoC topology, wherein one or more multicast trees in the given NoC topology are formed and one of these trees are used for routing a multicast message to its intended destination components mentioned therein.
US09473380B1
A method for analyzing a binary-based application protocol of a network. The method includes obtaining conversations from the network, extracting content of a candidate field from a message in each conversation, calculating a randomness measure of the content to represent a level of randomness of the content across all conversation, calculating a correlation measure of the content to represent a level of correlation, across all of conversations, between the content and an attribute of a corresponding conversation where the message containing the candidate field is located, and selecting, based on the randomness measure and the correlation measure, and using a pre-determined field selection criterion, the candidate offset from a set of candidate offsets as the offset defined by the protocol.
US09473379B2
A client device in a distributed system sends a request to a server via a network and receives a service time duration from the server. The service time duration corresponds to time that the server spent servicing the request. A processor of the client device compares the service time duration with a dynamically generated service time threshold, and automatically issues one or more alert messages to a network operation center (NOC) when the service time duration is greater than the service time threshold. The service time threshold is dynamically calculated according to historic service time durations received from the server for a plurality of previous requests sent by the client device. The service time threshold is dynamically calculated according to historic service time durations of only previous requests of a same type as the request, where the previous requests sent by the client device are of a plurality of types.
US09473378B1
Provided is a method for transmitting packet-based media data having a header in which an overhead is minimized. A method for media data transmission may comprise the steps of: encapsulating media data to allow a media fragment unit (MFU) header and an M-unit header to share one format; allowing an MMT payload format to include a header field for an operation which is not supported by an RTP header, and transferring the encapsulated media data from a specific entity to another entity; and controlling the transfer of the media data. Therefore, a transmission overhead is minimized, so that it is possible to efficiently transmit media data.
US09473376B2
Method for determining from a remote server a user quality of service (QoS) class of a home network, comprising the following steps performed at the remote server which is connected through the internet with the home network: obtaining home network measurement data of at least one home network parameter associated with a capacity of the home network, using an application layer protocol for remote management, said capacity being a measure for an amount of traffic that the home network can handle at one time; processing said home network measurement data to estimate the capacity of the home network or a parameter related thereto; based on the estimated capacity or parameter related thereto classifying said home network in a user QoS class.
US09473374B2
A hybrid cloud environment is provided where a user of cloud computing services is disposed to consume cloud provided services delivered by each of a plurality of cloud computing service providers. Specified event data is received at an MCS component. The event data pertains to metering events related to the cloud provided services delivered by one or more cloud service providers. Event data include event data furnished by one or more entities that actively monitor metering events at one or more local or remote cloud service provider locations. Event data are sent from the MCS component to a metering system. The metering system generates reports from the event data that contains usage information on services provided by one or more cloud service providers. Information for a provider specifies amounts and quality of each type of service delivered to users by the provider.
US09473373B2
A method for storing a plurality of packets includes receiving a packets from a network, applying a hash function to values of one or more fields in the packet so as define a hash key and to select a storage bucket from a plurality of buckets, and adding the packet to the storage bucket. A bucket record associated with the storage bucket includes a flow index determined based on the values of the one or more fields in the packet.
US09473369B2
Methods and apparatuses for generating an application topology are provided. A processor determines a first application profile based, at least in part, on a first network packet. A processor determines a second application profile based, at least in part, on a second network packet. A processor determines a link between a first application and a second application based, at least in part, on address information of the first network packet. A processor generates a topology comprising the first and second application profiles based, at least in part, on the link, the first application profile and the second application profile. A processor updates the first and second application profiles based, at least in part, on matching the first application profile and second application profile with an application deployment template.
US09473367B2
Devices, methods and systems are provided for monitoring an aircraft. One exemplary method involves a processing system at a ground location obtaining first information associated with a first region identified by a detection system onboard the aircraft, obtaining second information associated with a second region identified by an external system coupled to the processing system, and displaying a flight tracking image associated with the aircraft that includes a first graphical representation of the first region and a second graphical representation of the second region. The method continues by capturing at least a portion of the flight tracking image displayed on a display device at the ground location and transmitting the captured flight tracking image to the aircraft for subsequent presentation on an onboard display device.
US09473356B2
In accordance with an embodiment, a metadata generator tool can automate the configuration of applications in a domain. The metadata generator tool can automatically capture metadata for the deployment and update one or more application specific property files using application specific templates. In some embodiments, the data generation tool can use introspection to identify metadata for a deployment. Depending on the deployment environment different introspection methods may be used (e.g., in a WebLogic domain one set of introspection methods may be used while in a WebSphere or Tomcat domain different methods may be used). Once the metadata is captured, property files associated with the applications can be updated using application-specific templates. Each template can define how the metadata is referenced in the property files, allowing the tool to automatically configure the property files by substituting the captured metadata where appropriate.
US09473352B2
A technique for setting network communications for a computer host having multiple network interface controllers (NICs) includes performing network communication for a baseboard management controller (BMC) using a first NIC. In response to actuation of a switch of a network connector jack that is associated with the first NIC, a switching signal is sent from the switch to the BMC. In response to receipt of the switching signal at the BMC, network communication for the BMC is performed using a second NIC.
US09473351B2
A processor and a system for automated provisioning of one or more wireless devices are provided. The processor includes one or more processing subsystems communicably coupled to a guest network. The one or more processing subsystems receive one or more input data signals corresponding to a service request from the wireless devices to connect to a secured backend network. The input data signals include a plurality of service connection parameters associated with the wireless devices. The service connection parameters are then authenticated with pre-stored data. Thereafter the input data signals are processed upon authentication to establish a secured communication link with the wireless devices. Subsequently a plurality of output signals corresponding to the service request to the wireless devices for automated provisioning to establish a connection with the secured backend network.
US09473347B2
An approach to an optimal application configuration. The approach includes a method that includes computing, by at least one computing device, an actual application impact based on an “N” number of failing information technology (IT) infrastructure components within an application architecture. The method includes determining, by the at least one computing device, a factor in likelihood of failure of the “N” number of IT infrastructure components. The method includes determining, by the at least one computing device, a failure profile for the application architecture based on the actual application impact and the factor in likelihood of failure.
US09473341B2
A first communication device obtains, for each second communication device of a plurality of second communication devices, one or more quality indicators corresponding to one or more sub-channel blocks of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication channel associated with the second communication device. The first communication device selects, based on the quality indicators obtained for each of at least some of the second communication devices, a group of second communication devices for orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) communication. The first communication device transmits, to the group of second communication devices, at least one OFDMA data unit that includes respective OFDM data units directed to the two or more second communication devices of the group. The respective OFDM data units are transmitted in respective sub-channel blocks allocated to the two or more second communication devices of the group.
US09473339B2
A method for implementing an upstream symbol alignment within a network component, the method comprising receiving an upstream sync signal via an initializing digital subscriber line (DSL) during a channel discovery phase from a customer premise equipment (CPE), determining a corrected upstream symbol alignment value based upon the upstream sync signal, and transmitting the corrected upstream symbol alignment value to the CPE, wherein the upstream symbol alignment value determines an upstream symbol alignment for one or more upstream transmissions, and wherein the corrected upstream symbol alignment value is determined before receiving a plurality of upstream data signals within the data symbol positions during the channel discovery phase.
US09473338B2
The present invention provides a receiver, a transmitter, a transmitter feedback device, and corresponding methods. The feedback device includes: a multi-channel frequency selection band-pass circuit, configured to receive a multi-frequency band feedback signal, and output a feedback signal of each frequency band in a time-division manner; a feedback local oscillator, configured to provide feedback local oscillation corresponding to each frequency band in a time-division manner; a mixer, configured to mix the feedback signal of each frequency band from the multi-channel frequency selection band-pass circuit and the feedback local oscillation corresponding to each frequency band from the feedback local oscillator, and output an intermediate frequency signal of each frequency band in a time-division manner. A solution in which only one set of signal processing channels is used to process the signals of multiple frequency bands in the uplink, the downlink or both the uplink and downlink is provided.
US09473336B2
A radio frequency (RF) front end having multiple low noise amplifiers modules is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes at least one first stage amplifier configured to amplify received carrier signals to generate at least one first stage carrier group. Each first stage carrier group includes a respective portion of the carrier signals. The apparatus also includes second stage amplifiers configured to amplify the first stage carrier groups. Each second stage amplifier configured to amplify a respective first stage carrier group to generate two second stage output signals that may be output to different demodulation stages where each demodulation stage demodulates a selected carrier signal.
US09473335B2
Systems and methods are presented for transmitting additional data over preexisting differential COFDM signals by changing the amplitude of the legacy data symbols. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, additional data capacity can be achieved for a COFDM signal which is completely backwards compatible with existing legacy satellite broadcast communications systems. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, additional information can be overlaid on a legacy COFDM signal by applying an amplitude offset to the legacy symbols. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, special receiver processing can be implemented to extract this additional information, which can include performing channel equalization across frequency bins to isolate the amplitude modulated overlay signal. For example, at each FFT symbol time, average power across neighboring active data bins can be used to determine the localized power at the corresponding FFT bins, and a channel inversion can then, for example, be performed on the data bins to restore, as best as possible, the original transmitted symbol amplitude.
US09473332B2
Cost, electronic circuitry limitations, and communication channel behavior yield communication systems with strict bandwidth constraints. Hence, maximally utilizing available bandwidth is crucial, for example in wireless networks, to supporting ever increasing numbers of users and their demands for increased data volumes, low latency, and high download speeds. Accordingly, it would be beneficial for such networks to support variable bandwidth allocations such that smaller frequency sub-bands are allocated to users, as their number increases, but the individual users/nodes insert more data-carrying signals in order to compensate for the loss of operating bandwidth arising from the accommodation of more users. It would further be beneficial for transmitters and receivers according to embodiments of such a network architecture to be based upon low cost design methodologies allowing their deployment within a wide range of applications including high volume, low cost consumer electronics for example.
US09473321B1
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for dynamically controlling an appliance based on information received from a wearable device, to regulate the user's health. A wearable device is identified and configured to monitor at least one physiological aspect of the user. A controllable appliance with at least one sensor and at least one controllable setting is also identified. Health information of the user is received and utilized in generating, a user profile which comprises parameters related to the health of the user. Data from the wearable device and data from the controllable appliance is analyzed and it is determined whether the data matches the parameters related to the health of the user. If the data does not match the parameters related to the health of the user, then at least one controllable setting of the at least one controllable appliance is adjusted.
US09473320B2
A household appliance comprises a high speed communication interface, a large volume data processing device linking up with a household appliance control device, and a low speed communication switching device. When the communication target of the household appliance control device is switched to the large volume data processing device, the large volume data processing device converts data entered via the high speed communication interface to a low speed communication format and outputs the data to the household appliance control device via the low speed communication switching device, and converts data entered from the household appliance control device via the low speed communication switching device to a high speed communication format and enters the data into the high speed communication interface.
US09473310B2
Methods for managing digital certificates, including issuance, validation, and revocation are disclosed. Various embodiments involve querying a directory service with entries that correspond to a particular client identity and have attributes including certificate issuance limits and certificate validity time values. The validity time values are adjustable to revoke selectively the certificates based upon time intervals set forth in validity identifiers included therein.
US09473306B2
At least one node in a distributed hash tree document verification infrastructure is augmented with an identifier of an entity in a registration path. A data signature, which includes parameters for recomputation of a verifying value, and which is associated with a digital input record, will therefore also include data that identifies at least one entity in the hash tree path used for its initial registration in the infrastructure.
US09473304B1
A method for generating and distributing serialized tokens is provided. The method may include receiving a request from at least one client. The method may further include determining whether the received at least one request is a request for generating names and definitions for a group of serialized tokens, deleting a names and definitions, and/or receiving a group of serialized tokens. Additionally, the method may include enabling the at least one client to generate names and definitions for a group of serialized tokens. The method may also include storing the names and definitions on a server. The method may also include deleting the names and definitions from the server. The method may also include formatting and distributing serialized tokens based on the names and definitions for the serialized tokens. The method may further include sending a response to the client based on the received request.
US09473298B2
Simplifying IKE process in a gateway to enable datapath scaling using a two tier cache configuration
Computational complexity, specifically, cryptographic operations, is removed from the IKE(Internet Key Exchange) process in a VPN gateway appliance, thereby enabling scaling of the number of datapaths that can be managed by a single IKE process. A two-tier cache configuration enables necessary cryptographic operations on packets in the gateway but does so without placing additional computational burdens on the IKE process. One cache containing security association data is local to the IPSec component of the datapath instance. The second cache is higher level and is populated by IKE with security association data upon completion of IKE Phase 2 negotiations. The local cache is searched first for security policy data and if found is used to encrypt/decrypt the data packet. If not found locally, the IKE centralized cache is searched and if found, the local cache is updated with the security association data.
US09473286B1
A method and corresponding system to help manage carrier-aggregation service in view of possible intermodulation distortion between component carriers. When a base station is serving a UE with carrier aggregation service on at least two component carriers, the base station determines that uplink communication on the two component carriers is likely to combine to produce an intermodulation product that falls within the downlink channel of one of the component carriers, and that the power level of that intermodulation product is likely to be threshold high. In response, the base station then modifies the set of component carriers on which the base station provides the UE with carrier aggregation service, to help reduce or avoid associated intermodulation distortion.
US09473282B2
A wireless communication base station apparatus which is able to prevent deterioration in the throughput of LTE terminals even when LTE terminals and LTE+ terminals coexist. In this apparatus, based on the mapping pattern of the reference signals used only in LTE+ terminals, a setting unit sets, in each subframe, the resource block groups where the reference signals used only by the LTE+ terminals are mapped. For symbols mapped to the antennas, an mapping unit maps, to all the resource blocks within one frame, cell specific reference signals used for both LTE terminals and LTE+ terminals. For the symbols mapped to the antennas, the mapping unit maps, to the plurality of resource blocks, of which part of the resource block groups is comprised, in the same subframe within one frame, the cell specific reference signals used only for LTE+ terminals, based on the setting results inputted from the setting unit.
US09473272B2
A method for use in a wireless communication system for two-stage reordering of received protocol data units (PDUs). The method comprising receiving PDUs from Node-Bs, wherein each of the received PDUs has a transmission sequence number (TSN), reordering the received PDUs from Node-Bs using the TSN in a MAC layer in different reordering queues, delivering the received PDUs from reordering queues to one logical channel in the RLC layer, reordering the received PDUs in the RLC layer based on a sequence number (SN), starting a timer when at least a RLC PDU is missing based on SN of the RLC PDU, and transmitting a status report indicating a missing RLC PDU based on SN of the RLC PDU if the timer expires, wherein transmission of the status report is delayed if a RLC PDU is missing based on SN of the RLC PDU and the timer is running.
US09473269B2
According to one aspect of the invention, a method is provided in which a control channel used for transmitting control information is partitioned into a plurality of subchannels each of which is operated at a specific data rate. For each of one or more user terminals, one of the subchannels is selected based on one or more selection criteria for transmitting control information from an access point to the respective user terminal. Control information is transmitted from the access point to a user terminal on a particular subchannel selected for the respective user terminal. At the user terminal, one or more subchannels are decoded to obtain control information designated for the user terminal.
US09473268B2
A transmission frame generating device includes a control information signal generator and a frame former. The control information signal generator generates a modulation method information signal indicating a modulation method of a data signal and an error correction method information signal indicating an error correction method of the data signal. The frame former forms the transmission frame by repeating and discretely arranging the same modulation method information signal on a first multiple of a plurality of subcarriers on a frequency axis and by repeating and discretely arranging the same error correction method information signal on a second multiple of the plurality of the subcarriers on the frequency axis.
US09473250B2
The embodiments of the invention provide methods to deal with problems of cycle slips, angular skew, and residual phase noise for high-speed optical communications employing any arbitrary high-order multi-dimensional modulation formats. The embodiments use a slip process analyzer, a skew angle estimator, and a phase noise variance estimator to provide feedforward soft-decision information of a carrier phase recovery (CPE) for more accurate likelihood calculation based on a high-order hidden Markov model (HMM). The log-likelihood calculation can be done jointly in dual polarization with joint Markov state transition. Some embodiments use a kernel filter or a particle filter for log-likelihood calculation.
US09473248B2
A method and device for visible light communication is disclosed. The method comprises selecting a first sequence and a second sequence of light intensity frequencies to represent a first symbol and a second symbol, respectively, for embedding data. The method comprises further transmitting a light signal. The light signal comprises time periods in which a light intensity of the light signal is sequentially controlled according to the selected sequence of light intensity frequencies. Thereby, a frequency hopping light signal is generated, in which data may be embedded. The light signal may be generated and transmitted by the device comprising a light emitter.
US09473247B2
The present invention relates to a device and a method for conversion from optical double-sideband modulation signals to optical single-sideband modulation signals. Period-one nonlinear dynamics of semiconductor lasers is utilized to achieve such optical signal conversion. Only a typical semiconductor laser is required as the key conversion unit. The microwave and data quality are maintained or even improved after conversion, increasing detection sensitivity, transmission distance, and link gain of the communication networks. The device is relatively less sensitive to ambient variations, can be self-adapted to changes in operating conditions, and can be applied for a broad range of operating microwave frequency up to at least 80 GHz and a high data rate up to at least 2.5 Gbits/s. The device can therefore be dynamically reconfigured for different communication networks adopting different operating microwave frequencies and different data rates.
US09473243B2
An optical transceiver device is provided, including an O/E transceiver module, an optical switching module and a switching control module, for providing network communication services for a first and a second optical fiber network equipment. The O/E transceiver module is an integrated chip having multiple transceiver units integrated therein. The switching control module is connected to an in-line equipment and the optical switching module for controlling the optical switching module to execute corresponding optical path switching operation according to an optical path switching control signal output from the inline equipment. In comparison with conventional optical transceiver devices, the invention is advantageous of simple structure, smaller volume and more flexible optical path switching.
US09473241B1
A combination of algorithms and circuits can control the connectivity of a drop connection to either a telephone service or a high-speed data service at a distribution point. The algorithms and circuits can operate in the absence of a conventional power supply at the distribution point. The circuits can connect the drop connection to the high-speed data service in response to the receipt of an activation signal sent by equipment at the customer premises. After the connection to the high-speed data service is complete, the customer premises equipment can be used to apply back power to the components of the distribution point. If the customer premises equipment stops providing back power to the components of the distribution point, the circuits can connect the drop connection to the telephone service.
US09473239B2
Systems and methods of aligning an optical interface assembly with an integrated circuit (IC) are disclosed. The method includes emitting light from an optical transmitter, passing the emitted light through the optical interface assembly in a first direction, and reflecting the emitted light from a reflective surface disposed immediately adjacent a front end of the optical interface assembly to define reflected light that travels back through the optical interface assembly in a second direction that is substantially opposite the first direction. The reflected light is received by an optical receiver that generates in response a receiver signal. The relative position of the optical interface assembly and the IC is adjusted to achieve an aligned position based on the receiver signal. The disclosure is also directed to a test plug for aligning an optical interface assembly to the IC.
US09473236B2
A reply apparatus includes: a reception analog switch matrix that outputs, to reception processing units, a wideband reception signal in a band wider than the bandwidth processable by the reception processing unit; a connecting unit that outputs demultiplexed signals to transmission processing units; a transmission analog switch matrix that outputs, to the same transmission antennas, signals subjected to transmission processing; a local generating unit that generates and transmits local signals having different frequencies to the reception processing units; a local-phase-difference calculating unit that calculates a phase difference between the local signals and inputs the phase difference to the reception processing units; and reception-phase correcting units that perform phase correction on the basis of the phase difference. The reception processing units, when the wideband reception signal is input, apply reception processing to divided signals obtained by extracting a part of bands of input signals on the basis of the local signals.
US09473233B2
A relay device is provided, which includes a short distance wireless communicator configured to establish a short distance wireless communication connection between the relay device and a first communication device; and a processor configured to transmit to the first communication device information regarding at least one device connectable to the relay device, receive from the first communication device a data relay request requesting a transmission of data to a second communication device selected by a user of the first communication device from the at least one device connectable to the relay device, and control the short distance wireless communicator to transmit the data from the first communication device to the second communication device in response to the data relay request.
US09473227B2
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and more specifically, disclosed are a method and an apparatus for transmitting a codebook-based signal. A method for transmitting channel state information from a terminal in the wireless communication system, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises the steps of: measuring a downlink channel from a downlink signal that is received from a base station; determining a first precoding matrix indicator (PMI) and a second PMI of the downlink channel based on the measurement of the downlink channel; and transmitting the first PMI and the second PMI to the base station, wherein the first PMI indicates a first precoding vector that includes a first elevation angle component of a multi-antenna of the base station, the second PMI indicates a second precoding vector that includes a second elevation angle component and an azimuth angle component of the multi-antenna of the base station, and wherein resolution of the azimuth angle component can be determined based on the first elevation angle component or the second elevation angle component.
US09473206B2
A power feeding unit includes: a power feeding electrode configured to be coupled through an electric field with a power receiving electrode of a power receiving unit; a power feeding section configured to feed the power receiving unit with power through the power feeding electrode; and a power feeding side communication section configured to communicate with the power receiving unit through the power feeding electrode.
US09473198B1
An apparatus may include a multi-throw switch having a common terminal connected to an antenna of a wireless communication system. The multi-throw switch may be configured to direct signals received from the antenna between (1) an amplification path that connects a receive terminal of the multi-throw switch to a receiver of the wireless communication system and (2) at least one bypass path that connects an additional receive terminal of the multi-throw switch to the receiver. The amplification path may include at least one amplifier that amplifies signals received from the antenna, and the bypass path may have a gain that is less than a gain of the amplification path. Various other systems and methods are also disclosed.
US09473195B2
A phased-array transceiver includes: a plurality of antennas; a plurality of transceiving elements respectively coupled to the plurality of antennas; a signal processing block; and a first distributed network, coupled between the signal processing block and the transceiving elements, wherein the transceiving elements, the signal processing block, and the first distributed network are configured as a single chip, and a first transceiving path between one of the plurality of transceiving elements and the signal processing block and a second transceiving path between another of the plurality of transceiving elements and the signal processing block share at least partial signal traces of the first distributed network.
US09473179B2
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for signal detection and classification are provided. One method includes detecting, by a station, a presence of a signal and classifying the signal according to type. There may be at least three possibilities for the type of signal. The classifying may include performing a composite hypothesis test, such as a generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) for the at least three possibilities.
US09473175B1
Forward error correction (FEC) decoders, such as Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) decoders are described. Described FEC decoders minimize the number of internal bits in a layered processor of an LDPC decoder while maintaining high coding gain operation of the LDPC decoder. Minimizing the number of internal bits in a layered processor is achieved by non-linearly companding the soft information into lower precision format while maintaining the dynamic range of the data bits. Described FEC decoders may generate updated soft information having a precision that is equal to the channel precision.
US09473154B2
Provided are a semiconductor device and a phase-locked loop (PLL) including the same. The semiconductor device including an output node from which an output signal is output, a first transistor which has a drain connected to the output node and is gated by a first signal to increase a voltage level of the output node, a second transistor which has a drain connected to the output node, is gated by a second signal which is a complementary signal of the first signal, and reduces the voltage level of the output node, a pull-up circuit which provides a first compensation current varying according to the voltage level of the output node to a source of the first transistor, and a pull-down circuit which provides a second compensation current varying according to the voltage level of the output node to a source of the second transistor.
US09473152B2
A circuit includes a coupling structure and a first inductive device. The coupling structure includes two or more conductive loops and a set of conductive paths electrically connecting the two or more conductive loops. The first inductive device is magnetically coupled with a first conductive loop of the two or more conductive loops.
US09473146B2
Apparatuses and methods for low power counting circuits are described herein. An example apparatus may include a frequency divider configured to receive an input clock signal and adjust a frequency of the clock signal to provide an intermediate clock signal. The apparatus may further include a counter coupled to the frequency divider and configured to receive the intermediate clock signal. The counter may further be configured to provide a plurality of timing signals based on the intermediate clock signal. The apparatus may further include a frequency multiplier including a plurality of logic gates. Each of the plurality of logic gates may be coupled to the counter and configured to receive a respective first timing signal of the plurality of timing signals and at least one of the intermediate clock signal or a respective second timing signal of the plurality of timing signals.
US09473137B2
A non-volatile Boolean logic operation circuit, including: two input ends; an output end; a first resistive switching element M1, the first resistive switching element M including a positive electrode and a negative electrode; and a second resistive switching element M2, the second resistive switching element M2 including a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The negative electrode of the first resistive switching element M1 operates as a first input end of the logic operation circuit. The negative electrode of the second resistive switching element M2 operates as a second input end of the logic operation circuit. The positive electrode of the second resistive switching element M2 is connected to the positive electrode of the first resistive switching element M1, and a connected end thereof operates as the output end of the logic operation circuit.
US09473135B2
A drive circuit includes a first drive transistor coupled between a first supply node and an output pad of an integrated circuit and a second drive transistor coupled between a second supply node and the output pad. The first drive transistor and second drive transistors are controlled by a control signal. A body bias generator circuit is configured to apply a variable first body bias to the first transistor and a variable second body bias to the second transistor. The variable first and second body biases are generated as a function of the control signal and a voltage at the output pad.
US09473133B2
Aspects of the present invention provides a device that is capable of accurately measuring an output current of a transistor, controls the drive of a switching element, by using an existing IC tester without any evaluation board improvement. The control device according to one aspect of the present invention has: a drive circuit, a plurality of transistors for controlling the drive of a switching element and a transistor operation controller. A transistor for turning the switching element OFF is configured by a plurality of transistors. The transistor operation controller, in a normal operation, performs ON/OFF control on the two transistors simultaneously or collectively by means of the same drive signal output from the drive circuit. In a test operation, the transistor operation controller sequentially selects one of the transistors and supplies the same drive signal to the selected transistor, to drive the transistors individually.
US09473117B2
A multi-bit flip-flop includes a plurality of multi-bit flip-flop blocks that share a clock signal. Each of the multi-bit flip-flop blocks includes a single inverter and a plurality of flip-flops. The single inverter generates an inverted clock signal by inverting the clock signal. Each of the flip-flops includes a master latch part and a slave latch part and operates the master latch part and the slave latch part based on the clock signal and the inverted clock signal. Here, the flip-flops are triggered at rising edges of the clock signal. Thus, the multi-bit flip-flop operating as a master-slave flip-flop may minimize (or, reduce) power consumption occurring in a clock path through which the clock signal is transmitted.
US09473116B1
A level shifter for level-shifting a digital input signal referenced to an input ground potential to a digital output signal referenced to an output ground potential, comprising: a capacitor; a driver circuit, including an input node coupled to the digital input signal, and an output node coupled to a first terminal of the capacitor; a receiver circuit, including a first input node coupled to a second terminal of the capacitor, and an output node coupled to the digital output signal; and a latching feedback circuit, including a first input node coupled to the output node of the receiver circuit, and an output node coupled to the second terminal of the capacitor to latch a toggled signal. An optional resistor can be inserted to increase the output resistance of the latching feedback circuit to be substantially larger than the output resistance of the driver circuit.
US09473114B1
Various implementations described herein are directed to an integrated circuit for power-on-reset detection. The integrated circuit may include a first stage configured to receive an input voltage signal and provide a triggering signal during ramp of the input voltage signal. The integrated circuit may include a second stage configured to receive the triggering signal from the first stage and provide an output voltage signal during ramp of the input voltage signal via gate leakage through at least one transistor.
US09473113B1
An integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed herein for managing power with flip-flops having a retention feature. In an example aspect, an IC includes a constant power rail, a collapsible power rail, multiple flip-flops, and power management circuitry. Each flip-flop of the multiple flip-flops includes a master portion that is coupled to the collapsible power rail and a slave portion that is coupled to the constant power rail. The power management circuitry is configured to combine a clock signal and a retention signal into a combined control signal and to provide the combined control signal to each flip-flop of the multiple flip-flops.
US09473110B2
An antenna control circuit including: an H-bridge circuit including three half-bridge circuits; and a controller configured to control the H-bridge circuit; wherein a first half-bridge circuit and a second half-bridge circuit of the three half-bridge circuits are configured to electrically connect across a resonant antenna with a first resonant frequency and a second resonant frequency; wherein a third half-bridge circuit is configured to electrically connect to a first capacitance connected to the resonant antenna, wherein the controller is configured to control the third half-bridge circuit to switch the connection of the first capacitance to the resonant antenna to a first position that changes the resonant frequency of the resonant antenna to the first resonant frequency.
US09473107B2
A multimode elastic wave device includes a pair of reflectors, and a first interdigital transducer (IDT) electrode through a fifth IDT electrode arranged between the pair of reflectors. In this configuration, each of the average of electrode-finger pitches in the first IDT electrode and the average of electrode-finger pitches in the fifth IDT electrode is smaller than both of the average of electrode-finger pitches in the second IDT electrode and the average of electrode-finger pitches in the fourth IDT electrode.
US09473106B2
A thin-film bulk acoustic wave delay line device providing true-time delays and a method of fabricating same. An exemplary device can comprise several thin-film layers including thin-film transducer layers, thin-film delay layers, and stacks of additional thin-film materials providing acoustic reflectors and matching networks. The layer material selection and layer thicknesses can be controlled to improve impedance matching between transducers and the various delay line materials. For example, the transducer layers and delay layers can comprise piezoelectric and amorphous forms of the same material. The layers can be deposited on a carrier substrate using standard techniques. The device can be configured so that mechanical waves propagate solely within the thin films, providing a substrate-independent device. The device, so constructed, can be of a small size, e.g. 40 μm per side, and capable of handling high power levels, potentially up to 20 dBm, with low insertion loss of approximately 3 dB.
US09473103B2
A high frequency component includes transverse inductors each including a first end and a second end and capacitors including planar conductors connected to the first ends of the transverse inductors, planar conductors connected to the second ends of the transverse inductors, and insulating layers disposed between the planar conductors. Each of the transverse inductors is helical and wound at least more than one turn.
US09473097B2
A resistive ladder has first, second and third resistors coupled in series between first and second voltage terminals. A first node of the first resistor is coupled to the first voltage terminal and a first node of the third resistor is coupled to the second voltage terminal. A voltage selection unit has a first input coupled to a first node of the second resistor and a second input coupled to a second node of the second resistor and is adapted to selectively couple one of the first and second inputs to an output node of said resistive ladder. The resistive ladder also includes a first switch coupled between a second node of the third resistor and the second voltage terminal.
US09473084B2
A power amplifying apparatus is provided. The power amplifying apparatus includes a first substrate and N power amplifiers. The N power amplifiers are disposed on the first substrate, the power amplifiers respectively receives N input signals, wherein frequency bands of at least two of the inputs signals are different. And the power amplifiers respectively generate M output signals, wherein the N is a positive integer greater than 2, and M is a positive integer not equal to N.
US09473080B1
A switch comprises two photoconductive semiconductors and two corresponding laser diodes driven by opposing voltage sources. The two photoconductive semiconductors are connected in series between a high and low voltage source with a radio frequency output at a center node between the photoconductive semiconductors. Each photoconductive semiconductor may include one ohmic contact and one schottky contact for superior bandwidth and efficiency.
US09473071B2
In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes producing a baseband variable frequency signal and producing a substantially fixed frequency signal by phase-locking an oscillator to a substantially fixed reference frequency. The method further includes upconverting the baseband variable frequency signal by mixing the variable frequency signal with the substantially fixed frequency signal to produce an RF variable frequency signal.
US09473067B2
Reducing coupling and mismatch in multi-core VCOs, including: arranging a plurality of inductors in a plurality of VCO cores in a parallel differential inductor configuration with shared leads to form a single node, wherein the plurality of inductors includes at least a first inductor and a second inductor; connecting power/ground traces to the first inductor from a first side only; and connecting the power/ground traces to the second inductor from another side different from the first side only to avoid making a current loop.
US09473060B2
A system and method of avoiding hunting behavior by a motor around disallowed speed ranges. A sensor or sensorless method determines the motor's actual speed. A memory contains lower and upper speed values that define a disallowed range. A control unit determines whether the motor is operating under a limiting condition and engaged in hunting behavior by determining whether the motor is repeatedly moving between an actual speed that is within the disallowed range and an actual speed that is at or below the lower speed value during a first period, and if so, sets a temporary speed limit for the motor at the lower speed value for a second period. The first period may be the time required for the motor to change its actual speed a few times and thereby confirm hunting behavior. The second period may be sufficiently long that the limiting condition may have changed.
US09473046B2
A system and method for electrical power conversion, with the system being intended for use in converting a high voltage DC power output from a turbine generator to an AC power signal that is suitable for connecting to an AC power grid. The system utilizes a mechanical coupling between a synchronous motor driving a synchronous generator in order to provide isolation, as well as allowing for control of the real power output by the system.
US09473043B2
According to an exemplary implementation, an integrated circuit (IC) includes a logic circuit monolithically formed on the IC. The logic circuit is configured to generate modulation signals for controlling power switches of a power inverter. The logic circuit generates the modulation signals based on at least one input value. The IC further includes a voltage level shifter monolithically formed on the IC. The voltage level shifter is configured to shift the modulation signals to a voltage level suitable for driving the power switches of the power inverter. The logic circuit can be a digital logic circuit and the input value can be a digital input value. The IC can also include a sense circuit monolithically formed on the IC. The sense circuit is configured to generate the input value.
US09473030B2
A switching power supply apparatus includes an isolated converter that has efficiency characteristics in which power conversion efficiency at a rated load is higher than power conversion efficiency at a light load and that converts power-supply voltage into direct-current voltage to output the direct-current voltage; an FET that switches supply and shutoff of the power-supply voltage to the isolated converter; a secondary battery that stores the direct-current voltage output from the isolated converter; a voltage detector that detects an amount of charge in the secondary battery; and a controller that switches the FET on the basis of the amount of charge in the secondary battery.
US09473028B1
A non-isolated (transformerless) direct current-to-direct current (DC-DC) power supply includes a voltage converter module that converts DC input voltage having a first voltage level into a DC output having a second voltage level that is less than the first voltage level. An overvoltage protection module interposed between the input voltage source and the input to the DC-DC converter monitors the DC output and removes power from the voltage converter module if the DC output exceeds an overvoltage threshold. A second level of overvoltage protection that responds faster than the power disconnect module is provided within the DC-DC converter PWM controller, providing additional overvoltage protection to the DC-DC converter and preventing application of the input voltage to the converter output.
US09473022B2
An apparatus including: a current source configured to generate current; a switching current source circuit coupled to the current source and a first bias node to allow the current to flow through the switching current source circuit into the first bias node; a first bias circuit configured to receive a first control signal from a phase detector, the first bias circuit configured to mirror the current flowing through the switching current source circuit in response to the first control signal; a second bias circuit coupled to the first bias circuit at an output node and a second bias node, the second bias circuit configured to receive a second control signal from the phase detector; and a transconductance amplifier configured to receive a feedback signal from the output node and generate an output current to control the second biasing node.
US09473020B2
Systems and methods for a battery life extender are disclosed. One disclosed system includes: a switching circuit configured to be coupled to a battery; a first voltage booster coupled to the switching circuit; a second voltage booster coupled to the switching circuit, the switching circuit configured to apply power to the first voltage booster and the second voltage booster; and a capacitor coupled to each of the first voltage booster and the second voltage booster.
US09473006B2
Electric motors are disclosed with coils which induce a magnetic flux field which by its relationship with ferromagnetic poles provide the motoring force without use of an auxiliary magnetic field. The motors may be employed with fixed or pivotably mounted brushes. Pivotable brushes for electric motor brushes are disclosed.
US09473002B2
A system for cooling a dynamoelectric machine is provided. The system includes a coolant medium inlet, a coolant medium outlet and a fan connected to a rotor of the dynamoelectric machine, The system further includes a flow control device configured to control the amount of the coolant medium passing through the dynamoelectric machine by controlling an opening area of at least one of the coolant medium inlet and the coolant medium outlet. The system further includes a winding temperature measurement system configured to measure the temperature of one or more windings in the dynamoelectric machine, and control the flow control device by adjusting the opening area of at least one of the coolant medium inlet and the coolant medium outlet based on the temperature of the windings in the dynamoelectric machine to at least one of reduce windage loss and control coolant medium pressure within the dynamoelectric machine.
US09472988B2
A rotary electric machine according to the present invention includes a stator having a connection member forming a three phase delta connection by coil windings, including an insulating annular groove portion formed with double annular grooves and a first, a second, and a third annular conductive members, the annular conductive members being attached by insertion into the insulating annular groove portion; the insulating annular groove portion is formed with double grooves of one and the other, and both the grooves are connected via one window portion; the respective annular conductive members are each formed in a circular arc shape and provided with a plurality of arm portions extended outward in the radial direction of the stator, the plurality of arm portions being connected to coil end portions of the coil windings respectively.
US09472987B1
Induction motor stator windings are described. An electric submersible pump apparatus comprises an induction motor rotatably coupled to a multi-stage centrifugal pump, the induction motor comprising a stator frame, the stator frame comprising a plurality of slots, and a squircle-shaped magnet wire windingly inserted into the plurality of slots, the magnet wire comprising a conductor comprising a squircular-shaped cross-sectional area, and an insulation layer coating an outer surface of the squircular-shaped conductor.
US09472981B2
A Segment Protected Parallel Bus is for an uninterruptible power supply to electric consumers, whereby at least two electrical distributed power generation units, are connected electrically parallel, each distributed power generation unit is coupled to at least one electric consumer bus. At least two electrical protection zones for isolating electrical faults and multiple protection zones with instantaneous tripping for the electrical parallel connection of consumer networks are provided in a mutual electrical ring connection. In the ring connection, a first switching element with a switching time of less than 10 ms for the electrical decoupling of the consumer buses from one another starting at a predetermined voltage drop, which is established according to load requirements, is arranged between each protection zone with instantaneous tripping and an adjacent protection zone in the first ring direction with instantaneous tripping and an adjacent protection zone in the second ring direction with instantaneous tripping.
US09472977B2
Hybrid and electric vehicles include a traction battery including many interconnected cells. Effective battery control, such as cell balancing, may rely on an accurate state of charge value for each of the cells. A method to reduce the computational effort of the state of charge calculation is developed. An accurate pack level state of charge calculation is implemented and represents the average cell state of charge. An average cell voltage is based on a pack voltage measurement. A state of charge difference is calculated for each cell based on a difference between a cell voltage and the average cell voltage. The state of charge difference utilizes the pack state of charge and a characteristic voltage and state of charge relationship for the cell. The cell state of charge is the sum of the pack state of charge and the state of charge difference.
US09472976B2
Provided is a storage battery device whose battery life can be prolonged further. Storage battery device having a plurality of storage battery cells connected in series includes monitoring unit that measures voltages via the terminals of the respective storage battery cells, and obtains degradation information indicating the degraded states of the plurality of storage battery cells based on the voltages, selection unit that selects at least one of the plurality of storage battery cells, power supply unit that supplies power to the storage battery cell selected by selection unit to charge the storage battery cell, and control unit that switches, based on the degradation information obtained by monitoring unit, a storage battery cell to be selected by selection unit, and adjusts the power supplied from power supply unit.
US09472972B2
A wireless charging device may include: a sensor unit sensing an input from an external device and generating a wake-up signal; a control unit, upon receiving the wake-up signal, exiting from a sleep mode to enter an active mode, and generating an activation signal; a detection unit receiving the activation signal from the control unit to detect a mobile terminal; and a power supply unit, in the case that the detection unit detects the mobile terminal, supplying power to the mobile terminal wirelessly.
US09472969B2
An adapter includes a converter unit which increases at least one of voltage and current outputted from a battery pack and supply the increased the voltage and/or the current to a load, and a characteristic detection unit which detects at least one of the voltage outputted from the battery pack, the current outputted from the battery pack, a temperature of the battery pack, a voltage inputted to the load, a current inputted to the load and a temperature of the converter unit. The adapter further includes a control unit configured to control the converter unit to increase each of said at least one of the voltage and the current outputted from the battery pack to a corresponding reference value and perform a control operation of suppressing such increase to prevent an occurrence of over-current or over-discharge based on at least one detection result.
US09472965B2
A rechargeable mobile terminal is provided that provides a maximum charge rate of a rechargeable battery during active user hours of the day and provides the potential for applying a decreased charge rate of the rechargeable battery when the mobile terminal determines that the user has set the alarm clock function of the mobile terminal and that the time between the present time and the set alarm time (the delta time) is greater than an amount of time required to charge the rechargeable battery at a maximum charge rate.
US09472946B2
An electrical power distribution network may include a plurality of transformers and a local manager associated with a transformer. Each local manager may be configured to monitor and control a magnetic flux level in a magnetic flux core of the associated transformer. The electrical power distribution network may also include a central manager configured to receive magnetic flux level data from each local manager and control operation of each local manager in response to the magnetic flux level data.
US09472936B2
A bracket for securing an NM cable includes a generally planar member having a bore having a first diameter defined therein; a sleeve having an inside diameter that is greater than said first diameter, the sleeve is coupled to the bore; and a collar is disposed within the sleeve and substantially abuts the generally planar member, the collar has an outside diameter that allows insertion within the sleeve and an inside diameter that is smaller than the outside diameter thereof whereby the flexible metallic sheathing of an associated cable will abut the collar and the conductors thereof will pass through the collar and the bore. In addition the bracket may include a clamp on the sleeve dimensioned and configured for engaging the outer surface of an associated flexible metallic conduit.
US09472933B2
Improvements in a conduit locking connector that connects rigid conduit to an electrical junction box. Rigid conduit provides the benefit of allowing an installer to screw onto the side of the rigid conduit to frictionally lock into the rigid conduit with the conduit locking connector. A screw engages into rigid conduit that provide a hard bearing surface on opposing sides of the screw. This provides minimal bending of the rigid conduit for a firmer grip of the rigid conduit to the conduit locking connector. The conduit locking connector provides a physical interface that locks onto the rigid conduit and locks onto the junction box. The conduit locking connector provides anti-rotation between the rigid conduit and the junction box. Anti-rotation is with tabs that extend below a planar surface of the conduit locking connector and engage into holes in recesses in the junction box.
US09472930B2
A covering for electric cords includes an elasticized fabric sleeve having a first end defining a first opening and a second end defining a second opening. The sleeve defines a lumen between the first and second openings configured to dispose an electric cord therein. The covering further includes a tether slidingly disposed within the lumen of the sleeve adapted to dispose the electric cord within the lumen of the sleeve.
US09472918B2
A method of manufacturing a connector device is described herein. The method of manufacturing can include constructing at least one leadframe having a circuit web, forming a substrate upon the leadframe by over-molding the substrate on the leadframe such that the circuit web is integrated within the substrate, and soldering an electrical connection to the circuit web.
US09472914B2
A rotary connector has a fixed housing, a movable housing that is rotatably linked to the fixed housing, flat cables wound in an annular space formed between the outer tube of the fixed housing and the inner tube of the movable housing, and a first connector connected to ends of the flat cables in their longitudinal directions. The first connector has connection terminals, a base, and, a cable retaining part. Each connection terminal has a cable attaching part at one end and an outer conductor at the other end, and also has one or more connecting parts. The base has a first plane and a second plane, which face each other. A PTC device is placed on the same side as the first plane. The cable retaining part is placed on the same side as the second plane.
US09472911B2
A plug connector is mateable with the receptacle connector wherein each of the plug connector and the receptacle connector includes an inner mating port surrounded by an outer mating port in a concentric manner. The inner mating port is equipped with two rows of contacts arranged in a diagonally symmetrical manner. The outer mating port is equipped with larger power contacts symmetrically arranged with a center of the inner mating port.
US09472891B2
A signal transmission module includes a shell and a connector. The shell includes a box and a mating portion. The connector includes an insulative housing received in the box and a set of contacts. Each contact includes a middle portion, a contacting portion extending into the mating portion and a tail portion. A gap is formed between the insulative housing and the box for sealant being injected. The signal transmission module further includes a horizontal channel located between the insulative housing and the box for the sealant entering into and a vertical channel connecting the horizontal channel.
US09472887B1
An electrical connector includes a housing stack, signal and ground conductors, and an electrically conductive ground bracket. The housing stack comprises a front housing and a rear housing. The front housing defines a mating end of the housing stack, and the rear housing defines a mounting end of the housing stack. The housing stack defines signal cavities and ground cavities that extend continuously through the front housing and the rear housing. The signal conductors and ground conductors are held in the signal cavities and ground cavities, respectively, of the housing stack. The signal conductors are arranged in signal pairs, and the ground conductors are interleaved between the signal pairs. The ground bracket is held in the housing stack between the front housing and the rear housing. The ground bracket engages and is electrically connected to each of the ground conductors to electrically common the ground conductors along a ground plane.
US09472880B2
In a terminal connection structure, a male terminal and a female terminal are mutually connected by being butted to each other. The male and female terminals are to be connected with respective ends of electric wires. The male terminal includes a male contact portion formed into a curved shape opening on a side opposite to the female terminal. The female terminal includes a female contact portion formed into a curved shape opening on the male terminal side, the curved shape being configured to contact with an outer circumferential surface of the male contact portion. The female contact portion includes contact pieces protruding toward the male contact portion.
US09472877B1
An eye-of-needle (EON) compliant pin that includes a compliant segment including two opposing spring arms defining a substantially planar opening. The Eon compliant pin includes a twisted segment connected between a top portion of the compliant segment and a bottom portion of a length segment. The compliant segment, the length segment, and the twisted segment together form a substantially straight solid body. The twisted segment is twisted about a longitudinal axis of the substantially straight solid body such that the substantially planar opening of the compliant segment is rotated at an angle with respect to the length segment.
US09472876B1
A first connector includes a first plurality of eye-of-needle (EON) pins. Each EON pin of the first plurality includes two opposing spring arms. Each EON pin of the first plurality is configured to be received within a corresponding electrical via of a printed circuit board (PCB) such that the spring arms engage walls of the corresponding electrical via at a set of contact points. A second connector includes a second plurality of EON pins. Each EON pin of the second plurality includes two opposing spring arms. Each EON pin of the second plurality is configured to be received within a same corresponding electrical via of the PCB as a corresponding EON pin of the first plurality located at a same relative connector body location such that the spring arms engage the walls of the same corresponding electrical via at a different set of contact points.
US09472874B1
A communication module includes a plug connector, the plug connector has an insertion projection, the insertion projection has a board insertion portion into which an insertion end portion of a module board is inserted formed therein, a plurality of first adjustment projections are provided on an upper surface of the board insertion portion, and a plurality of second adjustment projections are provided on a lower surface of the board insertion portion. The first adjustment projections and the second adjustment projections are arranged alternately along the width direction of the board insertion portion, the first adjustment projections come in contact with a top surface of the insertion end portion which is opposed to the upper surface of the board insertion portion, and the second adjustment projections come in contact with the back surface of the insertion end portion which is opposed to the lower surface of the board insertion portion.
US09472867B2
Provided is an electric contact with a stable electric resistance value. An insertion rod portion passing through a coil spring is provided on a first contact member, and a cylindrical portion in which a part of the insertion rod portion passing through the coil spring is provided on a second contact member. A tilt mechanism tilts the second contact member to bring the insertion rod portion into contact with the cylindrical portion. This can stabilize the electric resistance value. A reduced diameter portion in which the diameter decreases with an increase in the distance from the cylindrical portion is formed at least near a tip of the insertion rod portion. This can suppress changes in the contact pressure of the cylindrical portion and the insertion rod portion to make expansion and contraction operation smooth.
US09472865B2
A shearable screw (20) of device (1) screw-connects electrical connectors (2, 4). The device has a thread section (22) for screwing the shearable screw (20) into a terminal body (10). The thread section (22) has a thread with an asymmetrical thread profile at least in certain sections, in particular, in that the thread section (22) has a saw thread at least in certain sections. A system (40) has such shearable screw (20) and a thrust element (30).
US09472863B2
A holder has a flat cable insertion chamber for a flat cable to be inserted and a cutting blade penetration hole penetrating the flat cable insertion chamber. A jig has a cutting blade penetrating the cutting blade penetration hole of the holder with the flat cable inserted into the flat cable insertion chamber and forming a slit in a cover between a plurality of conductors of the flat cable.
US09472849B2
A rectenna according to the present invention includes a circular-polarized patch antenna having dual slots fed by a microstrip and configured to receive and output a radio frequency (RF) signal, and a rectifying circuit configured to convert for output the RF signal, received by the circular-polarized patch antenna, into a direct current (DC) signal and transfer the DC signal from the antenna to a load, wherein the rectifying circuit comprises at least one radial stub.
US09472842B2
An antenna structure, especially for use with a radio frequency identification reader, includes an array of bifilar antennas mounted on a ground support. Each bifilar antenna includes a pair of bifilar helical elements wound at least partially about a helix axis. Each bifilar element has a ground terminal and a transceiver terminal. Independent radio frequency connectors are connected to the transceiver terminals of each bifilar antenna, and transmit and receive radio frequency signals of arbitrary amplitude and phase to and from the transceiver terminals of each bifilar antenna to obtain and steer an antenna beam, both in azimuth around a boresight of the antenna structure and in elevation angularly away from the boresight.
US09472833B1
A zinc-air battery including an anode which has a zinc-containing portion with a coating on one or more surfaces is disclosed. The coating may comprise a metal other than zinc, such as elemental nickel. The zinc-air battery can include a cathode which has bifunctional catalyst configured to catalyze both an oxygen gas reduction reaction and an oxygen gas evolution reaction. The bifunctional catalyst may have an inner core and an outer shell, wherein the inner core catalyzes the oxygen evolution reaction and the shell catalyzes the oxygen reduction reaction. The zinc-air battery may include a separator which has magnesium oxide (MgO), such as magnesium oxide powder. The separator may have an outer portion that includes a polymeric material which incorporates the magnesium oxide, and an inner portion which includes a solid state polymer gel electrolyte.
US09472830B2
Disclosed is a lithium secondary battery having improved lifespan characteristics. More particularly, a lithium secondary battery comprising a cathode, an anode, a separator interposed between the cathode and anode, and an electrolyte, wherein the anode comprises lithium titanium oxide (LTO) as an anode active material, the electrolyte comprises a lithium salt; a non-aqueous-based solvent; and (a) a phosphate compound which can prevent gas generation during high-temperature storage, (b) a sulfonate compound which can reduce discharge resistance by forming a low-resistance SEI layer, or a mixture of the compound (a) and the compound (b), is disclosed.
US09472821B2
An operation method of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell system including an anode (3) supplied with a fuel gas containing hydrogen, a cathode (4) supplied with an oxidizing gas containing oxygen, and a polymer electrolyte membrane (5) sandwiched between the anode (3) and the cathode (4), comprises supplying to the anode (3) the fuel gas humidified with a higher level than the oxidizing gas to cause the anode (3) to have a humidified state with a higher level than the cathode (4), in start-up of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell system.
US09472819B2
A system and method for warming a fuel cell on an aircraft, the system includes at least one fuel cell. The fuel cell includes an anode and a cathode for creating thermal and electrical energy. A temperature sensor measures a first temperature of the fuel cell. A control unit is coupled to the temperature sensor. The control unit increases the first temperature to a second temperature in response to the first temperature being at least equal to a selected temperature threshold. Increasing of the first temperature is indicative of the control unit operating in a warming mode. The second temperature is higher than the selected temperature threshold.
US09472808B2
In a method for manufacturing a functional layer for a lithium cell, e.g., a protective layer for a lithium metal anode, the functional layer being lithium-ion conductive and including particles of at least one ceramic material, the particles of the at least one ceramic material being applied to a carrier by deposition.
US09472803B2
The present invention relates to an electrode assembly comprising fiber-shaped structures. The electrode assembly for a battery according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a first electrode including a plurality of first fiber-shaped structures extending in a first direction; a second electrode including a plurality of second fiber-shaped structures which extend in a second direction other than the first direction, and the polarities of which are different from the polarities of the first structures; and a first separator film interposed between the first structures and the second structures which intersect with each other, so as to separate the first structures and the second structures from each other.
US09472801B2
A battery overcharge protection device includes a pouch having a battery cell packaged therein. An electrode tab extends from an end of the battery cell for allowing flow of electricity therethrough and is composed of first and second electrode tab parts. A breaker is provided in the pouch and connected to the first and second electrode tab parts to separate the first and second electrode tab parts from each other upon expansion of the battery cell.
US09472798B2
An energy storage device includes a casing, a power generating element, a current collector, a connection conductor, an external terminal, and a rivet. The energy storage device further includes a welded portion where at least one of a contact portion between a casing inner portion of the rivet and the current collector, a contact portion between a casing outer portion of the rivet and the connection conductor, and a contact portion between the connection conductor and the external terminal is welded at least partially.
US09472791B2
A battery system for use in a vehicle is disclosed. The battery system includes a tray having a plurality of battery receptacles. A plurality of batteries are also provided, each battery in the plurality of batteries being received in a battery receptacle. A conductive layer in electrical communication with the plurality of batteries and a terminal for electrically coupling to a vehicle are also provided in the battery system. A cover interlocks with the tray. The cover carries a computer and a diagnostic identification system for the plurality of batteries. A housing for a battery system and a vehicle including a battery system are also disclosed.
US09472785B2
An organic light-emitting device includes a first electrode; a second electrode; an organic layer between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a light efficiency-improvement layer disposed on the first electrode or the second electrode. The light efficiency-improvement layer includes a heterocyclic compound represented by Formula 1, which is described in more detail in the detailed description section of the present application.
US09472779B2
A flexible display may suppress a generation of cracks in an inorganic layer and suppress the spread of cracks. A flexible display includes a flexible substrate and an inorganic layer formed on the flexible substrate. A display unit is formed on the inorganic layer. The display unit includes a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes an organic light emitting diode. A thin film encapsulation layer covers the display unit. A crack suppressing layer is formed along the edge of the flexible substrate. The crack suppressing layer is disposed on the inorganic layer at an exterior side of the thin film encapsulation layer.
US09472777B2
A packaging method and a display device are provided. The packaging method comprise: providing a first substrate and a second substrate having a packaging region, wherein a region surrounding by the packaging region of the second substrate is provided with a device to be packaged; forming a pattern layer of sealant on the packaging region of the first substrate; bonding the first substrate having the sealant with the second substrate having a device to be packaged so that the packaging region of the first substrate is aligned with the packaging region of the second substrate; and sintering the sealant and applying uniformly a compression force to the packaging region when using a laser to radiate the packaging region.
US09472770B2
A compound for preparing a hole transport layer, an organic light-emitting device, and a flat display apparatus, the compound including a —N3 moiety.
US09472769B2
An organic electroluminescent device is provided and includes: a pair of electrodes; and at least one organic layer between the pair of electrodes, the at least one organic layer including a light-emitting layer. The at least one organic layer contains an indole compound represented by formula (1): in which Ind101 represents a substituted or unsubstituted indole ring, L101 represents a linking group, Ind101 and L101 are connected to each other at 2- or 3-position of Ind101, and n101 represents an integer of 2 or more.
US09472766B2
The present invention provides a novel fused polycyclic compound suitably used for a blue light emitting element and an organic light emitting element including the fused polycyclic compound.A fused polycyclic compound is represented by at least one of the general formulas [1] and [2] according to claim 1. In the general formulas [1] and [2], R1 to R20 each represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent.
US09472764B2
The present invention relates to certain polymeric compounds and their use as organic semiconductors in organic and hybrid optical, optoelectronic, and/or electronic devices such as photovoltaic cells, light emitting diodes, light emitting transistors, and field effect transistors. The present compounds can provide improved device performance, for example, as measured by power conversion efficiency, fill factor, open circuit voltage, field-effect mobility, on/off current ratios, and/or air stability when used in photovoltaic cells or transistors. The present compounds can have good solubility in common solvents enabling device fabrication via solution processes.
US09472763B2
The present invention provides a macromolecular compound by which the short-circuit current density and the photoelectric conversion efficiency are enhanced when the macromolecular compound is used in an organic layer contained in a photovoltaic cell. Specifically, the present invention provides a macromolecular compound having a structural unit represented by Formula (1): wherein Ar1 and Ar2 are the same as or different from each other and represent a trivalent heterocyclic group; X1 represents —O—, —S—, —C(═O)—, —S(═O)—, —SO2—, —Si(R3)(R4)—, —N(R5)—, —B(R6)—, —P(R7)—, or —P(═O)(R8)—; and R51 represents an alkyl group having 6 or more carbon atoms, an alkyloxy group having 6 or more carbon atoms, an alkylthio group having 6 or more carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 or more carbon atoms, an aryloxy group having 6 or more carbon atoms, an arylthio group having 6 or more carbon atoms, an arylalkyl group having 7 or more carbon atoms, an arylalkyloxy group having 7 or more carbon atoms, an arylalkylthio group having 7 or more carbon atoms, an acyl group having 6 or more carbon atoms, or an acyloxy group having 6 or more carbon atoms.
US09472762B2
Iridium organometallic complexes containing a substituted dibenzo[f,h]quinoxaline of formula (I) are provided. These compounds are useful as orange or red emitting components of a light emitting layer in an electronic device.
US09472761B2
An organic EL display device includes: a display area and an inspection area. The display area includes a plurality of first electrodes each provided in the pixel, a light-emitting organic layer formed in the light-emitting areas and formed of a plurality of organic material layers including a light-emitting layer, and a second electrode formed to cover the display area. The inspection area includes an inspection first electrode electrically formed as at least one block in the inspection area, an inspection organic layer formed of at least one organic material layer of the plurality of organic material layers and being in contact with the inspection first electrode, and an inspection second electrode formed in contact with the inspection organic layer.
US09472753B1
A method for fabricating magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) devices on a tight pitch is provided. The method generally includes etching a pattern of columns into a hardmask layer disposed on a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) disposed on a substrate having electrically conductive contacts, the MTJ comprising a tunnel barrier layer between first and second ferromagnetic layers, the pattern of columns aligned to the electrically conductive contacts; etching the first ferromagnetic layer to expose the tunnel barrier layer and to form columns comprising the hardmask layer and the first ferromagnetic layer; forming a passivation layer on the exposed tunnel barrier layer and on top side surfaces of the columns; and etching the passivation layer on the exposed tunnel barrier layer, the exposed tunnel barrier layer, and the second ferromagnetic layer to form columns comprising the hardmask layer, the first ferromagnetic layer, the tunnel barrier layer, and the second ferromagnetic layer.
US09472741B2
A semiconductor light-emitting device includes a substrate; a first cladding layer formed on the substrate; a first guide layer formed on the first cladding layer; an active layer formed on the first guide layer; a second guide layer formed on the active layer; a contact layer formed on the second guide layer; a cladding electrode formed on the contact layer, and made of conductive metal oxide; and a pad electrode electrically coupled to the cladding electrode. The semiconductor light-emitting device includes a mesa structure including the contact layer. The cladding electrode has a greater width than the mesa structure. The cladding electrode covers an upper surface and side surfaces of the mesa structure, and is electrically coupled to the contact layer.
US09472730B2
A light emitting device includes a light emitting element and a luminescent color conversion layer covering a light emitting surface of the light emitting element. The luminescent color conversion layer includes a transparent synthetic resin material and integrated particles provided inside the transparent synthetic resin material, each of the integrated particles being a mixture of phosphors and a dispersively binding material that are bonded to each other. The dispersively binding material has transparency and bondability to the phosphors. The luminescent color conversion layer is arranged such that primary light and secondary light are mixed to generate a mixed color light and such that the mixed-color light is emitted outside from the luminescent color conversion layer, the primary light being excitation light emitted by the light emitting element, and the secondary light being a portion of the primary light that has been is color-converted by an excitation of the phosphors.
US09472711B2
A back contact heterojunction photoelectric conversion device, that obtain junctions that are nearly ohmic contacts by integrally forming a transparent conductive film including an electrode directly on a p-type amorphous silicon film and a transparent conductive oxide directly on an n-type amorphous silicon film. A method of manufacturing the device includes: integrally forming an oxide electrode layer on the n-type amorphous silicon film and the p-type amorphous silicon film; and applying plasma, under a condition that a mask is disposed on the transparent conductive film covering either the n-type amorphous silicon film or the p-type amorphous silicon film, to exposed portions of transparent conductive film.
US09472709B2
Techniques for precisely controlling the composition of volatile components (such as sulfur (S), selenium (Se), and tin (Sn)) of chalcogenide semiconductors in real-time—during production of the material are provided. In one aspect, a method for forming a chalcogenide semiconductor material includes providing a S source(s) and a Se source(s); heating the S source(s) to form a S-containing vapor; heating the Se source(s) to form a Se-containing vapor; passing a carrier gas first through the S-containing vapor and then through the Se-containing vapor, wherein the S-containing vapor and the Se-containing vapor are transported via the carrier gas to a sample; and contacting the S-containing vapor and the Se-containing vapor with the sample under conditions sufficient to form the chalcogenide semiconductor material. A multi-chamber processing apparatus is also provided.
US09472697B2
Methods and structures for providing single-color or multi-color photo-detectors leveraging plasmon resonance for performance benefits. In one example, a radiation detector includes a semiconductor absorber layer having a first electrical conductivity type and an energy bandgap responsive to radiation in a first spectral region, a semiconductor collector layer coupled to the absorber layer and having a second electrical conductivity type, and a plasmonic resonator coupled to the collector layer and having a periodic structure including a plurality of features arranged in a regularly repeating pattern.
US09472686B2
One aspect of the invention relates to a gate-tunable p-n heterojunction diode including a vertical stacked heterojunction of two ultrathin semiconductors. In one embodiment, single-layer molybdenum disulphide of an n-type semiconductor are stacked below semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes of a p-type semiconductor with each of them connected to a gold electrodes to form a p-n heterojunction. The electrical properties of the p-n heterojunction can be modulated by a gate voltage applied to a gate electrode and range from an insulator to a linear-response resistor to a highly rectifying diode. The gate tunability of the p-n heterojunction also allows spectral control over the photoresponse.
US09472679B2
A transistor includes oxide semiconductor stacked layers between a first gate electrode layer and a second gate electrode layer through an insulating layer interposed between the first gate electrode layer and the oxide semiconductor stacked layers and an insulating layer interposed between the second gate electrode layer and the oxide semiconductor stacked layers. The thickness of a channel formation region is smaller than the other regions in the oxide semiconductor stacked layers. Further in this transistor, one of the gate electrode layers is provided as what is called a back gate for controlling the threshold voltage. Controlling the potential applied to the back gate enables control of the threshold voltage of the transistor, which makes it easy to maintain the normally-off characteristics of the transistor.
US09472672B2
An embodiment fin field-effect transistor (FinFET) includes an inner fin, and outer fin spaced apart from the inner fin by a shallow trench isolation (STI) region, an isolation fin spaced apart from the outer fin by the STI region, the isolation fin including a body portion, an isolation oxide, and an etch stop layer, the etch stop layer interposed between the body portion and the isolation oxide and between the STI region and the isolation oxide, and a gate formed over the inner fin, the outer fin, and the isolation fin.
US09472665B2
A novel MOS transistor, which includes a source region, a drain region, a channel region, an isolation region, a drift region, a gate dielectric layer, a gate electrode and a field plate, is provided. The gate electrode has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of a first conductivity type is located over the channel region and has a width equal to or greater than a distance of the gate electrode overlapped with the channel region. The second portion is un-doped and located over the isolation region. Accordingly, the MOS transistor allows higher process freedom saves production cost, as well as improves reliability.
US09472658B2
A method for fabricating a III-V nanowire. The method may include providing a semiconductor substrate, which includes an insulator, with a wide-bandgap layer on the top surface of the semiconductor substrate; etching the insulator to suspend the wide-bandgap layer; growing a compositionally-graded channel shell over the wide-bandgap layer; forming a gate structure forming spacers on the sidewalls of the gate structure; and forming a doped raised source drain region adjacent to the spacers.
US09472652B2
The disclosure relates to a fin field effect transistor (FinFET). An exemplary FinFET comprises a substrate comprising a major surface; a fin structure protruding from the major surface comprising an upper portion comprising a first semiconductor material having a first lattice constant, wherein the upper portion comprises a first substantially vertical portion having a first width and a second substantially vertical portion having a second width less than the first width over the first substantially vertical portion; and a lower portion comprising a second semiconductor material having a second lattice constant less than the first lattice constant, wherein a top surface of the lower portion has a third width less than the first width; and a gate structure covering the second substantially vertical portion.
US09472650B2
A method of manufacturing a flexible display device, the method including forming a sacrificial layer on a carrier substrate such that the sacrificial layer includes a hydrogen trap material and amorphous silicon; forming a support layer and a thin film transistor on the sacrificial layer; and separating the support layer from the carrier substrate by irradiating a laser to the sacrificial layer.
US09472647B2
The disclosure relates to a semiconductor device. An exemplary structure for a field effect transistor comprises a substrate comprising a major surface and a cavity below the major surface; a gate stack on the major surface of the substrate; a spacer adjoining one side of the gate stack; a shallow trench isolations (STI) region disposed on the side of the gate stack, wherein the STI region is within the substrate; and a source/drain (S/D) structure distributed between the gate stack and STI region, wherein the S/D structure comprises a strained material in the cavity, wherein a lattice constant of the strained material is different from a lattice constant of the substrate; and a S/D extension disposed between the substrate and strained material, wherein the S/D extension comprises a portion extending below the spacer and substantially vertical to the major surface.
US09472644B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a gate structure over a substrate, forming a multi-layer sidewall spacer including a first sacrificial spacer which covers sidewalls of the gate structure and a second sacrificial spacer which is disposed on a sidewall of the first sacrificial spacer and recessed lower than an upper surface of the gate structure, forming an air gap having a narrower width top portion than a middle and a bottom portions, by removing the first and second sacrificial spacers, and forming a capping layer which caps the top portion of the air gap.
US09472643B2
A method of fabricating a replacement gate stack for a semiconductor device includes the following steps after removal of a dummy gate: growing a high-k dielectric layer over the area vacated by the dummy gate; depositing a thin metal layer over the high-k dielectric layer; depositing a sacrificial layer over the thin metal layer; performing a first rapid thermal anneal; removing the sacrificial layer; and depositing a metal layer of low resistivity metal for gap fill.
US09472632B2
A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, and a core device and a dummy device disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The core device includes a first gate disposed on the semiconductor substrate and a first stress layer disposed on opposing sides of the first gate. The dummy device includes a second gate disposed on the semiconductor substrate and a second stress layer disposed on opposing sides of the second gate.
US09472628B2
A semiconductor structure includes a source drain region of a first material that may fulfill contact resistance and doping requirements and an extension region of a second material with increased mobility and dopant concentration. A semiconductor device fabrication process includes forming a sacrificial dielectric portion upon a semiconductor substrate, forming a sacrificial gate stack upon the sacrificial dielectric portion, forming a gate spacer upon the sacrificial dielectric portion against the sacrificial gate, forming a source drain region of a first doped material upon the semiconductor substrate against the gate spacer, forming a replacement gate trench by removing the sacrificial gate stack, forming an extension trench by vertically removing the sacrificial dielectric portion accessible via the replacement gate trench and horizontally removing the sacrificial dielectric portion beneath the spacer, and forming an extension region of a second doped material within the extension trench.
US09472627B2
A III-V compound semiconductor heterostructure grown on a substrate is described. The heterostructure includes a first semiconductor layer, wherein the first layer semiconductor layer is a compound semiconductor layer with (III) (V), wherein (III) represents one or more group-III elements and (V) represents one or more group-V elements, an intermediate layer on the first semiconductor layer, wherein the intermediate layer is a compound semiconductor layer with (III)x>1(V)2-x, and wherein the intermediate layer has a thickness of 10 monolayers or below, and a second semiconductor layer, wherein the first layer semiconductor layer is a compound semiconductor layer with (III)1(V)1.
US09472620B1
In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, a first semiconductor layer is formed over substrate. An etching stop layer is formed over the first semiconductor layer. A dummy layer is formed over the etching stop layer. Isolation regions are formed in the dummy layer, the etching stop layer and the first semiconductor layer. The dummy layer and the etching stop layer between the isolation regions are removed to form a space. The first semiconductor layer is exposed in the space. A second semiconductor layer is formed over the first semiconductor layer in the space. A third semiconductor layer is formed over the second semiconductor layer in the space. The isolation regions are recessed so that an upper portion of the third semiconductor layer is exposed.
US09472614B2
There is provided a super junction semiconductor device. The super junction semiconductor device includes a cell area and a junction termination area disposed on a substrate, and a transition area disposed between the cell area and the junction termination area, and the cell area, the junction termination area, and the transition area each include one or more unit cells comprising a N-type pillar region and a P-type pillar region among a plurality of N-type pillar regions and a P-type pillar regions that are alternated between the cell area and the junction termination area.
US09472613B2
Techniques are disclosed for converting a strain-inducing semiconductor buffer layer into an electrical insulator at one or more locations of the buffer layer, thereby allowing an above device layer to have a number of benefits, which in some embodiments include those that arise from being grown on a strain-inducing buffer and having a buried electrical insulator layer. For instance, having a buried electrical insulator layer (initially used as a strain-inducing buffer during fabrication of the above active device layer) between the Fin and substrate of a non-planar integrated transistor circuit may simultaneously enable a low-doped Fin with high mobility, desirable device electrostatics and elimination or otherwise reduction of substrate junction leakage. Also, the presence of such an electrical insulator under the source and drain regions may further significantly reduce junction leakage. In some embodiments, substantially the entire buffer layer is converted to an electrical insulator.
US09472591B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor image pickup device includes a pixel area and a non-pixel area. The device includes a first photoelectric conversion element formed in the pixel area, a first transistor formed in the pixel area and connected to the first photoelectric conversion element, a second photoelectric conversion element formed in the non-pixel area, a second transistor formed in the non-pixel area and connected to the second photoelectric conversion element, a metal wire formed at least in the non-pixel area, a first cap layer formed on the metal wire to prevent diffusion of metal contained in the metal wire, and a dummy via wire formed in the non-pixel area and penetrating the first cap layer.
US09472584B2
A phototransistor includes a first emitter region, a first base region having at least a portion exposed to a light-receiving side, and a first collector region in this order from the light-receiving side in a depth direction. The first collector region includes a second collector region and a third collector region that is in contact with a downstream side of the second collector region in the depth direction and has a resistance lower than that of the second collector region. The phototransistor further includes a first region that is spaced away from the first base region at an outer side of the first base region on a light-receiving side surface thereof, the first region having a conductivity type opposite to that of the first collector region.
US09472578B2
The present invention provides a display substrate and a fabricating method thereof, a display panel, and a display device. The display substrate comprises a base substrate, gate lines and data lines formed on the base substrate, and at least one pixel unit defined by the gate lines and the date lines, wherein, each pixel unit comprises a thin film transistor and a pixel electrode, and in each pixel unit, a drain electrode of the thin film transistor is electrically connected with the pixel electrode by at least part of an edge region of at least one side of the drain electrode. The technical solution of the present invention can increase the number of contact points and/or contact area for connecting the pixel electrode and the drain electrode, and thus display quality is improved.
US09472576B2
A FinFET device includes a substrate with a buried insulator, a plurality of fins over the buried insulator, and a nitride material filing spaces between the plurality of fins. At least one sidewall of each of the plurality of fins remain uncovered by the nitride material. The nitride material may also not contact the bottom of the plurality of fins.
US09472575B2
In an aspect of the present invention, a field-effect transistor (FET) structure is formed. The FET structure comprises a plurality of fins formed on a semiconductor substrate, wherein the plurality of fins includes a set of fins that include a base portion that is comprised of relaxed silicon-germanium (SiGe) and an upper portion that is comprised of semiconductor material. In one aspect, a first set of one or more fins that include an upper portion comprised of a first semiconductor material. In another aspect, a second set of one or more fins that include an upper portion comprised of a second semiconductor material.
US09472567B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor pattern; conductive layers each including a first portion through which the semiconductor pattern passes and a second portion having a thickness greater than the first portion, wherein the first portion of each conductive layer includes a first barrier pattern surrounding the semiconductor pattern and a material pattern, which is formed in the first barrier pattern and has an etch selectivity with respect to the first barrier pattern, and the second portion of each conductive layer includes a conductive pattern; and contact plugs connected to the second portion of each of the conductive layers.
US09472565B2
A non-volatile memory device includes: a floating gate having a plurality of fingers; a first coupling unit including an active control gate which overlaps with the floating gate in a vertical direction; a second coupling unit including a plurality of control plugs which overlap with the floating gate in a horizontal direction; and a control unit which electrically connects the active control gate to the control plugs and controls a bias to be applied to the active control gate.
US09472564B2
The present invention provides a system comprising a semiconductor device, a method of controlling the semiconductor device in the system, and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device in the system. The semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor region located in a semiconductor layer formed on an isolating layer; an ONO film on the semiconductor region; bit lines on either side of the semiconductor region, which are located in the semiconductor layer, and are in contact with the isolating layer; a device isolating region on two different sides of the semiconductor region from the sides on which the bit lines are located, the device isolating region being in contact with the isolating layer; and a first voltage applying unit that is coupled to the semiconductor region. In this semiconductor device, the semiconductor region is surrounded by the bit lines and the device isolating region, and is electrically isolated from other semiconductor regions.
US09472561B2
A manufacturing method for a semi-floating gate device, mainly comprising a manufacturing method for a floating gate and a floating gate opening area, and the specific process thereof is: reserving a hard mask layer after a U-shaped groove is formed, growing a gate dielectric layer on a surface of the formed U-shaped groove, depositing and etching back a first layer of polysilicon to protect the gate dielectric layer, etching away the exposed gate dielectric layer and hard mask layer, then covering a formed structure to deposit a second layer of polysilicon, then etching a formed polysilicon layer by a photoetching process and an etching process so as to form a floating gate, and forming a floating gate opening area in a self-aligning way. The manufacturing method can simplify the existing manufacturing process for a semi-floating gate device, reduce the difficulty in manufacturing the semi-floating gate device with a U-shaped channel, and improve the yield of the semi-floating-gate device.
US09472560B2
A memory cell includes a first electrode and a second electrode. A select device and a programmable device are in series with each other between the first and second electrodes. The select device is proximate and electrically coupled to the first electrode. The programmable device is proximate and electrically coupled to the second electrode. The programmable device includes a radially inner electrode having radially outer sidewalls. Ferroelectric material is radially outward of the outer sidewalls of the inner electrode. A radially outer electrode is radially outward of the ferroelectric material. One of the outer electrode or the inner electrode is electrically coupled to the select device. The other of the outer electrode and the inner electrode is electrically coupled to the second electrode. Arrays of memory cells are disclosed.
US09472559B2
It is an object to provide a memory device whose power consumption can be suppressed and a semiconductor device including the memory device. As a switching element for holding electric charge accumulated in a transistor which functions as a memory element, a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film as an active layer is provided for each memory cell in the memory device. The transistor which is used as a memory element has a first gate electrode, a second gate electrode, a semiconductor film located between the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode, a first insulating film located between the first gate electrode and the semiconductor film, a second insulating film located between the second gate electrode and the semiconductor film, and a source electrode and a drain electrode in contact with the semiconductor film.
US09472558B1
Disclosed are semiconductor structures and methods of forming them. The structures include field effect transistors (FETs) with different type conductivities in different levels, respectively, of the same fin, wherein the numbers of FETs in the different levels are different. Specifically, in a fin, a first semiconductor layer has source/drain and channel regions for a first and a second transistor and a second semiconductor layer has source/drain and channel regions for a third transistor with a different type conductivity than first and second transistors. A gate is on the top surface and sides of the first semiconductor layer at the channel region of the first transistor. Another gate has a lower portion on the sides of the first semiconductor layer at the channel region of the second transistor and an upper portion on the top surface and sides of the second semiconductor layer at the channel region of the third transistor.
US09472557B2
A device includes a semiconductor region surrounded with the isolation region and includes a first active region, a channel region and a second active region arranged in that order in a first direction. A first side portion of the first active region and a second side portion of the second active region faces each other across a top surface of the channel region in the first direction. A gate electrode covers the top surface and the first and second side portions and extends in a second direction that intersects the first direction. A first diffusion layer is formed in the first active region. A second diffusion layer is formed in the second active region. An embedded contact plug is formed in the first active region and extends downwardly from the upper surface of the semiconductor region and contacts with the first diffusion layer.
US09472555B1
A semiconductor structure is provided that includes a substrate comprising a first semiconductor material having a first crystallographic orientation and a first device region and a second device region. First vertically stacked and suspended nanosheets of semiconductor channel material of the first crystallographic orientation are located above the substrate and within the first device region. Second vertically stacked and suspended nanosheets of semiconductor channel material of a second crystallographic orientation are located above the substrate and within the second device region. In accordance with the present application, the second crystallographic orientation is different from the first crystallographic orientation.
US09472552B2
A method for forming a semiconductor structure includes providing a semiconductor substrate including a first region and a second region; and forming a first and a second metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) device. The step of forming the first MOS device includes forming a first silicon germanium layer over the first region of the semiconductor substrate; forming a silicon layer over the first silicon germanium layer; forming a first gate dielectric layer over the silicon layer; and patterning the first gate dielectric layer to form a first gate dielectric. The step of forming the second MOS device includes forming a second silicon germanium layer over the second region of the semiconductor substrate; forming a second gate dielectric layer over the second silicon germanium layer with no substantially pure silicon layer therebetween; and patterning the second gate dielectric layer to form a second gate dielectric.
US09472550B2
A method includes growing a plurality of parallel mandrels on a surface of a semiconductor substrate, each mandrel having at least two laterally opposite sidewalls and a predetermined width. The method further includes forming a first type of spacers on the sidewalls of the mandrels, wherein the first type of spacers between two adjacent mandrels are separated by a gap. The predetermined mandrel width is adjusted to close the gap between the adjacent first type of spacers to form a second type of spacers. The mandrels are removed to form a first type of fins from the first type of spacers, and to form a second type of fins from spacers between two adjacent mandrels. The second type of fins are wider than the first type of fins.
US09472545B2
One or more semiconductor arrangements having a stacked configuration and electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection are provided. The semiconductor arrangements include a first substrate, a second substrate, an ESD pad, an ESD device and a first interlayer via connecting the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate includes a first PMOS device and a first device and the second substrate includes a first NMOS device and a second device. Alternatively, the first substrate includes a first PMOS device and a first NMOS device and the second substrate includes a first device and a second device.
US09472539B2
A semiconductor chip including a substrate, a first data pad arranged on the substrate, and a first control/address pad arranged on the substrate, wherein the first data pad is arranged in an edge region of the substrate, and the first control/address pad is arranged in a center region of the substrate.
US09472529B2
An electronic circuit and method may include a first chip including first electronics and a first connector including multiple self-alignment features and conductive pads. A second chip may include second electronics and a second connector including multiple self-alignment features and conductive pads. The first chip and second chip may be indirectly horizontally aligned with one another and in electrical communication with one another via the first and second connectors.
US09472526B2
A semiconductor device includes a main structure, active bumps and dummy bumps which are provided over a surface of the main structure. The active bumps are arranged in first to n-th rows. The active bumps positioned in each row are arrayed in a first direction with a predetermined first pitch. The first to n-th rows of the active bumps are arrayed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. For j being any integer from one to n−1, a (j+1)-th row are shifted in the second direction from a j-th row of the active bumps by a second pitch and shifted in the first direction from the j-th row of the active bumps by a predetermined sub-pitch. The dummy bumps are arrayed in the first direction with the first pitch, and the length of each of the dummy bumps in the second direction is longer than the second pitch.
US09472523B2
A semiconductor structure includes a conductive bump for disposing over a substrate and an elongated ferromagnetic member surrounded by the conductive bump, including a first end and a second end, and extending from the first end to the second end, the elongated ferromagnetic member is disposed substantially orthogonal to the substrate to dispose the conductive bump at a predetermined orientation and at a predetermined position of the substrate. Further, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes providing a substrate, forming a conductive trace within the substrate, applying an electric current passing through the conductive trace to generate an electromagnetic field and disposing a conductive bump including an elongated ferromagnetic member in a predetermined orientation and at a predetermined position above the substrate in response to the electromagnetic field generated by the conductive trace.
US09472507B2
An array substrate includes a substrate, a barrier layer disposed on the substrate, a buffer layer disposed on the barrier layer, a first insulating layer disposed on the buffer layer, a second insulating layer disposed on the first insulating layer, a plurality of wiring patterns disposed between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer and/or on the second insulating layer. In addition, the wiring patterns are separated from each other, and extend toward a side of the substrate. The array substrate further includes a recess pattern disposed adjacent the wiring patterns and recessed from a top surface of the second insulating layer to expose at least part of a top surface of the substrate, and an organic insulating layer disposed on the second insulating layer and exposing at least part of a portion of the top surface of the substrate which is exposed by the recess pattern.
US09472505B2
Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided to generate markings on the surface of a die or substrate. The markings represent information. The markings can be annealed onto the surface of the die or substrate using a laser. Another embodiment can use an out-of-focus laser beam to mark a solder resist material.
US09472491B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor package having a small gate clip is disclosed. A first and second semiconductor chips, each of which includes a source electrode and a gate electrode at a top surface, are attached on two adjacent lead frame units of a lead frame such that the lead frame unit with the first chip formed thereon is rotated 180 degrees in relation to the other lead frame unit with the second semiconductor chip formed thereon. A first and second clip sets are mounted on the first and second semiconductor chips, wherein the first clip set is connected to the gate electrode of the first chip, the source electrode of the second chip, and their corresponding leads and the second clip set is connected to the gate electrode of the second chip, the source electrode of the first chip and their corresponding leads.
US09472489B2
An inner fin is provided in a fluid pipe for dividing a fluid passage for heating medium into multiple small fluid passages, so as to facilitate heat exchange between the heating medium and an electronic part. The inner fin is formed in a wave shape in a cross section perpendicular to a flow direction of the heating medium, wherein the inner fin has projecting portions alternately projecting in one direction and in the other direction. The inner fin is composed of multiple fin portions, wherein a fin pitch of a first fin portion is made to be smaller than a fin pitch of a second fin portion, which faces to the electronic part.
US09472481B2
A chip includes a semiconductor substrate, an electrical connector over the semiconductor substrate, and a molding compound molding a lower part of the electrical connector therein. A top surface of the molding compound is lower than a top end of the electrical connector. A recess extends from the top surface of the molding compound into the molding compound.
US09472480B2
A transistor package includes a lead frame and a gallium nitride (GaN) transistor attached to the lead frame. The lead frame and the GaN transistor are surrounded by an over-mold with a glass transition temperature greater than about 135° C. and a flexural modulus less than about 20 GPa. Using an over-mold with a glass transition temperature greater than about 135° C. and a flexural modulus less than about 20 GPa allows the over-mold to handle the heat produced by the GaN transistor while preventing damage to the GaN transistor due to thermal expansion and/or contraction of the over-mold.
US09472476B2
System and method for test structure on a wafer. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a test structure for testing an integrated circuit. For example, the test structure and the integrated circuit are manufactured on a same substrate material and the testing being conducted is in a temperature-controlled environment. The test structure includes a top structure positioned above the integrated circuit, the top structure including a first metal material, which includes a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal. The test structure also includes a bottom structure positioned below the integrated circuit, the bottom structure including a first silicon material. A first side structure is positioned between the top structure and the bottom structure and located next to a first side of the integrated circuit. A second side structure is positioned between the top structure and the bottom structure and located next to a second side of the integrated circuit.
US09472474B2
The disclosed technology generally relates to methods of characterizing semiconductor materials, and more particularly to methods of characterizing shallow semiconductor junctions. In one aspect, the method of characterizing shallow semiconductor junctions comprises providing a substrate comprising a shallow junction formed at a first main surface, where the shallow junction is formed substantially parallel to the first main surface. The method additionally comprises providing a dielectric layer on the first main surface. The method additionally comprises iterating, at least twice, a combination of processes including providing a respective charge on a predetermined area of the dielectric layer via a charge applicator, and measuring a corresponding junction photovoltage for the predetermined area. The method further comprises deriving at least one of an average hole/electron mobility or a dose of active dopants in the substrate corresponding to the predetermined area, based on the respective charges and the corresponding junction photo voltages.
US09472465B2
Integrated circuits and methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In an embodiment, a method is provided for fabricating an integrated circuit. The method includes forming a first FET trench in a first FET region and a second FET trench in a second FET region of an interlayer dielectric material on a semiconductor substrate, at least partially filling the first and second FET trenches with a work function metal to form a work function metal layer, and at least partially removing a portion of the work function metal layer in the second FET trench. The first FET trench is defined as an NFET trench and the second FET trench is defined as a PFET trench.
US09472461B2
A semiconductor device is provided that includes a fin having a first gate and a second gate formed on a first sidewall of the fin in a first trench, wherein the first gate is formed above the second gate. The device includes a third gate and a fourth gate formed on a second sidewall of the fin in a second trench, wherein the third gate is formed above the fourth gate. Methods of manufacturing and operating the device are also included. A method of operation may include biasing the first gate and the fourth gate to create a current path across the fin.
US09472460B1
Methods for forming substantially uniform depth trenches and/or semiconductor fins from the trenches are disclosed. Embodiments of the method may include depositing a germanium including layer over a substrate, the substrate including a plurality of sacrificial semiconductor fins, each pair of sacrificial semiconductor fins separated by a sacrificial pillar. Germanium is diffused from the germanium including layer into the plurality of sacrificial semiconductor fins to a defined uniform depth. The germanium including layer is removed, and the plurality of sacrificial semiconductor fins are etched to the defined uniform depth and selective to the substrate, creating a plurality of trenches having a substantially uniform depth. The trenches can be used to epitaxial grow semiconductor fins having substantially uniform height.
US09472451B2
Semiconductor package device, such as wafer-level package semiconductor devices, are described that have pillars for providing electrical interconnectivity. In an implementation, the wafer-level package devices include an integrated circuit chip having at least one pillar formed over the integrated circuit chip. The pillar is configured to provide electrical interconnectivity with the integrated circuit chip. The wafer-level package device also includes an encapsulation structure configured to support the pillar.
US09472447B1
A technique relates to manufacturing a finFET device. A plurality of first and second semiconductor fins are formed on a substrate. Gate stacks are formed on the substrate, each including a gate, a hard mask and an oxide layer. A dielectric spacer layer is deposited. A sacrificial fill material is deposited on the finFET device and planarized. A second hard mask is deposited, a trench area is patterned in the hard mask parallel to the first and second semiconductor fins, and the sacrificial fill material is anisotropically etched to create a trench. A dielectric wall is formed in the trench and the second hard mask and sacrificial fill material are removed.
US09472437B2
Described methods and apparatus provide a controlled perturbation to an adhesive bond between a device wafer and a carrier wafer. The controlled perturbation, which can be mechanical, chemical, thermal, or radiative, facilitates the separation of the two wafers without damaging the device wafer. The controlled perturbation initiates a crack either within the adhesive joining the two wafers, at an interface within the adhesive layer (such as between a release layer and the adhesive), or at a wafer/adhesive interface. The crack can then be propagated using any of the foregoing methods, or combinations thereof, used to initiate the crack.
US09472435B2
Implementations described herein provide a substrate support assembly which enables both lateral and azimuthal tuning of the heat transfer between an electrostatic chuck and a heating assembly. The substrate support assembly comprises a body having a substrate support surface and a lower surface, one or more main resistive heaters disposed in the body, a plurality of spatially tunable heaters disposed in the body, and a spatially tunable heater controller coupled to the plurality of spatially tunable heaters, the spatially tunable heater controller configured to independently control an output one of the plurality of spatially tunable heaters relative to another of the plurality of spatially tunable heaters.
US09472429B2
An object is to suppress discharge due to static electricity generated by peeling, when an element formation layer including a semiconductor element is peeled from a substrate. Over the substrate, the release layer and the element formation layer are formed. The support base material which can be peeled later is fixed to the upper surface of the element formation layer. The element formation layer is transformed through the support base material, and peeling is generated at an interface between the element formation layer and the release layer. Peeling is performed while the liquid is being supplied so that the element formation layer and the release layer which appear sequentially by peeling are wetted with the liquid such as pure water. Electric charge generated on the surfaces of the element formation layer and the release layer can be diffused by the liquid, and discharge by peeling electrification can be eliminated.
US09472423B2
A method for suppressing the formation of leakage-promoting defects in a crystal lattice following dopant implantation in the lattice. The process provides a compressive layer of atoms, these atoms having a size greater than that of the lattice member atoms. The lattice is then annealed for a time sufficient for interstitial defect atoms to be emitted from the compressive layer, and in that manner energetically stable defects are formed in the lattice at a distance from the compressive layer.
US09472420B2
Aqueous compositions for stripping titanium nitride (TiN or TiNxOy) hard mask and removing etch residue are low pH aqueous composition comprising solvent, a weakly coordinating anion, amine, and at least two non-oxidizing trace metal ions. The aqueous compositions contain no non-ambient oxidizer, and are exposed to air. Bifluoride, or metal corrosion inhibitor may be added to the aqueous composition. Systems and processes use the aqueous compositions for stripping titanium nitride (TiN or TiNxOy) hard mask and removing titanium nitride (TiN or TiNxOy) etch residue.
US09472418B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device in an NVM region and in a logic region uses a semiconductor substrate and includes forming a gate region fill material over the NVM region and the logic region. The gate region fill material is patterned over the NVM region to leave a first patterned gate region fill material over the NVM region. An interlayer dielectric is formed around the first patterned gate region fill material. A first portion of the first patterned gate region fill material is removed to form a first opening and leaving a second portion of the first patterned gate region fill material. The first opening is laterally adjacent to the second portion. The first opening is filled with a charge storage layer and a conductive material that includes metal overlying the charge storage layer.
US09472415B2
A method of forming a trench in an oxide layer; where the oxide layer is formed on top of a nitride layer. The trench is formed using an iterative etching technique until the nitride layer is exposed, each iterative etching step includes; using an isotropic etching technique to remove a portion of the oxide layer, the isotropic etching technique produces a byproduct that remains along a sidewall and a bottom of the trench, then using an anisotropic etching technique to remove the salt from the bottom of the trench, leaving salt on the sidewalls of the trench.
US09472414B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure are a method of forming a semiconductor device and methods of patterning a semiconductor device. An embodiment is a method of forming a semiconductor device, the method including pattering a mandrel layer disposed over a semiconductor device layer to form a mandrel, forming a first set of spacers on sidewalls of the mandrel using a first material, selectively removing the mandrel disposed between the first set of spacers. The method further includes after removing the mandrel, using the first set of spacers as a first set of mandrels, forming a second set of spacers on sidewalls of the first set of mandrels using a second material, the second material having a different etch selectivity from the etch selectivity of the first material, the second set of spacers have substantially flat top surfaces, and selectively removing the first set of mandrels disposed between the second set of spacers.
US09472413B2
At least one projecting block is formed in an element. The projecting block is then covered with a first cover layer so as to form a concave ridge self-aligned with the projecting block and having its concavity face towards the projecting block. A first trench is then formed in the ridge in a manner that is self-aligned with both the ridge and the projecting block. The first trench extends to a depth which reaches the projecting block. The projecting block is etched using the ridge and first trench as an etching mask to form a second trench in the projecting block that is self-aligned with the first trench. A pattern is thus produced by the second trench and unetched parts of the projecting block which delimit the second trench.
US09472412B2
Methods of conditioning interior processing chamber walls of an etch chamber are described. A fluorine-containing precursor may be remotely or locally excited in a plasma to treat the interior chamber walls periodically on a preventative maintenance schedule. The treated walls promote an even etch rate when used to perform gas-phase etching of silicon regions following conditioning. Alternatively, a hydrogen-containing precursor may be remotely or locally excited in a plasma to treat the interior chamber walls in embodiments. Regions of exposed silicon may then be etched with more reproducible etch rates from wafer-to-wafer. The silicon etch may be performed using plasma effluents formed from a remotely excited fluorine-containing precursor.
US09472401B2
A method is provided for forming an unsupported MoS2 layer in an aqueous medium, the method comprising the steps of: providing an assembly of a Mo oxide layer on a Si substrate; annealing said assembly in presence of H2S at a temperature sufficient for forming a MoS2 layer; and contacting the annealed assembly with an aqueous medium. This unsupported MoS2 layer can then be transferred by dip-coating to another substrate such as a dielectric substrate.
US09472398B2
There are provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a substrate processing apparatus, and a semiconductor device. The method allows rapid formation of a conductive film, which has a low concentration of impurities permeated from a source owing to its dense structure, and a low resistivity. The method is performed by simultaneously supplying two or more kinds of sources into a processing chamber to form a film on a substrate placed in the processing chamber. The method comprises: performing a first source supply process by supplying at least one kind of source into the processing chamber at a first supply flow rate; and performing a second source supply process by supplying the at least one kind of source into the processing chamber at a second supply flow rate different from the first supply flow rate.
US09472394B2
A method of forming a silicon oxide film includes forming a silicon film on a base, the base being a surface to be processed of an object to be processed, and forming a silicon oxide film on the base by oxidizing the silicon film. Between the forming a silicon film and the forming a silicon oxide film, exposing the object to be processed having the silicon film formed thereon to an atmosphere containing at least an oxidizing component is performed.
US09472388B2
Systems and methods for automatic gain control in mass spectrometers are disclosed. An exemplary system may include a mass spectrometer, comprising a lens configured to receive a supply of ions, and a mass analyzer. The mass analyzer may include an ion trap for trapping the supplied ions. The mass analyzer may also include an ion detector for detecting ions that exit the ion trap. The lens may focus the ions non-uniformly based on mass of the ions to compensate for space charge effects reflected in a measurement output of the mass spectrometer.
US09472386B2
Even when only mass spectra wherein the reproducibility of peak intensities is low are obtained in a mass spectrometry apparatus using, for example, a MALDI ion source, the correction of shifts in retention time using TICs for a plurality of specimens is performed with good precision. For each mass spectrum, variable scaling is executed which combines such first scaling as to equalize the extent of variations in signal intensity values in one mass spectrum, among different mass spectra, and second scaling for performing weighting according to relative variations in signal intensity values for each mass spectrum (S3). The signal intensity values after the scaling are added to obtain a total signal intensity value for one measurement time point (S4). From a plurality of total signal intensity values thus obtained, a TIC is created (S6). Using these TICs, RT alignment is executed (S8). Thus, the similarity in TIC waveforms increases, and RT alignment can be suitably performed.
US09472382B2
Methods and apparatus are described that use an array of two or more cold plasma jet ports oriented to converge at a treatment area. The use of an array permits greater tissue penetration by cold plasma treatments. This approach enables treatment of deeper infections of soft and hard tissues without surgical intervention. For example, this approach can treat sub-integumental infections, such as those common to joint replacements, without surgically opening the issues overlying the deeper infection.
US09472372B2
A charged particle beam writing apparatus includes a stage configured to mount a sample placed thereon; an electron optical column including a charged particle gun and deflector, wherein the charged particle gun is configured to emit a charged particle beam, and the deflector includes a plurality of deflecting electrodes configured to control a path of the charged particle beam; an ozone introducing mechanism configured to introduce ozone into the electron optical column; a first voltage supply unit configured to apply a deflection voltage to the plurality of deflecting electrodes to deflect the charged particle beam; and a second voltage supply unit configured to apply an identical negative DC voltage to the plurality of deflecting electrodes, wherein a negative voltage in which the deflection voltage and the negative DC voltage are added is applied to the plurality of deflecting electrodes while the sample is irradiated by the charged particle beam.
US09472361B1
An improved printed circuit board contacts that are used to implement switch contacts of keypads and keyboards combining gold and silver plating over copper conductors. In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the printed circuit board 14 and the switch contact 20, where the switch contact material is electrolysis immersion silver layer 26 plated onto copper layer 22 and an electrolysis immersion gold layer 28 plated over that. An alternate embodiment is shown in FIG. 4 of a printed circuit board 14 with a switch contact 20, wherein a layer of nickel 24 is plated over the copper layer 22, then the silver layer 26 is plated onto the nickel 24, then the gold layer 28 is the topmost layer. Here the nickel layer is used to prevent copper migration into the other layers.
US09472350B2
A solid electrolytic capacitor that contains an anode body, dielectric located over and/or within the anode body, an adhesion coating overlying the dielectric, and a solid electrolyte overlying the dielectric and adhesion coating that contains a conductive polymer. The adhesion coating is multi-layered and employs a resinous layer in combination with a discontinuous layer containing a plurality of discrete nanoprojections of a manganese oxide (e.g., manganese dioxide).
US09472346B2
A multilayer ceramic capacitor may include: a ceramic body including dielectric layers, first and second main surfaces opposing each other, first and second side surfaces opposing each other, and first and second end surfaces opposing each other; a capacitor part including first internal electrodes and second internal electrodes; a resistor part including first internal connection conductors and second internal connection conductors; first dummy electrodes and second dummy electrodes; first to fourth external electrodes electrically connected to the first and second internal electrodes and the first and second internal connection conductors; and a first connection terminal and a second connection terminal. The capacitor part and the resistor part are connected in series to each other.
US09472345B2
An aluminum compound is represented by following Formula 1. In Formula 1, X is a functional group represented by following Formula 2 or Formula 3.
US09472341B2
A method for manufacturing a magnetic grain compact, includes: providing multiple metal grains constituted by soft magnetic alloy containing Fe, Si, and a metal element M that oxidizes more easily than Fe; compacting the metal grains; and forming oxide film formed on a surface of the metal grains, and forming first bonding parts where adjacent metal grains are directly contacted and bonded together, and second bonding parts where adjacent metal grains are bonded together via the oxide film formed around the entire surface of said adjacent metal grains other than the first bonding parts, by applying heat treatment to the compacted metal grains, thereby obtaining a magnetic grain compact.
US09472331B2
A sheet-feeder system for multiple feeding of magnetizable sheets from a stack through a portable magnetizer designed for on-site use, enclosed in a portable case which is hand-carryable. A sheet advancer advances single magnetizable sheets from the stack in a stack positioner. The sheet advancer includes a single-sheet separator configured to separate single magnetizable sheets from the stack during advancement. Magnetic attraction between a magnetizable sheet and a magnetic field generated by a sheet magnetizer configured to permanently magnetize single magnetizable sheets as they are advanced by the sheet advancer assists the sheet advancer to advance the single magnetizable sheets from the stack through the sheet magnetizer.
US09472327B1
The disclosed concept relates to hollow core arrester membranes generally and, in particular, to membranes that include a pultruded tube composed of fibers and resin, and one or more wrap layers composed of fibers and resin in the form of a mat or fabric. The one or more wrap layers are applied to the pultruded tube to form a wrapped, pultruded tube, which is over molded with a polymer enclosure.
