US09845129B2

A stabilizing arrangement for a tilting running gear of a non-rail-borne vehicle is disclosed. The stabilizing arrangement includes a balance beam configured to have each end coupled to a respective suspension side of a multi-track running gear axle of the tilting running gear. A pivot bearing is connected to a frame or body of the vehicle and defines a stationary axis of rotation. The pivot bearing rotatably supports the balance beam about the stationary axis of rotation. At least one stabilizing element is connected to the balance beam and is supported with respect to a frame or body of the vehicle. The at least one stabilizing element is configured to provide a reaction force to counteract a tilting moment of the vehicle. A non-rail-borne vehicle comprising the stabilizing arrangement also is disclosed.
US09845115B2

A closure panel including an outer shell for closing an opening defined by a vehicle body and an inner reinforcement. The outer shell and inner reinforcement are formed as a plurality of additive layers. The inner reinforcement includes an integral thickened edge formed around the periphery of the outer shell, an integral latch buttress provided on a first side of the inner reinforcement and a pair of integral hinge buttresses provided on a second side of the inner reinforcement. Internally threaded protrusions may be formed as additive deposits on the integral buttresses.
US09845109B2

A system and a method of controlling a power steering system of a vehicle are provided. A control system includes a control module operable to determine a rack force of the vehicle based on at least one of a motor velocity, a driver torque and a motor torque, determine a plurality of modeled rack forces based on a roadwheel angle and a vehicle speed, compare the rack force to the plurality of modeled rack forces to generate a friction level included in a control signal, and send the control signal to the power steering system.
US09845105B2

An adjustment mounting bracket assembly for a steering column includes a mounting bracket mountable to a steering column mating element, the mounting bracket having a bracket aperture configured to receive a clamp bolt therethrough, the mounting bracket also having an arcuate slot. The bracket assembly also includes a spacer having a spacer aperture configured to receive the clamp bolt therethrough to align the spacer with the mounting bracket, the spacer having a first engaging feature disposed within the arcuate slot of the mounting bracket and a second engaging feature engageable with a recess of the steering column, disposal of the first engaging feature within the arcuate slot and disposal of the second engaging feature within the recess restricting the degree of freedom of the mounting bracket relative to the steering column.
US09845100B2

A trolley as disclosed for manual transport of loads. The trolley comprises one or more wheels, an axle, a pair of handles which extend upwardly when the trolley is in an upright, non-travel position, a load carrying frame extending forward from the handles, and a pair of spaced support legs extending down from the load carrying frame and positioned either side of the one or more wheels. The support legs are adapted to support the load carrying frame substantially parallel to a support surface, such as the ground, when the trolley is in the upright, non-travel position.
US09845096B2

A system includes an acquisition unit that acquires an operation amount or a duration count, and a switching unit that switches a driving state. The switching unit switches the driving state to the cooperative driving state when the operation amount is equal to or greater than an intervention threshold and less than a start threshold or the duration count is equal to or greater than a first threshold and less than a second threshold during the autonomous driving state, switches the driving state to the autonomous driving state when the operation amount is less than the intervention threshold or the duration count is less than the first threshold during the cooperative driving state, and switches the driving state to the manual driving state when the operation amount is equal to or greater than the start threshold or the duration count is equal to or greater than the second threshold.
US09845094B2

A method for controlling a line pressure of a hybrid vehicle includes applying, by a controller, a set current corresponding to a target pressure to a first solenoid valve controlling the line pressure, driving, by the controller, a second solenoid valve to open an engine clutch after the applying step, comparing, by the controller, a difference value between a real pressure of the engine clutch sensed by a pressure sensor and the target pressure with a preset pressure after the driving step, and as a result of performing the comparing step, if the difference value is equal to or greater than the preset pressure, controlling, by the controller, an increase of a revolution per minute (RPM) speed of the electric oil pump and an increase of a pressure of the first solenoid valve to be alternately generated.
US09845091B2

A method and system for controlling temperatures in a driveline assembly of a vehicle are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes determining an operating temperature associated with the driveline assembly of the vehicle, the driveline assembly comprising forward and rear axles and a power transfer device configured to transmit power from a power source of the vehicle to the forward and rear axles. The method further includes computing a gain factor responsive to the operating temperature, adjusting a control parameter value of a traction control system of the vehicle responsive to the gain factor, and generating a control signal from the traction control system responsive to the control parameter value, the control signal configured to adjust at least one of an output torque of the power source and a braking force of a brake of the vehicle.
US09845090B2

If a vehicle speed is less than a predetermined value when a hybrid control mode is a series mode and a charge mode is selected (S10-S14), it is determined whether an SOC of a high voltage battery is less than a predetermined value or not (S16), and when the SOC of the high voltage battery is less than the predetermined value, ignition timing is corrected to be retarded (S18).
US09845077B2

Disclosed is a flat wiper blade that includes: a wiper strip 10 which wipes a wiping surface; at least one guide clip 20 which passes through and is fitted to the wiper strip 10 in a width direction of the wiper strip 10; and a guide spring 30 which is coupled to the wiper strip 10 and the guide clip 20 and supports the wiper strip 10.
US09845075B2

A windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type, comprising a carrier element, as well as a wiper blade of a flexible material, wherein the wiper blade includes at least one longitudinal groove, in which groove at least one longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for an oscillating arm, wherein the connecting device is connected to the flexible material of the wiper blade by at least one pin of a first type and/or at least one pin of a second type, and wherein at least one of the pins is movable from a first position, wherein the pin in a premounted position is fixed to the connecting device, into a second position, and wherein the pin in a mounted position as a single constructional element is interconnecting the connecting device and the flexible material of the wiper blade.
US09845074B2

A wiper blade suitable to three types of wiper arms. A connector assembly of the wiper blade is detachably connected to wiper arms having first to third coupling units at a distal end respectively. The connector assembly has an adaptor and a slide cover slidably joined to the adaptor. The slide cover is moved to the adaptor in a first movement direction to fix the first to third coupling units to the adaptor and is moved from the adaptor in a second movement direction opposite to the first movement direction to release fixation between the coupling units and the adaptor. The adaptor has a support protrusion supporting support surfaces of the first to third coupling units. The slide cover has a push surface contacting the contact surfaces of the first to third coupling units to push the first to third coupling units towards the support protrusion of the adaptor.
US09845070B2

The present invention essentially relates to a communication system comprising a communication device mounted in a motor vehicle and at least one mobile device (SP, CID, smart watch), said communication system being intended for providing a data exchange between the communication device and the at least one mobile device (SP, CID, smart watch), characterized in that: the communication device comprises a low-frequency communication interface (BF) and a wireless communication interface (11) using the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol in “advertising” state; and in that the communication device is capable of communicating with said at least one mobile device either in low-frequency mode using the BLE protocol or using only the BLE protocol.
US09845062B2

A nozzle is configured for interaction with a sewer inlet fitting. The sewer inlet fitting is configured for connection to a sewer inlet of a sewer system or sewage receptacle. The sewer inlet fitting includes a cover operable between open and closed conditions by action of the nozzle being inserted thereinto and withdrawn therefrom.
US09845051B2

This invention has an object to assist for traveling operation of a self-propelled industrial machine to display underneath image of the self-propelled industrial machine on a monitor of a display device mounted in a operator's cab. The display device of the self-propelled industrial machine according to the present invention is provided for a dump truck, which comprises cameras having field of view to underneath of the dump truck, a symbol image storage section to store a symbol image which is symbolized the dump truck, a superposing process section to make transparent with a predetermined transparent ratio in the symbol image as a transparent region and to superpose an image taken by the camera on the area corresponding to the transparent region as underneath image, and a monitor mounted in a cab of the dump truck for displaying the symbol image composed by the superposing process section.
US09845046B1

A system and method are provided and include light source projectors with positional actuators mounted on a subject vehicle. A controller controls the light source projectors and the positional actuators to project at least one laser line on a roadway upon which the subject vehicle is traveling. A location of the at least one laser line corresponds to at least one blind spot alert area of the subject vehicle.
US09845042B1

A Retention Strap Stabilization Device is provided that improves the safety and longevity of retention straps used to secure cargo in transportation. The Retention Strap Stabilization Device has a foil body and a strap retaining slot, where in use, the foil body effectively lengthens the trailing edge of a retention strap thus changing the resonant frequency of the retention strap to prevent oscillation of the retention strap while in use on a moving vehicle. The device is held in place by a plurality of retention grips that embed themselves in the retention strap. The device not only prevents damage and resulting breakage of retention straps and the associated safety implications, but also reduces the potential for damage to the cargo being secured by the retention straps when unwanted oscillations of retention straps occur during transit.
US09845040B2

A ramp deployment system for deploying and securing first and second ramps to the entrance of a container-type vehicle using a ratchet strap arrangement. The ratchet strap arrangement includes first and second ratchet strap devices each having a tightening strap coupled to a respective hook and collar mechanism that includes a closable hook operable to engage a collar to form a loop portion by the tightening strap around the undercarriage of the container-type vehicle. A ratchet mechanism is operatively coupled to the tightening strap for tightening or loosening the tightening strap relative to the first and second ramps when the ratchet strap mechanism is actuated. The ratchet mechanism is also engaged to a fixed length strap having a hook portion configured to engage the cross rungs of the first and second ramps and secure the ratchet strap arrangement securely between container-type vehicle and the first and second ramps. In some embodiments, a pair of connecting bars may be coupled between the first and second ramps to provide structural reinforcement between the first and second ramps.
US09845039B2

A method for implementing and canceling an automatic operation of a body of a machine includes receiving a selection of an automatic setting according to a first operation of a hoist mode actuator, determining an activation state of the automatic setting, causing an automatic operation of an engine of the machine to adjust an idle level of the engine and an automatic operation of a hoist system to move the body in a first direction to a first position. The method includes canceling the automatic operation of the engine and the automatic operation of the hoist system and controlling the idle level of the engine according to operations of a throttle, the hoist system to move the body according to the idle level of the engine and respective directions of the second operation the hoist mode actuator and subsequent operations of the hoist mode actuator.
US09845035B2

A pump assembly for a vehicle seatback includes a plurality of air bladders defining a lumbar support. A valve body has an inlet and a plurality of outlets that are coupled with the associated plurality of air bladders. A selection device is operably coupled with the valve body for engaging a select one of the plurality of air bladders with the inlet. A manually compressible air chamber is coupled with the inlet for inflating the select one.
US09845028B2

A vehicle seat may include a protrusion member installed to a lower portion of a back frame inside a seatback to protrude forward and to absorb an impact on the hips of an occupant upon a vehicle collision, wherein a lower portion of the seatback, which has a protrusion shape due to the protrusion member, induces a sitting posture of the occupant to be modified when the occupant sits down on the vehicle seat, thereby reducing a gap between a head of the occupant and a headrest in a state that the hips of the occupant moves forward.
US09845025B2

The rigid T-rail conductor system is configured to support a contact wire in an overhead railway electrification system. The rigid T-rail includes a first rail configured to be disposed in an overhead position of the railway electrification system. The rigid rail includes a keeper disposed on a side of the first rail, the keeper configured to be movable. When the keeper is in the first position, the keeper holds and affixes the wire on the first rail. When the keeper is in the second position, the keeper allows the wire to be installed or to be removed from the rail.
US09845023B2

A system includes at least one application device, a control unit, and at least one processor. The at least one application device is conductively or inductively coupled with at least one of a first conductive track or a second conductive track. The control unit is configured to control supply of electric current from a power source to the at least one application device to electrically inject at least one examination signal into the conductive tracks. The at least one processor is configured to monitor the one or more electrical characteristics of at least one of the first or second conductive tracks, and to identify a construction feature of the route based on the one or more electrical characteristics, wherein the construction feature corresponds to a man-made aspect of the route.
US09845015B2

A vehicle body structure of an autonomous vehicle includes: a first driver integrally configured of a drive portion for a first wheel, a drive shaft for the first wheel and a first shaft support for the drive shaft; a second driver integrally configured of an axle for a second wheel and a second shaft support for the axle; and, a pair of side frames arranged on each side in a width direction of the chassis and each extended in a front-to-rear direction of the chassis to support the first driver and the second driver. The first shaft support and the second shaft support each have an attachment part to be fixed to a flank of the side frame from an outside. Each of the first and second drivers is integrally attached to, and detached from, the side frame, by access from the flank of the side frame.
US09845003B2

A hollow vane structure for an active grille system 100 having a first piece 12 of the vane body 10 that includes a front side 14 and a back side 16. The first piece 12 has a concave cross-section extending from the front side 14 toward the back side 16. This concave section creates a hollowed inward section 18 on the back side 16 of the first piece 12. The first piece 12 also includes an edge surface 20 formed on the first piece which defines a perimeter of the hollowed inward section 18. A second piece 22 of the vane body is connected to the back side 16 of the first piece 12 and extends across the hollowed inward section 18 and is connected to the first piece 12 to at least the edge surface 20 on the back side 16 of the first piece 12.
US09844993B2

Strut spacers are described that include at least a male component comprising an externally threaded surface and a female component comprising an internally threaded surface. Rotation of the male component or the female component adjusts the height of the strut spacer prior to installation within the motor vehicle. The strut spacer can optionally include a locking ring to lock the height of the strut spacer before installation.
US09844991B2

In a suspension for a steerable wheel of a vehicle with a semi-virtual steering axis, a wheel support is connected to vehicle structure by an upper arm and two lower rods, one supporting lateral loads, whereas the other supporting longitudinal loads and being located forwardly relative to the rod supporting lateral loads. In a non-steered wheel condition, an articulated joint connecting the lower rod supporting the longitudinal loads is located more outwardly. The arrangement is such that during steering with a wheel being on an outer side of the curve, an intersection point of projections on a horizontal plane of the lower rods is displaced more inwardly. In a steered wheel condition, with said wheel being on an inner side of the curve, projections on the horizontal plane of said lower rods meet at a point displaced longitudinally forwardly relative to the intersection point in the non-steered wheel condition.
US09844985B2

A tire module and cover for attachment to a pneumatic tire for vehicles is disclosed. The tire module has a device for measuring and/or monitoring the air pressure in the tire, a transmitter, a mechanical-electrical transducer, and an accumulator for electrical energy storage. The cover includes a flange which extends outwardly away from the tire module and has an underside for attachment to the inner side of the tire, said flange forming the edge of the interior space of the cover. The inner height of the cover may be less than or equal to the height of the tire module measured from the underside to the top side thereof. The flange has an inwardly directed projection which engages beneath the tire module. The underside of the tire module is higher up in the region of the flange projection as compared to a central underside region.
US09844975B2

A method includes storing, in a database, different design templates. Each template includes (i) a print component configured to be printed and (ii) a foil component configured to be foil-stamped. The print component of each design template is associated with inner crop marks and outer crop marks. The foil component of each template is associated with alignment marks that are configured to be aligned with the inner crop marks for the respective template. Both the foil component and the foil alignment marks are embossed on a foil-press die.
US09844970B2

The present invention relates to a method (100) for personalizing a document, said document comprising a support comprising printed patterns (201, 202), wherein said method (100) comprises generating at least a laser pulse on said support for carbonizing at least a printed pattern.
US09844967B1

A Customized Storage Calendar including a backboard, calendar frame, partitions, configured as six rows and seven columns, to define forty-two storage compartments, thirty-one day boxes displaying the day number and positive subject area which are refillable, month box displaying the current month slider which also provides storage for non-current month sliders, horizontal support member, and a week face plate. The reusable Customized Storage Calendar configured as a devotional calendar allows for the creation of a new tradition by establishing a post-dinner ritual by displaying a daily spiritual religious devotional to be read which proceeds with a portion controlled dessert.
US09844964B2

A decoloring apparatus includes an erasing unit configured to generate heat so as to erase an image formed on a sheet with an erasable material, a sheet storing unit to store one or more sheets, each having the image formed thereon with the erasable material, a sheet conveying unit configured to convey the sheets from the sheet storing unit to the erasing unit, a quantity sensor configured to detect a quantity of the sheets stored in the sheet storing unit, and a control unit configured to determine whether or not the detected quantity is greater than a predetermined value, and control the sheet conveying unit to convey the sheets and the erasing unit to generate heat, when the detected quantity is determined to be greater than the predetermined value.
US09844962B2

A disclosed ribbon cartridge includes a first spool housing configured to receive a first spool; a second spool housing configured to receive a second spool; a first frame member extending between the first and second spools; and a second frame member extending between the first spool and the second spool; wherein a printhead assembly opening is defined and bounded by the first spool housing, the second spool housing, the first frame member, and the second frame member, wherein the first frame member defines a first channel adjacent to the printhead assembly opening, wherein the second frame member defines a second channel adjacent to the printhead assembly opening, and wherein the first channel and the second channel each comprise a drive surface, wherein the drive surface is configured to be engaged by a printhead assembly to drive the ribbon cartridge to an installed position within the media processing device.
US09844960B2

The driving order of driving blocks is controlled so that ink landing positions from driving blocks differ from each other in multiple scans. Recording data is generated so that, of pixels where ink is discharged in one scan, the number of pixels adjacent at both sides in the scanning direction to pixels where ink is discharged in another scan is greater than the number of pixels not adjacent at both sides in the scanning direction to pixels where ink is discharged the other scan.
US09844957B2

There is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus including: a platen, a contact portion disposed between a pair of first ribs of the plurality of first ribs with respect to a scanning direction. A lower end of the contact portion is located lower than each upper end of the pair of first ribs. The platen includes a second rib disposed between one first rib of the pair of first ribs and the contact portion with respect to the scanning direction, and an upper end of the second rib is located lower than the upper end of the one first rib of the pair of first ribs and higher than the lower end of the contact portion.
US09844954B2

A document feeder for a printer may include an upper part and/or a lower part. The upper part may include a feeding roller arrangement configured to engage with an upper face of a document. The lower part may include a retaining surface. The lower part may further include a sliding element which, in at least an operation mode of the document feeder, may have a portion that projects with respect to the retaining surface for supporting a lower face of the document in such a way that at least a portion of the document is raised with respect to the retaining surface.
US09844947B2

There is provided a liquid consuming apparatus including: a liquid consuming section; a tank having a liquid storage chamber and an inlet port; a cap; and a casing having a cover movable with respect to the tank between a closed position and an open position. The cover has an inner surface and a projection projected from the inner surface toward the tank. The projection of the cover is provided with a pressing portion facing the outer surface of the cap at a predetermined spacing distance, under a condition that the liquid consuming apparatus is in a normal state in which the cover is in the closed position and that the cap is installed in the inlet port, and the pressing portion abuts firstly against the outer surface, under a condition that the cap is moved in the insertion direction for allowing the cap to be removed from the inlet port.
US09844939B2

A piezoelectric device includes an actuator substrate that includes a plurality of piezoelectric element rows having a plurality of piezoelectric elements, and a wiring substrate that is disposed so as to face the actuator substrate. The piezoelectric element rows include a common electrodes common to the plurality of the piezoelectric elements. The actuator substrate includes a plurality of first common wirings connected to each of the common electrodes of the plurality of the piezoelectric element rows. The wiring substrate includes a plurality of second common wirings connected to each of the first common wirings of the plurality of piezoelectric element rows, and a plurality of auxiliary wirings buried in a groove portion formed in the wiring substrate. The auxiliary wirings are connected to each of the second common wirings, and the plurality of auxiliary wirings are not connected to each other.
US09844938B2

Provided is a liquid ejecting head which includes head bodies aligned in a direction of liquid ejection surface thereof, a flow-path member in which distribution flow path is provided to supply liquid to the head bodies, and flexible wiring substrates connected to the head bodies. The distribution flow path extends in the first direction. In addition, the flexible wiring substrates adjacent in the first direction overlap when viewed from the first direction. The distribution flow path is disposed in an area on one side with respect to the flexible wiring substrates, in a direction perpendicular to the first direction in the liquid ejection surface.
US09844929B2

An automated fastener insert installation system for composite panels is provided. A first module receives and secures a composite panel with respect to an origin of a first coordinate system, wherein the composite panel has opposed major surfaces and defines an insert-receiving orifice extending through one of the major surfaces, and is secured such that one of the major surfaces is externally accessible. A second module engages each of a plurality of fastener inserts with an installation aide. Third module determines a configuration of the orifice defined by the composite panel, selects a corresponding one of the fastener inserts engaged with the installation aide, inserts the selected fastener insert into the orifice, and dispenses an adhesive material through the installation aide and into the orifice about selected fastener insert such that the adhesive material secures the selected fastener insert within the orifice. Associated systems are also provided.
US09844927B2

A multilayer container having a layer configuration of 3 or more layers including, as layered in that order from an inner layer to an outer layer, an oxygen-permeable layer containing an oxygen-permeable resin as the main component thereof, an oxygen-absorbing adhesive layer containing, as the main components thereof, an oxygen-absorbing resin composition containing a deoxidant composition and a thermoplastic resin and an adhesive resin, and a gas-barrier layer containing a gas-barrier resin as the main component thereof, wherein the gas-barrier resin is a polyamide resin including a diamine unit containing a metaxylylenediamine unit in an amount of 70 mol % or more and a dicarboxylic acid unit containing 75 to 96 mol % of an α,ω-linear aliphatic dicarboxylic acid unit having 4 to 20 carbon atoms and 25 to 4 mol % of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid unit, the content of the deoxidant composition in the oxygen-absorbing adhesive layer is 5 to 50% by mass relative to 100% by mass of the material constituting the oxygen-absorbing adhesive layer, the content of the adhesive resin is 20 to 70% by mass relative to 100% by mass of the material constituting the oxygen-absorbing adhesive layer, and the thickness of the oxygen-absorbing adhesive layer is 10 to 30% of the total thickness of the multilayer container.
US09844926B2

There are provided an inorganic film in which the light transmittance is not decreased also when the inorganic film is laminated on organic material such as a resin, and a laminate. An inorganic film 13 which comprises a refractive index gradient film 13a having a refractive index changing continuously from n1 to n2 (n1
US09844924B2

A glass laminate, a display element, a display apparatus, a method of manufacturing the glass laminate, and a method of manufacturing the display panel. The glass laminate includes a carrier glass substrate; an intermediate layer stacked on the carrier glass substrate and formed of a material having a columnar grain structure; and a thin glass substrate stacked on the intermediate layer.
US09844916B2

A solid object manufacturing system comprises: a controlling device, a solid object manufacturing device and a projecting device. The control device generates a solid object model and then divides the model into a plurality of layer images. The control device then adjusts the height of a lifting table of the solid object manufacturing device and controls the projecting device to project one of the layer images on the lifting table synchronously, so as to guide user to form an article by using a printing module of the solid object manufacturing device. The solid object manufacturing system guides user to complete the article by projecting the layer images and adjusting the height of the lifting table.
US09844915B2

Laminate molding equipment includes a molding part with a molding table on which a three-dimensional shape molded object is molded, a powder layer forming part supplying material powder on the molding table to form a powder layer, a light beam radiating part radiating a light beam to the powder layer to form a solidified layer, the powder layer forming part includes powder laminating equipment sequentially forming the powder layer on the molding table by moving along a predetermined direction at the molding table, and a moving position detecting unit detecting a moving position along the predetermined direction at the powder laminating equipment, and the control part recognizes the moldable region by output from the moving position detecting unit, and controls the light beam radiating part, and scans the position of the light beam by adjusting angles of two scan mirrors according to processing data of controlling the scanning device.
US09844890B2

High-pressure fluid jet systems are provided which include a pump to selectively provide a source of high-pressure fluid, a cutting head assembly configured to receive the high-pressure fluid and generate a high-pressure fluid jet for processing workpieces or work surfaces, and a fluid distribution system in fluid communication with the pump and the cutting head assembly to route the high-pressure fluid from the pump to the cutting head assembly. The pump, the cutting head assembly and/or the fluid distribution system include at least one fluid distribution component having a unitary body formed from an additive manufacturing or casting process with an internal passage having at least a curvilinear portion to efficiently route matter through the fluid jet system. Example fluid distribution components include fittings, valve bodies, cutting head bodies and nozzles of the high-pressure fluid jet systems.
US09844889B1

A rotary tool ejection technology utilizing air to eject contents from the dies of a rotary cylinder. The dies include orifices positioned therein. The orifices are assembled with porous material. The orifices are capable of receiving air from an internal chamber and delivering it to the outer surface of a rotary cylinder. Air is supplied to the internal chamber by an internal shaft. The internal shaft contains a channel in fluid communication with outlets extending radially outward from the channel to locations on the outer surface of the shaft. The shaft is optionally assembled with a manifold having a conduit. The conduit is positioned for intermittent alignment with the orifices in the rotary cylinder as the rotary cylinder rotates relative to the manifold.
US09844876B2

Disclosed herein are a robot cleaner having an improved travel pattern and a control method thereof. The robot cleaner performs cleaning using zigzag travel as a basic cleaning traveling manner, and then performs cleaning using random travel as a finishing cleaning traveling manner so as to clean areas skipped during the zigzag travel. The robot cleaner performs the zigzag travel while maintaining a designated interval with a travel route proceeding to a wall regardless of a direction proceeding to the wall, and employs an improved zigzag travel method to maintain a zigzag travel pattern, if the robot cleaner senses an obstacle during the zigzag travel.
US09844873B2

Robotic devices may be trained by a trainer guiding the robot along a target trajectory using physical contact with the robot. The robot may comprise an adaptive controller configured to generate control commands based on one or more of the trainer input, sensory input, and/or performance measure. The trainer may observe task execution by the robot. Responsive to observing a discrepancy between the target behavior and the actual behavior, the trainer may provide a teaching input via a haptic action. The robot may execute the action based on a combination of the internal control signal produced by a learning process of the robot and the training input. The robot may infer the teaching input based on a comparison of a predicted state and actual state of the robot. The robot's learning process may be adjusted in accordance with the teaching input so as to reduce the discrepancy during a subsequent trial.
US09844872B1

Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer readable media are provided for determining: 1) sensor parameters for sensors of a robot and 2) model parameters of a dynamic model of the robot. The sensor parameters and model parameters are determined based on applying, as values for known variables of a system equation of the robot, sensor readings and position values for each of a plurality of instances of a traversal of the robot along a trajectory. The system equation of the robot is a dynamic model for the robot that includes sensor models substituted for one or more corresponding variables of the dynamic model. The system equation includes unknown variables representing unknown sensor biases for the sensors of the robot and unknown model parameters of the dynamic model of the robot. Solutions to the unknown variables are generated and utilized to determine the sensor parameters and the model parameters.
US09844871B2

An accessibility-enhancing joint module may include a housing, a powered motor disposed within the housing, a rotatable receiving member operatively connected to the powered motor, a coupling element configured to attach to the receiving member, and a control board disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the powered motor, wherein the coupling element is disposed external to the housing. An accessibility-enhancing arm assembly may include a first joint module and a second joint module and a tubular arm member attached to the proximal mounting portion of the first joint module and the proximal mounting portion of the second joint module, each joint module including a housing having a body portion and a proximal mounting portion, a powered motor disposed within the housing, and a rotatable receiving member operatively connected to the powered motor. The joint module(s) and/or the arm assembly may be operable by a variety of accessible controls.
US09844843B2

The invention relates to a method for producing multiple metal turbine engine parts, comprising steps consisting in: a) casting a metal alloy in a mold in order to produce a blank (3); and b) machining the blank in order to produce the parts, characterized in that the blank obtained by casting is a solid polyhedron with two generally trapezoidal opposing sides (30a, 30b), and the parts are machined in the blank.
US09844814B2

A tip (20) for a rotary machine tool comprising a superhard structure (12) joined to a cemented carbide substrate 14 by means of at least one intermediate layer (161, 62, 163) disposed between the superhard structure (12) and the cemented carbide substrate (14), the intermediate layer or layers (161, 162, 163) comprising grains of superhard material and grains of a metal carbide material dispersed in a metal binder material.
US09844812B2

A process for producing a crack-free and dense three-dimensional article of a gamma-prime precipitation-strengthened nickel-base superalloy, with more than 6 wt. % of [2 Al (wt. %)+Ti (wt. %)], which involves: (a) preparing a powder layer of a gamma-prime precipitation-strengthened nickel-based alloy material, with uniform thickness on a SLM apparatus substrate plate, or on a previously processed powder layer; (b) melting the prepared powder layer by scanning with a focused laser beam an article cross section area according to a three-dimensional sliced model with calculated cross sections, stored in the SLM control unit; (c) lowering the substrate plate by one layer thickness; and (d) repeating (a) to (c) until reaching a final cross section according to the three-dimensional sliced model, wherein, for (b), the laser power, focus diameter of the focal spot, and scan speed of the focused laser beam are adjusted to obtain heat dissipation welding.
US09844799B2

A coating method is disclosed including disposing a coating composition into a fluidly communicating space defined by an internal surface of an article. The fluidly communicating space includes at least one aperture, which is sealed, forming an enclosed space. The internal surface and the coating composition are heated under autogenous pressure, coating the internal surface with the coating composition. The at least one aperture is unsealed, re-forming the fluidly communicating space. Another coating method is disclosed in which the coating composition is disposed into a reservoir which is connected in fluid communication with the enclosed space prior to heating under autogenous pressure, coating the internal surface with the coating composition. Yet another coating method is disclosed in which the coating composition and the article are disposed in a vessel, which is sealed, forming the enclosed space prior to heating under autogenous pressure, coating the internal surface with the coating composition.
US09844798B2

A drying system for drying a coating applied to an article of manufacture. The drying system includes an enclosable booth having an interior for housing the article of manufacture. The system also includes an air source for blowing air into the booth, means for raising the temperature of the air before entry into the booth, means for lowering the temperature of the air before entry into the booth, means for raising the humidity of the air before entry into the booth, and means for lowering the humidity of the air before entry into the booth. In one embodiment there is included at least one distribution cone which includes a conical member having a plurality of openings formed along the axis thereof. The cones emit air across an article of manufacture within the booth.
US09844796B2

The present invention is directed to a plunger, a plunger assembly, and a system for storing a substance or substances, preferably flowable substances, and a method of filling and sealing a substance in a storing system. In particular, the present invention provides for substantially air-free filling and storing of substances in a delivery system.
US09844794B2

A substrate plating apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a substrate holder; a plating bath configured to plate a surface of the substrate in a plating solution; a cleaning bath configured to clean the substrate holder and the substrate with a cleaning liquid; an inner shell disposed in the cleaning bath and configured to house the substrate holder holding the substrate therein; and a cleaning liquid supply conduit configured to supply a cleaning liquid into the inner shell to clean the substrate, together with the substrate holder, with the cleaning liquid. The inner shell has an inner surface having an uneven configuration that follows an uneven exterior configuration of the substrate holder holding the substrate.
US09844793B2

An atomizer for coating, for example automobile bodies, add-on parts and/or truck cabs is provided. The atomizer may be configured to apply one multi-component coating agent and one single-component coating agent from one application element, or to apply two different multi-component coating agents from one application element.
US09844792B2

The invention concerns a handheld, dynamically movable surface spattering device, comprising at least one nozzle means for an expelling of a spattering material onto a target surface and a nozzle control mechanism to control characteristics of the expelling of the nozzle means. Furthermore, it comprises a spattering material supply, a storage with desired spattering data, which is predefined and comprised in a digital image or CAD-model memorized on the storage, a spatial referencing unit, to reference the spattering device relative to the target surface and a computation means to automatically control the expelling by the nozzle control mechanism according to information gained by the spatial referencing unit and according to the desired spattering data is evaluated and adjusted by changing the characteristics of expelling of the nozzle means in such a way that the target surface is spattered according to the desired spattering data.
US09844791B2

A micronozzle device can include at least one layer having a plurality of nozzle exits for delivering a mixture of a first fluid and a second fluid, at least one first-fluid header layer having a plurality of first microchannels for receiving the first fluid, at least one first-fluid via layer adjacent the at least one first-fluid header layer to receive the first fluid and direct it to respective ones of the plurality of nozzle exits, at least one second-fluid header layer having a plurality of second microchannels for receiving the second fluid, at least one second-fluid via layer adjacent the at least one second-fluid header layer to receive the second fluid and direct it respective ones of the plurality of nozzle exits, and a plurality of first curtain-gas nozzles located at a first side of the micronozzle device and a plurality of second curtain-gas nozzles located at a second side of the micronozzle device.
US09844790B2

A wear part includes at least one wear component made from abrasion-resistant material and an upper seal groove around a central aperture on the upper face of the wear part. The upper seal groove is adapted to receive an axially compressible seal. A spray nozzle assembly includes at least one wear part made from a hard and abrasion-resistant material and a protective housing made from a strong and resilient material and having a downstream chamber adapted to receive one or more of the wear parts in releasably trapped relationship, the downstream chamber having a wall including a post defined by a slot in the downstream chamber wall either side of the post, the post including an inwardly extending protuberance at or near its end and adapted to prevent the wear part from escaping from the downstream chamber.
US09844783B2

Disclosed are grain crushing apparatuses and processes for processing grain. In one embodiment, a grain crushing apparatus includes a first and second sidewall spaced apart from one another a throat dimension in a first direction, and a first and second support shaft positioned transverse to the first and sidewall. The grain crushing apparatus also includes a first and second grain crushing roller. The grain crushing rollers are intermeshed with one another and maintained at positions spaced apart from one another such that they overlap by a distance less than the tooth height. The process is a method for the grown and harvested grain to be shelled, cleaned, stored and then incrementally or iteratively crushed by the shown apparatus or an equal type such that the crushed grain of various sizes may be separated by a sieve and remain as crushed grain with the germ protected uncut, unruptured and intact.
US09844781B2

Covers for microwells, the covers comprising open portions to allow a pipette access to one or more wells and impermeable portions which prevent the liquids from getting into wells shielded by the impermeable portion. The open portions and impermeable portions are preferably arranged and sized to align with alternating rows of wells in a particular microplate. Preferred covers are movably positioned on the microplate and comprise alignment adjusting members for adjusting the alignment of the cover with a microplate. Automated dispensing apparatus for use with microplates and microwell covers comprises a programmable controller, and suitable interfaces which allow the apparatus to be programmed, and which control a dispensing head such that pipettes are moved in the desired manner in order to take advantage of the protective features of the microwell covers. The apparatus also preferably comprises at least one transfer mechanism for moving a cover relative to a microplate at a dispensing station.
US09844771B2

To provide a hydrocarbon reforming/trapping material which is capable of adsorbing and reforming a hydrocarbon. A hydrocarbon reforming/trapping material of the present invention has an SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of from 7 to 12, and contains an Fe(II)-substituted beta zeolite which is ion-exchanged by Fe(II) ions. The amount of supported Fe(II) is preferably 0.001-0.5 mmol/g with respect to the Fe(II)-substituted beta zeolite. This Fe(II)-substituted beta zeolite is suitably produced by dispersing and mixing a beta zeolite having an SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of from 7 to 12 in an aqueous solution of a water-soluble compound of divalent iron, and mixing and stirring the solution, so that Fe(II) ions are supported on the beta zeolite.
US09844765B2

A hydrogen generator, a fuel pellet assembly for use in the hydrogen generator and a fuel cell system are disclosed. The hydrogen generator includes a housing having a lid pivotally connected to a base and a strip having a plurality of heaters on one side and a second plurality of heaters on the opposite side. A first cartridge is disposed on one side of the strip and a second cartridge is disposed on the opposite side. Each of the first and second cartridges has a plurality of fuel pellets, each including a hydrogen-containing material that will release hydrogen gas when heated. The heaters are selectively activated to heat one or more fuel pellets to initiate the release of hydrogen gas.
US09844759B2

A polymer composition containing a polymer (B) obtained by polymerizing a monomer composition containing: a methacrylic acid ester macromonomer (b1) represented by the following formula (1); and another monomer (b2). Also, a porous membrane formed from a membrane forming polymer (A) and the aforementioned polymer composition.
US09844742B2

The present invention relates to a device for liquid degassing by means of swirling or centrifugal force coupled with a pressure gradient. This device comprises a cavity. The cavity is furnished with an inlet for liquid-gas mixture, a gas outlet and a liquid outlet. The gas outlet is inserted into the cavity through the top end of the cavity and positioned around 0.1-3 times the maximum diameter of the cavity from the top of the cavity. Specifically, an overflow pipe with the diameter gradually increasing from the bottom to the top was used as the gas outlet. The overflow pipe is further furnished with a bell mouth at the bottom part.
US09844734B2

The shooting toy (1) includes a shooter (5) and a projectile (4) to be ejected from the shooter. A trigger element (6) is movably mounted in a shooter body (7) and has a pusher part (10) adapted to push the projectile (4) away from its loaded position. The shooter (5) is adapted to eject the projectile (4) along a centre axis of a cylindrical surface of the projectile (4). A pinching element (8) is adapted to prevent ejection in said direction of the projectile (4) in its loaded position in the shooter body (7) by means of frictional force acting between a pinching surface of the pinching element (8) and the cylindrical surface of the projectile (4). The pinching surface is adapted to guide the cylindrical surface of the projectile (4) in the ejection direction.
US09844725B1

Functionality is disclosed herein for changing a user experience using application events. Events that occur while an application is executing are provided to an application service. The events may be stored on the computing device executing the application before the events are provided to the application service. The application service uses the events to generate a plan that includes data identifying one or more actions for the application to perform. The events used to generate the plan may include events received from other users who also interact with the application. The plan is used by an application to select one or more actions to perform to move the user interacting with the application closer to a goal state. The plan may be periodically updated.
US09844722B2

A game system includes a game device used by first and second users and a controller. The game device includes: an association section associating the controller with the first user using the controller; a first process executing section executing a process of a general-purpose function in accordance with first operating information acquired from the controller when the general-purpose function, not associated with the users, executes; and a second process executing section executing a process of a first user function in accordance with second operating information acquired from the controller when the first user function, associated with the first user, executes. The controller includes: first and second operating members associated with the first and second operating information, respectively; an operation receiving section receiving an operation on the operating member; and an operating information outputting section outputting the operating information associated with the operation on operating member to the game device.
US09844721B2

A games table features a unique corner assembly in which upper and lower corner members respectively embrace about upper and lower edges of an elongated perimeter frame member of the table and are clamped together to secure the frame member in place. Matable male and female features on the corner assemblies also enable stacking of two table top units to enable convenient switching of a games table between two modes of game play.
US09844716B2

An adjustable golf club putter head is disclosed herein. The putter head includes a removable alignment feature that can be swapped with a different alignment feature to change the alignment pattern, and a removable divider piece that contrasts with the alignment feature and can be swapped with different divider pieces to affect the cosmetics of the putter head and also adjust the putter head's mass properties.
US09844705B2

A method for manufacturing a sports ball comprises cutting outer panels and inner padding cut-outs from three different sheet materials. The internal padding layer materials have perforations and are geometrically similar in shape, but smaller than the outer panel cut-outs. A layer of heat-reactive adhesive that expands upon heating is applied in the machine-stitched seam areas before the panels are stitched together. The padding layer is glued to the inside-out ball cover before the cover is turned right-side out. A reinforced bladder is inserted into the cover. The remaining seams are stitched shut utilizing one of various different methods, and then the ball is molded in a heat and pressure mold that causes the seams to be welded as well as stitched, due to the expansion of the heat-reactive adhesive to cover the stitching in the seams. Enhanced performance characteristics of the resulting ball arise from the air spring aspects provided by the combined features.
US09844699B2

Methods and systems are presented for accepting inputs into a treadmill or other exercise equipment to control functions of the treadmill or exercise equipment. An exercise control system can receive gestures and other inputs. The exercise control system can also obtain information about the user of the exercise control system and information about the environment in which the exercise equipment is operating. Based on the input and the other information, the exercise control system can modify or improve the performance or execution of user interface and functions of the exercise equipment. The changes make the user interfaces and/or functions user-friendly and intuitive.
US09844698B2

Articles of clothing or pieces of athletic equipment include modules, e.g., for sensing physical and/or physiological characteristics associated with use of the clothing or athletic equipment or for performing other functions. Such systems and methods may use physical or other interaction(s) between the module and the article of clothing or piece of athletic equipment for activating and/or deactivating the module and/or sensing devices included with the module, for confirming whether the module and clothing or piece of athletic equipment are authorized for use with one another, and/or for automatic data algorithm selection methods. Additionally, such systems and methods also may use the activation and/or authentication systems for data input to the module. Some examples of such systems and methods may utilize magnets and magnetic sensing systems and/or light (or other radiation) sources and sensing systems for activation, authentication, data input, and/or algorithm selection.
US09844695B1

The present invention is new in the art as a multi-configuration upgradable fitness device, which can be configured with none, one or more handle(s) attached around a 0-degree to 360-degree rotational position about a central axis as a best mode and configured for operation into (5) fitness devices not limited to; 1) an exercise ball (no handles), 2) kettle bell (1 handle), 3) medicine ball (2 handles opposite), 4) kettle bell-2 (2 handles near each other) and 5) dumbbell (1 handle to a side), and can be upgraded from 2.5 pounds of weights to 10 pounds and up to 50 pounds in increments of 2.5 pounds from (1) to (20) weights to enable 100 or more configurations of fitness equipment as a best mode that enables over one-hundred fitness exercises with this single device as detailed in the entire disclosure.
US09844685B2

A radiotherapy equipment control device acquires reference position information for a specific location at a reference time. Furthermore, representative point reference position information is generated from reference position information for a plurality of markers at the reference time, and relative position information up to the reference position information for the specific location is generated. Moreover, representative point position information at another time is generated from the position information for a plurality of markers in a subject at the other time, which differs from the reference time. In addition, position information for the specific location at the other time is generated from the representative point position information and the relative position information. In this case, representative point reference position information and representative position information are generated on the basis of the position information and reference position information for the plurality of markers, said information having been weighted by weighting factors.
US09844678B2

Methods and devices providing multiple criteria for use in arrhythmia identification. Based on inputs including defined rules or parameters, one of a more conservative or more aggressive set of arrhythmia identification parameters can be selected. One or the other of the selectable sets of arrhythmia identification parameters may also be adaptive or modifiable during the use of the system, for example, in response to identified nonsustained episodes, the more conservative set of arrhythmia identification parameters can be modified to become still more conservative. Such modification of arrhythmia identification criteria allows reduced time to therapy when indicated, while allowing more deliberate decisions in other circumstances.
US09844676B2

Techniques for facilitating communication between an implantable device and an external device are provided. In one example, an implantable device includes a data packet component and a communication component. The data packet component can insert information associated with the implantable device in a defined service field of an advertising data packet. The defined service field can be selected from one or more service fields of the advertising data packet based on the information associated with the implantable device. The communication component can transmit the advertising data packet. The external device can include a scanning component that can scan one or more service fields of the advertising data packet via an advertising communication channel, and a communication component that can establish a communication link with the implantable device in response to a determination that a criterion associated with a service field is satisfied.
US09844672B2

A medical stimulation device such as a cochlear implant configured to provide stimulation of one or more spatially-restricted contiguous portion(s) of the spiral array of auditory nerve fibers in the cochlear (“discrete stimulation regions”). Each discrete stimulation region is defined by the constructive and/or destructive interference of stimulating and limiting signals simultaneously applied to electrode channels of an implanted electrode array, the stimulating and limiting signals being determined based upon transimpedance measurements of intracochlear electrode channels of the implanted electrode array representing specific spread functions of an individual recipient.
US09844669B2

Iontophoretically administering a cosmetic agent requires an active electrode and a return electrode secured to the skin (150). The active electrode includes a flexible biocompatible substrate (20, 170) having a therapeutic face (106, 206) configured for disposition toward the skin (150) and an exterior periphery (32, 182) shaped to facilitate conformance of the substrate (20, 170) to the skin (150) over an intended treatment region. A flexible electrically conductive layer (110, 210) is disposed on the therapeutic face (106, 206). The side of the conductive layer (110, 210) opposite from the substrate (20, 170) defines a driving face (120, 220) to which is affixed an electrically conductive adhesive matrix (82, 192) comprised of a material capable of repeatedly releasably securing the active electrode to the skin (150) through an applied solution (156, 158) of the cosmetic agent. A power source (76, 186) electrically connectable to the return electrode and to the conductive layer (110, 210) of the active electrode causes migration of the cosmetic agent away from the adhesive matrix (82, 192) into the skin (150).
US09844663B2

A device for positioning an electrode in tissue includes: a lead body having a distal portion; an electrode array coupled to the lead distal portion; an anchoring element having an anchor tip and being operable in a first configuration in which the anchor tip is retracted within the lead and in a second configuration in which the anchor tip is extended outside the lead and configured to fixate within the tissue; and a displacement mechanism that is actuated to bias the electrode array or the anchoring element toward the tissue. A method for positioning an electrode in tissue includes: navigating, to the tissue, a lead with an electrode array, an anchoring element with a distal anchor tip, and a displacement mechanism; biasing the electrode array and anchoring element towards the tissue with the displacement mechanism; and deploying the anchoring element, and verifying fixation of the anchor tip within the tissue.
US09844662B2

A system for use in stimulating bone growth, tissue healing, and/or pain control is described. The system includes a screw, a battery, a controller, and means for connecting the battery such that current is routed from the battery through the screw and thence to a target area of interest requiring treatment. The screw includes an elongate shaft having a length extending between opposite ends. The shaft has an insulating coating extending along at least a portion of the length. The thickness of the insulating coating at various portions of the shaft is modulated to optimally direct current to a target area of interest requiring treatment. The controller adjusts the duty cycle of the current flow over the treatment period.
US09844661B2

In one embodiment, a neurostimulation lead for stimulating neural tissue of a patient, comprises: a lead body of insulative material; a plurality of electrodes; a plurality of terminals; a plurality of conductors, wherein the plurality of electrodes are electrically coupled to the plurality of terminals through the plurality of conductors; wherein the plurality of conductors are disposed in a helical manner in a repeating pattern of groups of conductors separated by gaps along a substantial length of the lead body, each gap being larger than an inter-conductor pitch within the groups of conductors; wherein the insulative material is a compliant material permitting elongation of the lead at low stretching forces and the insulative material of the lead body is fused through a substantial volume of the lead body and along a substantial length of the lead body.
US09844658B2

Technologies and implementations for a defibrillator electrode having communicative capabilities are generally disclosed.
US09844657B2

The invention provides articles of manufacture comprising biocompatible nanostructures comprising nanotubes and nanopores for, e.g., organ, tissue and/or cell growth, e.g., for bone, kidney or liver growth, and uses thereof, e.g., for in vitro testing, in vivo implants, including their use in making and using artificial organs, and related therapeutics. The invention provides lock-in nanostructures comprising a plurality of nanopores or nanotubes, wherein the nanopore or nanotube entrance has a smaller diameter or size than the rest (the interior) of the nanopore or nanotube. The invention also provides dual structured biomaterial comprising micro- or macro-pores and nanopores. The invention provides biomaterials having a surface comprising a plurality of enlarged diameter nanopores and/or nanotubes.
US09844655B2

Embodiments of the invention provide swallowable devices, preparations and methods for delivering drugs and other therapeutic agents within the GI tract. Many embodiments provide a swallowable device for delivering the agents. Particular embodiments provide a swallowable device such as a capsule for delivering drugs into the intestinal wall or other GI lumen. Embodiments also provide various drug preparations that are configured to be contained within the capsule, advanced from the capsule into the intestinal wall and degrade to release the drug into the bloodstream to produce a therapeutic effect. The preparation can be operably coupled to delivery means having a first configuration where the preparation is contained in the capsule and a second configuration where the preparation is advanced out of the capsule into the intestinal wall. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for the delivery of drugs which are poorly absorbed, tolerated and/or degraded within the GI tract.
US09844647B2

A spring clip needle tip shielding device for arrangement in a catheter hub of an intravenous catheter assembly is provided. The spring clip needle tip shielding device comprises a base plate with a hole extending therethrough and at least one resilient arm extending at an attachment point at said base plate. The at least one resilient arm has a resting state, from which it may be urged to yield free passage through said hole in an axial direction of said base plate in a tension state, said at least one resilient arm being adapted for clamping a needle tip of a needle extending through said hole when said resilient arm is in said resting state. Any straight imaginary line extending longitudinally through said hole in the axial direction of said base plate coincides with said at least one resilient arm when said resilient arm is in said resting state of said body. The spring clip needle tip shielding device is of a rigid material, and at least a part thereof is coated with a solid lubricant. A catheter assembly including such shielding device is also provided.
US09844642B2

A microcatheter system is disclosed which may include a microcatheter, one or more microcatheter extensions, and/or a microcatheter hub. In an embodiment, the microcatheter has a plurality of zones where the outside diameter of each zone from the distal to the proximal end has an outside diameter that is the same as or greater than the previous zone while the inside diameter is constant throughout the microcatheter length. In a further embodiment, a unique joining mechanism is employed for coupling a microcatheter to a microcatheter extension or to a microcatheter hub.
US09844641B2

A method for performing a medical procedure in an intestine of a patient is provided. The method comprises providing a system comprising: a catheter for insertion into the intestine, the catheter comprising: an elongate shaft comprising a distal portion; and a functional assembly positioned on the shaft distal portion and comprising at least one treatment element. The catheter is introduced into the patient, and target tissue is treated with the at least one treatment element. The target tissue comprises mucosal tissue of the small intestine, and the medical procedure can be configured to treat polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
US09844637B2

A signaling apparatus for an anesthesia machine, the signaling apparatus comprising an user input sub-module for receiving input information from an user, an available gas sub-module for signaling types of currently available gases according to information of the user input sub-module, and an available gas outlet sub-module for signaling currently available gas outlets according to information of the user input sub-module.
US09844636B2

A pressure support device such as a CPAP machine, is provided, which includes a housing, and a controller enclosed by the housing. The controller operates the CPAP machine independently or in combination with an accessory such as, for example and without limitation, a humidifier. A user interface is operably coupled to the controller and includes a primary display, a secondary display and a single control. The single control is operable in a first mode of operation to adjust operating parameters of the CPAP machine, and in a second mode of operation to adjust operating parameters of the humidifier. The secondary display preferably comprises a dead front, which is operational (e.g., without limitation, visible) only in the second mode of operation. A method of operating a pressure support device is also disclosed.
US09844635B2

An infusion set has a retraction dial that can be removably assembled with the infusion set and access a threaded needle hub contained therein such that the dial can be used to advance or retract a needle hub and an inserted needle to a more precisely controlled insertion depth to deliver insulin or other medicament intradermally (i.e. to the upper 3 mm of skin surface). Position of the inserted needle can be maintained by providing a separated and isolated needle hub, main base and main hub of the infusion set that can isolate the inserted needle from external forces such that the needle can be maintained at a depth to deliver content to the upper 3 mm of skin surface during normal use.
US09844634B2

An automatic needle device comprises a body into which a needle assembly and needle are mounted. The device also includes a needle guard to cover the needle until it is used and to lock over the needle after use so the needle is not re-exposed. The locking is accomplished with a coil spring action locking device. A container for holding the automatic needle device also facilitates the viewing of the distal end of the needle prior to use on a patient.
US09844627B2

Some embodiments an infusion pump system can be configured to modify alarm limit parameters as the user's insulin load increases or decreases. Moreover, in particular embodiments, the infusion pump system can be configured to provide a “missed bolus” or “missed meal” alarm in response to the user's blood glucose characteristics, the user's insulin load information, or the like.
US09844622B2

A syringe for use with a medical injector system includes a barrel and a semi-rigid hub, the hub having an outer surface adapted to slidingly move within the barrel, and an inner surface having a continous circumferential wall. The hub further includes an annular engaging portion recessed within at least part of the continous circumferential wall forming a groove, at least one radially extendable and retractable retention member disposed at partially within a proximal cylindrical portion of the hub, and the elastometric seal engaged with a seal engaging portion on the hub and slidingly engaged with the barrel of the syringe. The semi-rigid hub and the elastomeric seal are reciprocally slidable within the barrel, and the at least one radially entendable and retractable retention member is configured to releasably engage the groove upon retraction of the plunger to permit the semi-rigid hub to be selectively withdrawn within the barrel.
US09844621B2

A separation material includes a matrix that is bound to a saccharide, enabling the separation from a liquid of substances that selectively bind the saccharide. A method for preparing the separation material and a method for separating substances from a liquid that selectively bind a saccharide of the separation material are also described. A device employs the separation material for separating from a liquid substances that selectively bind to the saccharide of the separation material.
US09844618B2

Apparatus and methods for providing extracorporeal blood circulation and oxygenation control include seven-stage de-airing of blood to provide automated cardiopulmonary replacement to sustain patient life during a medical procedure comprising repairing or replacing the heart valve in a patient.
US09844617B2

Various “contactless” bearing mechanisms including hydrodynamic and magnetic bearings are provided for a rotary pump as alternatives to mechanical contact bearings. In one embodiment, a pump apparatus includes a pump housing defining a pumping chamber. The housing has a spindle extending into the pumping chamber. A spindle magnet assembly includes first and second magnets disposed within the spindle. The first and second magnets are arranged proximate each other with their respective magnetic vectors opposing each other. The lack of mechanical contact bearings enables longer life pump operation and less damage to working fluids such as blood.
US09844612B2

Methods of treating with a biodegradable polymeric stent made from poly(L-lactide) and a low concentration of L-lactide monomer is disclosed. The concentration of L-lactide is adjusted to provide a degradation behavior that is suitable for different treatment applications including coronary, peripheral, and nasal.
US09844608B2

A solution in which an ultraviolet radiation source is mounted on a flexible substrate is provided. The flexible substrate is capable of having a deformation curvature of at least 0.1 inverse meters. The flexible substrate may be incorporated within an existing enclosure or included in the enclosure. The flexible substrate can be utilized as part of a solution for disinfecting one or more items located within the enclosure. In this case, while the items are within the enclosure, ultraviolet radiation is generated and directed at the items. Wiring for the ultraviolet radiation source can be embedded within the flexible substrate and the flexible substrate can have at least one of: a wave-guiding structure, an ultraviolet absorbing surface, or an ultraviolet reflective surface. A control system can be utilized to manage generation of the ultraviolet radiation within the enclosure.
US09844605B2

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for high content drug screening in Caenorhabditis elegans which may be used to identify compounds that treat disorders associated with protein aggregation. It is based, at least in part, on the discovery that Caenorhabditis elegans, genetically modified to create a model system for disorders of protein aggregation, could be used, in a high throughput screening system, to identify agents that reduce the amount of aggregated protein.
US09844594B2

The invention provides stable liquid formulations for a recombinant biopharmaceutical protein comprising a fully human anti-TNF monoclonal antibody.
US09844593B2

Compositions comprising compounds that neutralize NK cell inhibitory receptors and methods of using such compositions in the treatment of hematological malignancies are provided.
US09844592B2

The disclosure features vaccine adjuvants comprising prokaryotic mRNA, and methods of vaccination using the adjuvants. More specifically, the disclosure provides a vaccine composition comprising a nonviable immunogen (e.g., heat-killed bacterium), a tumor antigen, or an immunogenic peptide of microbial or mammalian origin, and an adjuvant, wherein adjuvant comprises prokaryotic mRNA (e.g., bacterial mRNA), as well as the methods of using the vaccine compositions. Further disclosed are the structural features of the prokaryotic mRNA used as the adjuvants.
US09844590B2

The present invention relates, in general, to an immunogenic composition (e.g., a vaccine) and, in particular, to a polyvalent immunogenic composition, such as a polyvalent HIV vaccine, and to methods of using same. The invention further relates to methods that use a genetic algorithm to create sets of polyvalent antigens suitable for use, for example, in vaccination strategies.
US09844582B2

The present invention relates to methods of treating cancer with a combination of extended-PK IL-2 and one or more therapeutic agents, such as a therapeutic antibody. The methods of the invention are applicable across any type of cancer.
US09844571B2

The present invention relates to a method of treating a subject having a disorder comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a stem/progenitor cell isolated from the amniotic membrane of the umbilical cord or an effective amount of a cellular extract thereof.
US09844570B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel medical application for use in regenerative medicine that uses pluripotent stem cells (Muse cells). The present invention provides a cell preparation for treating myocardial infarction, and particularly serious massive myocardial infarction and heart failure associated therewith, that contains pluripotent stem cells positive for SSEA-3 isolated from biological mesenchymal tissue or cultured mesenchymal cells. The cell preparation of the present invention is based on a cardiac tissue regeneration mechanism by which Muse cells are made to selectively accumulate in damaged myocardial tissue and differentiate into cardiac muscle in that tissue as a result of intravenous administration of Muse cells to a subject presenting with the aforementioned disorders.
US09844568B2

The invention provides porous carbon particles for use in the treatment or prevention of liver disease, wherein at least 20% of the total pore volume is made up of pores having a mean diameter of from 2 to 200 nm and/or wherein the particles comprise micropores of diameter 2 nm or less and small macropores of diameter 50 nm to 500 nm, but substantially no mesopores of diameter greater than 2 nm and less than 50 nm, and substantially no large macropores of diameter greater than 500 nm.
US09844562B2

The present invention concerns nanoparticles functionalized with duplex RNA for a variety of uses, including but not limited to gene regulation. More specifically, the disclosure provides a new strategy for conjugating RNA to a nanoparticle to achieve increased stability and activity.
US09844554B2

Provided herein are methods, compounds, compositions, and kits for the treatment of an enteric nervous system disorder. Such methods may comprise administering to a subject an effective amount of a phenothiazine compound, a peripherally restricted dopamine decarboxylase inhibitor, and/or a peripherally restricted dopamine D2 receptor antagonist that does not substantially inhibit hERG channels.
US09844543B2

The present invention provides a method of treating or preventing hyperlipidemia in a subject in need thereof. Such method includes, specifically, administrating to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a caffeamide derivative. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition containing, primarily, the caffeamide derivative. The method and pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can effectively and significantly lower the high-fat diet-induced body weight gain and absolute visceral fat weight as well as the concentration of triglycerides and free fatty acids in blood, and levels of total lipid and triacylglycerol in liver tissue. In addition, the caffeamide of the present invention also reduces size of adipocyte, hepatocellular ballooning phenomenon, and liver steatosis. Through promotion of phosphorylation of 5′ adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in muscle and liver, the caffeamide derivatives of the present invention is suitable for ameliorating or remedying hyperlipidemia.
US09844536B2

Azaindazole compounds for treating various diseases and pathologies are disclosed. More particularly, the present invention concerns the use of an azaindazole compound or analogs thereof, in the treatment of disorders characterized by the activation of Wnt pathway signaling (e.g., cancer, abnormal cellular proliferation, angiogenesis, fibrotic disorders, bone or cartilage diseases, and osteoarthritis), the modulation of cellular events mediated by Wnt pathway signaling, as well as genetic diseases and neurological conditions/disorders/diseases due to mutations or dysregulation of the Wnt pathway and/or of one or more of Wnt signaling components. Also provided are methods for treating Wnt-related disease states.
US09844535B2

Methods are disclosed herein for administering a oncogenic Src homology-2 domain containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-2 (SHP2) inhibitor for treating autoimmune and/or glomerulonephritis-associated diseases, and in particular, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).
US09844534B2

The invention is directed to compounds that are specific inhibitors of PKC delta, and methods and compositions for the treatment and prevention of cancers and other disorders. Compositions comprising compounds of the invention are used to treat cancers such as, for example, carcinoid and neuroendocrine tumors, malignant melanomas, pancreatic, gastrointestinal and lung cancers. Neuroendocrine tumor cell lines of pulmonary and gastrointestinal origin are surprisingly sensitive to PKC delta inhibition by the compounds of the invention. The invention is further directed to methods, compositions and kits containing compounds of the formulas (Ia), (IIa), (IIIa), (IVa), and (V) as disclosed and described in FIGS. 11 and 12.
US09844530B1

This invention generally relates to methods of treatment of glaucoma and symptomatic relief of conjunctival inflammation. An ophthalmic solution comprising cannabinoids for the treatment of glaucoma and an ophthalmic solution comprising cannabinoids for these purposes are disclosed. Cannabinoids are selected to achieve the specific purpose of the respective ophthalmic solution.
US09844528B2

This invention is directed to substituted acylanilide compounds and uses thereof in treating muscular dystrophies such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Becker muscular dystrophy and in improving or preserving lung function and cardiac function in a subject suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
US09844508B2

The invention provides a tumor vaccine and method for producing the same. The tumor vaccine comprises cell vesicles derived from apoptotic tumor cells and an adjuvant. The invention further provides a preparation method of the tumor vaccine, comprising the steps of using the UV to irradiate the tumor cells to induce apoptosis, and collecting the cell vesicles released from the apoptotic tumor cells and then mixing the cell vesicles with the adjuvant to form the tumor vaccine. The tumor vaccine provided by the invention contains a broad and comprehensive tumor antigen spectrum, the defect that the existing tumor vaccine cannot have the killing capacity against the broad tumor cells can be overcome, and at the same time the tumor vaccine has good use safety and immune targeting property.
US09844506B2

The present invention generally relates to compositions and methods for topical or transdermal delivery, e.g., for affecting mood states. In some cases, the composition may include nitric oxide and/or peptides. The nitric oxide and/or peptide may be present within a first phase comprising a lecithin, such as phosphatidylcholine. In certain embodiments, the lecithin is present in liposomes, micelles, or other vesicles containing nitric oxide, peptides, or both. The composition can take the form of a gel, a cream, a lotion, an ointment, a solution, a solid “stick,” etc., that can be rubbed or sprayed onto the skin. Other aspects of the present invention are generally directed to methods of making or using such compositions, methods of promoting such compositions, kits including such compositions, or the like.
US09844499B2

A solid composition comprising: (a) an aminosilicone polymer, wherein the aminosilicone polymer comprises amino sidechains, and wherein the aminosilicone polymer has a weight average molecular weight of from 10,000 Dalton to 60,000 Dalton; (b) a silicone resin; (c) an ether of a water-soluble polyhydric alcohol; (d) one or more pigments or one or more colored materials; (e) a thickening system comprising: a deposition enhancer, wherein the deposition enhancer is a hydrophilic and non-ionic polymer, and wherein the deposition enhancer has a weight average molecular weight of from 700,000 Dalton to 3,000,000 Dalton; and a thickening polymer, wherein the thickening polymer has a weight average molecular weight of at least 10,000 Dalton, and wherein the thickening polymer is a cationic thickening polymer or is a non-ionic thickening polymer. Also associated methods, kits and uses.
US09844494B2

Provided is a polymerizable composition hardly having oxygen inhibition layer by polymerization under an oxygen environment, including a first paste including (a) a (meth)acrylate compound, (b) at least one of an aromatic sulfinic acid and a salt thereof, and (c) an acidic compound; and a second paste including (a) a (meth)acrylate compound, (d) an organic metal compound, and (e) an organic halogen compound, wherein at least either one of the first paste and the second paste includes (f) a filler.
US09844489B2

A childproof and senior friendly packaging container having a housing defining a chamber for removably receiving a blister card or sheet. The blister card includes a blister or node on its end to engage a pair of slots within the housing sleeve to retain the blister card in a stored position and an extended position. The node may include a sloped rear surface to allow the blister card to be returned to a stored position. Squeezing the sides of the housing about the interior slot biases both the top panel of the housing and the panels defining the slot to release the node from the slot to allow the blister card to be withdrawn. A removable display panel may be attached to the packaging container to facilitate placement of the container in point of purchase displays while not interfering with the ability of consumers to access the contents. A cover with a tuck flap may be used to selectively cover the open end of the packaging container.
US09844477B2

The present disclosure generally relates to absorbent products and methods for manufacturing the same. An absorbent product comprises a backsheet having a first lateral end edge, a second lateral end edge, a first longitudinal side edge, and a second longitudinal side edge. The absorbent product further comprises a first longitudinal line of weakness laterally inboard of the first longitudinal side edge, a second longitudinal line of weakness laterally inboard of the second longitudinal side edge, a first lateral line of weakness longitudinally inboard of the first lateral end edge, and a second lateral line of weakness longitudinally inboard of the second lateral end edge. The absorbent product also comprises a topsheet connected with the backsheet, an absorbent article, the absorbent article having an outer perimeter defined by the first and second longitudinal lines of weakness and the first and second lateral lines of weakness, and a removable trim region.
US09844471B2

A vacuum bandage is provided for use with a wound having a wound surface. The bandage is connectable to a vacuum source and includes a wound dressing member having a wound contacting surface, a top surface, and a port configured for communication with the vacuum source. The wound dressing member further includes holes in the wound contacting surface configured for communication with the wound surface of the wound and a passageway between the port and each hole. The vacuum bandage further includes a pack adjacent to the top surface of the member. The pack may include an aperture positioned about the port.
US09844460B2

A treatment system for cooling subcutaneous lipid-rich cells in a human subject includes an applicator and a control unit. The treatment system has a cooling mode for cooling tissue and a heating mode for warming tissue. The control unit includes a circulation circuit in fluid communication with the applicator, a chiller apparatus configured to chill fluid from the applicator circulation circuit, and a heater apparatus to warmed fluid from the applicator circulation circuit. The control unit mixes the chilled fluid and/or the warmed with fluid in the applicator circulation circuit control the temperature of the fluid circulated in the applicator.
US09844450B2

A foot prosthesis having an upper part and a lower part, which is set on the ground as the user walks, one part being arranged on top of the other a certain distance away. The two parts are connected to each other at the tip of the foot. The upper part and the lower part are formed by a one-piece component. In the area near the heel, an elastic damping element is arranged between the upper part and the lower part and is connected to the upper part and/or to the lower part. A compressible but longitudinally strong connecting element, which connects the upper part to the lower part, and which is guided through a recess in the damping element, is provided.
US09844443B2

A system for implanting an interbody device between adjacent vertebrae comprises an interbody device having a plurality of lobes extending outwardly from a longitudinal rib, and having a relaxed shape approximating the shape of the disc being replaced. An insertion guide has a bore therein from a proximal end to a distal end thereof to accept the interbody device in an unrelaxed shape. The distal end is shaped for insertion into an intervertebral space. The insertion rod may be positioned within the bore of the insertion guide whereby the interbody device is positioned within the intervertebral space by advancing the insertion rod into the insertion guide.
US09844440B2

A glenoid implant is provided and may include a body portion and a stem portion. The stem portion may extend from the body portion along a longitudinal axis. The body portion may include an articular side and a bone-engaging side opposite the articular side. At least a portion of the bone-engaging side may be disposed at a non-parallel angle relative to at least a peripheral edge of the articulation side.
US09844428B2

A dental articulator is provided in which at least one of the two arms thereof has a base member that is articulated with respect to a bracket element onto which a dental model may be mounted, allowing independent movement of the dental model with respect to the pivot axis hingedly linking the arms.
US09844425B2

A dental implant system with a ceramic implant and with an abutment, which moreover includes an insert element for the ceramic implant. The insert element is either manufactured from non-ceramic material or is manufactured essentially of injection molded ceramic. The insert element matches with a recess a proximal region of the ceramic implant and is inserted or insertable into the recess. The insert element serves for the fastening of the abutment and for this is equipped with fastening structures. The insert element, which is arranged in the recess of the ceramic implant, is connectable or connected to the ceramic implant by way of a frictional connection and/or positive connection with respect to axial traction.
US09844417B2

A medical tool kit is provided for packaging, storing, and transporting medical instruments and tools of various types. The medical tool kit is capable of providing continuing sterilization to the medical instruments and toots kept inside the medical toot kit after the tool case is opened during its normal use in a medical procedure. The medical tool kit is further capable of emitting a GPS tracking signal to identify the location of an opened medical tool kit during an emergency as well as creating hands free communication between the user of the medical tool kit and local emergency institutions.
US09844414B2

A system and method for image guided assisted medical procedures using modular units, such that a controller, under the direction of a computer and imaging device, can be utilized to drive and track low cost, purpose specific manipulators. The system utilizes modular actuators, self tracking, and linkages. The system can be optimized at a low cost for most effectively performing surgical procedures, while reusing the more costly components of the system, e.g. the control, driving, and tracking systems. The system and method may utilize MRI real time guidance during the above procedures.
US09844410B2

A laser can produce pulses of light energy to eject a volume of the tissue, and the energy can be delivered to a treatment site through a waveguide, such as a fiber optic waveguide. The incident laser energy can be absorbed within a volume of the target tissue with a tissue penetration depth and pulse direction such that the propagation of the energy from the tissue volume is inhibited and such that the target tissue within the volume reaches the spinodal threshold of decomposition and ejects the volume, for example without substantial damage to tissue adjacent the ejected volume.
US09844405B2

Described is an apparatus for locally monitoring nerve activity that may be incorporated into a nerve ablation catheter. Such a catheter is equipped with magnetic sensing for both identifying nerves and assessing the success of the ablation. The catheter is also equipped with an ablation instrument for both stimulating and destroying nerve tissue.
US09844403B2

A bone fixation device includes (a) a threaded shaft extending from a proximal end to a distal end; (b) a head located at the proximal end of the shaft; (c) a connector threadably engaging the threaded shaft and movable therealong; and (d) an extension member movable between an insertion configuration for insertion through an opening in a cortex of a bone to a locked configuration when pressed against an inner surface of the cortex. The profile of the wing in the locked configuration in the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft is increased relative to the insertion configuration to distribute forces transmitted between the bone fixation apparatus and the bone over an increased area of the cortex.
US09844401B2

A bone plate having a first, bone-facing surface and an opposing second surface has an elongate shaft portion and a head portion that is shorter and wider in comparison thereto, with at least one through hole extending through the bone plate from the first surface to the second surface in the shaft portion. The through hole comprises a variable-angle portion with a hole axis configured to receive a threaded head of a locking screw therein at a desired angle within a permitted range of angulation relative to the hole axis. The second surface has at least one depression which extends therein along a portion of the second surface between the side wall and the through hole, the depression extending about a periphery of the through hole.
US09844394B2

The instrument ports for introducing instruments into a surgical site that are disclosed herein include a port body having a channel running therethrough from a proximal end to a distal end, an instrument sleeve in slidable contact with the channel, creating a gap therebetween, and a fluid flow element for removing emboli efficiently from the instrument port, wherein the fluid flow element includes the gap. Disclosed fluid flow systems are for use in the disclosed instrument ports. Methods are also disclosed for removably securing an instrument sleeve to a port body by anchoring the instrument port to heart tissue, making at least one flood line in a channel, flushing out emboli, and performing surgery with the instrument port.
US09844388B2

The invention relates to surgical gripping forceps with two gripping jaws movable relative to a main body, with each gripping jaw having a stationary pivot axis relative to the main body, and a lever arm, and with the lever arms being articulated via at least one push element. Each gripping jaw has its own pivot axis. The distance between the individual pivot axis and the midline of the main body is at least greater than 38% of the maximum width of the main body or the maximum diameter of the main body. The present invention also provides microsurgical gripping forceps that a substantial clamping force between the gripping jaws with customary force for actuating the forceps.
US09844384B2

The present disclosure is directed to a tissue clip for use in electrosurgical procedures. The tissue clip includes an arm having a first electrode formed thereon. The tissue clip also includes a body pivotally coupled to the arm. The body includes a power source and a second electrode. The arm is moveable from a first position relative to the body for approximating tissue and a second position closer to the body for grasping tissue therebetween.
US09844380B2

An aneurysm closure device or flow diverter includes a frame member formed of crossing frame elements and a diverter portion formed of a plurality of blade elements extending in radially opposing directions from a diverter element. The flow diverter is ideally suited for diverting the flow of fluid from an aneurysm at a vessel bifurcation, whereupon the blade elements and diverter element can be positioned at the neck of the aneurysm so as to substantially close off the flow path into the aneurysm sac. The crossing frame elements hold the device in position at the bifurcation. The structure provides reliable deployment of the device and closure of an aneurysm.
US09844366B2

A surgical needle includes a pair of ends, a mid-region extending between the ends, and at least one grasping feature configured for grasping by a suturing instrument. An end of a suture is secured to the mid-region of the needle in a manner such that the end of the suture defines an oblique angle with at least part of the centerline defined by the mid-region of the needle. The end of the suture may be disposed in a hollow portion of the needle. The grasping feature may include a notch such as a scallop. The suture may be pivotally coupled with the needle via a ball or pin. The needle may have one or more sharp points. The sharp point may include three converging cutting edges, at least two planar surfaces bounded by the three cutting edges, and a rounded surface bounded by two of the three cutting edges.
US09844364B2

An apparatus for the efficient provision of directed illumination to a subdermal surgical field that is attachable to or completely forms a surgical retractor blade. This illuminated surgical retractor system may include a retractor and a light guide disposed over the retractor. The retractor has a front surface facing a surgical field, a rear surface adapted to engage tissue, a distal end, and a proximal end. The light guide conforms to the shape of the retractor and is removably secured to the retractor and conducts light through the front or rear surface of the retractor. The light guide has an input adaptor and one or more light emitting surfaces.
US09844355B2

The invention relates generally to biopsy needle guidance which employs an x-ray/gamma image spatial co-registration methodology. A gamma camera is configured to mount on a biopsy needle gun platform to obtain a gamma image. More particular, the spatially co-registered x-ray and physiological images may be employed for needle guidance during biopsy. Moreover, functional images may be obtained from a gamma camera at various angles relative to a target site. Further, the invention also generally relates to a breast lesion localization method using opposed gamma camera images or dual opposed images. This dual head methodology may be used to compare the lesion signal in two opposed detector images and to calculate the Z coordinate (distance from one or both of the detectors) of the lesion.
US09844338B2

A sensor for indirect estimation of breast milk intake by an infant, the sensor comprising: a housing configured to be externally attached to an incontinence product worn by a subject, said housing comprising: a light-emitting diode (LED) configured to illuminate the incontinence product; a photodetector configured to output an indication of the amount of light reflected from the incontinence product; and an integrated circuit configured to: (a) receive the indication from said photodetector, (b) compute, based on the indication, an amount of urine secreted by the subject into the incontinence product, and (c) estimate the amount of breast milk intake by the infant based on the amount of urine secreted by the subject into the incontinence product.
US09844337B2

A system and method for positioning a pill to be ingested by a user in a field of view of an image acquisition camera. The method includes the steps of determining a desired location of the mouth of a user in a field of view of an image acquisition camera, determining a current position of a pill to be ingested by the user in the field of view of the image acquisition apparatus, and indicating on a display a movement to be made by the user to move the pill towards mouth of the user.
US09844330B2

A lancet device generally includes a housing having opposing lateral sides extending between a forward end and a rearward end, and a shield coaxially and movably associated with the housing. The housing includes a plurality of longitudinal ribs extending along a portion of at least one of the opposing lateral sides. The plurality of longitudinal ribs form a finger grip on at least one of, and typically both of the opposing lateral sides. The shield is generally movable from a first position in which the shield extends outwardly from the forward end of the housing to a second position in which the shield is at least partially moved within the housing, based on axial pressure applied by the user against the finger grip formed by the longitudinal ribs.
US09844327B2

A kind of safety lancing device has a front cap and lancet holder with feature: the front cap and lancet holder are connected in insert-plug type, and the front cap is equipped with connecting block at connection end and the lancet holder is equipped with slot at connection end. And the slot includes slideable slot and deadlock slot. The slideable slot is located in front of deadlock slot. The latch is set at the flexible arm end of ejection pin and the latch is equipped with bayonet at the front end and equipped with latch hook at rear end; the width of slideable slot and deadlock slot is larger than that of latch; the slideable slot is equipped with a blocking shoulder at rear end and the deadlock slot is equipped with latching shoulder at front end.
US09844323B2

In exemplary implementations of this invention, a bi-ocular apparatus presents visual stimuli to one eye of a human subject in order to relax that eye, while measuring refractive aberration of the subject's other eye. Alternately, a monocular device presents stimuli to relax an eye while testing the same eye. The apparatus induces eye relaxation by displaying virtual objects at varying apparent distances from the subject. For example, the apparatus may do so by (i) changing distance between a backlit film and a lens; (ii) using extra lenses; (iii) using an adaptive lens that changes power; (v) selecting distinct positions in a progressive or multi-focal length lens; (vi) selecting distinct optical depths by fiber optical illumination; (vii) displaying a 3D virtual image at any given apparent depth; or (viii) display both a warped version of the real world and a test image at the same time.
US09844322B2

A camera device configured to obtain an image of an eye is provided. The camera apparatus includes an image sensing unit, a lens set, and a processing unit. The lens set is located between the image sensing unit and the eye and projects light from the eye to the image sensing unit. Here, the lens set and the image sensing unit correspondingly move relative to the eye and continuously shoot a plurality of images of a plurality of parts of the eye. The processing unit is electrically connected to the image sensing unit, and the processing unit stitches the images. A photographing method is also provided.
US09844321B1

An ophthalmic surgical system comprises: a camera optically coupled to a surgical microscope; a virtual reality (VR) headset worn by a surgeon; and a VR data processing unit configured to communicate with the surgical microscope, the VR headset, and an ophthalmic surgical apparatus, wherein the VR data processing unit is configured to: project a real time video screen of video received from the camera into the VR headset; project a patient information screen into the VR headset to provide the patient information directly to the surgeon during ophthalmic surgery; project a surgical apparatus information screen into the VR headset; project a surgical apparatus input control screen into the VR headset to provide the surgeon with direct control over the surgical apparatus; and control which ones of the screens are visible in the VR headset based inputs indicating head movements of the surgeon as detected by the VR headset.
US09844309B2

The present invention is directed to a vacuum including a dust extraction system. The system includes a filter assembly, an airflow generation assembly, and valve assembly. The airflow generation assembly is configured to draw contaminated air toward the filter assembly and exhaust filtered air as a discharge stream. The filter assembly is configured to remove contaminants from the contaminated airflow by capturing particulate material suspended within the airflow. The valve assembly is configured to selectively direct filtered airflow into the filter assembly such that the filtered air stream cleans the filter.
US09844308B2

A surface treatment apparatus may include an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and a main body. A suction motor may be provided in the air flow path. A cyclone bin assembly may be provided in the air flow path and may be removably mountable to the main body. A pre-motor filter chamber may be provided and may have a rear wall, a sidewall extending and an openable front wall opposite the rear wall and sealingly enclosing the pre-motor filter chamber. The pre-motor filter chamber may be disposed longitudinally between the cyclone bin assembly and the suction motor and the cyclone bin assembly may be positioned in front of at least a portion of the openable front wall of the pre-motor filter chamber. The front wall may be accessible when the cyclone bin assembly is removed from the main body.
US09844301B2

A holding apparatus comprises a tray configured to hold food product therein, a holding portion configured to hold the tray therein, and a cover configured to cover the tray held in the holding portion. The cover comprises a covering portion, a pair of flange portions, the covering portion being disposed between the pair of flange portions, and a channel formed in each of the flange portions. The channel comprises a first portion extending from an edge of each of the flange portions, a supporting portion, and a second portion formed between the first portion and the supporting portion. The holding apparatus further comprises a projecting portion disposed on the holding apparatus and configured to be coupled to the channel such that the cover is suspended in the holding portion via contact between the projecting portion and the supporting portion of the channel.
US09844297B2

Provided is a cooking appliance comprising a first structure having a hot plate for cooking food, and a measuring device for measuring the thickness of the food arranged thereon and comprising a pivoting rocker connected to a pivotable shaft by a first end thereof, and a means for measuring the pivoting angle of the rocker in order to estimate the thickness of the food. The appliance comprises a second mobile structure which, when moved away from the first structure, generates a pivoting of said shaft in relation to the first structure, causing the pivoting of the rocker, and the measuring means interacts with the rocker towards a second end thereof.
US09844295B2

A coffee machine comprises a main body (2) and a heating device (25), wherein a funnel device for coffee brewing that includes a funnel main body (17), a funnel upper cover (6) and an assembly of funnel lower cover is also provided on the main body (2) of the coffee machine. The assembly of funnel lower cover comprises a funnel lower cover (14), and a shower piece (15) which is fixed on the bottom of the funnel lower cover (14) and makes water uniformly submerge coffee powder in the funnel main body (17). A water inlet joint (6.4) which is connected with water passage of the coffee machine is provided on the funnel upper cover (6), and a water outlet joint (15.1) which is connected with the shower piece (15) is provided on the funnel lower cover (14). The water inlet joint (6.4) is connected with the water outlet joint (15.1) through a connecting pipe (15.2). The funnel upper cover (6) is connected with the funnel main body (17), and the funnel lower cover (14) is movably connected with the funnel upper cover (6). A funnel spring (13) with low-pressure function to the coffee powder is provided between the funnel upper cover (6) and the funnel lower cover (14). A funnel mandrel (6.2) that can open a one-way valve device disposed on the front part of the coffee main body (2) is provided on the front end of the funnel upper cover (6), and the one-way valve device is connected with an inner water outlet of the coffee main body (2).
US09844285B2

Disclosed are embodiments of bottle caps that comprise a rigid body configured to be secured to an opening of a bottle, a multi-position valve coupled to the body for regulating fluid flow through the cap, and a lid coupled to the body that can cover the valve. The cap can be adjustable between at least a closed position, a selectively open position, and a fully open position. In the closed position, the lid covers the multi-position valve and fluid flow through the multi-position valve is prevented. In the selectively open position, the lid is uncovered from the multi-position valve and the multi-position valve is operable to open to allow fluid flow when a flexible portion of the multi-position valve is squeezed by a user. In the fully open position, the lid is uncovered from the multi-position valve and fluid can flow freely through the multi-position valve.
US09844283B2

Disclosed is a bagging station support frame that includes a bagging station holder and a rail coupler coupled to the bagging station holder. The bagging station holder holds a bagging station. A bagging station holds a plurality of shopping bags ready to receive products purchased by a customer. The rail coupler couples the bagging station support frame to a rail. Rails are common fixtures throughout retail stores. The bagging station support frame can be coupled to a rail at various locations throughout the retail store. A bagging station coupled to the bagging station support frame will be available for customers to bag their purchases wherever the bagging station support frame with bagging station is mounted. By mounting bagging station support frames with bagging stations throughout the retail store, customers can easily bag their purchases as they shop, without having to find a checkout counter to obtain shopping bags.
US09844277B2

A distribution system is adapted for use with a mattress and a personal comfort system with an air conditioning system operable for outputting a conditioned air flow. The distribution system includes at least top and bottom layers of fabric material and a spacer structure disposed between the bottom and top layers. The spacer structure defines an internal volume within the distribution layer and is configured to enable the received conditioned air flow to flow therethrough. This flow of conditioned air has a cooling or heating effect on a body on the mattress.
US09844267B2

A chair assembly includes a seat support structure, a back support structure, a back tensioning assembly adjustable between low and high tension positions, an actuator assembly adapted to adjust the back tensioning assembly between the low and high tension positions, a control input assembly actuable by rotating the portion of the control input assembly, and a control link assembly operably coupling the control input assembly with the actuator assembly to adjust the back tensioning assembly between the low and high tension positions upon rotation of the portion of the control assembly by a seated user, wherein a number of rotations of the portion of the control input assembly is not limited by the control link.
US09844265B2

In various embodiments, a television wall mount is provided that may be installed at a position in a television wall nook such that when the television monitor is bolted, screwed or hung on the television monitor mounting bracket, the television is located in front of and outside the television wall nook. In this manner, a television monitor that is too wide to fit in the television wall nook may be installed over the television wall nook by mounting the television on the television wall mount installed in the television wall nook.
US09844264B1

A multi-tray cabinet includes a cabinet body defining an interior compartment and a compound opening thereto formed by first and second openings merging and in an angular relationship with one another, first and second doors located on the cabinet body adjacent and at an angle relative to one another and being mounted to the cabinet body to undergo movement relative to one another and to the cabinet body in order to correspondingly open and close the first and second openings, pairs of opposing of tray support members attached in a vertically spaced relationship from one pair to another on a pair of opposite interior surfaces of the cabinet body and being aligned with the first opening, and a plurality of trays on respective opposing pairs of tray support members being insertable upon and removable from the tray support members through the first opening.
US09844262B2

Variable planform shelving systems include a variable support platform and a support surface assembly that is supported by the variable support platform. The variable support platform includes frames that can be repositioned relative to each other to vary the planform of the variable support platform. The support surface assembly provides a support surface for supported items. The support surface assembly is flexible and/or comprised of a plurality of linked panels so that the support surface provided varies in response to variation in the planform of the variable support platform.
US09844252B2

A system and method for curling a lock of hair. A hair curling assembly contains a bi-stable ribbon spring. The ribbon spring is biased into a coiled configuration. The ribbon spring has positional stability in both its coiled configuration and its linear configuration. The ribbon spring is manipulated into its linear configuration within the hair curling assembly. The hair curling assembly is then positioned proximate the lock of hair to be curled. The ribbon spring is triggered back to its coiled configuration. The lock of hair winds with the ribbon spring into its coiled configuration, therein forming a curl in the lock of hair.
US09844249B2

The present invention is directed to a jewelry element which includes two layers—a cladding layer and a substrate layer, each layer being its own alloy. The cladding layer and the substrate layer each include a base metal such as silver or gold at the same percentages so that the resulting jewelry element can be labeled in accordance with one or more industry-wide requirements. The cladding layer is further enhanced by introduction of a metal providing additional hardness when included in the alloy. By limiting the “hardness” metal or metals to being deposed only in the cladding layer, less of the hardness metal need be used, thereby reducing cost yet retaining the requisite hardness characteristic. Each of the alloys may further contain other metals for any of a number of reasons, including but not limited to, tarnish resistance.
US09844246B2

There is provided a slide fastener slider. A front mounting portion and a rear mounting portion are respectively provided with receiving grooves for receiving a lock member. The receiving grooves have right and left side walls. Protrusions are respectively provided on upper end edges of the side walls of the front mounting portion. When the upper end portions of the side walls of the front mounting portion are inclined in a direction of approaching each other, the protrusions approach each other, and the protrusions cover the lock member more largely relative to portions of the side walls other than the protrusions.
US09844240B2

An apparatus for sandals with interchangeable upper section consists of an upper portion, a sole, and a securing system. The upper portion is the only interchangeable component, and users can interchange different upper portions with one specific sole. The securing system consists of a plurality of male connectors and a plurality of female connectors. The plurality of male connectors is connected with the sole, and the plurality of female connectors is connected with the upper portion. The upper portion can be attached to the sole, when the plurality of female connectors is traversed into the plurality of male connectors. The apparatus for sandals with interchangeable upper section consists of many different colors and styles in order to complement a wide variety of customers.
US09844236B2

A convertible garment includes a waist portion having a continuous upper edge and a pair of leg portions extending downwardly from the waist portion. Each leg portion includes a lower end. The convertible garment includes an upper auxiliary portion having a continuous lower edge coupled to the upper edge of the waistband and an opposed free upper edge. The upper auxiliary portion is movable between a folded configuration adjacent the waist portion and an extended configuration extending away from the waist portion. The convertible garment includes a pair of lower auxiliary portions each having an upper edge coupled to respective lower ends of respective leg portions and an opposed free edge, respective lower auxiliary portions being movable between a folded configuration adjacent respective leg portions and an extended configuration extending away from respective lower ends of respective leg portions.
US09844231B2

An apparatus for imparting an organoleptic quality to a recipient product using a sensate substance obtained from a donor product, the apparatus comprising a donor product storage chamber; and a recipient product storage chamber, the apparatus being arranged to allow a fluid to circulate repeatedly between the donor product storage chamber and the recipient product storage chamber so that at least one sensate substance obtained from the donor product is conveyed from the donor product storage chamber into the recipient product storage chamber and into contact with the recipient product.
US09844230B2

A class of molecularly imprinted polymers that specifically recognizes and binds to nitrosamines members of which class are useful, for example, in analysis and separation of nitrosamines from biological fluids. Such molecularly imprinted polymers are also useful in methods of treating and manufacturing tobacco products and materials.
US09844223B2

Apparatus and methods are provided for producing insecticidal black soldier fly (BSF; Hermetia illucens) frass, and using the frass for nutritional and insect pest control activity in soils and/or on foliage. The methods include processes for using BSF frass to reduce damage to crops caused by wireworms (i.e., click beetle larvae, in the Elateridae family) and/or other Coleopteran (i.e., beetle) insect pests. Also provided is an insect trap comprising BSF frass.
US09844209B1

Embodiments described herein provide systems for stimulating a desired response, such as ovulation and egg laying, hunger, growth, mood and sexual maturity in birds, such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, quail and ostrich, by controlling the duty cycle, wavelength band and frequency of photon bursts to a bird, through the high frequency modulation of photons in an individual color spectrum to the bird and duty cycle, where the photon modulation and duty cycle is based upon the specific needs of the bird.
US09844206B2

Specifically, a computer implemented animal management program having modules which function to match animal information retrieved from a radiofrequency identification device(s) implanted in an animal(s) with animal information retrieved from a database of at least one computer to assess animal condition and time treatment events.
US09844201B2

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01050745. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01050745. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01050745 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01050745 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US09844196B2

The present invention is in the field of plant breeding and aphid resistance. More specifically, the invention includes a method for breeding soybean plants containing quantitative trait loci that are associated with resistance to aphids, Aphis glycines. The invention further includes method for monitoring the introgression quantitative trait loci (QTL) conferring aphid resistance into elite germplasm in a breeding program.
US09844183B2

A cam reel for use on a harvesting header which includes a plurality of reel bats disposed evenly around the reel shaft, each attached to radial arms extending outwardly from the reel shaft by bat arms pivotally attached to the radial anus such that the bat member itself can pivot about a pivot axis around the end of the radial arms. The reel ends of the radial anus define a circular bat path and the reel bats once attached can be pivoted about the pivot axis, parallel to the reel axis, in a bat pivot path to move both inside and outside of the radius of the circular bat path. The reel can be attached to various header assemblies using interchangeable end kits. A header using the reel is also disclosed.
US09844179B1

An agricultural vehicle for picking or harvesting a product includes a motor, a plurality of tires, a transmission mating the motor to the plurality of tires, an accumulator operable to store the product, a module builder operable to receive the product from the accumulator, and a frame supporting the accumulator and the module builder. The frame defines a hatch through which an operator is capable of accessing the motor and/or the transmission. The agricultural vehicle is operable to transition between a first state and a second state. In the first state, the module builder and the accumulator prohibit access through the hatch. In the second state, the module builder and the accumulator are rotated relative to the frame and provide access through the hatch.
US09844174B2

An agricultural metering system includes a modular meter roller cartridge. The modular meter roller cartridge includes a meter roller. The modular meter roller cartridge further includes a housing rotatably supporting the meter roller. The housing is configured to selectively engage a meter box of the agricultural metering system to support the meter roller within the meter box while the housing is engaged with the meter box, and to selectively disengage the meter box.
US09844172B2

An attachment for an engineering vehicle that has a first side having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a first plurality of surfaces extending between the outer surface and the inner surface defining a first plurality of holes having a hole diameter; a second side having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a second plurality of surfaces extending between the outer surface and the inner surface defining a second plurality of holes having the hole diameter; and a plurality of rods occupying at least some of the first plurality of holes and at least some of the second plurality of holes, each rod having a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis intersecting the first end and the second end, a rod length between the first end and the second end along the longitudinal axis, and a rod diameter.
US09844171B1

There is provided a steel handle shovel comprising a coupling assembly between the head shovel and the handle, which provides a higher resistance in the structure of the shovel to the force and the weight the shovel undergoes under working conditions.
US09848513B2

According to one example of the present invention, a cooling system is provided. The cooling system comprises a water-cooled air conditioning module for cooling air from a chamber. The chamber is arranged for receiving air to be cooled and hot humid air. The cooling system also comprises a control system for controlling the flow of hot humid air to the chamber such that the air input to the air conditioning module has a predetermined relative humidity level within a predetermined range.
US09848507B2

Disclosed is a heat dissipation module assembly comprising: a base disposed adjacent to a heating unit and a heat dissipation module including one or more heat dissipation fins, the heat dissipation fin having an inlet portion and an outlet portion formed on both sides thereof and a hollow flow channel communicating with the inlet portion and the outlet portion, wherein the one or more heat dissipation fins being stacked to emit heat through the outlet portion, the heat being generated from the heating unit and absorbed by air flowed in through the inlet portion.
US09848501B2

An electronic control device that includes a housing having a first opening and a second opening; a cover; and a connector electrically connected to a substrate disposed inside the housing, wherein a clearance between the housing-side inner wall and the connector-side inner wall and a clearance between the housing-side outer wall and the connector-side outer wall differ from each other in position in a direction in which the first groove extends.
US09848499B2

A method of producing a printed circuit board (10) with a plurality of inlays (21, 22, 23, 24), having the following steps: supplying a plurality of inlays (21, 22, 23, 24), of which at least one inlay has at least one positioning element (21.1, 21.2; 22.1 to 22.7; 23.1, 23.2; 24.1, 24.2); building up a layer sequence from a plurality of printed-circuit-board layers, with at least one recess (14) for accommodating inlays, wherein, prior to the step of the plurality of inlays (21, 22, 23, 24) being inserted, the recess (14) is defined in an uppermost layer (12) by a frame made of non-conductive printed-circuit-board material; inserting the plurality of inlays (21, 22, 23, 24) into the recess (14) defined by the frame; covering the inlays (21, 22, 23, 24) with a non-conductive printed-circuit-board material; laminating the layer sequence, and removing at least the positioning elements (21.1, 21.2; 22.1 to 22.7; 23.1, 23.2; 24.1, 24.2) which establish a conductive contact between neighboring inlays.
US09848497B2

A waterproof structure for an implanted electronic device is capable of preventing the liquid or moist from entering and damaging the circuit board of the electronic device. The waterproof structure includes a shell, a first material layer, a second material layer, and a third material layer. The first material layer covers at least a part of the implanted electronic device. The second material layer covers the first material layer. The internal space of the shell is configured for accommodating the implanted electronic device. The shell is made of PEEK (polyether ether ketone). The third material layer is disposed between the second material layer and the shell.
US09848493B1

A printed circuit board assembly comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) defining a mounting end and an opposite contacting end, a row of first pads on the mounting end, a row of second pads on the contacting end, and an edge connector on the contacting end electrically contacted with the second pads, and a high speed line module mounted on a top side of the PCB and including a group of conductive lines, the conductive lines extending parallel to each other over the plane of the PCB, each conductive line having two ends electrically connected to corresponding first and second pads, respectively.
US09848490B2

An interconnection technology may use molded solder to define solder balls. A mask layer may be patterned to form cavities and solder paste deposited in the cavities. Upon heating, solder balls are formed. The cavity is defined by spaced walls to keep the solder ball from bridging during a bonding process. In some embodiments, the solder bumps connected to the solder balls may have facing surfaces which are larger than the facing surfaces of the solder ball.
US09848488B1

A circuit board and package assembly electrically connecting a die to a circuit board. The circuit board has signal paths terminating in a signal pad located on an insulating layer. The circuit board also includes a ground pad on the insulating layer that has a concave shaped side forming a recess, the with a signal pad at least partially within the recess. A package has package ground pads aligned with the circuit board ground pads and package signal pads aligned with circuit board signal pads. The package ground pads extend through the package to connect to package ground paths, which extend toward the die. The package signal pads extend through the package to connect to package signal paths and the package signal paths extend toward the die, maintaining a consistent distance from the package ground paths. Multiple-tier bond wires connect the package bond locations to the die bond pads.
US09848485B2

A plasma generating device intended to induce a flow in a fluid via plasma generation includes a dielectric separating two electrodes and a power supply. The first electrode is exposed to a fluid flow while the second electrode is positioned under the dielectric. The power supply is electrically coupled to a switch and the first and second electrodes. When the power supply is energized by repeated action of the switch, it causes a pulsed DC current between the electrodes which causes the fluid to ionize generating a plasma. The generation of the plasma induces a force with a velocity component in the fluid.
US09848482B2

Intelligent illumination device are disclosed that use components in an LED light to perform one or more of a Wide variety of desirable lighting functions for very low cost. The LEDs that produce light can be periodically turned off momentarily, for example, for a duration that the human eye cannot perceive, in order for the light to receive commands optically. The optically transmitted commands can be sent to the light, for example, using a remove control device. The illumination device can use the LEDs that are currently off to receive the data and then configure the light accordingly, or to measure light. Such light can be ambient light for a photosensor function, or light from other LEDs in the illumination device to adjust the color mix.
US09848474B2

In one example, a sensor node comprises a core node to enable lighting control for a luminaire. The core node has a base forming a plug portion of a socket. The plug portion has at least one optional pin and represents a NEMA socket including a receptacle that is attached to the base of the core node such that the core node is enclosed by the NEMA socket. The socket provides light level control for a light-emitting diode (LED) driver for the luminaire. The sensor node further comprises one or more peripheral devices having sensors for detecting conditions and producing sensor information based on the detected conditions. The sensor node also includes a pod bus which enables power signals to be transmitted to each of the peripheral devices.
US09848470B2

According to the present invention, provided is an LED driving circuit comprising: a first rectification module, connected to an alternating current power source, for full-wave rectifying an applied alternating current voltage and for supplying a first rectification voltage which has been full-wave rectified to an LED light emitting module as a first driving voltage; and a second driving voltage supply module, connected to the alternating current power source in parallel with the first rectification module, for full-wave rectifying an applied alternating current voltage to generate a second rectification voltage, for charging energy using the generated second rectification voltage at a charging section, and for supplying a second driving voltage to the LED light emitting module at a compensating section.
US09848449B2

Methods and systems for transmitting signals between electronic devices are provided. First, a first electronic device receives an instruction, and continuously generates a specific signal according to the instruction. In some embodiments, at least one motion sensor can detect the motion of the first electronic device to generate the instruction. The first electronic device broadcasts the specific signal via a wireless network. Then, at least one secondary electronic device receives the specific signal via a wireless network. The secondary electronic device connects to the first electronic device via a wireless network, and instructs the first electronic device to stop generating the specific signal.
US09848442B2

Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for transmitting and receiving a frame in a WLAN. A method for transmitting a frame, performed in a first station, may comprise receiving a first PPDU; determining whether a BSS of the first PPDU is a BSS to which the first station belongs or a BSS to which the first station does not belong; when the BSS of the first PPDU is the BSS to which the first station does not belong and a received signal strength of the first PPDU is higher than a first threshold, setting a virtual carrier sensing by using information included in a preamble of the first PPDU. Therefore, performance of the WLAN can be enhanced.
US09848440B2

A device for providing downlink channel access for non-operator devices includes at least one processor circuit. The at least one processor circuit is configured to establish a local connection with an operator device that is serviced by a network operator. The at least one processor circuit is configured to provide, to the operator device over the local connection, a request to establish a connection to a network, the request comprising a destination address. The at least one processor circuit is configured to receive, from the operator device over the local connection, control information for reception of a downlink channel provisioned by the network operator for the operator device. The at least one processor circuit is configured to receive downlink data associated with the destination address on the downlink channel and provide, to the operator device, uplink data associated with the destination address for transmission to the network.
US09848434B2

The present teachings relates to methods performed in a network node of a wireless communication network. The method comprises: broadcasting one or more threshold values enabling the wireless devices to determine fulfillment of one or more criteria for selecting a contention based random access preamble either from a first preamble group or from a second preamble group for use in a contention based random access procedure; transmitting to a selected wireless device one or more threshold values using dedicated signaling, the one or more threshold values sent in the dedicated signaling overriding a corresponding broadcasted threshold value and being set so that the wireless device fulfills the criteria to select a preamble from the first preamble group, wherein the threshold values sent on the dedicated signaling differ from the broadcast threshold values; and prioritizing preambles of the first preamble group over preambles of the second preamble group.
US09848428B2

A method performed by a network node (10) for finding a direction to a wireless device (20) in a wireless communication network is provided. The method comprises the step (S1) of the network node transmitting reference signal pairs on at least one pair of correlated antennas. Each reference signal pair has a unique phase difference between the signals in the signal pair, and the unique phase differences of the reference signal pairs are distributed over a given angular interval. The method further comprises the step (S2) of the network node receiving from the wireless device, in response to each pair of reference signals, a respective indication of a preferred pre-coding matrix, and the step (S3) of the network node determining a direction to the wireless device based on the received indications, information representative of the phase differences of the reference signal pairs, and phase information related to the indicated preferred pre-coding matrices.
US09848426B2

A mobile communications network includes one or more network elements providing a wireless access interface for communications devices. The wireless access interface provides plural communications resource elements across a host frequency bandwidth, and includes, within the host frequency bandwidth, first communications resource elements within a first frequency bandwidth for allocation preferably to reduced capability devices to receive signals representing the data transmitted by the transmitter unit within the first bandwidth forming a first virtual carrier, the reduced capability devices each having a receiver bandwidth which is greater than or equal to the first frequency bandwidth but less than the host frequency bandwidth. Communications devices of different capabilities can be allocated communications resources within different frequency ranges according to their capability, which can relieve congestion on a center frequency of communications resources in which communications devices with a minimum bandwidth capability must receive communications resources for receiving down link signals.
US09848424B2

There is disclosed a User Equipment for a MulteFire wireless communication network. The User Equipment comprises processing circuitry and a transmitter, the User Equipment being adapted for utilizing the processing circuitry and the transmitter for performing a Listen-Before-Talk (LBT) procedure for one or more transmission bandwidths; transmitting Physical Uplink Shared CHannel (PUSCH) signaling in a PUSCH subframe on one or more interlaces within the one or more transmission bandwidths; and transmitting Sounding Reference Signaling on the one or more interlaces in the PUSCH subframe.
US09848422B2

In one embodiment, a rendezvous request message is generated (e.g., by a sender) that specifies a channel C and a rendezvous time T for which a distributed message is to be transmitted in a frequency-hopping computer network. The rendezvous request message is then transmitted on one or more channels used in the computer network based on reaching a plurality of intended recipients of the distributed message with the rendezvous request message prior to rendezvous time T. Accordingly, the distributed message is then transmitted on channel C at rendezvous time T. In another embodiment, a device receives a rendezvous request message, and in response to determining to honor the rendezvous request message, listens for the distributed message on channel C at rendezvous time T.
US09848420B2

A dynamic wireless multi-channel switch including a networking device providing access to communicate messages on at least two frequency bands. A wireless access manager module determines a utilization of each frequency band based on the communicated messages. The wireless access manager module dynamically adjusts a time slot ratio of each frequency band as a function of the utilization of the communicated messages by the networking device.
US09848418B2

A method and corresponding apparatus, where the apparatus transmits, to a user equipment (UE), downlink control information (DCI) including a downlink assignment index (DAI) through an enhanced physical downlink control channel (E-PDCCH). The DCI transmitted through the E-PDCCH includes an additional field which is not present in DCI transmitted through a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). If the DAI value included in the DCI is greater than 1, the additional field is used to determine a single resource for the ACK/NACK among the plurality of PUCCH resources configured by a higher layer signal.
US09848416B2

The present specification discloses a mobile communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for transmitting and receiving data using a plurality of carriers in a mobile communication system.
US09848412B2

A method is provided for reporting Channel State Information (CSI) in a wireless access system which supports carrier aggregation. A user equipment (UE) measures a first type CSI for a first component carrier (CC) of two or more downlink (DL) CCs, and measures a second type CSI for a second CC of the two or more DL CCs. The UE reports the first type CSI only, when a collision of a report of the first type CSI with a report of the second CSI type occurs in a same subframe. The first type CSI includes (1) only a Wideband Channel Quality Indicator (WB-CQI), (2) the WB-CQI and a first Precoding Matrix Indicator (PMI) or (3) the WB-CQI and a second PMI. The second type CSI includes (1) only a SubBand (SB) CQI or (2) the SB-CQI and a SB second PMI.
US09848409B2

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a resource scheduling method, device, and communications system. The method includes: sending, by a first base station, a first data offloading proportion to a user equipment; receiving, by the first base station, a first buffer status report that is generated based on the first data offloading proportion and sent by the user equipment, where a buffered data volume included in the first buffer status report needs to be transmitted by the first base station; sending, by the first base station, uplink resource scheduling information to the user equipment based on the first buffer status report, where an uplink transmission resource indicated by the uplink resource scheduling information is used to transmit uplink data of the user equipment that should be borne by the first base station. The embodiments of the present invention are applied to resource scheduling.
US09848402B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and device for collecting location information. The method includes: sending a location subscription instruction to a user equipment (UE) by using a mobile communication network, where the location subscription instruction includes: instructing the UE to measure a cell detected by the UE; receiving instruction response information reported by the UE, where the instruction response information includes an identity (ID) of the UE, an ID of the cell detected by the UE, and signal strength information of the cell detected by the UE; and acquiring location information of the UE according to the received instruction response information.
US09848401B2

A mobile device estimates includes a processor configured to execute a process. The process includes first estimating a location of each of a plurality of base station devices present at a location communicable with the mobile device. The process includes generating a circle a radius of which is a distance between the mobile device and the base station device estimated by using radio wave intensity from the base station device, around the location of the base station device estimated at the first estimating, for each of the base station devices. The process includes second estimating a location of the mobile device by using algorithm selected based on the number of the circles of the base station devices generated at the generating and a location relation between the circles.
US09848400B2

The present application describes a computer-implemented method for discovering a router on a network. The method includes a step of determining whether to discover the router. Next, a message is sent to the router including context information. Further, a message is received from the router including router specific context information. The application also describes an endpoint device for discovering a router on a network.
US09848398B2

The present invention relates to a scheduling method between terminals for a search resource allocation in direct device to device communication and a device thereof. The present invention relates to, as a search resource allocation method of a terminal which performs device to device (D2D) communication, a proximity searching method and a device thereof, and the method comprises the steps of: transmitting and receiving a signal through a wireless resource determined so as to explicitly or implicitly transmit and receive a contention index of the terminal; selecting a search resource on the basis of a response signal when the response signal is received through the wireless resource; and performing a search for the D2D communication by using the selected search resource.
US09848395B2

The present invention relates to a method for controlling uplink transmission power and to a wireless device using same in a wireless communication system. The wireless device receives determines uplink transmission power in consideration of the overlap period between subframes between a first serving cell belonging to a first timing advance (TA) group and a second serving cell belonging to the second TA group, and transmits an uplink channel on the basis of the uplink transmission power.
US09848386B2

In one embodiment, a method for implementing two-way communication between at least first and second devices comprises steps of: (a1) during finite time periods following transmission of respective first messages from the first device to the second device, using the first device to listen for second messages transmitted from the second device to first device; and (a2) after each of the finite time periods following the transmission of the respective first messages from the first device to the second device, ceasing to use the first device to listen for second messages transmitted from the second device to the first device until after the first device transmits another first message to the second device.
US09848385B2

Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, devices, systems and methods of communicating a wakeup packet. For example, an apparatus may include circuitry configured to cause a first wireless device to modulate a preamble of a wakeup packet according to an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) scheme; modulate a payload of the wakeup packet according to an On-Off keying (OOK) modulation scheme over a plurality of OFDM tones; and transmit the wakeup packet to a second wireless device.
US09848373B2

It is presented a method for Global System for Mobile communications, GSM, cell searches. The method is performed in a wireless terminal of a cellular network when the wireless terminal is active in a non-GSM radio access technology and comprising the steps of: scheduling reception of a part of a frame burst of a GSM frequency in said cellular network for said wireless terminal; searching digital samples received on said GSM frequency for a predefined logical channel pattern. A corresponding wireless terminal, computer program and computer program product are also presented.
US09848362B2

Antenna nodes are controlled to maintain a respective radio cell, each cell having one and the same physical cell identity. The antenna nodes are further controlled to maintain the respective radio cell in a single direction substantially along a path such that each wireless communication device, during movement in a movement direction along the path, can connect either to consecutive antenna nodes towards which the wireless communication device is moving or connect to consecutive antenna nodes away from which the wireless communication device is moving.
US09848354B2

Systems and methods are described herein for managing uplink communication activities of a wireless communication device associated with a first subscription and a second subscription. First, a trigger event related to de-sensing of the first subscription by the second subscription is detected. The wireless communication device refrains from requesting uplink (UL) grants for the second subscription from a network for the second subscription in response to detecting the trigger event.
US09848346B2

A mechanism for end-to-end link quality indication, including a wireless router, coupled to other wireless routers over a multi-hop mesh network, responsive to a first message received from an origination device, configured to forward the first message to a next one of the other wireless routers in route to a destination device. The wireless router has received signal strength indication (RSSI) logic, that adds first RSSI information to a first field of the first message, and that adds second RSSI information to a second field of an acknowledgement message prior to transmitting the acknowledgement message to the origination device. The first and second RSSI information, along with intermediate RSSI information added by one or more of the other wireless routers along a path from the origination device to the destination device, is aggregated into a single term representative of total round-trip quality for the first message and the acknowledgment message.
US09848341B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a network optimization method and a network optimization device. The method includes: acquiring, in a first time segment, a first network status parameter that is determined according to M groups of network status parameters of at least one target cell, and acquiring a first CP that is determined according to M groups of cell control parameters CPs of the target cell, where the network status parameters include a key performance parameter KPI and a cell measurement parameter, determining, according to the first network status parameter and from a first entry that records a mapping relationship between a network status parameter and a security status, a security status of the target cell in the first time segment; and performing network optimization on the target cell according to the security status of the target cell in the first time segment.
US09848335B1

Embodiments relate to a marketplace for inter-network links between a high-altitude network and a terrestrial data network. An example method may involve a computer-based purchasing agent: (i) determining a demand for inter-network bandwidth between a high-altitude network and a terrestrial data network, (ii) determining one or more offers to provide an inter-network link, wherein the inter-network link provides inter-network bandwidth between the high-altitude network and the terrestrial data network, and wherein each offer is associated with a corresponding client device, (iii) based at least in part on a comparison of: (a) the demand for inter-network bandwidth and (b) the one or more offers to provide an inter-network link, selecting one or more of the offers to provide an inter-network link, and (iv) initiating a process to establish an inter-network link at each client device that corresponds to one of the one or more selected offers.
US09848333B2

A method supporting wireless access to a storage device, and a mobile routing hotspot device. The method is applied to a mobile routing hotspot device, where the mobile routing hotspot device is connected to a storage device by using a USB interface, and the method includes: receiving, by the mobile routing hotspot device, an access request that is sent by user equipment in a wireless communications manner and that is for accessing a specified file in the storage device, where the access request carries information about the specified file; acquiring, by the mobile routing hotspot device, the specified file in the storage device according to the information about the specified file by using the USB interface; and outputting, by the mobile routing hotspot device, the specified file to the user equipment according to the access request in a wireless communications manner.
US09848332B2

The disclosed embodiments provide a system that provides wireless service groups. During operation, a wireless device's advertising mechanism advertises a service group over Wi-Fi, wherein the service group comprises at least the wireless device and wherein the service group's security requirements regulate multicast protection within the service group. In response to receiving a request from a second device to be admitted into the service group, the wireless device's security mechanism admits the second device into the service group and sends the service group's security requirements to the second device, thereby enabling the second device to initialize multicast protection in accordance with the service group's security requirements.
US09848319B2

Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate the configuration of a device with service set information based upon an identification of a device-type associated with the device. A device-type identifier may be retrieved from a communication that is received from a device requesting a service from an access point. The device-type identifier may be compared to one or more correlations between device-types and service sets that are maintained within a database, and the device may be configured with information for a service set that is correlated with the retrieved device-type identifier, or the device may be configured with information for a default service set. Certain service sets offered by an access point may remain inactive when not in use, and if a device is configured with information for an inactive service set, the access point may automatically enable the service set.
US09848316B2

The present invention relates to a method for performing a D2D discovery and a terminal using the same. Particularly, the present invention relates to a method for performing a D2D discovery, which compares a congestion level of another discovery slot selected randomly or according to a preset pattern with a threshold or a congestion level of a current discovery slot and determines a discovery slot to transmit a discovery message and a transmission period of the discovery message according to a result of the comparison, and a terminal using the same. The present invention relates to a method for performing a D2D discovery using discovery resources including a plurality of discovery slots, and a terminal performing the same, the method comprising the steps of: broadcasting a discovery message by using a first discovery slot; comparing a congestion level of a selected second discovery slot with a predetermined congestion level value; determining a discovery slot to broadcast the discovery message on the basis of a result of the comparison; and broadcasting the discovery message by using the determined discovery slot.
US09848306B2

Systems, apparatus, and methods may provide for contextually aware dynamic group formation. In one aspect a connection manager has a contextual location identifier to determine a contextual location based on one or more locations frequented by a device user. A list generator may generate a contextual location group device list of trusted devices within the contextual location group. An identification generator may generate a contextual location group identification to serve as a data sharing token for the trusted devices within the contextual location group.
US09848305B2

The invention relates to mobile messaging and presence services. According to one aspect of the invention, a client device of the mobile messaging system adds a qualifier to a presence attribute, the qualifier comprising one or more parameters specifying the use of the attribute. A client device receiving a presence attribute processes the received presence attribute according to the qualifier parameters in the received attribute. Another aspect of the invention is the showing of how to assemble and store presence items with names, attributes and values in a single presence set within a role having an associated authorization group of members that have the right to subscribe to the whole or part of the presence set of the same role.
US09848303B2

A method of selecting a cellular network entails determining a current location using a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver in a mobile device, prioritizing bands based on the current location to create a set of prioritized bands, and searching the set of prioritized bands for the cellular network. This method expedites selection of the cellular network when a mobile device is powered on or when its cellular radiofrequency transceiver is activated.
US09848292B2

A communication device includes a display screen upon which information is displayed. A microprocessor configured to execute at least one notification program is provided that displays a notification descriptive of an access control request on the display screen. The at least one notification program is programmed to receive data indicative of an access control request and to receive data descriptive of the access control request. Additionally, the at least one notification program is further programmed to display a notification indicative of the access control request and comprising an explanation of the access control request based on the received descriptive data.
US09848291B2

A mobile computing device, including: a first memory device having first computer-readable instructions tangibly recorded thereon; a first hardware processor configured to execute the first computer-readable instructions recorded on the first memory device; and an RFID component that includes a transceiver configured to receive a proximity signal from at least one RFID reader when the RFID component is within a predetermined range of the at least one RFID reader, and a second memory device configured to store the proximity signal, wherein the first hardware processor is configured to, upon executing the instructions recorded on the first memory device, control at least one operation of the mobile computing device in accordance with the proximity signal received by the transceiver of the RFID component from the at least one RFID reader.
US09848289B2

A method and system for detecting unsafe or suspect activities such as distracted driving associates distracted driving events to the road type, vehicle speed and vehicle acceleration (positive, negative and lateral) at the time of the distracted driving event, and identifies severe distracted driving events from a large population of minor events using a statistical distribution such as a Cauchy distribution equation. The system employs a smartphone application (App) coupled with a central server that computes driver safety scores which relate time of day, road type, vehicle speed, vehicle acceleration (positive, negative and lateral) and distracted driving using the Cauchy distribution equation. The server renders summary and detail reports of driving scores and distracted driving events to concerned parties including insurance companies, fleet managers, vehicle owners and the parents/guardians of teenaged drivers.
US09848288B2

The system provides secure controlled access to multiple Bluetooth devices issued to users. For example an officer may be issued a weapon. To enable monitoring of weapon status, a Bluetooth sensor may be fitted to a holster and the Officer issued with a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone. In order to establish a secure Bluetooth connection between the devices, sensor contains a restored link key and the mobile phone stores a partial link key. The supervisor enters their username and password, and a secret key into the phone which is then used with the partial link key to generate a copy of the link key stored in the first device, so that a secure connection can be established with the first device. The officer enters their username and password into the sensor, and once the secure connection is established it is sent over the secure connection to the mobile phone which then sends both user names and passwords to a verification authority. If the officer is verified and authorized to issue the devices, an authorization message is returned and use of the devices allowed. If the authorization fails, a failure message is returned and the devices are not issued and features may be blocked. The verification authority may be internal or external to the phone. If the authority is external, then the supervisor's user name and password could be omitted.
US09848285B2

A Bluetooth communication method and a device including a Bluetooth module to perform the method are provided. In the method: the device is renamed so that a name of the device includes a character string. The Bluetooth module searches for a second device whose name includes the same character string or a corresponding character string. The Bluetooth module establishes a connection between the device and the second device. The device transmits data with the second device using the established the connection.
US09848284B2

A network services provider grants a subscription to a user for use of mobile network services to communicate voice, data, and text information with a specific mobile device. Mobile devices store one or more subscriptions, each of which may be activated. An activated subscription stored in the mobile device is now made portable. The user wants to pass the portable subscription from a first mobile device to a second mobile device. The user forms a first communicative relationship between the first mobile device and a second mobile device and receives from the second mobile device identification information associated with the second mobile device. The first mobile device passes the identification information to the network services provider and receives a confirmation. The user forms a second communicative relationship between the first mobile device and the second mobile device, and the second mobile device confirms activation of the portable subscription.
US09848280B2

A wireless sensor module can include a primary body, a primary processor, a first plurality of sockets, a secondary body, a secondary processor, a first transducer, and a wireless transceiver. The primary processor and the sockets can be mounted to the primary body. The secondary body can be releasibly mounted to the primary body and the secondary processor can be mounted to the secondary body. The primary processor and the secondary processor can be in electrical communication with one another, operating asynchronously. The primary processor can direct electrical signals generated by the first transducer to the secondary processor. The secondary processor can process the electrical signals independently of the primary processor and selectively communicate output to the primary processor. The primary processor can be configured to control communications through the wireless transceiver independently of the secondary processor.
US09848274B2

A method of sound spatialization, in which at least one filtering process, including summation, is applied, to at least two input signals, the filtering process comprising: the application of at least one first room effect transfer function, the first transfer function being specific to each input signal, and the application of at least one second room effect transfer function, the second transfer function being common to all input signals. The method is such that it comprises a step of weighting at least one input signal with a weighting factor, said weighting factor being specific to each of the input signals.
US09848269B2

A method of avoiding harmful noise levels, the method comprising implementing a cognitive suite of workplace hygiene and injury predictors (WHIP) that has learned to identify noise sources and indicators of harmful noise levels, detecting an indicator, and implementing a corrective action by at least one of altering the operation of a noise source, modifying a time of a scheduled task, or changing prescribed personal protective equipment.
US09848267B2

An electronic apparatus 1 having a panel 10, a housing 60 for supporting the panel 10, and a piezoelectric element unit 30 attached to the panel 10, the panel 10 becomes bent by the piezoelectric element unit 30 in such a manner that a region of the panel 10 immediately above the piezoelectric element unit 30 in a longitudinal direction thereof is raised higher than a surrounding region, and thus a part of the human body in contact with the panel 10 vibrates and delivers a sound, wherein the panel 10 is attached to the housing 60 by a double-sided adhesive tape 70 provided along a periphery of the panel 10 and an adhesive 71 applied along the double-sided adhesive tape 70.
US09848255B1

A method for manufacturing a plastic speaker grill is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a base member having a first side and an opposing second side and defining a thickness therebetween. The base member has a plurality of spaced blind holes wherein the first side is in communication with the plurality of blind holes and the second side defines a surface that is generally uniform and uninterrupted. The method further includes cutting the base member proximate the second side to remove a portion of the base member and define the speaker grill, and in response to cutting the base member, exposing the blind holes wherein the blind holes define apertures that extend completely through the speaker grill. A plastic speaker grill is provided having tightly-spaced and miniscule apertures.
US09848247B2

A media computing device with multiple virtual screens and personal area network capability, comprising a processor, a memory, an HDMI controller operating an HDMI interface, a wireless network interface configured to communicate via a local area network and configured to communicate via a personal area network, a media management subsystem, a virtual screen driver; and an operating system comprising programming instructions stored in the memory of and operating on the processor and configured to operate multiple virtual screens for user interaction via devices communicating via a network.
US09848246B2

A method comprises retrieving a profile of a given user, the given user having a given-user device; delivering a content item to the given-user device; receiving one or more user-specified tags associated with the content item; identifying one or more buddies of the user as indicated in the profile; and delivering the one or more tags to the one or more buddies.
US09848245B2

Systems and methods for incorporating online user generated media content (e.g., videos) into an interactive video gaming environment are provided. Media assets that are associated with different measures of quality generated by users are stored on a remote server. A player action is received by the remote server. A determination is made as to which one of the plurality of levels of the interactive video gaming environment corresponds to the action. One of the videos associated with one of the measures of quality is selected based on the determination of the level corresponding to the action. The selected video is transmitted to the player.
US09848244B2

An interactive method includes displaying image content received through a television (TV) network, identifying an object of interest of a user among a plurality of regions or a plurality of objects included in the image content, and providing additional information corresponding to the object of interest.
US09848241B2

Improved operation of a content presentation device is achieved by displaying, to a user, user-desired primary content on the physical display device. Content pod metadata can be received specifying a predefined duration of a content pod for displaying auxiliary content, different from primary content, within a break from the primary content for the predetermined duration. The content pod metadata also specifies a plurality of subdivision time slots of the content pod, each time slot for different auxiliary content. The auxiliary content can be displayed on the physical display device within a time slot of the content pod. User input can be received while displaying the auxiliary content on the physical display device, where the user input indicates user interest in the auxiliary content. The auxiliary content can then be adjusted based on the user interest in the auxiliary content.
US09848240B2

The present invention relates generally to a method of providing an on-line assessment of digital content, such as video clips (10), across a network, such as the Internet. In general terms the steps involved in this embodiment of the methodology include: 1. presenting a stimulant video clip (10); 2. providing means for rating the video clip in real time, in this example a rating bar (12) and slider (14) driven by a computer peripheral device (not shown); 3. collecting rating data relevant to the viewed video clip such as (10).
US09848239B2

The present disclosure describes techniques for projecting person-level viewership from household-level tuning events. One example method includes accessing tuning data representing television tuning events associated with particular households; accessing panelist viewing data representing television viewing events associated with panelists; and for at least one tuning event represented by the tuning data: accessing household member data associated with the tuning event; determining a member minutes value associated with each individual member of the particular household for the tuning event; and determining a fractional viewership value for each individual member of the particular household associated with the tuning event.
US09848236B2

A method and system for providing on-site content delivery and on-demand content access. The method comprising recording digital media content on a DMR device, managing distribution of the digital media content to one or more remote devices, automatically distributing the digital media content to the one or more remote devices, the distributed digital media content configured for local hosting at the one or more remote devices, and monitoring consumption of the digital media content distributed to the one or remote devices.
US09848233B1

Disclosed herein are a machine architecture implementing a staging automation process, including features such as multiple IR transmitters and composite video inputs for automated high volume quality testing. Diagnostic display outputs from a unit under test are input to OCR and video quality algorithms to validate that the units under test are ready for a functional test process at the next stage.
US09848232B2

Various arrangements for acquiring network configuration data are presented. In response to a television receiver being booted, the television receiver may determine if it can communicate with a service provider's server. If so, the television receiver may request network configuration data from the television programming broadcast network configuration server via a network interface. The television receiver may receive the network configuration data from the television programming broadcast network configuration server via the network interface. Based on the network configuration data, the television receiver may process television programming data received via the tuner.
US09848229B2

This disclosure relates system(s) and method(s) for overlaying functionalities, text, annotations, and/or features on video advertisements and content videos.
US09848228B1

Systems, methods, and program products for matching electronic audio files (such as songs) to associated electronic video work excerpts or electronic video clips from movies, televisions shows or advertisements in accordance with one or more sync licenses and generating and providing graphical representations of such video clips are disclosed.
US09848223B2

Methods and systems are provided for automatically identifying restored availability of multi-channel media distributors for authentication or authorization. For example, during a period of reduced availability for a multi-channel media distributor, the entitlement service diverts some or all requests from reaching the multi-channel media distributor. These requests are for programmers associated with the multi-channel media distributor to provide media content to user devices. The entitlement service subsequently transmits test requests to the multi-channel media distributor. The entitlement service determines that the multi-channel media distributor has authenticated user credentials included in the test requests or has authorized content access based on the test requests. Based on this determination, which indicates that the availability of the multi-channel media distributor has been restored, the entitlement service transmits subsequent authentication or authorizations requests to the multi-channel media distributor.
US09848202B2

This document discloses a method and apparatus for image encoding/decoding which support multiple layers. The method for image decoding comprises analyzing a video parameter set (VPS) extension for layer dependency on a current layer, analyzing slices for layer dependency on a current slice by determining whether not to apply layer dependency to the current slice or to apply new layer dependency to the current slice, the new layer dependency determining within a range of layer dependency analyzed from the VPS extension, and constructing a reference picture list about the current layer based on at least one of layer dependency analyzed from the VPS extension and layer dependency analyzed from the slice.
US09848194B2

An image coding method and apparatus considering human visual characteristics are provided. The image coding method comprises (a) modeling image quality distribution of an input image in units of scenes such that the quality of an image input in units of scenes is gradually lowered from a region of interest to a background region, (b) determining a quantization parameter of each region constituting one scene according to the result of modeling of image quality distribution, (c) quantizing image data in accordance with the quantization parameter, and (d) coding entropy of the quantized image data.
US09848172B2

Systems and methods facilitate autonomous image capture and/or picture production. A location unit is attached to each tracked object. An object tracking device receives location information from each location unit. A camera control device controls, based upon the location information, at least one motorized camera to capture image data of at least one tracked object.
US09848170B2

A method, computer readable storage medium, and system are disclosed for improving communication productivity in a conference between two or more subjects, wherein at least one of the two or more subjects participates in the conference from a first location and one or more of the two or more subjects participate in the meeting from a second location. The method includes capturing, at least one first three-dimensional (3D) stream of data and at least one second three-dimensional (3D) stream of data on each of the two or more subjects participating in the conference; generating a synchrony score for the two or more subjects, wherein the synchrony score is calculated by comparing time series of skeletal data of each of the two or more subjects to one another for a defined period of time; and using the synchrony score to generate an engagement index between the two or more subjects.
US09848167B1

Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for enabling a standby mode during videoconferencing, the standby mode having reduced bandwidth consumption and configured to indicate whether a person is present while protecting a privacy of the person. For example, a local device may capture low resolution video data at a low sampling rate, downsample the video data and send the downsampled video data to a remote device, which may upsample the downsampled video data and display the upsampled video data on a display. The upsampled video data indicates an environment of the local device while blurring details, enabling a user of the remote device to identify movement or activity while maintaining privacy for anyone near the local device. The local device may identify activity, motion and/or objects of interest in the video data and may apply a special effect emphasizing the activity, motion and/or objects of interest.
US09848166B2

A communication unit prevents a malfunction which initiates communication against a user's will when communication for the purpose of remote dialog, without requiring a complex operation on the part of the user. This communication unit, used when a sender transmits his or her image or speech information to a recipient, comprises: a device that acquires image and speech information; a home server that transmits communication data indicating the information acquired by the information acquisition device to a device possessed by the recipient; and a detection unit that detects an object to be detected which is generated or changed by an action of the sender. The detection unit detects mutually different types of the objects each to be detected. Then, the home server starts transmitting the communication data when each detection result from each of two or more types of the detection units satisfies a predetermined condition.
US09848163B2

For sharpening an input image by up-converting the input image in order to increase the number of pixels of an image and generating a frequency component higher than a frequency component contained in an input image signal representing the input image, the number of multipliers is reduced, thereby achieving significant downsizing of an apparatus and cost reduction. An image processing apparatus includes a path on a base image side for up-converting the input image signal and a path on a sharpening processing side for carrying out nonlinear arithmetic processing on the input image signal. The path on the sharpening processing side includes an up-converter at a subsequent stage of at least one filter, after which the nonlinear arithmetic processing is carried out. The at least one filter may be either a two-dimensional low pass filter for noise removal or a high pass filter for removing a DC component.
US09848157B2

Method for automatically switching television channels or other content sources. The method may be used with any electronic media to facilitate switching between channels or other content sources based on events or other occurrences in non-viewed channels, such as but not limited to switching channels based on sporting event occurrences (goals, ending of game, etc.), news event occurrence (breaking news, health tips, etc.), and other any number of other identifiable events.
US09848139B2

An image sensing circuit includes floating node, switch circuit, capacitor(s), and counting circuit. The floating node receives image electric charge from a photosensitive pixel. The switch circuit is coupled between floating node and capacitor(s) to dynamically connect and disconnect floating node and capacitor(s). The capacitor(s) include(s) first terminal(s) connected to switch circuit and second terminal(s) connected to ground. The counting circuit counts the number of charging and discharging behavior of capacitor(s) according to dynamic switches of switch circuit wherein the switch circuit dynamically switches to make capacitor(s) be charged and discharged dynamically in response to one exposure time period to receive energy of image electric charge which is determined by the number of charging and discharging behavior of the capacitor(s) and the capacitor(s)' potential value measured finally.
US09848138B2

An electronic read circuit for a radiation detector comprises: an element sensitive to the radiation, an injection circuit, able to inject a charge at one terminal of the sensitive element, the injection circuit extending between at least one input terminal and one output terminal, the output terminal being able to be connected to the sensitive element, the injection circuit being able to produce a charge under the effect of a trigger pulse. The injection circuit is able to inject a first charge when an input terminal is connected to a first input potential and a second charge when an input terminal is connected to a second input potential. The circuit comprises means for storing a difference between an output potential of the injection circuit, called equilibrium potential, and a reference potential, such that the second charge depends on the second input potential and on the equilibrium potential.
US09848125B2

A device with a front facing camera having two discrete focus positions is provided. The device comprises: a chassis comprising a front side; a display and a camera each at least partially located on the front side; the camera adjacent the display, the camera facing in a same direction as the display, the camera configured to: acquire video in a video mode; acquire an image in a camera mode; and, discretely step between a first and second focus position, the first position comprising a depth of field (“DOF”) at a hyperfocal distance and the second position comprising a DOF in a range of about 20 cm to about 1 meter; and, a processor configured to: when the camera is in the camera mode, automatically control the camera to the first position; and, when the camera is in the video mode, automatically control the camera to the second position.
US09848124B2

An endoscope system has an insertion portion, a forward observation window configured to acquire a forward-field-of-view image, a lateral observation window configured to acquire a lateral-field-of-view image, an image pickup device and a video processor. A positional displacement correcting portion of the video processor detects a positional relationship between a portion where the forward-field-of-view image is formed and a portion where the lateral-field-of-view image is formed, on the image pickup device, and generates displacement amount data. A boundary correcting portion generates an image signal in which the forward-field-of-view image and the lateral-field-of-view image are arranged with an image center point provided in the portion and an image center point provided in the portion caused to correspond to each other, based on the displacement amount data.
US09848114B2

A vehicle camera system and method for operating a vehicle camera system comprising a vehicle camera with communication capabilities. The vehicle camera operating in conjunction with other components to provide information to users. The vehicle camera system compiles information from multiple components into a single repository of video recordings with information, such as location information, vehicle status and diagnostic information, alert information and other information.
US09848111B1

An imager assembly having a molded package formed using a molded interconnect device (MID) technique having a rim portion protruding from a surface of the molded package is disclosed. A lens may be held by the rim portion protruding from the surface and an image sensor may be disposed on the surface. The molded package may further be mechanically and electrically coupled to an electromechanical device, such as a voice coil motor (VCM). The VCM may be configured to move the lens held by the molded package for the purposes of focusing an image on the image sensor. Additionally, an imager assembly with a sandwich molded package having a first high density interconnect (HDI) layer and a second HDI layer with surface mount devices (SMDs) and molding compound therebetween is disclosed. The imager assembly may further include an image sensor, lens assembly, and VCM disposed on the sandwich molded package.
US09848099B2

An image reading apparatus includes a reading device having an opening in an upper surface thereof, a main device disposed below the reading device, a first cable connected to the reading device and the main device and including a first portion, a retaining portion disposed in the main device, and a groove portion. The retaining portion is configured to retain the first portion of the first cable such that the first portion has a substantially U-shaped curve, which is curved downwardly, and such that a liquid passes through the opening of the reading device, runs on the first portion downwardly and drops down from a lower end of the substantially U-shaped curve in the first portion of the first cable. The groove portion is configured to receive the liquid dropping down from the lower end of the substantially U-shaped curve in the first portion of the first cable.
US09848098B2

An image processing apparatus 1 obtains displacement amounts of patterns formed on front and back sides of a recording sheet respectively, and performs correction of an image formation position based on the displacement amounts. The image processing apparatus 1 calculates the lengths of the sides of each of the front and back sides of a recording sheet by detecting the intersection points of the surrounding edges of the recording sheet with reference to the image data of the each of the front and back sides. A magnification error is calculated based on the lengths of the sides corresponding between the front and back sides. A correction amount is then calculated based on the calculated magnification error in order to make the lengths of each side match each other. Displacement amounts of the positions of the patterns is obtained after correction based on the correction amount.
US09848094B2

Presented are cloud storage architectures for private data of scanned documents uploaded from smart phone among terminals with enhanced capability of data privacy and survivability. Pre-processing for storing data in IP cloud comprises: transforming multiple first data sets into multiple second data sets at an uploading site, wherein one of said second data sets comprises a weighted sum of said first data sets; storing said second data sets in an IP cloud via IP connectivity; and storing data in multiple data storages linking to said second data sets at said uploading site. In accordance with an embodiment of present invention post processing may comprise recovering said second data sets at a downloading site via IP network.
US09848093B2

A method for identifying print control elements for quality data acquisition includes encoding position information in a human-readable identification code, encoding specific print job information and the human-readable identification code in a machine-readable data code, positioning the codes alongside their associated print control element on a printing substrate, photographing the printed print control element and adjacent machine-readable data code using information from adjacent identification code, and processing data with a mobile communication device having a camera function and communications interface. Image data produced are exporting to a support computer via the communications interface. Machine-readable data code are decoded, image data on the computer are analyzed using information obtained from decoded machine-readable data code, the results of analysis are transmitted from the computer to the mobile communication device, and erroneous settings, found by image analysis, in a printing press producing printed products, are corrected.
US09848092B2

An image reading device reads an image of an original document and includes a conveyance roller, an image reading section, a first determination section, a second determination section, and a conveyance stopping section. The conveyance roller conveys the original document. The image reading section reads the image of the original document. The first determination section determines whether or not the original document has a punched hole based on the image read by the image reading section. The second determination section determines, upon determination that the original document has the punched hole, whether or not the punched hole is to travel on an edge of the conveyance roller. The conveyance stopping section stops conveyance of the original document upon determination that the punched hole is to travel on the edge of the conveyance roller.
US09848091B2

Charging systems and associated methods are disclosed that provide interim billing for a session in an IMS network. The charging system includes a charging data system that receives accounting messages from network elements serving the session in the IMS network, and generates partial CDRs for each network element based on the accounting messages. The charging data system also sets an aggregation/correlation timer. Responsive to an expiration of the aggregation/correlation timer, the charging data system aggregates the partial CDRs for each network element to generate an aggregated CDR for each network element. The charging system further includes a charging gateway system that, in further response to the expiration of the aggregation/correlation timer, correlates the aggregated CDRs to generate an interim consolidated CDR for the session, and transmits the interim consolidated CDR to a billing system. The billing system may then provide interim billing for the session based on the interim consolidated CDR.
US09848089B2

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to generate an overall performance index. The overall performance index is generated from data values from multiple different datasources that measure the same aspect of network performance of wireless providers of interest. The data values are used to generate metrics that measure the same aspect of network performance. The metrics are indexed and combined to generate an overall performance index.
US09848088B2

A vehicle communication system including a data communication module (DCM) that, upon detecting that a user's mobile telephone is not present onboard a vehicle, is configured to instruct a telecommunications server to forward calls made to the user's mobile telephone to the DCM of the vehicle. The DCM is further configured to instruct the telecommunications server to connect a telephone call that has been initiated by the user at the vehicle using the DCM of the vehicle.
US09848077B2

A method is provided including: sensing that a reader is located within a preset distance from an electronic device; determining a Service Identification Module (SIM) from a plurality of SIMS that are available in the electronic device; and communicating with the reader using information stored in the SIM.
US09848073B2

Methods and systems for commencing a process based on a sound trigger are provided. First, a sound is received via a sound reception unit. When an intensity difference between the intensity of the sound at a specific time point and the intensity of the sound at a preceding time point is greater than a predefined value, a process in the electronic device is performed. In some embodiments, the sound is caused by tapping the electronic device.
US09848059B2

The method includes: receiving a content-requesting message sent by a terminal; determining coding block information corresponding to a requested content according to a name of the requested content and pre-stored coding block information; performing an AND operation on a request identifier respectively with attribute fields in the coding block information corresponding to the requested content, and obtaining a coding block corresponding to an attribute field with which the AND operation produces a non-zero result and which is not part of excluded information as a first target coding block; and sending a first content reply message including the first target coding block and the corresponding attribute field thereof to the terminal.
US09848056B2

A data processing method, a router, and an NDN system are disclosed. The method may include obtaining a priority attribute of the data when data is received, setting a life cycle attribute for the data according to a correspondence between the priority attribute and the life cycle attribute, and storing, in a local cache, the data having the life cycle attribute.
US09848050B2

Provided is an information processing device including: a data acquiring unit which acquires data which flows through a network and includes a header and content, before the data reaches a destination; an inspecting unit which inspects the content; a during-inspection transmitting unit which transmits at least a part of the data to the destination while an inspection by the inspecting unit is being performed; and a transferring unit which, after the inspection of the content by the inspecting unit is completed, transfers the data including the content with the exception of a portion already transmitted by the during-inspection transmitting unit, to the destination.
US09848041B2

A service provider may apply customer-selected or customer-defined auto-scaling policies to a cluster of resources (e.g., virtualized computing resource instances or storage resource instances in a MapReduce cluster). Different policies may be applied to different subsets of cluster resources (e.g., different instance groups containing nodes of different types or having different roles). Each policy may define an expression to be evaluated during execution of a distributed application, a scaling action to take if the expression evaluates true, and an amount by which capacity should be increased or decreased. The expression may be dependent on metrics emitted by the application, cluster, or resource instances by default, metrics defined by the client and emitted by the application, or metrics created through aggregation. Metric collection, aggregation and rules evaluation may be performed by a separate service or by cluster components. An API may support auto-scaling policy definition.
US09848040B2

One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch that facilitates name services in a virtual cluster switch. The switch includes a name service database indicating at least one media access control (MAC) address learned at a second switch. The switch also includes a control mechanism. During operation, the control mechanism distributes information on a locally learned MAC address to the second switch. In addition, the control mechanism receives information on a MAC address learned at the second switch.
US09848039B2

According to embodiments of the present invention, a method, a device and a computer program product for quick deployment of multiple virtual machines are provided. The method comprises mounting a centralized storage volume on a host in response to boot-up of a virtual machine on the host. The method further comprises obtaining unique information assigned to the virtual machine. In addition, the method comprises retrieving public and private configuration for the virtual machine from the centralized storage volume based on the obtained unique information, the public and private configuration being applied in the boot-up of the virtual machine on the host.
US09848037B2

The invention describes a system and a method for displaying content on a first device by using a second device. In an exemplary system, the first device comprises a first display, a first transmitter for transmitting a first identification message comprising information for identifying the first device, and a first receiver for receiving content. The second device comprises input means for receiving input from a user, specifying specific content to be displayed at least on the first display, control means for creating a command message based on the user input, and a second transmitter for transmitting a second identification message and the command message. The server comprises receiving means for receiving the identification messages and the command message, server control means for establishing a logic relationship between at least the first device and the second device based at least on the first and second identification messages and for providing a first instruction for the first device based on the logic relationship and the command message, content providing means for providing content based on the first instruction, so that the content can be displayed at least on the first display.
US09848036B1

Systems, methods, and media for causing an action to be performed on a user device are provided. In some implementations, the systems comprise: a first user device comprising at least one hardware processor that is configured to: detect a second user device in proximity to the first user device; receive a user input indicative of an action to be performed; determine a plurality of candidate devices that are capable of performing the action, wherein the plurality of candidate devices includes the second user device; determine a plurality of device types corresponding to the plurality of candidate devices; determine a plurality of priorities associated with the plurality of candidate devices based at least in part on the plurality of device types; select a target device from the plurality of candidate devices based at least in part on the plurality of priorities; and cause the action to be performed by the target device.
US09848032B2

Techniques and configurations for streaming metadata between devices are disclosed herein. In one example embodiment, streaming textual data, for example subtitles or closed caption data, are provided from a consumer television or set top box (STB) platform to a tablet computer platform. XMPP and BOSH are used as infrastructural components to help establish the client/server connection between the platforms. These components also maintain this connection and support real-time communications and transfer of data between the platforms. In an example embodiment, an application on the primary platform has a string of metadata which is communicated to a client application on a second platform. For example, client application may be a smart phone app in the form of an HTML5 app running on browser. The system may stream and control bi-directionally. In this architecture an XMPP-implementing JavaScript library allows XMPP client interaction through an XML stanza.
US09848023B2

A method is provided including: generating, by an electronic device, at least one content item executable on a first application; executing a second application while the first application is still active; and transmitting the content item to a server by using the second application.
US09848017B2

Techniques for identity and policy based routing are presented. A resource is initiated on a device with a resource identity and role assignments along with policies are obtained for the resource. A customized network is created for the resource using a device address for the device, the resource identity, the role assignments, and the policies.
US09848010B2

Systems and methods for identifying and remediating malware-compromised mobile devices are disclosed. A computer-implemented method includes accessing, by a computing device, malware risk data; determining, by the computing device, a mobile device is at risk from malware based on the malware risk data; identifying, by the computing device, a set of connections of a user of the mobile device, wherein each connection in the set of connections is associated with a user computer device; identifying, by the computing device, at least one user computer device from the set of connections at risk from the malware; and outputting, by the computer device, a malware notification for the mobile device at risk and at least one user computer device at risk.
US09848009B2

Devices, systems, and methods of detecting whether an electronic device or computerized device or computer, is being controlled by a legitimate human user, or by an automated cyber-attack unit or malware or automatic script. The system monitors interactions performed via one or more input units of the electronic device. The system searches for abnormal input-user interactions; or for an abnormal discrepancy between: the input-unit gestures that were actually registered by the input unit, and the content that the electronic device reports as allegedly entered via such input units. A discrepancy or abnormality indicates that more-possibly, or necessarily or certainly, a malware or automated script is controlling the electronic device, rather than a legitimate human user. Optionally, an input-output aberration or interference is injected, in order to check for manual corrective actions that only a human user, and not an automated script, is able to perform.
US09848002B2

A system for integrating modules of computer code may include a sandbox validator for receiving a first module and verifying that the first module complies with one or more sandbox constraints. A computing device may execute the first module within a runtime environment. A module integrator may operate within the runtime environment for receiving a request from the first module to access a service provided by a second module and only allowing the first module to access the service when the first module is authorized to access the service according to a service authorization table. The sandbox validator may ensure the first module correctly identifies itself when requesting a service provide by another module and that the first module includes runtime policing functions for non-deterministic operations. A service authorizer may generate an authorization policy for the first module, which is sent to the computing device along with the first module.
US09847999B2

The present disclosure generally relates to techniques for managing a remote authorization to proceed with an action, such as creating a secure network connection. In some examples, a requesting device receives selection of one or more options. The requesting device transmits a request to proceed with an action to an authenticating device. The authenticating device concurrently displays an indication of the request to proceed with the action, information about the selected one or more options, and an indication of the requesting device. The authenticating device receives authorization to proceed with the action and transmits a response to the requesting device regarding the request to proceed with the action.
US09847995B2

A system, method, and computer-readable medium for challenge-response authentication are provided. A plurality of codes is received over a communication network based on input provided by way of a user interface displaying a plurality of images. An alphanumeric string is generated based on the received plurality of codes and based on a table that associates each one of the plurality of codes with a respective one of the plurality of images and with a respective one of a plurality of alphanumeric characters. A determination is made as to whether to grant authorization based on whether the generated alphanumeric string matches an alphanumeric user identifier stored in a memory device in association with a user.
US09847981B1

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for storing and retrieving encrypted data. In one aspect, a method includes receiving, at a server computer separate from a user device, a first encrypted resource encrypted by use of a public encryption key, wherein the public encryption key is paired with a private encryption key according to an asymmetric encryption key scheme; retrieving, by the server computer, a second encrypted resource encrypted by use of the public key; augmenting, by the server computer, the first encrypted resource with the second encrypted resource to form an encrypted data tuple; encrypting, by the server computer, the encrypted data tuple; and storing, by the server computer, the encrypted data tuple as the second encrypted resource.
US09847971B2

According to one aspect, a method includes coupling first and second security units in series between first and second networks. The first security unit obtains packets from the first network, and the second security unit obtains the packets from the first security unit. The first security unit includes first logic arranged to provide security. The second security unit includes second logic arranged to provide security. The method also includes configuring the second security unit in a bypass mode such that the second logic does not provide security, and obtaining a first packet from the first network via the first security unit. The first packet is identified as secure by the first logic. Finally, the method includes providing the first packet from the second security unit to the second network by passing the first packet through the second unit without using the second logic to provide security.
US09847967B2

Methods and apparatuses for a network element having DHCP proxy functionality are described. According to one embodiment, an exemplary method includes receiving, at a network element, a request for an IP address from a subscriber, in response to the request, on behalf of the subscriber, communicating with one or more IP address providers over a network to process the request, and responding to the subscriber with respect to the request as if the network element is an IP address provider, on behalf of the one or more IP address providers.
US09847962B2

A device, network, and method for communications with spatial-specific sensing is provided. In an embodiment, a method in a first communication node for providing contention-based transmission from the first communication node in a network to a second communication node includes determining, by the first communication node, a transmission direction, the transmission direction characterized by a digital beamforming direction and an analog beamsteering direction; performing, by the first communication node, spatial-specific carrier sensing in accordance with a sensing direction associated with the transmission direction; determining, by the first communication node, a channel status of a channel along the sensing direction according to the spatial-specific carrier sensing; and transmitting, by the first communication node, a transmission along the transmission direction.
US09847960B2

Methods and systems of dynamically updating content in e-mail messages are described. In some embodiments, an e-mail message is generated. The e-mail message comprises existing content viewable within an e-mail client and is configured to initiate a modification of the existing content within the e-mail message by the e-mail client subsequent to the e-mail message being downloaded by the e-mail client. The modification of the existing content is viewable within the e-mail client. The generated e-mail message is sent to an e-mail account from which a user can view the e-mail message within the e-mail client. In some embodiments, the e-mail message is further configured to cause the e-mail client to obtain new content from a remote server for use in the modification of the existing content within the e-mail message.
US09847950B1

A thread pool of consumers polls existing queues. A thread manager controls the number of active threads. This approach limits the number of threads, but is still able to keep up with the volume of traffic.
US09847946B2

A method and apparatus are provided in which network traffic is separated based on application, query, or other criteria. A first application is stored in a first control group in a resource isolation environment, the first control group being associated with a first policy. A second application is stored in a second control group in the resource isolation environment, the second control group being associated with a second policy. Upon receiving a request for content through one of the first application and the second application, it is determined which control group is associated with the request. Traffic is managed in connection with the request according to the policy associated with the determined control group.
US09847940B2

A control method executed by a packet processing device, the control method includes receiving, by a first processor, a received packet; identifying first processing execution information corresponding to the received packet, from among a plurality of first processing execution information, by referring to the first memory, based on packet identification information included in the received packet; and transmitting processing specification information included in the identified first processing execution information together with the received packet, to a second processor, when the processing specification information included in the identified first processing execution information specifies processing by the second processor; receiving, by the second processor, the processing specification information included in the identified first processing execution information and the received packet; and executing the processing for the received packet in accordance with second processing execution information specified by the received processing specification information, by referring to the plurality of second processing execution information.
US09847938B2

A method for configuring a managed hardware forwarding element (MHFE) to perform packet forwarding operations for a logical network is described. The method receives data for the logical network that defines a logical router and a set of logical switches for logically connecting several end machines that operate on different host machines to several physical machines that are connected to the MHFE. The method defines multiple routing components for the logical router, where each routing component includes a separate set of logical ports. The method then configures a forwarding table on the MHFE by populating the forwarding table with tunnel endpoint data for each logical port of each routing component of the logical router that is associated with a logical port of a logical switch. The tunnel endpoint data populated for logical ports of one routing component indicate that no tunnel should be established for any of the logical ports.
US09847930B2

A communication protocol includes one or more messages passed between Web routers over a reliable transmission protocol used for inter-Web router communication. These messages include information that allows the Web routers to dynamically update mappings of client addresses or address ranges to information object repository addresses based on client-to-server distance and server load. The mappings are preferably optimal mappings of the client addresses or address ranges to the information object repository addresses and the messages report updated distances from these information object repository addresses to the client addresses or address ranges. For example, the messages may report, for each updated distance, an associated client address or address range and/or an associated anchor address of a Web router co-located with an information object repository that is the subject of the message.
US09847925B2

Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for collecting distributed counter values in a packet-switched system having multiple distributed packet processors. The method includes receiving a probe packet at a packet processor, storing a counter value corresponding to a flow processed by the packet processor for subsequent delivery to a management controller, and forwarding the probe packet to a next packet processor. The next packet processor stores a counter value of the next packet processor for subsequent delivery to the management controller.
US09847908B2

The present invention relates to the field of a resource management method and a server. The resource management method includes: acquiring, by a management server, a first stable ratio used to indicate a quantitative ratio of at least two types of servers in a CSP during stable interaction; and increasing quantities of the at least two types of servers in the CSP according to the first stable ratio. By applying the present invention, a management server on a CSP increases the quantities of all types of servers at one time according to a stable ratio. This enables all types of servers to quickly reach a stable state, and improves overall processing capabilities of all types of servers, thereby further enhancing quality of service of an application deployed on the CSP.
US09847905B2

Described herein is a system and method for supporting an identity management provider in a cloud computing environment. In accordance with an embodiment, an identity management (IDM) provider can provide an identity store (e.g., LDAP directory) configuration for use by a cloud platform (e.g., CloudLogic) service. In accordance with an embodiment, the IDM provider can centrally manage one or more identity store configurations, and supply a particular configuration to the orchestration engine when a service is being provisioned, so that the service can then be launched with an appropriate identity store. This allows a platform administrator to specify identity store configurations once and in one place, instead of having to create an identity store configuration for each service.
US09847904B2

A system and method for semi-automated configuration of a low-latency multimedia playback system, wherein a media computing device is configured to present a plurality of configuration prompts for user interaction via a wireless network, direct the configuration of the media computing device based on received user interaction via the prompts, and direct the operation of a plurality of network-connected media rendering devices.
US09847903B2

A method in a configuration server for configuring a communication system comprises configuring a plurality of nodes in a first cluster, and configuring a plurality of nodes in at least a second cluster, such that the configuration server acts as a common configuration server for at least first and second clusters. A method in a node associated with a cluster comprises determining a configuration service address relating to a common configuration server that is adapted to configure the cluster associated with the node and at least one other cluster, sending a request for configuration information to the common configuration server, and receiving configuration information from the common configuration server.
US09847893B2

Systems and methods are provided for adjusting gain of a receiver. Adaptation circuitry is operable to identify, based on a matrix representation of a receiver's output generated from horizontal and vertical sweeps of the receiver's output, an eye opening of the receiver's output. The adaptation circuitry is also operable to determine whether a size of the eye opening needs to be changed. When it is determined that the size of the eye opening needs to be changed, the adaptation circuitry is operable to generate a digital signal to change a gain setting of the receiver. When the signal at the receiver's output is under-equalized, the AC gain of the receiver is increased. When the signal at the receiver's output is over-equalized, the AC gain of the receiver is decreased.
US09847888B2

A method of controlling ability of a client device to access media content available from a server device on a network is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving with the server device a request from the client device via the network for media content and determining with the server device a type of the client device and a type of the media content. Thereafter, a step of applying a policy stored in software form in the server device for determining actions allowable for the client device with respect to the media content is performed. After the applying step, access of the media content is provided to the client device only to an extent defined and permitted by the policy. A server device for functioning as a Digital Media Server (DMS) on a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) network is also disclosed.
US09847880B2

Techniques are described for ensuring data integrity and authentication of received messages. One technique includes sending a request from a first module to a second module in which the request includes a first portion that is a shared secret encrypted with a public key, obtaining by the second module a private key from a secure and trusted information store, such as a license information store, including license information or other application specific information for the first module, using the private key to decrypt the first portion and obtain the shared secret, sending a response from the second module to the first module in which the response includes authentication data and at least one data item used with the shared secret to determine the authentication data, and performing by the first module verification processing to verify the authentication data included in the response.
US09847861B2

A set of different pilot structures are designed for use in different environments and/or different user behaviors that are expected to occur in a cell. The radio conditions for a user are estimated. Each user is then assigned an area (108A-E) in resource space for its communication, which has a suitable pilot configuration. In one embodiment, the entire resource space is provided with different pilot structures in different parts (110A-D) In advance and allocation of resources to the users are then performed in order to match estimated radio conditions to the provided pilot structure. In another embodiment, allocation is performed first, and then the actual pilot structure is adapted within the allocated resource space area to suit the environmental conditions.
US09847856B2

According to an example embodiment of this invention, a method may include by a processor, receiving a configuration of a flexible muting pattern, wherein the muting pattern comprises a fixed part and an optional part; determining to activate the optional part of the flexible muting pattern; and preparing a message indicating to a network element that the optional part of the flexible muting pattern is activated. Apparatus and computer readable media are also described.
US09847853B1

Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) protocol is used in many modern telecommunication systems for improved link level reliability. Hybrid ARQ (HARQ) protocol takes advantage of the retransmissions in ARQ to enable the receiver to decode the currently received data by combining it with all the previously received transmissions that were not successfully decoded. Each successive retransmission improves the probability of correctly decoding the data. To support HARQ, the receiver is required to store the previously received unsuccessful transmissions for combining with future retransmissions. The storage of the previously received unsuccessful transmissions can be very large depending on type of the HARQ protocol used. A method and apparatus are disclosed that enable reduced memory storage requirements while maintaining the HARQ performance requirements. The reduced memory requirements result in reduced cost, reduced power consumption and lowered cost.
US09847847B2

Disclosed are a method and device for managing optical channel overhead, and an optical signal receiving node. The method comprises: optical channel overhead information is structured, wherein the optical channel overhead information comprises at least one of the following: the optical channel nominal central frequency, the optical channel application code, and the optical channel trail trace identifier; and the optical channel overhead information is sent to the optical signal receiving node. The disclosure solves the technical problem in the related art of an inability to negotiate a single, unified optical channel nominal central frequency and application code between the optical transmitter and the optical receiver, i.e. the disclosure enables an optical transmitter and the optical receiver to negotiate such the nominal central frequency and application code, thereby achieving the technical result of an optical signal being correctly sent and received.
US09847846B2

The audio outputs 29 of each of a plurality of telecommunications terminals in a packet switched system are synchronized by having each terminal transmit a stream of packets whose rate, and therefore duration is determined according to a clock generator 25, and is thus indicative of the rate at which the terminal is generating its audio output. The signals from each terminal are transmitted to a common server. For each terminal, the server uses a master dock to compare the duration of the packet stream with an expected duration, and calculates an offset value which is returned to the respective terminal. Each terminal stores the offset value it receives (20) and uses it to adjust the output of its clock generator 25 so that its operations can be synchronized to the server. This allows all the terminals' digital-to-analog conversion processes to be synchronized such that all their analog outputs are coordinated, allowing co-located acoustic outputs to be synchronous. A second embodiment maintains synchronization by maintaining the volume of the data buffer 23 serving the audio output 29 within predetermined limits.
US09847844B2

A plurality of digital video recorders are polled to extract data indicative of recordings scheduled thereon. The polling is carried out over a video content network by a component at a node in the video content network that is remote from the plurality of digital video recorders. At least a portion of the data is used to obtain a prediction of future switched digital video channel usage for the video content network. At least one network management activity is carried out on the video content network in response to the prediction of future switched digital video channel usage for the video content network.
US09847838B2

The systems, apparatuses and methods of the present invention set forth improvements to the problems of the current pairing or duplex paradigm, resulting in a dramatic increase in fiber transmission efficiency, accomplished explicitly by restructuring presently-aligned C-Band wavelengths into innovative DWDM transmit and receive formats, and through implementing photonic-wave changes, which directs Ethernet data flow onto new path adaptations. These improvements could reduce line haul expenses significantly, believed to reach a projected 50% less requirement/deployment of fiber strands. This saving would offer owner-operators substantial fiber strand cost reductions, affecting transportation rates of high-bandwidth digital payloads traversing over DWDM networks, and lower usage rates of cross-connections amid multiple equipment inter-exchanging throughout large data centers.
US09847832B2

A test apparatus and method for testing passive optical networks is provided. The test apparatus includes an optical circuit having an optical coupler for splitting off a portion of optical traffic. During testing of a passive optical network, the optical circuit is coupled into an optical path of the passive optical network. A bit stream corresponding to an activating procedure is captured and analyzed to extract identification information of the module that sent the bit stream.
US09847830B2

The present disclosure describes a method and an apparatus for pruning false peaks during slot synchronization at a user equipment (UE). For example, a method is provided to identify a plurality of first peaks associated with a primary-synchronization channel (P-SCH) received at the UE and a plurality of second peaks from the plurality of first peaks. Further, one or more pruning locations along with associated energy thresholds for each of the plurality of the second peaks may be determined and whether a peak of the plurality of the first peaks is a false peak is identified based on whether the peak is located at one of the one or more pruning locations of the peak and an associated energy value of the peak does not satisfy the associated energy threshold of the pruning location. Furthermore, the peak identified as the false peak is discarded.
US09847828B2

Example methods and systems for adjusting the beam width of radio frequency (RF) signals for purposes of balloon-to-ground communication are described. One example method includes determining, based on respective locations of a plurality of balloons and areas covered by respective ground-facing communication beams of the balloons, a contiguous ground coverage area served by the plurality of balloons, where the communication beam of a balloon defines a corresponding individual coverage area within the ground coverage area, determining a change in position of at least one of the balloons, based on the change in position of the at least one balloon, determining an adjustment to a first of the individual coverage areas in an effort to maintain the contiguous ground coverage area after the change in position of at least one of the balloons, and adjusting a width of the ground-facing communication beam of the balloon corresponding to the first individual coverage area in order to make the determined adjustment to the first individual coverage area.
US09847827B2

Disclosed are a method and system for transmitting data in a wireless local access network. The method includes: a first station sending a radio frame to a second station in an obtained transmission opportunity, and carrying, in the radio frame, notification information indicating that the second station uses the transmission opportunity to communicate with a third station. The technical scheme provided in embodiments of the present invention are applicable to transmission opportunity management in a data relay process in the wireless local area network, to achieve the control right management of transmission opportunity under the control of the first station.
US09847818B2

A method implemented in a base station used in a wireless communications system is disclosed. The method comprises receiving, from a user equipment, rank indication (RI), a first precoding matrix indicator (PMI), and a second PMI (codebook index i2), wherein values 0-15 are assigned to the second PMI IPMI2 for RI=1 and values 0-3 are assigned to the second PMI IPMI2 for each of RI=2, RI=3, and RI=4, and wherein codebook index i2 comprises IPMI2 for RI=1. Other methods, apparatuses, and systems also are disclosed.
US09847812B2

The invention relates to a method for the contactless tapping of communication signals that are exchanged between two communication units, in particular a sensor or actuator and a digital evaluating or control unit, wherein the communication signals are transmitted on a line (2) of a multi-core cable (1) as voltage signals. According to the invention, in order that the communication signals can be tapped also in the case of multi-core cables without the line having to be interrupted for this purpose, the communication signals are tapped capacitively, wherein at least two electrodes (10a, 10b), which lie on the cable sheath and the angular position of which in relation to the cable axis is variable, are used for the tapping and the angular position at which the differential signal between the two electrodes (10a, 10b) is maximized is determined, wherein the at least two electrodes (10a, 10b), each consisting of a plurality of individual electrodes (E1-E8), are designed as collection electrodes and the various angular positions of the collection electrodes (10a, 10b) are achieved in that the association of the individual electrodes (E1-E8) with the at least two collection electrodes (10a, 10b) is sequentially changed by means of a controller (26). The invention further relates to an assembly for performing said method.
US09847806B1

A cellular phone protection case that has four impact absorbing corners and a planar body extending therebetween. Portions of the planar body are asymmetrical relative to imaginary central axes associated with the planar body. Additionally, the four corners define free spaces therebetween to define a cell phone cover that is substantially free of planar sidewalls extending between respective corners. The corners may deflect to repeatably engage a cell phone at complementarily shaped cellphone corners.
US09847802B1

An example transmitter includes first and second circuit stages and interface circuits. The first circuit stage is configured to generate modulated signals each having a different carrier frequency from baseband signals. The second circuit stage is configured to generate radio frequency (RF) energy to be radiated by antenna(s). The interface circuits are coupled between the first circuit stage and the second circuit stage. The second circuit stage and the interface circuits are configurable to provide a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the second circuit stage provides transmit paths and the interface circuits couple each of the modulated signals to a respective one of the transmit paths. In the second mode, the second circuit stage provides a first transmit path and the interface circuits couple a sum of at least two of the modulated signals to the first transmit path.
US09847786B1

Various embodiments of the present technology may comprise methods and apparatus for a multi-cycle time-based ADC configured to convert an analog signal to a digital value. Methods and apparatus a multi-cycle time-based ADC according to various aspects of the present invention may comprise a plurality of VTCs configured to perform multiple voltage-to-time conversions out-of-phase from each other. The integration times for each VTC may be summed to provide a total integration time, which may then be converted to the digital value.
US09847782B2

A switch is envisaged in the present disclosure. The switch includes a plunger that has one of a push action and a slide action to actuate the switch. The plunger is at least partially attached to a conductive pill. The switch includes a pair of sense electrodes, each having a first operative surface to which a dielectric film is attached forming an operational capacitor, and a second operative surface which is in electrical contact with the operational capacitor. The operational capacitor has a parallel relationship with an external capacitor when the conductive pill makes contact with the dielectric film resulting in discharge of the external capacitor. The microprocessor includes an internal capacitor that discharges on discharge of the external capacitor. Charge across the internal capacitor is monitored and compared with a pre-defined threshold value by the microprocessor to activate/deactivate the switch.
US09847781B2

A radio frequency switch may include a common port transmitting and receiving a radio frequency signal, a first switching unit including a plurality of first switch elements connected in series and opening or closing a signal transfer path between a first port inputting and outputting the radio frequency signal and the common port, and a second switching unit having a plurality of second switch elements connected in series and opening or closing a signal transfer path between a second port inputting and outputting the radio frequency signal and the common port. The second switching unit further includes a first filter circuit unit connected to a control terminal of at least one second switch element among the plurality of second switch elements to remove at least one preset frequency band signal.
US09847780B2

A power-up signal generation circuit including a pre-power-up signal generation block operates by using a first power supply voltage, and generates a pre-power-up signal when the first power supply voltage becomes higher than a first level, and a second power supply voltage becomes higher than a second level; a level shifting block suitable for pull-down driving a first node when the pre-power-up signal is not in an activated state, and pull-up driving the first node with the second power supply voltage when the pre-power-up signal is in the activated state; a driving block suitable for pull-down driving the first node when the second power supply voltage is lower than the second level; and a power-up signal driving block operates by using the second power supply voltage, and generates a power-up signal through a second node by driving the second node based on a voltage level of the first node.
US09847777B2

Disclosed herein is a signal potential converter which may perform high-speed operation and which may still maintain intended signal amplitude and operate normally even while operating at a low rate or receiving a burst signal. In this signal potential converter, a capacitor receives an input signal CIN at one terminal thereof and has the other terminal thereof connected to a terminal node. A clamp circuit defines a potential at the terminal node, i.e., a signal IN, within the range of a first potential to a second potential. If a potential at the terminal node is higher than a third potential, a voltage holder circuit operates to raise the potential at the terminal node. If the potential at the terminal node is lower than the third potential, the voltage holder circuit operates to lower the potential at the terminal node.
US09847774B2

Apparatus and methods for level shifting in a radio frequency system are provided. In certain configurations, a radio frequency system includes a level shifter operable to provide level shifting to an input signal. The level shifter is biased by a bias voltage and powered by a supply voltage and a charge pump voltage. The radio frequency system further includes a charge pump configured to provide the charge pump voltage and to receive a mode signal operable to enable the charge pump in a first state and to disable the charge pump in a second state. The radio frequency system further includes a level shifter control circuit configured to control the bias voltage to track the charge pump voltage when the mode signal is in the first state, and to control the bias voltage with the supply voltage when the mode signal is in the second state.
US09847768B2

An acoustic resonator comprises a first electrode, a second electrode and a piezoelectric layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and comprising a C-axis having an orientation. A polarization-determining seed layer (PDSL) is disposed beneath the piezoelectric layer, the seed layer comprising a metal-nonmetal compound. A method of fabricating a piezoelectric layer over a substrate comprises forming a first layer of a polarization determining seed layer (PDSL) over the substrate. The method further comprises forming a second layer of the PDSL over the first layer. The method further comprises forming a first layer of a piezoelectric material over the second layer of the PDSL; and forming a second layer of the piezoelectric material over the first layer of the piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric material comprises a compression axis (C-axis) oriented along a first direction.
US09847767B2

Disclosed is an electronic device comprising an equalizer and an equalizer adjustment system. The equalizer adjustment system for adjusting the settings of the equalizer comprises a testing module, a parameter calculation module and a parameter setting module. The testing module is used to provide a hearing test procedure for assessing a user's physiological condition of hearing so that after the user completes the hearing test procedure, the parameter calculation module and the parameter setting module can adjust the settings of the equalizer according to the user's physiological condition of hearing.
US09847766B2

Systems, devices, and methods for determining and establishing frequency-dependent gain compensation in wide bandwidth communication systems are disclosed. Variable frequency-dependent gain compensation circuits, or variable equalizers, have settings that configure them to establish discrete frequency-dependent gain compensation. The frequency-dependent gain compensation can include various types and levels of gain slope and/or ripple. The settings of the variable equalizers can be set by control signals established a control circuit in response to signals from an external computer. The variable equalizers are coupled to other circuits or devices and the frequency-dependent gain of the combined circuit are measured. The settings of the variable equalizer are then changed to establish an optimal frequency-dependent gain profile or frequency-dependent gain that is closest to a predetermined frequency-dependent target gain profile. The settings can then be saved in a memory or register.
US09847765B1

A low noise amplifying system with adjustable gain. The low noise amplifier includes a plurality of gain stages, including a first stage and a last stage each having fixed gain, and an intermediate stage having adjustable gain. The intermediate stage is an inverting gain stage that includes a field effect transistor connected from the output to the input, to provide negative feedback, reducing the gain as a control voltage (applied to the gate of the field effect transistor) is adjusted to decrease the channel resistance of the field effect transistor. A control circuit measures the input and output signal power of the amplifying system and adjusts the gain of one or more intermediate stages to trade off linearity against noise figure.
US09847752B2

An in-situ temperature compensation method of an electronic device and an associated temperature sensor includes providing airflow from a vortex air gun to a board including the electronic device and the associated temperature sensor; determining an associated offset at various temperatures in an operating range; and creating and storing a calibration table in memory including the associated offsets at the various temperatures, the calibration table is used during operation of the electronic device for compensation due to temperature variation. A system includes a board, an electronic device disposed to the board; a temperature sensor disposed on the board; a processor disposed to the board and communicatively coupled to the electronic device and the temperature sensor; and instructions that cause the processor to determine an associated offset at various temperatures in an operating range, and create and store a calibration table in memory with the associated offsets at the various temperatures.
US09847750B2

A solar energy collection system for converting solar energy to electricity that includes solar arrays mounted on a frame. Each array is set on a tracker head that is supported on a pedestal; each pedestal mounts onto a beam. Elevators pivot the arrays, where each elevator is made up of a shaft with a threaded end coupled to a drive nut. An upper end of each drive nut gimbal mounts to a portion of the tracker head; rotating a lower end of each shaft raises or lowers the drive nut, thereby pivoting each array. The vertical shafts are ganged together and driven by a single motor. Further included with each pedestal are azimuth orientation shafts that also mount to each tracker head. Rotating each orientation shaft adjusts an azimuth of an associated array. The orientation shafts are ganged together and are rotated by a single motor.
US09847738B2

A piezoelectric power generation system includes a housing defining an opening therethrough and a support structure disposed within the housing, the support structure comprising a plurality of portions. The piezoelectric power generation system also includes one or more piezoelectric elements disposed between two of the plurality of portions of the support structure within the housing. Movement or vibration in the support structure compresses the one or more piezoelectric elements, wherein the one or more piezoelectric elements generate electric energy when compressed. The piezoelectric power generation system further includes one or more exciters coupled to the support structure, wherein the exciters move or vibrate when acted on by a flow of fluid, wherein the motion of vibration of the one or more exciters is translated to the support structure and ultimately to the one or more piezoelectric elements.
US09847730B2

Provided is a power converter in which a magnetic core of a noise filter can be prevented from magnetic saturation and the noise filter can be downsized. A noise filter 140 provided in a power converter includes: a magnetic core 1 formed with a single through-hole 1A and forming a closed magnetic circuit; first wiring 11 having one end 81 connected to a power conversion circuit and the other end drawn out from the second opening 3, and running through the through-hole 1A from one first opening 2 to the other second opening 3; second wiring 21 having one end connected to the other end of the first wiring 11 and the other end 82 drawn out from the first opening 2 as a filter output end, and running through the through-hole 1A from the second opening 3 to the first opening 2; a first capacitor 41 provided between the ground and a connecting portion 31 of the first wiring 11 and the second wiring 21; and the second capacitor 51 provided between the other end 82 of the second wiring 21 and the ground.
US09847729B2

A method of operating a switched mode power supply comprising a switched mode converter and a control arrangement. The switched mode converter converts an input voltage to an output voltage and includes a primary winding, controllable switch based circuitry connecting the input voltage over the primary winding, a secondary winding coupled to the primary winding, and an LC filter including an inductive element and a capacitive element, wherein the output voltage is obtained as the voltage over the capacitive element and a duty cycle of the switched mode converter can be controlled by controlling the switch based circuitry. The switched mode converter is controlled depending on measurements of the input and output voltages in a hybrid regulated ratio control scheme. The power of the switched mode power supply is shut off or a current thereof is limited, when a current of the switched mode power supply reaches a maximum current.
US09847726B2

A converter control system includes an analog-to-digital converter, a filter and a control module. The analog-to-digital converter digitalizes a different-time and a real-time feedback voltage. The filter bases on the different-time feedback voltage to sample a historical average feedback voltage. The control module receives the real-time feedback voltage, bases on the historical average feedback voltage to detect a load status of the converter, and bases on the real-time feedback voltage and the historical average feedback voltage to derive a voltage difference. The control module applies a control duty cycle to control the load switch. While the control module detects that the load status switches to a heavy-load status and the voltage difference reaches the threshold voltage, the control duty cycle is increased. While the control module detects that the load status switches to the light-load status and the voltage difference reaches the threshold voltage, the control duty cycle is decreased.
US09847725B2

Disclosed herein is a flyback system. The flyback system includes a tank circuit comprising a primary side and a secondary side. The flyback system also includes a switching device configured to pulse energy to the tank circuit. The energy is stored in a first side of the tank circuit when the switching device is on. The energy is transferred from the primary side to the secondary side when the switching device is off.
US09847722B2

The subject matter of this document can be embodied in a method that includes a voltage regulator having an input terminal and an output terminal. The voltage regulator includes a high-side transistor between the input terminal and an intermediate terminal, and a low-side transistor between the intermediate terminal and ground. The voltage regulator includes a low-side driver circuit including a capacitor and an inverter. The output of the inverter is connected to the gate of the low-side transistor. The voltage regulator also includes a controller that drives the high-side and low-side transistors to alternately couple the intermediate terminal to the input terminal and ground. The controller is configured to drive the low-side transistor by controlling the inverter. The voltage regulator further includes a switch coupled to the low-side driver circuit. The switch is configured to block charge leakage out of the capacitor during an off state of the low-side transistor.
US09847715B2

A power-conversion apparatus includes active-semiconductor switches configured to transition between first and second states that result in corresponding first and second electrical interconnections between capacitors and at least one of first and second terminals configured to be coupled to first and second external circuits at corresponding first and second voltages, a pre-charge circuit coupled to at least one of the capacitors, and gate-driver circuits, each of which includes a control input, power connections, and a drive output. Each switch is coupled to and controlled by a drive output of one of the gate-driver circuits. Power for the gate-driver circuits comes from charge stored on at least one of the capacitors via the power connection of that gate-driver circuit.
US09847712B2

Transient or fault conditions for a switched capacitor power converter are detected by measuring one or more of internal voltages and/or currents associated with switching elements (e.g., transistors) or phase nodes, or voltages or currents at terminals of the converter, and based on these measurements detect that a condition has occurred when the measurements deviate from a predetermined range. Upon detection of the condition fault control circuitry alters operation of the converter, for example, by using a high voltage switch to electrically disconnect at least some of the switching elements from one or more terminals of the converter, or by altering timing characteristics of the phase signals.
US09847707B2

A converter includes a first bridge arm and a voltage clamping unit. The first bridge arm includes a first switching unit. The voltage clamping unit is coupled to the first bridge arm, and includes a first charging branch and a second charging branch. The first charging branch is configured to have a first resonant frequency, to absorb a first spike of the first switching unit. The second charging branch is configured to have a second resonant frequency to absorb a second spike of the first switching unit.
US09847702B2

A method for sealing fluid cooled conduits in-situ for a generator is provided. The fluid or liquid cooled conduits are located external to a stator of the generator and substantially outward of stator bars. The method includes draining coolant from the fluid cooled conduits, and drying interior surfaces of the fluid cooled conduits. In inserting step inserts a borescope and a sealant applicator through an opening in one of the fluid cooled conduits. A locating step locates a brazed joint in the fluid cooled conduit, and a positioning step positions the borescope and the sealant applicator near the brazed joint. An applying step applies a sealant to the inside of the fluid cooled conduit at the brazed joint A viewing step may be used to view the brazed joint with the borescope to confirm that the applying step has been successful.
US09847701B2

An electric machine assembly includes an electric machine including a rotor. A controller operatively connected to the electric machine and configured to receive a torque command. The rotor is configured to rotate at a rotor speed (ω) based at least partially on the torque command. The controller has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for executing a method for determining a cumulative rotor fatigue (FC) based at least partially on the rotor speed. The controller is operative to control at least one operating paramater of the electric machine based at least partially on the cumulative rotor fatigue (FC). The controller is configured to record respective occurrences of the rotor stress value exceeding respective predefined stress levels in chronological order to create a cycle dataset, such that the cycle dataset preserves a time order of the respective occurrences.
US09847698B2

Provided is an electric motor having improved overall cooling efficiency by enabling a coolant to flow around a stator and around and through a rotor in parallel for the stator and the rotor to allow the stator and the rotor to be cooled in parallel. In the electric motor, after an automatic transmission fluid flowing into a first coolant inflow port (10) passes through a shaft internal flow path and rotor internal flow paths (27), the automatic transmission fluid passes through a coolant exhaust port (20) to flow out of a housing (18). After the automatic transmission fluid flowing into a second coolant inflow port (11) passes through a clearance (31) between the housing (18) and a stator (17) and around coil ends (29) of stator coils (16), the automatic transmission fluid passes through the coolant exhaust port (20) to flow out of the housing (18).
US09847695B2

A system for recycling energy within an assembly line includes a mobile power generator attached to a conveyer platform (a.k.a. a “skillet”) or other conveyance within the assembly line. The mobile power generator has a drive wheel that contacts an adjacent surface, such as a floor, and is rotated by movement of the conveyance along or past the surface. Rotation of the drive wheel is transmitted to a low RPM electrical generator to produce electrical energy at the conveyance.
US09847688B2

An insertion groove is disposed on a tubular portion overlapping portion that is overlapped with an inner circumferential surface of a tubular portion of the stator core. Inter-coil insulating bodies that are disposed between a plurality of stator coils include a groove inserted portion. The groove inserted portion includes: a first inserted portion that can be inserted inside the insertion groove when the insulating film is in a bent and folded state; and a second inserted portion that is contiguous to the first inserted portion, a shape of a visible outline of a cross section of the second inserted portion being different than that of the first inserted portion. The second inserted portion generates a stronger elastic force of recovery than the first inserted portion when the groove inserted portion is inserted into the insertion groove.
US09847687B2

An electrical induction motor may include a stator with a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots, and N windings installed in the slots and each configured to be connected between two current inputs from an inverter, with a phase angle difference between the two current inputs equal to H×180°/N, wherein H=a harmonic of a current drive waveform supplied by the inverter to the windings. Each of the N windings may be installed in the plurality of slots to form a top layer of winding and a bottom layer of winding, with a phase angle of the current flowing through the top layer of winding in each slot being aligned with a phase angle of current flowing through the bottom layer of winding at a first, higher harmonic, and out of alignment at a second, lower harmonic.
US09847684B2

A stator includes a hollow cylindrical stator core and a stator coil. The stator core has a plurality of slots formed therein. The stator coil is provided in the slots of the stator core in a plurality of layers in a radial direction of the stator core, and includes a first winding and a second winding. The first winding extends around the stator core so as to be located at the (2n−1)th and 2nth layers of the stator coil, and has an end located at the 2nth layer, where n is a natural number. The second winding extends around the stator core so as to be located at the (2n+1)th and (2n+2)th layers of the stator coil, and has an end located at the (2n+1)th layer. The ends of the first and second windings, which are respectively located at the 2nth and (2n+1)th layers, are electrically connected to each other.
US09847682B2

A rotor includes a hollow cylindrical rotor core that has a center hole, in which a rotating shaft is to be press-fitted, and a plurality of magnet-receiving holes in which a plurality of permanent magnets are respectively received. In a radially inner surface of the rotor core defining the center hole, there are formed a plurality of non-contacting recesses and a plurality of contacting protrusions alternately in the circumferential direction of the rotor core. Each of the non-contacting recesses is recessed radially outward so as not to be in contact with the rotating shaft. Each of the contacting protrusions protrudes radially inward so as to be in pressed contact with the rotating shaft. The rotor core further has a plurality of through-holes each of which penetrates the rotor core in the axial direction of the rotor core and is located radially outside a corresponding one of the contacting protrusions.
US09847680B2

A power supply apparatus includes a power supply unit that wirelessly supplies power to an electronic device, a communication unit that transmits information related to the power supply apparatus to the electronic device, transmits information for requesting the electronic device for transmitting information related to the electronic device, when a predetermined time has elapsed after the information related to the power supply apparatus is transmitted to the electronic device, and receives the information related to the electronic device from the electronic device; and a control unit that uses the information related to the electronic device to control power to be wirelessly supply to the electronic device, after the information related to the electronic device is received from the electronic device.
US09847675B2

The invented power feeding system includes power transmitting and power receiving devices. The power transmitting device includes an AC power source, a first electromagnetic induction coil, a first resonant coil, and a first capacitor. The power receiving device includes an antenna unit including a second resonant coil, a second capacitor, and a second electromagnetic induction coil; a charging circuit unit including a rectifier circuit, a power storage device, a current detection circuit for detecting a current value supplied to the power storage device, and a voltage detection circuit for detecting a voltage value applied to the power storage device; and a communication control unit including a control circuit for generating a selection signal based on the detected current value and the detected current voltage, a plurality of switches to be turned on or off by the selection signal, and passive elements electrically connected to the plurality of switches.
US09847672B2

According to one aspect, embodiments herein provide a power device comprising an input, power circuitry, a plurality of outlets, a network module configured to be coupled to a network, a controller coupled to the plurality of outlets, the power circuitry and the network module, the controller configured to operate the power circuitry to provide output power to the plurality of outlets derived from input power, provide a management interface to a management system via the network module and the network, the management interface configured to allow an operator to provide an indication of a type of equipment coupled to each one of the plurality of outlets, and display, via the management interface, a plurality of network configuration options in a layout based on the indication of the type of equipment coupled to each one of the plurality of outlets provided by the operator.
US09847670B2

Some embodiments provide a system for charging devices. The system includes a master device and a slave device. Some embodiments provide a method for charging devices in a system that includes a slave device and a master device. The slave device includes (1) an antenna to receive a radio frequency (RF) beam and (2) a power generation module connected to the antenna that converts RF energy received by the slave antenna to power. The master device includes (1) a directional antenna to direct RF power to the antenna of the slave device and (2) a module that provides power to the directional antenna of the master device.
US09847669B2

Configurations and methods of wireless power transmission using a laptop computer may include a transmitter and/or a receiver embedded in the laptop screen. The embedded transmitter may emit RF waves for the generation of pockets of energy that may be utilized by receivers in peripheral devices for charging or powering. Meanwhile, the receiver embedded in the laptop computer may collect RF waves from a separate transmitter for charging or powering the laptop computer.
US09847664B2

An electric power supply system includes an electric power reception apparatus and an electric power supply apparatus adapted to supply electric power to the electric power reception apparatus when the electric power reception apparatus is placed on the electric power supply apparatus. The electric power supply apparatus includes a plurality of electric power supply units adapted to supply electric power by electromagnetic induction to the electric power reception apparatus. A selection unit of the electric power supply apparatus selects, from the total plurality of electric power supply units, a plurality of electric power supply units whose location corresponds to a position where the electric power reception apparatus is placed, and a control unit controls the supply of electric power such that electric power is supplied to the electric power reception apparatus from the selected plurality of electric power supply units.
US09847661B2

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.
US09847659B2

A battery charger for portable electronic devices and a portable electronic device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a battery charger housing forms a portion of an outer device shell or a protective case cover. Capacitors are located within the battery charger housing that include opposing spaced plates having contact segments thereon. An output power increasing, electrically resistive fluid is held within and partially fills an enclosed chamber that is boundaried by the contact segments. In response to movement of the portable electronic device, induced relative motion between the output power increasing, electrically resistive fluid and contact segments varies the fluid-contact segment contact within the enclosed chamber, thereby inversely alternating the capacitance between the pair of capacitors and triboelectrically generating an electrical charge. An electronic circuit, which is coupled to the opposing spaced plates, is configured to transfer the electrical charge to a battery associated with the portable electronic device.
US09847657B2

This battery system includes: a plurality of batteries; a first monitoring unit that receives as input the output of the batteries, compares the output with a prescribed threshold value, and supplies a signal indicating the result; and a second monitoring unit that detects the voltage value of the batteries and supplies a signal indicating the detected voltage value. The battery system is provided with: a first operation mode during which the first monitoring unit and the second monitoring unit are halted; a second operation mode during which the first monitoring unit operates and the second monitoring unit is halted; and a third operation mode during which the first monitoring unit and the second monitoring unit operate.
US09847651B2

An inductive power transmitter device provides power to a mobile device with a receiver coil. The transmitter device comprises a holder and a coil arrangement. The holder has a cavity defined by two walls, where the cavity is configured for receiving the mobile device between those surfaces. The coil arrangement has two transmitter coil units, where one of the coil units is arranged into one of the walls and the other transmitter coil unit is arranged into the other wall. Each of the coil units is configured for inductively coupling to the receiver coil of the mobile device when inserted into the cavity of the holder.
US09847640B2

The present application thus provides a method of operating a synchronous condenser. The method may include the steps of accelerating a gas turbine engine to full speed no load conditions, connecting a generator attached to the gas turbine engine to an electric power grid, turning off a flow of fuel to the gas turbine engine, operating the generator in a synchronous condenser mode, and providing or absorbing reactive power to or from the electric power grid.
US09847635B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a power supply module and a soft start method. The power supply module includes an input detection circuit configured to output a first notification signal to a trigger drive circuit when it is determined that the power supply module receives a power supply signal; the trigger drive circuit configured to, upon receipt of the first notification signal sent from the input detection circuit, wait for a predetermined duration without sending a drive signal to a current limiting circuit, and to send the driver signal to the current limiting circuit when the predetermined duration elapses; and the current limiting circuit configured to limit a current on a Direct Current (DC) bus of the power supply module when the drive signal is not received by the current limiting circuit, and not to limit the current on the DC bus upon receipt of the drive signal.
US09847632B2

A cable termination system and method include providing an outer socket having a frustum shaped socket interior tapering from a base to a top opening. The outer socket is comprised of two semicircular socket pieces, each forming a portion of a complete circumference of the outer socket. A plurality of elongate cable strands extend through the socket interior with individual strands circumferentially spaced to form a single layer of strands at the base opening. A frustoconical inner plug is inserted into the socket by a compressive force exceeding a maximum tensile force of the stranded cable for holding the cable in the socket without slippage when a tensile force is applied between the cable and the outer socket. The inner plug includes a plurality of longitudinally extending, laterally separate plug subassemblies.
US09847626B2

A by-pass module for power lines includes a container having a housing space, three reels rotatable around rotation axes and housed into the housing space, single phase link for each reel having a first end termination and a second end termination, each single phase link being wound on a respective reel for being unwound from the first end termination, a driving unit for each reel designed for rotating the reel in an unwinding direction allowing the relevant single phase link to be unwound from the reel, and in a winding direction allowing the relevant single phase link to be wound on the reel.
US09847615B2

A method and an arrangement of spectrally broadening laser pulses for non-linear pulse compression is disclosed which is based on the transition from the spectral broadening in a waveguide to the spectral broadening in a suitably shaped lens conductor. The arrangement is non-sensitive with respect to the variations of the pulse power, the position and parameters of the laser beam. The spectrally broadened pulses can be compressed in a satisfactory manner and the quality of the laser beam maintained by dividing the non-linear phase required for spectral broadening into sufficiently smaller steps which can be separated without non-linearity by suitable prorogation. The limitation of the pulse powers to less than the critical power of dielectrics is thus overcome and a pulse energy range for which the spectral broadening in the glass fibers cannot be used, is developed. The arrangement can compress pulses having a large average power.
US09847614B1

A receptacle connector includes an insulating housing, a plurality of conductive terminals fastened to the insulating housing, and a shielding element surrounding the insulating housing. The insulating housing has at least one docking surface. A portion of the at least one docking surface protrudes outward to form a protruding portion. Front ends of the conductive terminals are exposed to a front of the at least one docking surface. At least one portion of a front surface of the base body protrudes frontward to form at least one sealing board. A front end of the at least one sealing board opens a locking groove. The at least one sealing board is attached to a substantial middle of the insulating housing. The protruding portion is received in the locking groove and seals up the front end of the at least one sealing board. The protruding portion helps to reduce metal chips from being produced during interconnection of the receptacle connector with a plug connector.
US09847605B2

A method of manufacturing an electrical connector including the steps of: insert-molding a base portion around a shielding plate to form two rows of passageways exposing outwardly and rearwardly; over-molding an insulative housing at a rear of the base portion; and inserting two rows of terminals through the insulative housing to the two rows of passageways, respectively.
US09847599B2

A cam-lock fastening system is designed to accommodate a tolerance stackup to fasten a pair of rigid structures. A spring allows some longitudinal motion of the pin that would not be accommodated by the rigid structures or metal cam-lock and pin. The spring-loaded pin is also suitably designed to produce a preloaded structural joint that is between specified minimum and maximum loads for any tolerance stackup that is within specification. The fastening of the structures requires no manual adjustment of the pin, and facilitates blind connection of a high-fidelity electrical connector. Further, the described cam-lock fastening system is designed for high performance applications requiring preload forces in the thousands of pounds per square inch.
US09847598B2

An electrical connector is disclosed that includes an insulative housing having a mating face at one end, a rear face at another end, a mating slot at the mating face for receiving a complementary connector, a first set of contacts mounted in a first set of channels incorporated at a top of the insulative housing and a second set of contacts mounted in a second set of channels incorporated at a bottom of the insulative housing, and a shielding device located between the first set of contacts and the second set of contacts.
US09847597B2

An electrical connector system includes a plug connector and a receptacle connector each of which having a plurality of terminal receiving cavities for receiving a plurality of terminal lead wires. The plug connector having a perimeter seal for creating a waterproof barrier between the plug connector and the receptacle connector. The receptacle connector including at least one bridging portion having a surface for guiding and aligning the seal when the plug and receptacle connectors are mated together.
US09847596B2

A wire connection part of a terminal fitting includes: a barrel piece which is caulked while covering a tip end of a wire, thereby being crimped to the wire; a serration part formed on an inner surface of the barrel piece and connected to a core of the wire; and a water stop part mounted on the inner surface of the barrel piece to close a gap with the wire. A projecting piece mounted anterior to the serration part to position a tip end of the core is mounted to the barrel piece. The tip end of the core is positioned by the projecting piece, whereby the positional deviation of the wire can be prevented.
US09847591B2

An electric terminal assembly includes a conductor. The conductor has a conductor body and a plurality of contact arms that extend from the conductor body in an outward direction to respective arm ends. The contact arms are located around a terminal axis. The electric terminal assembly also includes a cap fixed relative to the conductor. The cap is located farther from the conductor body in the outward direction than the arm ends. The cap defines a cap opening that the terminal axis extends through. The cap is located farther from the conductor body in the outward direction than the arm ends, and the cap is closer to the terminal axis than the arm ends.
US09847590B2

This invention relates to a connector, and more specifically, to a shield type connector which reinforces the strength of a housing and an actuator. The shield type connector of this invention includes a housing metal shell made of a metallic material, furnished in the housing in order to reinforce the strength of the housing, and an actuator metal shell made of a metallic material, furnished in the actuator in order to reinforce the strength of the actuator.
US09847585B2

A square bracket-shaped radiation element is in a non-ground region of a board. A first reactance element that equivalently enters a short-circuited state in a second frequency band is connected between a second end of the radiation element and a ground conductor. A second reactance element that equivalently enters a short-circuited state in a first frequency band s connected between a first end of the radiation element and the ground conductor. In the UHF band, the radiation element and the ground conductor function as an inverted F antenna that contributes to field emission. In the HF band, a loop including the radiation element and the ground conductor functions as a loop antenna that contributes to magnetic field emission.
US09847582B2

An antenna system capable of achieving simultaneous transmit and receive (STAR) operation over a wide bandwidth includes a ring array of TEM horn elements and a centrally located monocone or bicone antenna. The TEM horn elements each include a capacitive feed. The elements of the ring array are excited using a phasing scheme that results in signal cancellation at the location of the central element. The ring array may serve as either the transmit antenna or the receive antenna.
US09847580B2

The present invention disclose a printed antenna, so as to increase power and a frequency band width of an antenna. The printed antenna includes a printed circuit board, an antenna pattern, and a signal feed-in point, where the antenna pattern is printed on a front surface of the printed circuit board, and the antenna pattern includes a first antenna pattern, a second antenna pattern, and a third antenna pattern; the signal feed-in point is connected to the second antenna pattern; one end of a side, of the first antenna pattern is connected to the second antenna pattern; the second antenna pattern is vertically laid out in parallel to an edge of the printed circuit board; and the third antenna pattern includes a first part and a second part, and the first part and the second part are arranged in parallel in the non-closed rectangle.
US09847566B2

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system that performs operations including detecting a signal degradation of guided electromagnetic waves bound to a transmission medium without utilizing an electrical return path, the guided electromagnetic waves having a non-optical frequency range, and adjusting an alignment of at least a portion of fields of the guided electromagnetic waves to mitigate the signal degradation. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09847562B2

As a cooling draft flows from a rear side to a front side of battery cells (72) inside a battery pack (30), it is divided into two cooling drafts (F1, F2) in a left-right direction, which is the direction that the battery cells (72) are disposed in parallel, and those two cooling drafts respectively flow through a plurality of passageways that longitudinally extend along the battery cells (72). More particularly, a second battery cell (722) is cooled by the cooling draft flowing in a second ventilation-path volume (Q2) before a first battery cell (721) and a third battery cell (723) are cooled by cooling drafts respectively flowing in a first ventilation-path volume (Q1) and a third ventilation-path volume (Q3), which are longer than the second ventilation-path volume (Q2).
US09847554B2

Provided is an organic electrolyte solution including a disultone-based compound represented by Formula 1; a first lithium salt that is at least one selected from lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl) imide (Li(FSO2)2N) and lithium difluorophosphate (LiPO2F2); a second lithium salt; and an organic solvent: wherein, in Formula 1, A1, A2, A3, and A4 are each independently a C1 to C5 alkylene group unsubstituted or substituted with a substituent; a carbonyl group; or a sulfinyl group, n1 to n4 are each independently 1 to 3, and when the number of A1, A2, A3, and A4 are each independently two or greater, the plurality of A1, A2, A3, and A4 are identical to or different from each other.
US09847546B2

There are provided a separator for a fuel cell and a fuel cell including the same able to enhance the horizontal distribution of fuel or an oxidizing agent and secure an effective flow area, the separator including: a separator body; a first intake manifold provided at one end portion of the separator body; a second intake manifold provided at the other end portion of the separator body to be partitioned from the first intake manifold; a first exhaust manifold provided outwardly of the second intake manifold at the other end portion of the separator body; and a second exhaust manifold provided outwardly of the first intake manifold at one end portion of the separator body to be partitioned from the first exhaust manifold.
US09847545B2

Disclosed are a highly ionic conductive zirconia electrolyte and a high-efficiency solid oxide fuel cell using the same. The highly ionic conductive zirconia electrolyte is configured such that a scandia (Sc2O3) stabilized zirconia (ZrO2) electrolyte is simultaneously doped with cerium oxide (CeO2) and at least one oxide of gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3), samarium oxide (Sm2O3), and ytterbium oxide (Yb2O3) so that an ionic conductivity drop rate is mitigated.
US09847544B2

Ion conductive organic-inorganic composite particles are particles that have an organic group on the surface of inorganic particles and have at least a configuration that does not allow the inorganic particles to contact with each other by steric hindrance of the organic group, the organic group containing an ion conductive group.
US09847531B2

A battery electrode assembly includes a current collector with conduction barrier regions having a conductive state in which electrical conductivity through the conduction barrier region is permitted, and a safety state in which electrical conductivity through the conduction barrier regions is reduced. The conduction barrier regions change from the conductive state to the safety state when the current collector receives a short-threatening event. An electrode material can be connected to the current collector. The conduction barrier regions can define electrical isolation subregions. A battery is also disclosed, and methods for making the electrode assembly, methods for making a battery, and methods for operating a battery.
US09847521B2

An electronic device includes a casing, first and second batteries and a conductive plate. The first and second batteries are disposed in a battery slot of the casing. The conductive plate is clamped between the first and second batteries, and has a mounting portion that is mounted pivotally into a mounting groove of the casing such that the conductive plate is pivotable between a clamped position where a conductive body of the conductive plate is clamped between the first and second batteries, and an unclamped position where the conductive body is spaced apart from the first and second batteries for removal and installment of one of the first and second batteries.
US09847519B2

A thin, freestanding, microporous polyolefin web with good heat resistance and dimensional stability includes an inorganic surface layer. A first preferred embodiment is a microporous polyolefin base membrane in which colloidal inorganic particles are present in its bulk structure. Each of second and third preferred embodiments is a thin, freestanding microporous polyolefin web that has an inorganic surface layer containing no organic hydrogen bonding component for the inorganic particles. The inorganic surface layer of the second embodiment is achieved by hydrogen bonding with use of an inorganic acid, and the inorganic surface layer of the third embodiment is achieved by one or both of hydrogen bonding and chemical reaction of the surface groups on the inorganic particles.
US09847518B2

A separator with a heat-resistant insulation layer for an electric device includes a resin porous substrate and a heat-resistant insulation layer containing heat-resistant particles and a binder, the heat-resistant insulation layer being formed on at least one surface of the resin porous substrate. The heat-resistant particles contain alumina and a parameter X is 0.018 to 0.336. Parameter X is represented by X=Ca×Rzjis/D, wherein Cα is a ratio of the alumina, which occupies the heat-resistant particles, Rzjis is surface roughness of a surface of the heat-resistant insulation layer, the surface being opposite the resin porous substrate, and D is a thickness of the heat-resistant insulation layer.
US09847509B2

A flexible environmental sensitive electronic device package including a flexible electronic device, a thin film encapsulation (TFE) and a sealing member is provided. The TFE covers the flexible electronic device as well as the sealing member covers the TFE and the flexible electronic device. The sealing member includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion covers the flexible electronic device and the TFE, and the second portion covers the first portion. Young's modulus of the second portion is between the 0 MPa and 100 MPa. Young's modulus of the first portion is greater than that of the second portion. The thickness of the first portion is less than that of the second portion.
US09847504B2

An organic EL display device (electroluminescent device) equipped with an organic EL element (electroluminescent element) includes an opposing substrate that is provided on an organic EL element side and that opposes a TFT substrate (substrate), a desiccant that is provided between the TFT substrate and the opposing substrate in such a manner as to cover the organic EL element, a frame-shaped seal material that seals the organic EL element between the TFT substrate and the opposing substrate, and a holding member for holding the desiccant, the holding member being provided on the opposing substrate side inside the seal material.
US09847502B2

The present invention relates to an organic light emitting device. An organic light emitting device according to the present application includes: a substrate; a first electrode provided on the substrate; an auxiliary electrode provided on at least a partial region of the first electrode; an insulating layer provided on the auxiliary electrode, and having an overhang structure in which the insulating layer has a greater width than that of the auxiliary electrode; and a second electrode provided on the first electrode and the insulating layer, in which the second electrode provided on the first electrode and the second electrode provided on the insulating layer have an electrode structure with an electrically short-circuited form.
US09847500B2

The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a flexible display device and a flexible display device so manufactured. The method for manufacturing a flexible display device according to the present invention uses a connection layer to replace a release layer and a bonding layer that are commonly used in the prior art so as to enhance the bonding strength between a flexible backing plate and a rigid carrier board and to additionally function as a release layer for easily achieving separation between the flexible backing plate and the rigid carrier board; and further, a thermal isolation layer is provided on one side or two sides of the soft glass plate to isolate heat generated in a high temperature process, an ELA process, or a laser based separation process and thus reduce thermal impact caused the heat on the soft glass plate and the display device so as to prevent cracking resulting from increase of brittleness of the soft glass plate and enhance performance of a flexible display device.
US09847495B2

Novel heteroleptic iridium carbene complexes are provided, which contain phenyl imidazole moieties. In particular, ligands containing 2,4,6-trisubstituted N-phenyl imidazole fragments have highly desirable properties that make them suitable materials for use in OLED devices.
US09847490B2

Provided are a copolymer having plural repeating units each having a specific structure, and having a weight-average molecular weight of from 100,000 to 3,000,000; a material for organic electronic devices and a material for organic electroluminescent devices containing the copolymer; a solution containing the copolymer and a solvent; and an organic electroluminescent device using the material for organic electroluminescent devices. The copolymer has not only charge transporting properties but also solubility and is suitable for forming a film according to a coating method. The present invention provides the copolymer, and a material for organic electronic devices and a material for organic electroluminescent devices containing the copolymer, an organic electroluminescent device, and a solution containing the copolymer.
US09847488B2

An OLED display device and fabrication method thereof, a display panel and a display device are provided, and the method includes: providing a substrate having an anode layer and a hole injection layer; providing a first molding substrate and a second molding substrate, with a first cavity block being formed on the first molding substrate and a second cavity block being formed on the second molding substrate by a micro mechanical electro system technology, wherein the first cavity block is configured for preparing a hole transport layer corresponding to a sub-pixel of the pixel unit, and the second cavity block is configured for preparing an organic light emitting layer corresponding to a sub-pixel of the pixel unit; filling the first cavity block with a solution of a hole transport material by soaking technology, solidifying to obtain a hole transport layer, and filling the second cavity block with a solution of an organic light emitting material by soaking technology, solidifying to obtain an organic light emitting layer; transferring the hole transport layer in the first cavity block and the organic light emitting layer in the second cavity block to the substrate sequentially through a transfer carrier; after the above operations, forming an electron transport layer, an electron injection layer and a cathode layer on the substrate.
US09847486B2

An organic light emitting display device having high transmittance with respect to external light and a method of manufacturing the same. The organic light emitting display device includes a substrate; a plurality of pixels formed on the substrate, each of the pixels including a first region that emits light and a second region that transmits external light; a plurality of thin film transistors disposed in the first region of each pixel; a plurality of first electrodes disposed in the first region of each pixel and electrically connected to the thin film transistors, respectively; a second electrode formed opposite to the plurality of first electrodes and comprising a plurality of transmission windows corresponding to the second regions; and an organic layer formed between the first electrodes and the second electrode. The transmission windows can be formed in the second electrode, that is, a cathode.
US09847483B1

A method of patterning a substrate includes applying a first potential to a spray nozzle, applying a second potential to at least one first cell electrode among a plurality of cell electrodes on a first surface of the substrate, applying a third potential to at least one second cell electrode excluding the at least one first cell electrode among the cell electrodes, and applying a fourth potential to a second surface that is opposite to the first surface of the substrate.
US09847482B2

A resistive memory device includes a bottom electrode and a top electrode crossing the bottom electrode at a non-zero angle. A switching region operatively contacts the bottom electrode and the top electrode. The switching region defines a current path between the bottom electrode and the top electrode in an ON state. An oxygen-supplying layer operatively contacts a portion of the switching region. The oxygen-supplying layer is positioned orthogonally to the current path and to the switching region.
US09847479B2

A phase-change memory element is provided. The phase-change memory element may include an electrode; a phase-change material that contacts the electrode; a first conductor that contacts the phase-change material; and a second conductor that contacts the phase-change material. The second conductor may be electrically connected to the first conductor only through the phase-change material, and each of the first and second conductors may be electrically connected to the electrode only through the phase-change material.
US09847477B2

A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes forming an opening with a tapered profile in a first material layer. An upper width of the opening is greater than a bottom width of opening. The method also includes forming a second material layer in the opening and forming a hard mask to cover a portion of the second material layer. The hard mask aligns to the opening and has a width smaller than the upper width of the opening. The method also includes etching the second material layer by using the hard mask as an etch mask to form an upper portion of a feature with a tapered profile.
US09847473B2

The present disclosure relates to a magneto-resistive random access memory (MRAM) cell having an extended upper electrode, and a method of formation. In some embodiments, the MRAM cell has a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) arranged over a conductive lower electrode. A conductive upper electrode is arranged over the magnetic tunnel junction. The conductive upper electrode has a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion overlies the magnetic tunnel junction and is laterally surrounded by an encapsulation structure. The upper portion is arranged onto the lower portion and the encapsulation structure, and laterally extends past the lower portion of the conductive upper electrode. By laterally extending past the lower portion, the upper portion of the conductive upper electrode gives a via a larger landing area than the lower portion of the upper electrode would provide, thereby mitigating via punch through resulting from overlay errors.
US09847463B2

A light emitting device includes a support member having a mounting surface. The support member includes an insulating member having top surface and a plurality of side surfaces, a first metal pattern disposed on the top surface of the insulating member, and a second metal pattern disposed on the side surface of the insulating member such that a side surface of the second metal pattern is continuous with a top surface of the first metal pattern. The light emitting device further includes a light emitting element mounted on the mounting surface at a location of the first metal pattern, and a bonding member that bonds the light emitting element to the mounting surface. The bonding member covers at least a portion of the first metal pattern and at least a portion of the second metal pattern.
US09847457B2

A light emitting diode is provided to include a first conductive-type semiconductor layer; a mesa including a second conductive-type semiconductor layer disposed on the first conductive-type semiconductor layer and an active layer interposed between the first and the second conductive-type semiconductor layers; and a first electrode disposed on the mesa, wherein the first conductive-type semiconductor layer includes a first contact region disposed around the mesa along an outer periphery of the first conductive-type semiconductor layer; and a second contact region at least partially surrounded by the mesa, the first electrode is electrically connected to at least a portion of the first contact region and at least a portion of the second contact region, and a linewidth of an adjoining region between the first contact region and the first electrode is greater than the linewidth of an adjoining region between the second contact region and the first electrode.
US09847456B2

Embodiments provide a light emitting diode and a method of fabricating the same. The light emitting diode includes a base, a light emitting structure disposed on the base, at least one first electrode disposed on the light emitting structure; and a second electrode disposed under the light emitting structure, wherein at least a portion of the second electrode is covered by the base and the base includes a supporting insulator and at least one bulk electrode embedded in the supporting insulator and electrically connected to the light emitting structure, and a surface of the at least one bulk electrode is exposed through the supporting insulator. The light emitting diode has excellent reliability and efficiency.
US09847455B2

A light emitting device includes a metal support structure comprising Cu; an adhesion structure on the metal support structure and comprising Au; a reflective conductive contact on the adhesion structure; a GaN-based semiconductor structure on the reflective conductive contact, the GaN-based semiconductor structure comprising a first-type GaN layer, an active layer, and a second-type GaN layer; a top interface layer on the GaN-based semiconductor structure and comprising Ti; and a contact pad on the top interface layer and comprising Au, wherein the GaN-based semiconductor structure is less than 1/20 thick of a thickness of the metal support structure.
US09847451B2

A light-emitting device comprises a substrate having a top surface and a plurality of patterned units protruding from the top surface; and a light-emitting stack formed on the substrate and having an active layer with a first surface substantially parallel to the top surface, wherein one of the plurality of patterned units comprises a plurality of connecting sides constituting a polygon shape in a top view of the light-emitting device, the one of the plurality of patterned units comprises a vertex and a plurality of inclined surfaces respectively extending from the plurality of connecting sides, the plurality of inclined surfaces commonly join at the vertex in a cross-sectional view of the light-emitting device, the vertex being between the top surface of the substrate and the first surface of the active layer, and six of the plurality of patterned units forms a hexagon in the top view of the light-emitting device.
US09847447B2

A semiconductor light-emitting element includes a semiconductor stacked body that includes a light emitting layer in which n well layers (where n is, for example, an integer of 1 to 10) formed of Inx (Ga1-yAly)1-xAs (0
US09847443B2

A method of hydrogenation of a silicon photovoltaic junction device is provided, the silicon photovoltaic junction device comprising p-type silicon semiconductor material and n-type silicon semiconductor material forming at least one p-n junction.The method comprises: i) ensuring that any silicon surface phosphorus diffused layers through which hydrogen must diffuse have peak doping concentrations of 1×1020 atoms/cm3 or less and silicon surface boron diffused layers through which hydrogen must diffuse have peak doping concentrations of 1×1019 atoms/cm3 or less; ii) Providing one or more hydrogen sources accessible by each surface of the device; and iii) Heating the device, or a local region of the device to at least 40° C. while simultaneously illuminating at least some and/or advantageously all of the device with at least one light source whereby the cumulative power of all the incident photons with sufficient energy to generate electron hole pairs within the silicon (in other words photons with energy levels above the bandgap of silicon of 1.12 eV) is at least 20 mW/cm2.
US09847438B2

A solar cell, having a front side which faces the sun during normal operation, and a back side opposite the front side can include a silicon substrate having doped regions and a polysilicon layer disposed over the doped regions. The solar cell can include a conductive filling formed between a first metal layer and doped regions and through or at least partially through the polysilicon layer, where the conductive filling electrically couples the first metal layer and the doped region. In an embodiment, a second metal layer is formed on the first metal layer, where the first metal layer and the conductive filling electrically couple the doped regions and the second metal layer. In some embodiments, the solar cell can be a front contact solar cell or a back contact solar cell.
US09847433B2

Each of varicaps 50A to 50C configured to be connected in parallel is an MOS capacitor III produced under a common and single process condition. Each of the varicaps 50A to 50C has a conductor layer serving as a second electrode and formed via a capacitance insulating film on a first conductivity-type semiconductor substrate serving as a first electrode, and a second conductivity-type impurity region formed near a surface in proximity to a region of the first conductivity-type semiconductor substrate opposing the conductor layer. Each of the varicaps 50A to 50C is configured such that a capacitance value as a capacitance element between the first conductivity-type semiconductor substrate serving as the first electrode and the conductor layer serving as the second electrode is changed by applying a control voltage to the conductor layer while applying any one of a plurality of types of direct-current voltages having different voltages to the second conductivity-type impurity region.
US09847430B2

High field-effect mobility is provided for a transistor including an oxide semiconductor. Further, a highly reliable semiconductor device including the transistor is provided. In a bottom-gate transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer, an oxide semiconductor layer functioning as a current path (channel) of the transistor is sandwiched between oxide semiconductor layers having lower carrier densities than the oxide semiconductor layer. In such a structure, the channel is formed away from the interface of the oxide semiconductor stacked layer with an insulating layer in contact with the oxide semiconductor stacked layer, i.e., a buried channel is formed.
US09847429B2

A semiconductor device is provided with a first oxide semiconductor film over an insulating surface; a second oxide semiconductor film over the first oxide semiconductor film; a third oxide semiconductor film in contact with a top surface of the insulating surface, a side surface of the first oxide semiconductor film, and side and top surfaces of the second oxide semiconductor film; a gate insulating film over the third oxide semiconductor film; and a gate electrode in contact with the gate insulating film and faces the top and side surfaces a of the second oxide semiconductor film. A thickness of the first oxide semiconductor film is larger than a sum of a thickness of the third oxide semiconductor film and a thickness of the gate insulating film, and the difference is larger than or equal to 20 nm.
US09847417B2

A gate insulating film and a gate electrode of non-single crystalline silicon for forming an nMOS transistor are provided on a silicon substrate. Using the gate electrode as a mask, n-type dopants having a relatively large mass number (70 or more) such as As ions or Sb ions are implanted, to form a source/drain region of the nMOS transistor, whereby the gate electrode is amorphized. Subsequently, a silicon oxide film is provided to cover the gate electrode, at a temperature which is less than the one at which recrystallization of the gate electrode occurs. Thereafter, thermal processing is performed at a temperature of about 1000° C., whereby high compressive residual stress is exerted on the gate electrode, and high tensile stress is applied to a channel region under the gate electrode. As a result, carrier mobility of the nMOS transistor is enhanced.
US09847416B1

Disclosed are performance-enhanced vertical devices (e.g., vertical field effect transistors (FETs) or complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) devices, which incorporate vertical FETs) and methods of forming such devices. A strained dielectric layer is positioned laterally adjacent to the gate of a vertical FET, increasing the charge carrier mobility within the channel region and improving performance. In a vertical n-type FET (NFET), the strain is compressive to improve electron mobility given the direction of current within the vertical NFET; whereas, in a vertical p-type FET (PFET), the strain is tensile to improve hole mobility given the direction of current within the vertical PFET. Optionally, the orientation of a vertical FET relative to the surface plane of the semiconductor wafer on which it is formed is also preplanned as function of the type of FET (i.e., NFET or PFET) for optimal charge carrier mobility and, thereby enhanced performance.
US09847411B2

A transistor device including a field plate is described. One embodiment of such a device includes a field plate separated from a semiconductor layer by a thin spacer layer. In one embodiment, the thickness of spacer layer separating the field plate from the semiconductor layers is less than the thickness of spacer layer separating the field plate from the gate. In another embodiment, the non-zero distance separating the field plate from the semiconductor layers is about 1500 Å or less. Devices according to the present invention can show capacitances which are less drain bias dependent, resulting in improved linearity.
US09847406B2

A semiconductor device capable of retaining data for a long time is provided. A semiconductor device includes a first transistor including a first insulator, a first oxide semiconductor, a first gate, and a second gate; a second transistor including a second oxide semiconductor, a third gate, and a fourth gate; and a node. The first gate and the second gate overlap with each other with the first oxide semiconductor therebetween. The third gate and the fourth gate overlap with each other with the second oxide semiconductor therebetween. The first oxide semiconductor and the second gate overlap with each other with the first insulator therebetween. One of a source and a drain of the first transistor, the first gate, and the fourth gate are electrically connected to the node. The first insulator is configured to charges.
US09847403B2

A semiconductor device includes a substrate, gate electrodes, spacers and contact structures. The gate electrodes are disposed on the substrate, and the spacers are disposed on the sidewalls of the gate electrodes. Each of the spacers has an inner sidewall and an outer sidewall. The contact structure is disposed between the gate electrodes, and its bottom is in direct contact with all the region of the outer sidewall of the spacers.
US09847401B2

A semiconductor device comprising a substrate, a channel layer over the substrate, an active layer over the channel layer and a laminate layer in contact with the active layer. The active layer has a band gap discontinuity with the channel layer.
US09847400B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an array substrate and a manufacturing method thereof, and a display device. The array substrate includes a base substrate, a first electrode pattern, a second electrode pattern, and an active layer pattern disposed on the base substrate, a first electrode protection pattern coating the first electrode pattern, and a second electrode protection pattern coating the second electrode pattern. The active layer pattern is disposed between the first electrode pattern and the second electrode pattern. The first electrode protection pattern and the second electrode protection pattern are connected to two sides of the active layer pattern, respectively. The problem that, the active layer pattern cannot be connected to the first electrode pattern and the second electrode pattern due to the surface oxidation, when the first electrode pattern and the second electrode pattern adopt material with low resistance characteristic, is avoided, thus increasing the product yield.
US09847398B1

A semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a gate structure on the substrate; a spacer around the gate structure; a contact etch stop layer (CESL) on the spacer; an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer adjacent to one side of the gate structure and contacting the CESL; and a contact plug adjacent to another side of the gate structure and contacting the CESL.
US09847386B2

It is an object of the present invention to prevent an influence of voltage drop due to wiring resistance, trouble in writing of a signal into a pixel, and trouble in gray scales, and provide a display device with higher definition, represented by an EL display device and a liquid crystal display device. In the present invention, a wiring including Cu is provided as an electrode or a wiring used for the display device represented by the EL display device and the liquid crystal display device. Besides, sputtering is performed with a mask to form the wiring including Cu. With such structure, it is possible to reduce the voltage drop and a deadened signal.
US09847376B2

An electronic device may be provided to include: first and second active regions arranged adjacent to each other in a second direction; a gate structure extended in the second direction; a first source region and a first drain region formed in the first active region; a second source region and a second drain region formed in the second active region; a source line contact formed over the first and second source regions and connected to the first and second source regions; a source line connected to the source line contact over the source line contact and extended in a first direction; first and second stacked structures formed over the first and second drain regions; and first and second bit lines formed over the first and second stacked structures, wherein the first and second bit lines are extended in the first direction.
US09847374B2

A magnetic memory includes a deformable base plate, a spin device element coupled with the deformable base plate and storing a data as a magnetization direction, and a bending mechanism to bend the deformable base plate. At least one of upper and lower surfaces of the deformable base plate faces a space which is not filled with solid substance.
US09847372B2

Solid state transducer devices with independently controlled regions, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A solid state transducer device in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a transducer structure having a first semiconductor material, a second semiconductor material and an active region between the first and second semiconductor materials, the active region including a continuous portion having a first region and a second region. A first contact is electrically connected to the first semiconductor material to direct a first electrical input to the first region along a first path, and a second contact electrically spaced apart from the first contact and connected to the first semiconductor material to direct a second electrical input to the second region along a second path different than the first path. A third electrical contact is electrically connected to the second semiconductor material.
US09847370B2

The present invention provides a method of more efficiently producing a semiconductor epitaxial wafer, which can suppress metal contamination by achieving higher gettering capability.A method of producing a semiconductor epitaxial wafer 100 according to the present invention includes a first step of irradiating a semiconductor wafer 10 with cluster ions 16 to form a modifying layer 18 formed from a constituent element of the cluster ions 16 in a surface portion 10A of the semiconductor wafer; and a second step of forming an epitaxial layer 20 on the modifying layer 18 of the semiconductor wafer 10.
US09847355B2

An object of the present invention is to apply an insulating film of cure and high quality that is suitably applicable as gate insulating film and protective film to a technique that the insulating film is formed on the glass substrate under a temperature of strain point or lower, and to a semiconductor device realizing high efficiency and high reliability by using it. In a semiconductor device of the present invention, a gate insulating film of a field effect type transistor with channel length of from 0.35 to 2.5 μm in which a silicon nitride film is formed over a crystalline semiconductor film through a silicon oxide film, wherein the silicon nitride film contains hydrogen with the concentration of 1×1021/cm3 or less and has characteristic of an etching rate of 10 nm/min or less with respect to mixed solution containing an ammonium hydrogen fluoride (NH4HF2) of 7.13% and an ammonium fluoride (NH4F) of 15.4%.
US09847351B2

A method for fabricating semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a substrate having a first region and a second region; forming a gate layer on the substrate; forming a first gate dielectric layer on the gate layer; forming a first channel layer on the first region and a second channel layer on the second region; and forming a first source/drain on the first channel layer and a second source/drain on the second channel layer.
US09847350B2

Provided is a liquid crystal display device, including: an array substrate; a plurality of pixels sectioned by video signal lines and scanning signal lines formed on the array substrate; a TFT arranged for each of the plurality of pixels; and a pixel electrode arranged inside each of the plurality of pixels. The TFT includes a channel semiconductor layer and the pixel electrode that are formed of a seamless layer made of an oxide semiconductor. The pixel electrode has an electrical conductivity larger than an electrical conductivity of the channel semiconductor layer under a state in which a gate voltage is not applied.
US09847328B2

The improvement of the reliability of a semiconductor device having a split gate type MONOS memory is implemented. An ONO film and a second polysilicon film are sequentially formed so as to fill between a first polysilicon film and a dummy gate electrode. Then, the dummy gate electrode is removed. Then, the top surfaces of the first and second polysilicon films are polished, thereby to form a memory gate electrode formed of the second polysilicon film at the sidewall of a control gate electrode formed of the first polysilicon film via the ONO film. As a result, the memory gate electrode high in perpendicularity of the sidewall, and uniform in film thickness is formed.
US09847323B1

In an example, an IC package includes a package substrate including a plurality of bumps configured for coupling to a printed circuit board, the package substrate including a core disposed between a plurality of top-side conductive layers and a plurality of bottom-side conductive layers. The IC package further includes an IC die coupled to the package substrate and disposed on top of the plurality of top-side conductive layers. The IC die further includes a voltage regulator IC die disposed on the package substrate adjacent to the IC die, the voltage regulator IC die being coupled to the IC die using two of four top-most layers of the plurality of top-side conductive layers nearest the IC die.
US09847322B2

There is provided a structure and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor package. The method includes disposing a first semiconductor device and through mold ball connectors (TMBCs) on a first surface of an interconnection structure layer, recessing a molding layer on the first surface of the interconnection structure layer to expose a portion of each of the TMBCs, attaching outer connectors to the exposed portions of the TMBCs, and mounting a second semiconductor device on a second surface of the interconnection structure layer opposite to the molding layer.
US09847311B2

A semiconductor device includes first and second semiconductor elements and first and second conductive members. A first electrode on the first semiconductor element is bonded to a first stack part of the first conductive member by a first bonding layer. A second electrode on the second semiconductor element is bonded to a second stack part of the second conductive member by a second bonding layer. A first joint part of the first conductive member is bonded to a second joint part of the second conductive member by an intermediate bonding layer. A first surface of the first joint part facing the second joint part, a side surface of the first joint part continuous from the first surface, a second surface of the second joint part facing the first joint part, and a side surface of the second joint part continuous from the second surface are covered by nickel layers.
US09847310B2

A method of bonding a plurality of die having first and second metal layers on a die surface to a board, comprising placing a first die onto a board comprising one of a ceramic or substrate board or metal lead frame having a solderable surface and placing the first die and the board into a reflow oven. The method includes reflowing at a first reflow temperature for a first period until the first metal board layer and at least one of the first and second metal die layers of the first die form an alloy to adhere the first die to the board. The newly formed alloy has a higher melting temperature than the first reflow temperature. Accordingly, additional die may be reflowed and attached to the board without causing the bonding of the first die to the board to fail if the same reflow temperature is used.
US09847304B2

Electronic device package technology is disclosed. In one example, an electronic device package can include a bottom surface and a side surface extending from the bottom surface. The side surface can be oriented at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the bottom surface. In another example, an electronic device package can include a top planar surface having a first area, a bottom planar surface having a second area, and a side surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. The second area can be larger than the first area. In yet another example, an electronic device package can include a substrate defining a plane, an electronic component disposed on the substrate, and a layer of material disposed about a lateral side of the electronic component. The layer of material can be oriented at an angle of less than 90 degrees relative to the plane.
US09847303B2

An electrostatic discharge protection chip is provided. The electrostatic discharge protection chip includes an electrostatic discharge module for discharging abnormal static electricity on the driver chip, and at least one detection module for detecting an equivalent resistor of the electrostatic discharge module in the driving circuit to determine whether the electrostatic discharge module is abnormal. The technical problems of the undetectable abnormal condition of the electrostatic discharge module, low functional efficiency, and high production cost are resolved.
US09847300B2

Product management and/or prompt defect analysis of a semiconductor device may be carried out without reducing the throughput in assembly and testing. Unique identification information is attached to a plurality of substrates (lead frames) used in manufacturing a semiconductor device (QFP) and to a transport unit for transporting a plurality of substrates, respectively. Identification information (rack ID) of the transport unit and identification information (substrate ID) of the substrate stored into the transport unit are associated with each other. The substrate is taken out from the transport unit set to a loader unit of each manufacturing apparatus and supplied to a processing unit, of the apparatus and in storing the substrate, the processing of which is complete, into a transport unit of an unloader unit of the apparatus, an association between identification information of the transport unit and the identification information of the substrate is checked.
US09847298B2

To provide a three-dimensional integrated circuit laminate filled in with an interlayer filler composition having both high thermal conductivity and low linear expansion property.A three-dimensional integrated circuit laminate, which comprises a semiconductor substrate laminate having at least two semiconductor substrates each having a semiconductor device layer formed thereon laminated, and has a first interlayer filler layer containing a resin (A) and an organic filler (B) and having a thermal conductivity of at least 0.8 W/(m·K) between the semiconductor substrate.
US09847297B2

This patent document provides an electronic device including a semiconductor memory that can simplify a fabrication process and improve characteristics of a variable resistance element, and a method for fabricating the same. In one aspect, an electronic device including a semiconductor memory is provided, wherein the semiconductor memory includes: a substrate; a variable resistance element formed over the substrate and exhibiting different resistance states to store data; an interlayer insulating layer formed over the substrate to surround at least a portion of the variable resistance element; an upper electrode contact formed over the variable resistance element to penetrate a portion of the interlayer insulating layer and be in contact with the variable resistance element; and a metal wiring formed over the interlayer insulating layer, and configured to include a stacked structure of a tungsten layer and a barrier layer, wherein the barrier layer is in contact with the upper electrode contact and includes tungsten, boron and iridium.
US09847294B2

The present invention provides a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device comprises: a metal pad and a first specific metal layer routing. The metal pad is positioned on a first metal layer of the semiconductor device. The first specific metal layer routing is formed in a second metal layer and directly under the metal pad, wherein an oxide layer is positioned between the first metal layer and the second metal layer.
US09847284B2

A top package used in a PoP (package-on-package) package includes two memory die stacked with a redistribution layer (RDL) between the die. The first memory die is encapsulated in an encapsulant and coupled to a top surface of the RDL. A second memory die is coupled to a bottom surface of the RDL. The second memory die is coupled to the RDL with either a capillary underfill material or a non-conductive paste. The RDL includes routing between each of the memory die and one or more terminals coupled to the RDL on a periphery of the die.
US09847281B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to leadframes having the cantilevered extension that includes an integral support on the end of the lead nearest the die pad. A support integral to the leadframe allows the support to be built to the proper height to support the cantilevered lead in each package and reduces or eliminates the upward, downward, and side to side deflections caused or allowed by supports built-in to the tooling of the manufacturing equipment. Also, by building the support into the leadframe, the leadframes may be pretaped prior to the die attach and wire bonding steps of the manufacturing process.
US09847275B2

A method of forming metallic pillars between a fluid inlet and outlet for two-phase fluid cooling. The method may include; forming an arrangement of metallic pillars between two structures, the metallic pillars are electrically connected to metallic connecting lines that run through each of the two structures, the arrangement of metallic pillars located between a fluid inlet and a fluid channel, the fluid channel having channel walls running between arrangements of the metallic pillars and a fluid outlet, whereby a fluid passes through the arrangement of metallic pillars to flow into the fluid channel.
US09847269B2

An embodiment a device package includes a semiconductor die, a molding compound extending along sidewalls of the semiconductor die, and a planarizing polymer layer over the molding compound and extending along the sidewalls of the semiconductor die. The molding compound includes first fillers, and the planarizing polymer layer includes second fillers smaller than the first fillers. The device package further includes one or more fan-out redistribution layers (RDLs) electrically connected to the semiconductor die, wherein the one or more fan-out RDLs extend past edges of the semiconductor die onto a top surface of the planarizing polymer layer.
US09847264B1

Improved methods for manufacturing semiconductor product wafer with the additional use of non-product masks are described. According to certain aspects of the invention, an evaluation wafer is first manufactured by utilizing at least one non-product mask to process one or more layer(s) on the evaluation wafer, and subsequently utilizing at least one unaltered product mask to process an evaluation-region-of-interest on the evaluation wafer. The evaluation-region-of-interest is evaluated by measuring the state of one or more feature(s) in the evaluation-region-of-interest using voltage contrast inspection (VCi). The measurements are then used to identify failures in the evaluation-region-of-interest. In response to identifying a failure in the evaluation-region-of-interest, the manufacturing process is improved by modifying at least one parameter associated with at least one processing step and manufacturing product wafers utilizing the at least one processing step(s) with the at least one modified parameter(s).
US09847260B2

A method for co-integrating finFETs of two semiconductor material types, e.g., Si and SiGe, on a bulk substrate is described. Fins for finFETs may be formed in an epitaxial layer of a first semiconductor type, and covered with an insulator. A portion of the fins may be removed to form voids in the insulator, and the voids may be filled by epitaxially growing a semiconductor material of a second type in the voids. The co-integrated finFETs may be formed at a same device level.
US09847257B2

There is provided a laser processing method of laser-processing a wafer along a plurality of streets formed in a lattice manner on a top surface of the wafer, the wafer having devices formed in a plurality of regions partitioned by the streets, the laser processing method including: a wafer holding step of holding an undersurface of the wafer by a chuck table; a resin supplying step of supplying a water-soluble liquid resin to the top surface of the wafer; a protective film forming step of forming a protective film P on the wafer as a result of drying the water-soluble liquid resin by irradiating the water-soluble liquid resin with light from a xenon flash lamp; a laser irradiating step of irradiating the wafer with a laser beam through the protective film along the streets; and a cleaning step of cleaning the wafer after the laser irradiating step.
US09847251B2

A method of forming a titanium nitride (TiN) diffusion barrier includes exposing a deposition surface to a first pulse of a titanium-containing precursor and to a first pulse of a nitrogen-rich plasma to form a first TiN layer with a first nitrogen concentration making a lower portion of the TiN diffusion barrier, the first nitrogen concentration of the first TiN layer is increased by the first pulse of the nitrogen-rich plasma reducing a reactivity of the lower portion of the TiN diffusion barrier to prevent fluorine diffusion. The first TiN layer is exposed to second pulses of the titanium-containing precursor and the nitrogen-rich plasma to form a second TiN layer with a second nitrogen concentration above the first TiN layer making an upper portion of the TiN diffusion barrier, the first pulse of the nitrogen-rich plasma has a substantially longer duration than the second pulse of the nitrogen-rich plasma.
US09847247B2

A method for filling gaps of semiconductor device and a semiconductor device with insulation gaps formed by the same are provided. First, a silicon substrate with plural protruding portions is provided, and the protruding portions are spaced apart from each other by gaps with predetermined depths. A nitride-containing layer is formed above the silicon substrate for covering the protruding portions and surfaces of the gaps as a liner nitride. Then, an amorphous silicon layer is formed on the nitride-containing layer. An insulating layer is formed on the amorphous silicon layer, and the gaps are filled up with the insulating layer.
US09847246B1

A semiconductor device includes a buried epitaxially grown substrate and a silicon on insulator (SOI) layer. The device also includes a buried oxide (BOX) layer between the buried epitaxially grown substrate and the SOI layer, an isolation trench having first width (w1), a contact trench having a second width (w2) and a capacitive trench having a third width (w3). Methods are described that allow the formation of the trenches in a normal process flow.
US09847245B1

A method of filling cavities in a semiconductor structure during fabrication. A layer of a first material, e.g., a polysilazane, is deposited on the semiconductor, and subjected to a first thermal process to change its chemical composition, e.g., to change it to silicon dioxide. It is then etched back, and the cycle of deposition, and thermal processing is repeated. The etch-back may also be repeated in one or more of the cycles after the first cycle, and a second thermal process, that may increase the density of one or more of the deposited layers, may be performed in one or more of the cycles.
US09847242B2

The disclosure provides an apparatus for aligning first and second plates that are parallel to each other and have the same orientation. The apparatus includes a detector that detects composite small-angle X-ray scattering emitted from patterns of the first and second plates that are perpendicularly impinged by X-ray, and a moving unit that aligns the first and second plates according to a composite amplitude distribution of the composite small-angle X-ray scattering. Therefore, the first and second plates are aligned to each other accurately.
US09847241B2

A transport module for loading and unloading a process module of a semiconductor production device includes a housing, which has a chamber that can be evacuated. The chamber has an opening that can be closed in a gas-tight manner by a closure device, which opens out into a first coupling duct associated with the transport module. The first coupling duct is connected with a flange plate using an elastic intermediate element, wherein the flange plate can be seated in a plane parallel, sealing manner on a flange plate of a second coupling duct associated with the process module. After opening the closure device, an evacuated loading and unloading duct to the process module is created. An inner and outer mounting section of the intermediate element is spaced apart from one another in the radial direction, with respect to the axis of the first coupling duct, by a deformation zone.
US09847240B2

A workpiece support has a vessel having a top interior wall and a bottom interior wall. An interior cavity is defined between the top interior wall and bottom interior wall, wherein a support surface configured to support a workpiece. A plate is positioned within the interior cavity, dividing the interior cavity into a top cavity and a bottom cavity. The top and bottom cavities are fluidly coupled about a periphery of the plate. A first taper defined in one or more of the top interior wall and a top portion of the plate provides a substantially constant volume across a radial cross-section of the top cavity. A second taper defined in one or more of the bottom interior wall and a bottom portion of the plate provides a substantially constant volume across a radial cross-section of the bottom cavity. First and second ports fluidly couple the top and bottom cavities to respective first and second fluid channels.
US09847238B2

Fan-out wafer-level packaging (WLP) using metal foil lamination is provided. An example wafer-level package incorporates a metal foil, such as copper (Cu), to relocate bonding pads in lieu of a conventional deposited or plated RDL. A polymer such as an epoxy layer adheres the metal foil to the package creating conductive contacts between the metal foil and metal pillars of a die. The metal foil may be patterned at different stages of a fabrication process. An example wafer-level package with metal foil provides relatively inexpensive electroplating-free traces that replace expensive RDL processes. Example techniques can reduce interfacial stress at fan-out areas to enhance package reliability, and enable smaller chips to be used. The metal foil provides improved fidelity of high frequency signals. The metal foil can be bonded to metallic pillar bumps before molding, resulting in less impact on the mold material.
US09847235B2

A carrier substrate having a plurality of receptacles each for receiving and carrying a semiconductor chip is provided. Semiconductor chips are arranged in the receptacles, and metal is plated in the receptacles to form a metal structure on and in contact with the semiconductor chips. The carrier substrate is cut to form separate semiconductor devices.
US09847219B2

In one embodiment, semiconductor die are singulated from a semiconductor wafer having a layer of material by placing the semiconductor wafer onto a carrier tape with the layer of material adjacent the carrier tape, forming singulation lines through the semiconductor wafer to expose the layer of material within the singulation lines, and separating portions of the layer of material using a fluid.
US09847211B2

A method for making a conductive film includes the steps of: depositing a conductive metal film on a substrate to form a metal-coated substrate; depositing a fiber pattern on the conductive metal film of the metal-coated substrate to form a masked substrate, the fiber pattern defining protected metal and exposed metal of the conductive metal film; removing the exposed metal from the conductive metal film of the masked substrate to form a protected conductive film; and removing the fiber pattern from the protected conductive film to expose the protected metal and provide a metal pattern on the substrate. An annealing step con be employed after depositing the fiber pattern to increase the surface area of contact between the fiber pattern and the conductive metal film.
US09847195B2

A rocker switch includes a housing. An actuating part is pivotably mounted at the housing and includes at least two opposing actuating surfaces with two opposing actuating directions associated thereto. At least one actuating surface includes a backlit lighting surface. At least one lighting device is attached to the housing for backlighting the lighting surface. The rocker switch includes least one electromechanical pushbutton and at least one multiple-part telescoping light duct. At least one plunger is displaceably supported at the housing. The at least one plunger acts through the actuator part on the electromechanical pushbutton and the at least one light duct so as to define a light channel between the at least one lighting device and the lighting surface. The at least one light duct having a tubular lower light duct section corresponding to the electromechanical pushbutton and a tubular upper light duct section corresponding to the lighting surface.
US09847194B2

An electronic switch and control module for a power tool having an electric motor is provided. The module includes a module housing including a bottom surface, side walls, and an open face, a printed circuit board (PCB) received from the open face of the module housing and securely disposed within the module housing at a distance from the bottom surface of the module housing; power switches mounted on a top surface of the PCB, and heat sinks discretely arranged and each mounted over a respective one of the plurality of power switches and secured to the top surface of the PCB to transfer heat away from the power switch through the open face of the module housing. The module further includes an input unit having conductive tracks disposed on the PCB and an electro-mechanical element engaging the plurality of conductive tracks, the input unit generating a signal for controlling a switching operation of the plurality of power switches, and a controller mounted on the PCB configured to control the switching operation of the power switches based on the signal from the input unit.
US09847193B2

An illuminant keyboard and a method thereof are provided. A plurality of protruding walls substantially parallel to each other are disposed on one of an upper surface of the transparent plate, a lower surface of the transparent plate and an upper surface of the planar light source. The protruding walls may be either I-shaped, L-shaped, U-shaped or square-shaped. When the protruding walls are made of an opaque material, the protruding walls can effectively reduce the intensity of the halo light surrounding a transparent keycap. When the protruding walls are made of a transparent material with a designated color, the halo light surrounding the keycap will be modulated with the designated color.
US09847185B2

Device, circuit, system, and method for arc suppression. A contact separation detector is configured to output an indication of a separation state of a pair of electrical contacts. A contact bypass circuit, coupled to the contact separation detector, is configured to provide an electrical bypass between the pair of contacts based on the indication.
US09847181B2

The present invention provides: a film that comprises single-layer carbon nanotubes having shapes which enable the characteristics thereof to be sufficiently exhibited; and a process for producing the film. The film, which comprises single-layer carbon nanotubes, has portions where single-layer carbon nanotubes are densely present and portions where single-layer carbon nanotubes are sparsely present, the dense portions forming a pseudo-honeycomb structure in a surface of the film.
US09847179B2

Provided is a method for forming a capacitor. The method includes: providing an anode with a dielectric thereon and a conductive node in electrical contact with the anode; applying a conductive seed layer on the dielectric; forming a conductive bridge between the conductive seed layer and the conductive node; applying voltage to the anode; electrochemically polymerizing a monomer thereby forming an electrically conducting polymer of monomer on the conductive seed layer; and disrupting the conductive bridge between the conductive seed layer and the conductive node.
US09847177B2

A composite electronic component includes a composite body having a multilayer ceramic capacitor and a tantalum capacitor coupled to each other, so as to have an excellent acoustic noise reduction effect, a low equivalent series resistance (ESR)/equivalent series inductance (ESL), improved direct current (DC)-bias characteristics, and a low chip thickness.
US09847175B2

A method of forming a stacked electronic component, and an electronic component formed by the method wherein the method includes: providing a multiplicity of electronic components wherein each electronic component comprises a first external termination and a second external termination; providing a first lead frame plate and a second lead frame plate wherein the first lead frame plate and the second lead frame plate comprises barbs and leads; providing a molded case comprising a cavity and a bottom; and forming a sandwich of electronic components in an array between the first lead frame plate and the second lead frame plate with the barbs protruding towards the electronic components and the leads extending through the bottom.
US09847174B2

A capacitor assembly is disclosed. The capacitor assembly includes a housing. The capacitor assembly further includes a plurality of capacitors disposed within the housing. Furthermore, the capacitor assembly includes a thermally conductive article disposed about at least a portion of a capacitor body of the capacitors, and in thermal contact with the capacitor body. Moreover, the capacitor assembly also includes a heat sink disposed within the housing and in thermal contact with at least a portion of the housing and the thermally conductive article such that the heat sink is configured to remove heat from the capacitor in a radial direction of the capacitor assembly. Further, a method of forming the capacitor assembly is also presented.
US09847171B2

A flexible cable includes an elongated flexible substrate including first and second surfaces on opposite sides thereof, a first capacitor electrode provided on the first surface side of the flexible substrate, the first capacitor electrode extending from a first end of the flexible substrate toward a second end of the flexible substrate, a second capacitor electrode provided on the second surface side of the flexible substrate, the second capacitor electrode extending from the second end of the flexible substrate toward the first end of the flexible substrate, a first connection portion provided at an end of the first capacitor electrode located at the first end of the flexible substrate, and a second connection portion provided at an end of the second capacitor electrode located at the second end of the flexible substrate.
US09847166B2

A transformer device includes primary, secondary, and auxiliary windings, located in an insulating substrate by conductive vias joined together by conductive traces. Positions of the conductive vias are arranged so as to optimize the isolation properties of the transformer, and to improve the coupling of the transformer by increasing the leakage inductance and reducing the distributed capacitance. The transformer device is compact and is weakly coupled. The weak coupling between the windings reduces the likelihood of the transformer malfunctioning, particularly when used in a self-resonant converter circuit.
US09847152B2

A conductor may be rated. First, a conductor core comprising a first material and having a core elongation may be provided. Next, a plurality of conductor strands may be provided. The plurality of conductor strands may comprise a second material. The elongation of the plurality of conductor strands may be one of greater than the core elongation or equal to the core elongation. Then a rating for a conductor comprising the conductor core and the plurality of conductor strands may be provided. The rating may include a composite rated breaking strength of the conductor being a function of the core elongation and not being limited by the elongation of the plurality of conductor strands.
US09847151B2

A method of fabricating and using of flexible elastic photo-thermoelectric or thermoelectric cells is being presented, where the thermoelectric materials have been used in nanohybrid (pristine form). The casing of the cells is made up of flexible elastic materials (plastic, rubber). The casing may have different shapes as rod, semi-circular, wave-form, spiral etc., that makes them easy for practical applications and the thermoelectric cells can potentially provide high efficiency. The flexible thermoelectric cells based on carbon nano-tubes (CNT) and its blend with cobalt oxide/graphene oxide nanohybrid have been made and tested.
US09847149B2

A purification method that uses ion-selective ceramics to electrochemically filter waste products from a molten salt. The electrochemical method uses ion-conducting ceramics that are selective for the molten salt cations desired in the final purified melt, and selective against any contaminant ions. The method can be integrated into a slightly modified version of the electrochemical framework currently used in pyroprocessing of nuclear wastes.
US09847142B2

A semiconductor apparatus includes a fuse array configured to store word line failure information, a redundancy latch section, and a redundancy control block configured to store, in the redundancy latch section, word line order information generated according to the word line failure information.
US09847128B2

In the examples provided herein, a voltage driver module applies an increasing voltage to a memristive memory cell until a resistance of the cell switches to a target resistance. A monitoring module monitors a switching voltage at which the resistance of the cell switches to the target resistance, or an application duration of the increasing voltage to the cell. Additionally, a controller performs an action to protect data stored by the cell upon determining that the switching voltage exceeds a target voltage.
US09847126B2

A method of increasing a read margin in a memory cell may include sensing an input current created from the application of a read voltage across a memristive device, squaring the input current, and comparing the squared input current to a reference current. A memristive device may include a memristor and a sense amplifier communicatively coupled to the memristor wherein a sensed input current created from the application of a reference voltage across a memristor is squared and wherein the sense amplifier compares the squared input current to a reference current.
US09847123B2

Multi-bit ferroelectric memory devices and methods of forming the same are provided. One example method of forming a multi-bit ferroelectric memory device can include forming a first ferroelectric material on a first side of a via, removing a material to expose a second side of the via, and forming second ferroelectric material on the second side of the via at a different thickness compared to the first side of the via.
US09847120B2

A memory array provides a plurality of memory cells arranged in columns and rows. The memory array also provides a plurality of first-type strap cells arranged in a row, wherein each first-type strap cell comprises a first-type well strap structure. The memory array further provides a plurality of second-type strap cells arranged in a row. Each second-type strap cell provides a second-type well strap structure. Each column of memory cells is bracketed by at least one first-type strap cell of the plurality of first-type strap cells or at least one second-type strap cell of the plurality of second-type strap cells.
US09847104B2

An electronic apparatus includes a plurality of parts, a frame having an outer periphery surrounding the plurality of parts and formed from resin, a circuit board disposed at one side in a first direction with respect to the plurality of parts, a chassis disposed at the one side in the first direction with respect to the plurality of parts, attached to the frame, and formed from metal, and a metal plate disposed at the other side in the first direction with respect to at least one of the plurality of parts and attached to the frame.
US09847103B1

A data storage device carrier includes a first supporting bracket and an upper cover. The first supporting bracket includes a first bottom plate and two first side plates, each of the first side plates defines an opening on an upper end and a sliding slot; the upper cover is slidably attached to the first supporting bracket, the first supporting bracket is configured to accommodate the first data storage device, the limiting columns are respectively received in the sliding slots via the openings, the top plate is configured to resist the upper surface of the first data storage device, the top plate comprises a connecting piece for connecting with another supporting bracket. A data storage system is further disclosed.
US09847099B2

A method according to one embodiment includes forming a first portion of a thin film writer structure on a substantially planar portion of a substrate such that planes of deposition of the first portion of the writer structure are substantially parallel to a plane of the substrate; forming a portion of a write gap of the writer structure at an angle of greater than 0° relative to the substantially planar portion of the substrate; and causing the writer structure to tilt at an angle relative to the plane of the substrate such that a plane of deposition of the write gap is oriented about perpendicular to a final media-facing surface of the writer structure.
US09847091B2

To input the voice of the passenger of a vehicle and output a piece of high-quality enhanced speech independently of the direction of a piece of speech or noise, a speech processing apparatus includes a first microphone that is provided on one of a ceiling member in a vehicle and an accessory thereof, inputs a sound mixture including a voice of a passenger of the vehicle and noise in the vehicle, and outputs a first signal, a second microphone that is provided on one of the ceiling member in the vehicle and the accessory thereof at a position farther than the first microphone when viewed from the passenger of the vehicle, inputs the noise in the vehicle while insulating the voice of the passenger of the vehicle using one of the ceiling member of the vehicle and the accessory thereof, and outputs a second signal, and a noise suppressor that outputs an enhanced speech signal based on the first signal and the second signal.
US09847086B2

Concealing a lost audio frame of a received audio signal by performing a sinusoidal analysis of a part of a previously received or reconstructed audio signal, wherein the sinusoidal analysis involves identifying frequencies of sinusoidal components of the audio signal, applying a sinusoidal model on a segment of the previously received or reconstructed audio signal, wherein said segment is used as a prototype frame in order to create a substitution frame for a lost audio frame, and creating the substitution frame for the lost audio frame by time-evolving sinusoidal components of the prototype frame, up to the time instance of the lost audio frame, in response to the corresponding identified frequencies.
US09847082B2

A system includes a speech recognition processor, a depth sensor coupled to the speech recognition processor, and an array of microphones coupled to the speech recognition processor. The depth sensor is operable to calculate a distance and a direction from the array of microphones to a source of audio data. The speech recognition processor is operable to select an acoustic model as a function of the distance and the direction from the array of microphones to the source of audio data. The speech recognition processor is operable to apply the distance measure in the microphone array beam formation so as to boost portions of the signals originating from the source of audio data and to suppress portions of the signals resulting from noise.
US09847079B2

Methods and apparatus to use predicted actions in VR environments are disclosed. An example method includes predicting a predicted time of a predicted virtual contact of a virtual reality controller with a virtual musical instrument, determining, based on at least one parameter of the predicted virtual contact, a characteristic of a virtual sound the musical instrument would make in response to the virtual contact, and initiating producing the sound before the predicted time of the virtual contact of the controller with the musical instrument.
US09847078B2

A method for processing a music performance, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a first media signal from a media source; analyzing the first media signal to extract any media signal characteristics; creating a reference media signal by suppressing at-least a predominant sound source of the first media signal; reproducing the reference media signal while receiving a users media signal from an input device to generate a second media signal; analyzing the second media signal to extract any media signal characteristics; processing the characteristics of the second media signal in isolation or in combination with the characteristics of the first media signal; and generating feedback for the music performance based upon the processed media signals.
US09847075B2

A method for displaying a graphical user interface on a display of an electronic device includes obtaining a total number “n” of image layers to be displayed on the display, and determining whether the total number of image layers is greater than two, determining a processing method of a number of processing methods for processing each image layer for displaying each image layer, processing each image layer according to the determined processing method, and displaying the graphical user interface on the display after all of the image layers have been processed. The number of processing methods include size adjustment, obfuscation adjustment, saturation adjustment, and transparency adjustment.
US09847069B2

The present invention provides a GOA circuit and a liquid crystal display device. The GOA circuit adds the stage transfer unit (900) and the stage transfer pull-down unit (800) and modifying the global control auxiliary unit (1000) to use the stage transfer end (ST(N)) of the stage transfer unit (900) to output the signal which is different from the scan driving signal to be the stage transfer signal and to use the global control auxiliary unit (1000) to stable the voltage level of the stage transfer end (ST(N)) in the period that the output ends (G(N)) of all the GOA units output the scan driving signal at the same time, the signal outputted by the stage transfer end (ST(N)) is opposite to the voltage level of the scan driving signal.
US09847068B2

A scan driving circuit includes a repair assembly, a pull-up assembly, a pull-up control assembly that drives the pull-up assembly, a pull-down maintaining assembly, and a reference low-level signal. When the pull-down maintaining assembly turns off in a work stage of a current scanning line, the repair assembly turns off. When the pull-down maintaining assembly turns on in the work stage of the current scanning line, the repair assembly is connected with the pull-down maintaining assembly. In the work stage of the current scanning line, the reference low-level signal is sent to the repair assembly via the turn-off unit, and turns off the pull-down maintaining assembly through the repair assembly.
US09847057B2

The invention provides a structure of AMOLED driver circuit with external compensation, disposing mutually independent detection scan driver module (2) and gate scan driver module (3), disposing data selector (MUX) for each column of pixel unit circuits (1); during frame normal display, the gate scan driver module (3) outputting normal scan driver signals (G(1)-G(n)) through all data selectors (MUX) to the gates of switch TFTs (T1) in each column of pixel unit circuits (1); during frame V-blanking, the detection scan driver module (2) making one of data selectors (MUX) to respectively output corresponding detection scan driver signals to the gates of switch TFT (T1) and detection TFT (T3) of corresponding column of pixel unit circuits (1) to perform detection and compensation on TFT or OLED stage-by-stage during AMOLED panel display duration without affecting display quality.
US09847052B2

The present invention provides a drive system of an AMOLED display and a method. The comparison module (4) is used to compare the first frame of image and a second frame of image in the two adjacent frames of image to be similar or not, and to determine that the second frame of image is a dynamic image or a static image, and to output time count (cnt). The gray scale control module (5) controls output gray scales of corresponding pixels in the second frame of image according the time count (cnt) and the gray scales of respective pixels in the first frame of image: when the second frame of image is the dynamic image, the gray scale control module (5) controls the output gray scales of corresponding pixels in the second frame of image remain to be original gray scales; when the second frame of image is the static image, the gray scale control module (5) controls the output gray scales of corresponding pixels in the second frame of image gradually decrease along with increase of the time count (cnt) in a specific time counting duration, to make a display brightness of the static image slowly decrease. The display effect is not influenced and the lifetime of the AMOLED display is also raised.
US09847043B1

Tagged driving events may be generated during a driving session from sensor data collected via one or more sensors and/or entered by an instructor. The tagged driving events may include a description of each driving event and its associated severity or weight as it relates to a scoring process as well as a time and/or a location of the driving event. A driving session report may be generated using the tagged driving events and may include a driver feedback score that is weighted based on the severity associated with each of the tagged driving events and/or the collected data, a map of the driving session route that indicates a map location of each tagged driving event, and/or a listing of each tagged driving event. The driving session report may be displayed such that a user may select a tagged driving event to view information associated with the tagged driving event.
US09847034B1

An aerial vehicle maneuvers in compliance with applicable aviation regulations by formulating a request to air traffic control (ATC) for permission to perform a proposed maneuver, overlaying, as a sub-modulated secondary signal, data characterizing the request on top of a primary ADS-B signal such that the primary ADS-B signal is not interfered with, and transmitting an ADS-B message comprising the primary and secondary signals. Permission can likewise be transmitted and received from ATC using ADS-B overlay communication. The aerial vehicle can conduct emergency maneuvers in the absence of permission and update ATC as to flight path deviations taken using ADS-B overlay communication, without the need for a voice radio and by using existing ADS-B digital communications.
US09847029B2

An apparatus, including a shipment conveyance device which is a shipping container, pallet, or piece of luggage, a memory device located in, on, or at, the shipment conveyance device which stores information regarding the shipment conveyance device, a global positioning device which determines a position or location of the shipment conveyance device, a processing device which processes information regarding the shipment conveyance device in response to an occurrence of an event or a request for information and which generates a message containing information regarding the position or location of the shipment conveyance device and information regarding the occurrence of an event, a status of a shipment or transportation involving the shipment conveyance device, a temperature, or an impact or force on the shipment conveyance device, and a transmitter located in, on, or at, the shipment conveyance device which transmits the message to a communication device.
US09847026B2

This disclosure concerns a graphical display (400) of operational data of a moving mining machine (140). A processor (114) receives terrain information (300) and operational data (500) of the mining machine (140). The operational data (500) is based on the response of the mining machine (140) to terrain variations at the respective geographical locations. The processor (114) generates a display comprising a terrain image (402) and a graphical trail (406) representing the travel path on the terrain image (402) based on the operational data. The appearance of the trail (406) is variable along the trail and based on variations in the operational data. The trail (406) in the display (400) is aligned with the terrain image (402) and a user of the display can visually correlate a change in operational data with a geographical location in the terrain.
US09847007B2

Methods, software, apparatus, and systems for policy-based access control are provided. In one embodiment, a method for providing policy-based access to a policy-controlled resource for a user, comprising: detecting an electronically encoded signal from a computer-controlled electronic access control service at a user-controlled computer-controlled electronic communications device proximate to the user; receiving an electronically encoded compliance query from the computer-controlled electronic access control service at the computer-controlled electronic communications device; determining an electronically encoded response to the electronically encoded compliance query using an electronically encoded, computer-controlled process on the computer-controlled computation device; and returning the electronically encoded response to the computer-controlled electronic access control service using the computer-controlled computation device.
US09847003B2

The present invention provides an improved cable that includes at least one insulated conductor insulated from and within and inside a insulated second conductor, with both conductors connected with both ends with a cable alarm tag to form a closed electrical circuit, with the loop of the cable connected to an article for securing the article. With the cable of the present invention, if severed, the use of jumper cables will maintain the electrical circuit loop closed for the outer conductor only, but not the insulated inner conductor that is within and inside the outer conductor. Therefore, when severing the cable to disconnect and discontinue the physical loop to remove the secured article, even if cable jumpers are used, the insulated inner conductor will remain open circuited when the cable is cut, resulting in trigger of the alarm.
US09846999B1

Systems and methods for providing real-time alerts to a user of a device in or near a potentially dangerous situation are disclosed. A computer-implemented method includes determining, by the mobile device, that a user is looking at the mobile device based on sensor data, determining, by the mobile device, an area of a likely accident event, and generating, by the mobile device, an alert based on the determining that the user is looking at the device and the determining the area of the likely accident event.
US09846997B2

An apparatus for checking a rear lamp includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor is disposed in at least one rear lamp and configured to obtain a first signal generated from the outside. The controller is configured to turn on the at least one rear lamp according to the first signal.
US09846987B2

Some embodiments include a method of operating a gaming system configured to present wagering game content for a wagering game. The method can include presenting, on a autostereoscopic display device of the gaming system, the wagering game content in two-dimensional form without stereoscopic depth. The method can also include detecting a game condition of the wagering game other than a location of a player of the wagering game. The method can also include determining a degree of stereoscopic three-dimensional depth based on the game condition. The method can also include presenting, via the autostereoscopic display device of the gaming system, the wagering game content with the degree of stereoscopic three-dimensional depth.
US09846972B2

A method of interaction using augmented reality may include aligning a local augmented reality (AR) view to a remote AR view of a remote user, receiving remote annotations from the remote user, sending local annotations registered to a local view to the remote user, and manipulating local view with remote and local annotations. The method may also include capturing a first video image using a camera, generating first augmented reality (AR) coordinates corresponding to the first video image, receiving second AR coordinates, 3D object information and second video frame from remote user, loading 3D content and instructions from a remote storage, and updating positions and existence of the received 3D object information and the loaded 3D content.
US09846971B2

This disclosure relates to systems and methods for augmenting an appearance of a hilt to simulate a bladed weapon. A hilt may be augmented with a blade of a bladed weapon by detecting a landmark associated with the hilt, determining a position and/or an orientation of the hilt, determining an overlay image comprising the blade of the bladed weapon, wherein the blade is placed within the overlay image according to the determined position and/or the determined orientation of the hilt, and displaying the overlay image so that the blade of the bladed weapon appears to be attached to the hilt.
Patent Agency Ranking