US09944255B2
A heated wiper blade system, comprising a windshield wiper blade, an elongated heating element embedded along the length of the blade, a mounting bracket configured to snap into a wiper arm of a vehicle and into which the wiper blade is securable, and a control unit electrically coupled to the heating element and configured to provide a current to the heating element.
US09944253B2
A D-ring assembly for an inflatable belt of a vehicle includes a patch bracket, in which a portion of the patch bracket supporting a D-ring is inclined forward with respect to a portion of the patch bracket fixed to a pillar of the vehicle; and the D-ring installed at the patch bracket to be rotatable in a left or right direction, so that the two-layer webbing is guided toward the front of a wearer, allowing a passenger to easily wear the webbing.
US09944248B2
An airbag includes a panel, a secondary panel, and an opening. The panel defines an inflation chamber inflatable to an inflated position and includes a valley in the inflated position. The secondary panel is connected to the panel on opposite sides of the valley and extends across the valley to define a secondary chamber between the secondary panel and the panel. The opening extends through the panel from the inflation chamber to the secondary chamber. During a vehicle impact, the momentum of the occupant may move the occupant towards the secondary panel. The secondary panel may absorb energy from the occupant and reduce or prevent the head of the occupant from rotating.
US09944246B2
An occupant protection device, including an airbag that is inflated and deployed on being supplied with gas, the airbag configuring an integral bag body including a front inflating portion that is inflated and deployed at a seat front side of the head of an occupant and that limits movement of the head toward a seat front side, and a pair of lateral inflating portions that are inflated and deployed at both seat width direction sides of the head of the occupant and that limit movement of the head toward a seat side, wherein an energy absorption amount with respect to displacement of the head by at least the lateral inflating portion, from out of the pair of lateral inflating portions, positioned at a vehicle width direction outside is greater than an energy absorption amount with respect to displacement of the head by the front inflating portion.
US09944245B2
Vehicle occupant restraint systems that include a compact, web-mounted airbag that can be deployed during a crash event are described herein. In some embodiments, the web (e.g., a shoulder belt) passes through the stowed airbag during normal use and, when the airbag inflates and deploys, the airbag extends along the length of the web (for example, along the entire length, or at least most of the length, of the web) to protect the occupant. In some embodiments, the restraint systems include shoulder belts having first and second overlapping web portions, and when the airbag inflates and deploys, the airbag extends along the length of the first web portion between the first web portion and the second web portion.
US09944236B2
A mounting system includes a cradle disposed in a headrest in a vehicle, and a primary adapter. The cradle is shaped and dimensioned to receive the primary adapter. The primary adapter includes first to fourth lips forming a recess in the primary adapter. The recess is shaped and dimensioned to receive a first computing device or a secondary adapter. The first computing device, or a bezel of the secondary adapter, is substantially flush with an outer surface of the headrest upon mounting the first computing device or the secondary adapter to the primary adapter.
US09944234B2
A removable apparatus being configured for mounting to a hitch behind a vehicle which enables an individual to load and unload a canoe atop a vehicle. The apparatus includes a base which is adapted to rotate 360-degrees perpendicular of horizontal of the vehicle and includes a tube which is adapted to lock upright or pivot downwardly 30-degrees away from vertical of the vehicle. The apparatus includes a mechanism to position a receiving device configured to mate to a device mounted to the canoe.
US09944228B2
A method for vehicle control includes receiving physiological data from one or more wearable computing devices, where each of the one or more wearable computing devices is associated with one or more vehicle occupants in the vehicle, and determining a health state of the one or more vehicle occupants based on the physiological data. The health state describing a current condition of each of the one or more vehicle occupants. The method includes determining a priority level for the health state of each of the one or more vehicle occupants. Further, the method includes controlling one or more vehicle systems of the vehicle based on the health state of each of the one or more vehicle occupants and according to the priority level of the health state of each of the one or more vehicle occupants.
US09944223B2
A headlight control apparatus 1 that controls an illumination state of a headlight 10 that illuminates an area ahead of a vehicle includes an illuminance sensor 21 that detects luminance around the vehicle, an illumination control section 31 that switches on or off the headlight 10 in accordance with the luminance detected by the illuminance sensor 21, a forward detection sensor 22 that detects an object that is present within a predetermined distance ahead of the vehicle, and a dimming control section 32 that dims the headlight 10 when the forward detection sensor 22 detects an object after start of the vehicle.
US09944222B2
A vehicle headlamp light distribution control device includes: a detector that is configured to detect a reference position from an image of a frond region of a vehicle; and a controller that is configured to control, during a time period until the reference position is detected by the detector, a light distribution of a headlamp of the vehicle in accordance with a sensed inclination of the vehicle or a physical amount expressing the inclination of the vehicle, and to control, after the reference position is detected by the detector, the light distribution of the headlamp on the basis of calibrated information obtained by calibrating information obtained from the image in accordance with the detected reference position.
US09944198B2
A vehicle, such as an automobile, is provided with friction and regenerative braking systems. A sensor detects an obstacle in the vehicle's path and a brake controller, when operated by a user, automatically deploys either or both braking systems to decelerate the vehicle so that its speed corresponds to that of the obstacle when the vehicle is a predetermined distance from the obstacle. The brake controller is arranged to deploy the braking systems in order to optimize recovery of kinetic energy by the regenerative braking system. The brake controller may be operated in a standard mode, in which it deploys the braking systems to provide a retarding force on the vehicle which depends on a driver's input. The brake controller may be controlled by a brake pedal. The pedal may have a position part way along its travel at which resistance to further travel temporarily increases and operation of the pedal beyond that position causes the brake controller to operate in the standard mode.
US09944182B2
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to vehicle notifications. In aspects, while a vehicle is in motion, certain types of notifications are not presented to the driver. After the vehicle has stopped and a point appropriate for notification is occurring, a notification may be presented. The notification may assist a driver in, for example, learning features of the vehicle, improving efficiency, or in many other ways.
US09944179B2
To secure and improve the support rigidity of an electric AT device without any structural difficulty.A center console includes a console body which has a pair of side wall parts, and an AT finisher which is provided between upper ends of the pair of side wall parts. An electric AT device is mounted on a lower surface side of the AT finisher directly or through a mounting bracket. A rigid member is mounted in at least one inner surface of the pair of side wall parts. A device holding part which is supported by an upper portion of the rigid member is provided in the mounting bracket or the electric AT device.
US09944178B2
A power takeoff unit is comprised of: a casing dividable into a first part and a second part; an inner shaft receiving torque from an engine; an outer shaft independently rotatable and coaxial with the inner shaft; a clutch for connecting the inner shaft with the outer shaft; an actuator configured to connect the clutch; an output shaft for outputting torque; and a gear set drivingly coupling the outer shaft with the output shaft, wherein the outer shaft and the output shaft are rotatably supported by the first part, the clutch is rotatably supported by the second part, and the actuator is fixed to the second part, whereby the clutch and the actuator along with the second part are separable from the first part.
US09944173B2
A vehicle floor lower structure includes: a floor panel configuring a floor of a vehicle and formed with a floor tunnel, that projects out toward a vehicle body upper side and extends along a vehicle body front-rear direction, the floor tunnel is disposed at a vehicle width direction center of the floor panel; a fuel tank that is disposed at a vehicle body lower side of the floor panel and that includes a main tank section disposed inside the floor tunnel and an extension tank section that is disposed inside the floor tunnel and that projects out from the main tank section toward a vehicle body front side or a vehicle body rear side; and an exhaust pipe that is routed so as to pass by inside the floor tunnel at a vehicle width direction outer side of the main tank section and the extension tank section.
US09944170B2
The present invention discloses an operating fluid container (10) made of thermoplastic material for a motor vehicle and a method for equipping an operating fluid container with a stiffening element (20). The operating fluid container (10) here has the following features: the operating fluid container (10) has a container opening (12) which is arranged in a container wall (11) and is edged by a surround (13); the operating fluid container (10) comprises at least one fastening device (15), which is arranged in the operating fluid container (10) and is connected to a container base (14) located opposite the container opening (12); the operating fluid container (10) further comprises a stiffening element (20), which is connectable and/or connected to a closure element (22) for closing the container opening (12) and is connectable to the fastening device (15); and the stiffening element (20) which is fastened to the container base (14) by means of the fastening device (15) and to the container wall by means of the closure element (22) counteracts deformation caused by the internal pressure of the operating fluid container (10).
US09944164B2
A power transmitting apparatus includes a transmission gear mechanism and a power split mechanism including a first rotation element connected to a first input member, a second rotation element connected to a rotary machine, and a third rotation element connected to the drive shaft via a first output member. The transmission gear mechanism is configured to transmit a torque to the first input member and the first rotation element via a second output member. The transmission gear mechanism and the power split mechanism are arranged on the same rotation axis as an output shaft of an engine. The transmission gear mechanism and the power split mechanism are arranged in the order of the transmission gear mechanism and the power split mechanism from the side closer to the engine. The second output member and the first input member are connected to each other by a spline or a serration.
US09944162B2
An automobile battery protection structure includes a middle channel; two protection components symmetrically disposed on the left and right of the middle channel. Each of the protection components includes a vehicle door sill, a seat beam assembly, a floor panel, and a longitudinal beam. One end of the seat beam assembly is attached to the upper part of the vehicle door sill, and the other end of the seat beam assembly attached to the upper side of the middle channel. One end of the floor panel is attached to the lower part of the vehicle door sill, and the other end of the floor panel is attached to the bottom side of the middle channel. The longitudinal beam is located under the floor panel, and longitudinally extending through the vehicle body. A car battery pack disposed under the middle channel.
US09944156B2
A convertible top of a cabriolet vehicle includes a convertible top rod assembly movable between a closed position spanning a vehicle interior and a storage position. The top rod assembly includes a link arrangement on opposing sides of the assembly. The link arrangement includes a main link and a main column pivotably mounted on a main bearing, and a front-side first link element and a second link element. The second link element is rearward of the first link element in the closed position and connected to the first link element by a joint arrangement, wherein the first link element being pivotable relative to the second link element by an actuating link extending along the second link element. A knee lever arrangement connected to the first link element, the second link element, and the actuating link includes a closing bolt.
US09944145B2
A suspension element includes a main body having an internal volume configured to contain a liquid therein, a tubular element extending at least partially within the main body, the tubular element having an internal volume that defines a first fluid chamber configured to contain a compressible gas therein, a first piston separating the internal volume of the main body into a second fluid chamber and a third fluid chamber, a second piston positioned to separate the first fluid chamber from the second fluid chamber, and a flow control element disposed along a flow path between the second fluid chamber and the third fluid chamber. Movement of the tubular element generates a flow of the liquid through the flow control element to produce a damping force and changes the pressure of the compressible gas to produce a spring force.
US09944133B2
Provided is a pneumatic tire having the structure where a carcass ply is wound around bead cores from the outside in the tire width direction to the inside in the tire width direction, and both end portions of an inner liner extend between beads and the carcass ply. A lightweight and highly rigid tire can be acquired. The tire can also enhance steering stability performance thereof. The pneumatic tire includes: a pair of left and right beads including bead cores 3a; a carcass ply extending between the bead cores; and an inner liner 4 disposed on an inner peripheral side of the carcass ply 5, wherein the carcass ply 5 is wound around the bead cores 3a from the outside in the tire width direction to the inside in the tire width direction, and both end portions of the inner liner 4 extend between the beads and the carcass ply.
US09944125B2
A barrier layer is provided for an inflatable article for impeding the flow of inflation gas through the inflatable article. The barrier layer may be constructed of a material that is based upon a cross-linkable rubber composition, the cross-linkable rubber composition comprising, per 100 parts by weight of rubber (phr), between 1 phr and 40 phr of a chlorosulfonated polyethylene rubber, between 60 phr and 99 phr of a butyl rubber and a sulfur curing system.
US09944111B2
The method and apparatus described herein allows for the automatic retraction and extension of the writing element of a bistable self-retaining writing instrument. The method and apparatus consists of a writing element that is joined to the end of a flexible tube or material. These are inserted through a longitudinal channel formed along the outer surface of the writing instrument and are anchored only at the end opposite the writing element. When the bistable self-retaining writing instrument transitions from a coiled to straight configuration the writing element is automatically exposed. Conversely, when pushed into its coiled configuration the writing element slides back into the channel and is thereby protected. The flexible tube or material may also act as a reservoir for a writing substrate such as ink.
US09944108B2
A sticky note pad includes a stack of note sheets. Each of the note sheets includes: a substrate having a writing face and a back face opposite to the writing face, the back face having a central portion and a peripheral portion surrounding the central portion; and an adhesive layer positioned on the central portion of the back face.
US09944101B2
To optimize an arrangement route for a tube arranged between an ink tank and a carriage, when arranging the ink tank outside an ink jet printer main body. A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting apparatus main body 2 ejecting a liquid onto a recording medium from a liquid ejecting head mounted on a carriage; a liquid containing body 110 arranged inside the liquid ejecting apparatus main body 2; and a liquid supply tube 120 arranged between the liquid containing body 110 and the carriage, in which an inner space S is provided which is formed from the liquid ejecting head and a discharge port including a region where the recording medium is discharged, and the liquid containing body 110 is arranged in the inner space S.
US09944094B1
A media transport system includes a drum with a plurality of rows of holes, a vacuum plenum, and a shutter. The vacuum plenum is positioned within the drum at a position opposite a printhead and the shutter is configured for movement in a cross-process direction. Each row of holes in the drum includes at least one inter-copy gap. The shutter includes a solid member having at least one aperture in it. The shutter is moved to a position so the aperture is aligned with a row of holes and the solid portion of the shutter prevents a flow of air through the vacuum plenum from the holes in other rows of holes not aligned with the aperture in the shutter and the inter-copy gaps in the row of holes aligned with the aperture selectively prevents air flow to the vacuum plenum.
US09944090B2
A printing apparatus includes: a feeding unit feeding a sheet; a conveying unit conveying the sheet fed by the feeding unit; a printing unit printing the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit; an inversion path inverting the sheet printed on a first surface by the printing unit and conveying the sheet to the conveying unit; and a conveyance control unit performing conveyance control of overlapping a trailing edge of a preceding sheet conveyed through the inversion path and a leading edge of a succeeding sheet fed following the preceding sheet.
US09944065B2
A multi-color printer has an array of monochrome fixed inkjet printheads aligned in a media feed direction. The printer includes: a first printhead positioned furthest upstream relative to the media feed direction; a second printhead positioned furthest downstream relative to the media feed direction; and a third printhead positioned between the first and second printheads. Each printhead is supplied with a respective ink from a multi-color ink set, the first printhead being supplied with a lowest luminance ink of the ink set and the third printhead being supplied with a highest luminance ink of the ink set.
US09944063B1
Methods for producing building materials comprising a reinforced substrate are described herein. The method can include providing a substrate having a first surface and an opposed second surface, applying a fabric material to the first surface of the substrate, applying a hydrophobic polymeric woven mesh to the fabric material, applying a coating to the hydrophobic polymeric woven mesh thereby allowing the coating to penetrate the hydrophobic polymeric woven mesh and fabric material, removing the hydrophobic polymeric woven mesh, and curing the coating thereby bonding the fabric material to the first surface of the substrate. The substrate can include a polymeric material. In some embodiments, the substrate can include a polyurethane foam. The substrate can further include a filler. The hydrophobic polymeric woven mesh used in the building materials can be derived from alkylene monomers.
US09944056B2
A device for heating and connecting sheets (11, 12, 111, 121) of bituminous or synthetic membranes (100), comprising at least one sheet (11, 12, 111, 121) of a bituminous or synthetic membrane (100) which is applied to at least one base layer (141), said membrane (100) being formed with a single compound or having at least one bottom layer including a compound or a bituminous mixture and at least one upper layer including a polymeric material and an electrically conductive material, which is heated; in particular, a body (13, 23) having a mainly longitudinal (A) development and placed on a first edge (11a, 21a) of a first sheet (11, 21, 111, 121) of the membrane (100) in order to connect said first edge to a second edge (12a, 22a) of a second sheet (12, 22, 111, 121) of the membrane (100) is provided with an upper face (13a, 23a).
US09944055B2
A thermo-compression bonding tool with a high temperature elastic element, and methods of bonding a metal sheet to a substrate using a thermo-compression bonding tool are described. In an example, a system for bonding a metal sheet to a substrate includes a stage to support the substrate and an elastic roller located above the stage. The elastic roller includes a high temperature material. The system also includes a heated backing plate located above the elastic roller. The backing plate is configured to apply pressure and heat to the elastic roller as the elastic roller rolls across a metal sheet disposed above the substrate.
US09944051B2
The invention relates to a method for preparing a laminate comprising providing an aluminum foil inner layer, a paper middle layer, and an aluminum foil outer layer; laminating the inner aluminum foil layer to the middle layer by a process selected from the group consisting of adhesive lamination with polyurethane, polyvinyl acetate, and an acrylic-type adhesive, and extrusion lamination with polyethylene; curing the inner aluminum foil layer and middle paper layer; laminating the middle paper layer and the outer aluminum foil layer by a process selected from the group consisting of adhesive lamination with polyurethane, polyvinyl acetate, and an acrylic-type adhesive, and extrusion lamination with polyethylene; and curing the inner aluminum foil layer, the middle paper layer and the outer aluminum foil layer.
US09944049B2
A laminate is formed by laminating a substrate and a support plate through an adhesive layer and a release layer. The release layer is formed by applying a composition containing a reactive polysilsesquioxane and a crosslinkable group-containing siloxane onto the surface of the support plate or the surface of the substrate and heating the composition to polymerize the reactive polysilsesquioxane and the crosslinkable group-containing siloxane.
US09944048B2
Provided are a laser-bonded component and a production method for same that ensure sufficient bonding strength using little laser energy and which cause little increase in surrounding temperature. A nickel layer, being a surface layer, is formed having sufficient thickness on the upper surface of a copper plate that is uppermost amongst at least two superposed copper plates, a laser is irradiated from above the nickel layer, a re-solidification section formed by fusing and alloying the copper in the copper plates and the nickel in the nickel layer is formed through to inside the bottommost copper plate, and the copper plates are bonded together. The re-solidification section having high breaking strength is formed by the alloying of the nickel and the copper. As a result, the copper plates can be bonded with a small welding surface area and little laser energy.
US09944039B2
A corrugated paperboard sheet manufacturing apparatus (1) comprises a single facer (8) for preparing a single-faced corrugated paperboard sheet (6), a double facer (12) for preparing a double-faced corrugated paperboard sheet (12), a slitter-scorer (17) for performing a scoring and a slitting of the double-faced corrugated paperboard sheet (10), a cutter (20) for cutting the double-faced corrugated paperboard sheet (10) after the scoring and slitting, and a printer (18) for printing individual identification information on the double-faced corrugated paperboard sheet, in a non-contact state. The printer (18) is disposed on a conveyance line of the corrugated paperboard sheet manufacturing apparatus (1) at a position on a downstream side of the double facer (12).
US09944037B2
An apparatus for simultaneously separating a portion of a continuous web of film, having a leading edge and a plurality of spaced apart side seals, includes a base, a plurality of blade pairs, and a film guide device. The blade pairs are moveable between an open and closed positions and are mounted to the base and spaced apart a distance corresponding to the side seals in the film. The film guide device includes a guide member that releasable attaches to a portion of the film adjacent the leading edge. The guide members suspends the film between the plurality of blade pairs in the open position to align the plurality of seals on the film with the plurality of spaced apart blade pairs to accurate separate the film into a plurality of pouches upon movement of the blade pairs to the closed position.
US09944034B2
A topping sheet forming method includes: a division step of cylindrically winding a textile original fabric, obtained by weaving longitudinally aligned tire cords into a cord fabric by use of weft yarns, to form an original fabric roll and cutting off the weft yarns in predetermined widthwise positions by using a wire wound on the original fabric roll in a predetermined winding angle range to divide the textile original fabric into narrow textile original fabrics; and a topping step of topping at least one surface of each of the narrow textile original fabrics with unvulcanized rubber.
US09944025B2
The disclosure refers to a method for manufacturing rod-shaped components of composite material, for example rowings or fillers, wherein a laminate is layered by automatically laying up a plurality of plies of composite material, which is then cut in an automated machine to obtain a plurality of rods having substantially the same cross-sectional shape. The obtained rods are then simultaneously conformed by applying heat and pressure to obtain rods with the desired cross-sectional shape. With the method of the disclosure, a large number of these types of components are produced with improved quality and in a very simple manner, using the machinery and equipment already commonly existing in a factory of aeronautic components.
US09943985B2
An apparatus for reheating and conditioning an elongate preform for forming a blow molded container, said apparatus comprising: a receiver including an elongate annular non-cylindrical inner surface portion, wherein the surface portion defines a cavity and is adapted to engage with an elongate outer surface of an elongate preform to transfer heat thereto by conduction from said surface portion, wherein the surface portion includes a three-dimensional relief to provide substantially non-uniform contact between the receiver and the elongate preform; and means for heating said receiver.
US09943983B2
The invention provides a block splitter device comprising first lower and second upper opposed block splitter assemblies. The block splitter assemblies have first and second forming edges that extend at least the majority of the distance from a first end to a second end of the block splitter assembly and have first ends disposed near a median split plane and second ends disposed further away from the median split plane than the first ends. Methods of using the block splitter device are described.
US09943975B2
Saw system, including methods and apparatus, for cutting pieces of stock to be installed end-to-end to form miter joints. In some embodiments, the saw system may include a computer that determines an appropriate saw pivot angle for cutting a proximal end of a second piece of stock, based on a corner angle entered for cutting a distal end of a first piece of stock. In some embodiments, the saw system may compensate for an offset pivot axis of a saw device based on entered lengths of cut first and second pieces generated respectively with the saw device pivoted to the left and to the right.
US09943973B2
A powered rotary knife includes a handle, a blade housing, an annular blade, and a blade bushing for rotatably mounting the blade within the housing. The blade housing includes an inner groove that is operable to receive the blade bushing therein. The blade housing and blade bushing are split in order to expand and receive the blade. The blade includes an outer groove that is also operable to receive the blade bushing. Thus, the blade bushing is spaced between the blade housing and blade and rotatably secures the blade within the blade housing.
US09943967B2
The present disclosure discloses a five-degree-of-freedom hybrid robot with rotational supports. A first and a second fixed shaft seats are rotatably connected to a first and a second rotational support through a hinge, respectively. One end of a first length adjustment device runs through the first rotational support, and the other end is fixedly connected to a moving platform. One end of each of the second and third length adjustment devices runs through the first rotational support and is then connected to the moving platform, respectively. Middle portions of the first, second and third length adjustment devices are each hinged onto the first rotational support. One end of a fourth length adjustment device runs through the second rotational support and is connected to the moving platform. Middle portion of the fourth length adjustment device is hinged onto the second rotational support.
US09943958B2
A system for controlling the position of an articulated robotic arm in a robotic catheter procedure system, includes an articulated robotic arm, a first controller coupled to the articulated robotic arm and a patient table. The patient table includes a user interface and a second controller coupled to the user interface and the first controller. The second controller is programmed to generate a control signal in response to a user input received using the patient table user interface, the user input indicating a change in position of the patient table. The second controller is also programmed to transmit the control signal to the patient table and to transmit the control signal to the first controller.
US09943952B2
An electro-pneumatic tool drives a fastener into a workpiece by energizing an electric motor to drive a first piston and generate compressed air in a first cylinder. The compressed air is then supplied to a second cylinder and causes a second piston to move and drive the fastener into the workpiece. After the first piston has passed through its top dead center, braking is applied to the first piston according to one or more braking parameters. Then, if a control unit determines that the first piston has come to a stop at a position that is outside a predetermined range about the bottom dead center of the first piston, one or more of the braking parameters is changed in a subsequent fastener driving cycle to cause the first piston to stop closer to its bottom dead center after conclusion of the subsequent fastener driving cycle.
US09943944B1
The phase alignment device to be used with a phase alignment tool may include a body section; and a driving head section connected to the body section. The body section and the driving head section may include an aperture which extends through the body section and the driving head section.
US09943940B2
A power tool includes a drilling tool and a dust collector configured to be removably attached to the drilling tool. The dust collector includes a dust collector body, a passage part provided in the dust collector body and having elasticity, and a storing part configured to be removably attached to the dust collector body and to store dust. The passage part includes a drilling tool mounting port part configured to be connected to the drilling tool while pressing a specified region of the drilling tool, and a storing part mounting port part configured to be connected to the storing part while pressing a specified region of the storing part. Air containing the dust is led through the dust collector body to the storing part, and the air from which the dust has been separated in the storing part is led through the passage part into the drilling tool.
US09943939B2
In a handheld machine tool having a tool housing in which a gear unit is situated to transmit a torque generated by a drive motor to a drive spindle, to which drive spindle a spindle-locking device is assigned, the drive spindle has at least one radial depression in which at least one spindle cylinder assigned to the spindle-locking device is accommodated.
US09943936B2
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for forming an overmolded dual in-line memory module (DIMM) cooling structure are provided. Embodiments include identifying, by a tagging module, contextual information indicating circumstances in which the photograph was taken; based on the contextual information, selecting, by the tagging module, candidate profiles from a plurality of friend profiles associated with a profile of a user; and suggesting, by the tagging module to the user, the selected candidate profiles as potential friends to tag in the photograph.
US09943935B2
A method for making a valve stem seal, comprising the steps of providing a metal retainer having a top portion and a body portion. The body portion having a first section and a second section. In a first state, the first section of the body portion is cylindrical and the second section of the body portion is cone shaped. Providing a hollow mold. Inserting the metal retainer into the outer mold piece, inserting the inner mold piece into the metal retainer, and then securing the inner and outer mold pieces to each other. Filling a cavity around the top portion of the metal retainer with an elastomeric compound. Removing the metal retainer and the formed rubber sealing element from the mold pieces, and pressing downward over the formed valve stem seal to compress the second section of the body portion radially inwardly.
US09943934B2
A tool having a relatively ductile working end for engaging workpieces and a relatively hard non-working portion for driving the tool is disclosed, and a process for making same. The tool is formed with the material in a first state, such as by cold-working, and then only the non-working portion is heat treated to a second state. The working end is thus maintained in the ductile state while the non-working portion is hardened, thus imparting different materials performance characteristics to working end and non-working portion.
US09943931B2
Various embodiments of thermal compression bonding transient cooling solutions are described. Those embodiments include a an array of vertically separated micro channels coupled to a heater surface, wherein every outlet micro channel comprises two adjacent inlet micro channel, and wherein an inlet and outlet manifold are coupled to the array of micro channels, and wherein the heater surface and the micro channels are coupled within the same block.
US09943930B2
The solder composition comprises particles of a thermodynamically metastable alloy. One of the elements of the alloy will form an intermetallic compound with a metal surface. The solder composition is particularly suitable for use in bumping of semiconductor devices.
US09943925B2
A welding system includes a welding power supply. The welding power supply provides a welding power for a welding application through a weld cable. Additionally, the welding power supply includes weld cable communications circuitry including a receiver to receive data from the weld cable and to monitor the weld cable for frequency spurs or other interfering signals. Further, the weld cable communications circuitry includes a transmitter to transmit data across the weld cable. Furthermore, the transmitter adjusts data transmission characteristics based on the frequency spurs or the other interfering signals.
US09943924B2
Embodiments described herein include wireless control of a welding power supply via portable electronic devices. In particular, operating parameters and statuses of the welding power supply may be modified by the portable electronic device, as well as be displayed on the portable electronic device. For example, in certain embodiments, the welding power supply may be an engine-driven welding power supply, and the portable electronic device may be configured to start and/or stop an engine of the engine-driven welding power supply. A pairing procedure may be used to pair the welding power supply and the portable electronic device in a wireless communication network. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, a method of prioritization of control between a control panel of the welding power supply and the portable electronic device may be implemented.
US09943923B2
Systems and methods for providing an improved start in a welding are provided. The system may include a power circuit and a control circuit: The power circuit may generate welding output power for a welding process. The control circuit may control the start of the welding process, for example, by generating a current pulse.
US09943919B2
Provided is an electrochemical machining apparatus, which includes an electrode (3) that form of a shape which a tube shape is extended, including a flexible conductive material, and is which an electrolyte (W) circulates from a base end side (3b) thereof toward a distal end side (3a) thereof, a current supply unit (6) that causes electric current to flow with respect to the electrode (3) in an extending direction (direction running the Y direction) in which the electrode (3) extends, and a magnetic field generation unit (7) that includes at least one pair of magnets (9) which are disposed to face the electrodes (3) a direction and apply a magnetic field in a direction (X direction) intersecting the extending direction with respect to the electrodes (3).
US09943916B2
A chop saw includes a base assembly and a saw assembly pivotally attached to the base assembly. The base assembly has a workpiece-supporting plane. The saw assembly has a blade and a motor driving the blade. A hinged connection between the base assembly and a saw assembly allows a user to rotate the saw assembly from a position where the plane of the blade extends through the workpiece-supporting plane to a position where the plane of the blade does not extend through the workpiece-supporting plane. In such position, the plane of blade may be substantially parallel to the workpiece-supporting plane.
US09943912B2
A tool holder with a main part, a deformable receiving portion for clamping a tool, and at least one blocking element which is designed to engage into a corresponding counter element on the tool in order to prevent the tool from moving axially out of the tool holder. The at least one blocking element is integrally formed with the receiving portion. A clamping system having such a tool holder and a method for producing a receiving portion for such a tool holder are also described.
US09943910B2
A cutting tool composed of a sintered cermet body is disclosed. The body includes hard phases composed of carbide(s), nitride(s), and carbonitride(s) of metal(s) selected from metals belonging to Groups 4, 5, and 6 of the periodic table including Ti as a main component, and includes first and second hard phases, and a binding phase mainly composed of at least one of Co and Ni. The body includes first and second faces, a cutting edge located at an edge of the first and second faces, and an interior portion located at a depth of 400 μm or more from the first face. When residual stresses are measured by a 2D method, stress of the first hard phase is 80 MPa or more in terms of compressive stress. Stresses of the second hard phase and the binding phase are −50 MPa to 50 Mpa in terms of compressive or tensile stress.
US09943904B2
A magnesium alloy material such as a magnesium alloy cast material or a magnesium alloy rolled material, excellent in mechanical characteristics and surface precision, a producing method capable of stably producing such material, a magnesium alloy formed article utilizing the rolled material, and a producing method therefor. The magnesium material includes a melting step of melting a magnesium alloy in a melting furnace to obtain a molten metal, a transfer step of transferring the molten metal from the melting furnace to a molten metal reservoir, and a casting step of supplying a movable mold with the molten metal from the molten metal reservoir, through a pouring gate, and solidifying the molten metal to continuously produce a cast material. Parts are formed by a low-oxygen material having an oxygen content of 20 mass % or less. The cast material is given a thickness of from 0.1 to 10 mm.
US09943899B2
A method is disclosed for pressure forming a metal preform including shock annealing of the preform and subsequently preheating the preform prior to pressure forming. Shock annealing may be carried out as differential shock annealing in which different regions of the preform are annealed to different degrees. Preheating may be carried out by differentially preheating, optionally shock preheating, different regions of the preform for preheating at least those regions of the preform which will be subject to elevated expansion during pressure forming. Shock annealing by induction heating can lower energy consumption, reduce processing times and allow for larger expansion of the preform.
US09943898B2
The present invention relates to a hot-forming and press hardening tool for producing formed sheet metal parts with at least partially high-strength properties, having a top tool with at least one die segment and a bottom tool with at least one die segment, wherein the top tool and the bottom tool are movable toward each other in a press stroke direction while forming a die cavity, wherein tempering channels are arranged in at least one die segment to feed a cooling medium, wherein the die segment of the top tool and/or the die segment of the bottom tool is split into at least two parts with a spreader device coupled to the top tool and/or the bottom tool and is movable in at least one direction of motion transverse to the press stroke direction.
US09943891B2
The present invention is a rack system for transporting and retaining powder coat hangers during a cleaning process to remove built-up coating materials from the powder coating process.
US09943886B2
A cleaning cart for a three-dimensional object printing system wipes an ejector head to remove debris from the ejector head. The cleaning cart includes a platform having a plurality of bearings configured to move the platform on rails of the printing system. A cleaning mechanism is movably mounted to the platform, and an actuator is mounted to the platform. The actuator is configured to move the cleaning mechanism relative to the platform to enable the cleaning mechanism to clean an ejector head that is positioned opposite the rails of the printing system.
US09943883B2
Embodiments of a system and method for unloading articles from a container of items for use in an automatic stack feeder are disclosed. The automatic stack feeder may comprise a belt, a moveable lower paddle, and a moveable upper paddle, wherein the lower paddle is configured to partially extend through a belt of the automatic stack feeder. The movement of the belt, the lower paddle, and the upper paddle are coordinated such that there is no need to interrupt the operation of the automatic stack feeder to unload the container.
US09943868B2
A hand pump for pumping out fluid from a reservoir, comprising a pump body, a faucet, a driving mechanism and a sealing arrangement. The pump body has at a side a connector defining a receptacle radially extending into a cavity of the pump body. The driving mechanism includes an axle inserted in the receptacle of the connector, a sealing sleeve mounted around the axle, a coupling cap axially secured to the sealing sleeve, and a L-shaped handle. The handle having at one end inserted through the coupling cap and the axle, and at the other hand extending outside the coupling cap. Operation of the handle in cyclically up and down motion drives the axle to rotate, which causes a piston in the cavity to move upward and downward so as to suck the fluid into the faucet. The sealing arrangement has at least three O-rings disposed among the parts of the driving mechanism to provide an effective seal between the driving mechanism and the pump body.
US09943867B2
A liquid sprayer apparatus includes a multi-chamber spray mechanism, with at least one chamber being adapted to accumulate pressurized fluid for dispensation over an extended time period. The liquid sprayer apparatus is capable of emitting a liquid spray over a period of time that is substantially greater than a manual pump action applied to the trigger.
US09943865B2
An applicator for spraying hair building solids is configured for one-handed operation and includes an applicator body which is connectable with a container including hair building solids. The applicator body includes a top part, a bottom part and a main part extending between the top part and the bottom part; an air pump electrically configured for creating an air flow; and a nozzle for spraying hair building solids out from the applicator. The bottom part includes an attachment structure for attaching the container to the applicator body, a first orifice in flow connection with the air pump for delivering air flow from the air pump via the bottom part and a second orifice in flow connection with the nozzle for delivering hair building solids via the bottom part to the nozzle.
US09943861B2
A centrifugal separator for separating solid particles from a liquid mixture includes a rotor body. The rotor body has a separation chamber with an inlet for the liquid mixture, one or more liquid outlets for a liquid separated from the liquid mixture, a sludge outlet for the separated solid particles, a screw conveyor adapted to rotate in the rotor body, at a speed differing from the rotational speed of the rotor body, for transporting the separated solid particles in the separation chamber towards and out of the sludge outlet, a drive arrangement adapted to rotate the rotor body and the screw conveyor at their respective speeds, and a control unit which is adapted to control the drive arrangement to rotate the rotor body at a first speed during a separation phase and at a second speed, which is lower than the first speed, during a particle discharge phase.
US09943859B2
A water separator comprises an axially extending airflow passage, an airflow mixer, a plurality of electric plates of alternating charge, and a mechanical separator. The airflow mixer, the plurality of electric plates, and the mechanical separator are disposed within the airflow passage. The airflow mixer imparts a non-axial flow component on airflow through the airflow passage. The electric plates are situated downstream of the mixer, and create an electric field region within the airflow passage. The mechanical separator is situated at or downstream of the electric field region, and is disposed to separate water droplets from air.
US09943856B2
Disclosed are calcium carbonate mineral filler compositions, wherein the composition has a mineral content characterized by a weight ratio of calcium to magnesium of at least 10:1, and wherein the composition is at least substantially free of calcium oxide. Also disclosed are methods for making a mineral filler composition from a renewable biological source of calcium carbonate. Also disclosed are carpets comprising the mineral filler from renewable biological source produced by the methods disclosed herein.
US09943855B2
A crushing machine construction kit for the construction of a crushing machine contains a drive device and a frame of a crushing device. The crushing machine construction kit further contains at least two shear shafts and at least two shredder shafts for the selective configuration of the crushing machine as a rotary shear or as a rotary shredder. A method converts the rotary shredder into the rotary shear.
US09943854B1
A cryomill system having an intake component housing an auger, a cooling source containing a liquid coolant being coupled to the cryomill system, a cryomill containment portion, having a mixer located therein and an associated cryomill lid coupled thereto, as well as a collection canister having a poppet valve aperture there through and a gas shielded poppet valve coupling the collection canister to the containment portion.
US09943853B2
A rock crushing assembly is provided in the form of a pulverizing tumbler. The apparatus includes a faceted tumbler having a plurality of faceted end walls, a pair of parallel sidewalls, and an open interior. A power source and a drivetrain assembly attach to the sidewalls of the tumbler and rotate the same. Within the tumbler is adapted to be placed rocks and minerals to be pulverized, wherein pulverizing media is placed in the tumbler with the rocks to break down the rocks into fine, granular material. One of the end walls of the tumbler is removable to allow access to the tumbler interior. One or more gaps or apertures through one or more of the end walls allow the pulverized material to exit the tumbler during operation, thereby reducing build-up of loose material that can dampen impacts within the tumbler.
US09943850B2
A specimen holding and positioning apparatus operable to substantially non-movably maintain a specimen (e.g., an excised tissue specimen) in a fixed or stable orientation with respect to the apparatus during imaging operations (e.g., x-ray imaging), transport (e.g., from a surgery room to a pathologist's laboratory), and the like for use in facilitating accurate detection and diagnosis of cancers and/or other abnormalities of the specimen.
US09943839B2
A catalyst composition comprising (a) a manganese-containing compound and (b) a carboxylic acid functionalized metal organic framework (MOF) compound; and a process for preparing an olefin oxide compound product including reacting (a) at least one olefin compound with (b) at least one oxidant in the presence of (c) the above catalyst composition.
US09943837B2
Methods for treating or rejuvenating a spent catalyst are disclosed. Such methods can employ a step of halogenating the spent catalyst, followed by decoking the halogenated spent catalyst.
US09943832B2
The invention relates to a process for preparing bulk metal oxide particles comprising the steps of combining in a reaction mixture (i) dispersible nanoparticles having a dimension of less than about 1 μm upon being dispersed in a liquid, (ii) at least one Group VIII non-noble metal compound, (iii) at least one Group VIB metal compound, and (iv) a protic liquid; and reacting the at least one Group VIII non-noble metal compound and the at least one Group VIB metal in the presence of the nanoparticles. It also relates to bulk metal hydroprocessing catalysts obtainable by such method.
US09943829B2
A method of preparing a hydrogenation catalyst, for example, a phthalate hydrogenation catalyst, comprising contacting a silica support having a median pore size of at least about 10 nm with a silylating agent to form an at least partially coated silica support, calcining said coated silica support to form a treated silica support, and depositing a noble metal, preferably ruthenium, on the treated silica support, and optionally contacting the treated silica support with an optional chelating agent to form the hydrogenation catalyst; a hydrogenation catalyst prepared by that method; and a method of hydrogenating unsaturated hydrocarbons, such as phthalates, in which an unsaturated hydrocarbon is contacted with hydrogen gas in the presence of the hydrogenation catalyst of the invention.
US09943822B2
A nanometer-size-particle production apparatus and method are provided which can prevent the occurrence of waste fluids, and which makes quick and continuous syntheses feasible while suppressing damages to the electrode. The nanometer-size-particle production apparatus is for synthesizing nanometer size particles in a liquid by means of plasma in the liquid.
US09943818B2
Steam-hydrocarbon reforming reactor with a reformer tube containing ceramic-supported catalyst pellets and metal foam particles. The ceramic-supported catalyst pellets have a porous support comprising one or more of alumina, calcium aluminate, and magnesium aluminate. The metal foam particles comprise Fe and/or Ni. The ceramic-supported catalyst pellets and metal foam particles may be layered or interspersed.
US09943815B2
A mixing device includes a mixing section that mixes a first liquid-phase fluid with one kind or two or more kinds among a solid, a gas, and a second liquid-phase fluid different from the first liquid-phase fluid, in which the mixing section includes a supply hole for a fluid, a discharge hole for the fluid, a flow path that makes the supply hole and the discharge hole communicate with each other, and pins that protrude from the mixing section such that a fluid that includes materials to be mixed is supplied from the supply hole to the flow path, mixed by passing through the flow path with contact with the pins, and discharged from the discharge hole.
US09943809B2
The present invention relates to improved methods for synthesis of thin film composite membranes by interfacial polymerization. More in particular, the method of the present invention comprises the impregnation of an ultrafiltration porous support membrane with an aqueous solution containing a polyfunctional nucleophilic monomer, and contacting the impregnated support membrane with a second largely water-immiscible solvent containing a polyfunctional epoxide monomer.
US09943804B2
Provided is an air pollution control system including: a boiler, a denitration apparatus; an air heater; a precipitator; a desulfurization apparatus; a dehydrator; a concentration apparatus that is configured to remove some of water of dehydrated filtrate from the dehydrator; a spray drying apparatus provided with a spray unit that is configured to spray concentrated/dehydrated filtrate concentrated by the concentration apparatus; and a flue gas introduction line through which branch gas branched from the flue gas is introduced to the spray drying apparatus.
US09943793B2
A method of producing a polymer nanofiber structural body of the present invention includes: forming, on a base material, a first layer in which polymer nanofibers are irregularly integrated by an electrospinning method; cutting the first layer together with the base material; and irradiating an argon beam from a base material side in parallel with a fracture surface to direct the length directions of the polymer nanofibers of the first layer on the base material side toward the thickness direction of the first layer to form a second layer different from the first layer in pore structure, thereby providing a polymer nanofiber structural body having a plurality of pore structures and free of any clear interface.
US09943784B2
A nozzle is disclosed for use within a filter for inputting a jetting stream into the filter media to clean the filter media. The nozzle comprises an inlet for communication with a jetting stream source, and a plurality of plates stacked parallel and abutting one another. The plurality of plates comprises at least a top plate and a bottom plate, one of the plates having an aperture through the center thereof for receiving the jetting stream, wherein between adjacent plates at least one space is provided extending from the outside edge of the plates to the interior of plates and in fluid communication with the aperture for channelling the jetting stream radially outward from and substantially parallel with the longitudinal plane of the plate.
US09943782B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure include a method of separating an oil-in-water emulsion formed during crude oil production into a water phase and an oil phase that includes adding 1 part-per-million (ppm) to 10000 ppm of a cationic vinyl imidazolium-based copolymer to the oil-in-water emulsion, based on the total volume of the oil-in-water emulsion, to form a water phase and an oil phase, and separating the water phase from the oil phase.
US09943768B2
An example system includes: a data acquisition unit for performing near field communication with a data storage medium having a near field communication function and acquiring character data stored in the data storage medium; an information processing unit for performing information processing to control a character corresponding to the character data, which has been acquired by the data acquisition unit, as a non player character; and a data changing unit for changing the character data depending on a processing result of the information processing unit.
US09943763B2
An information equipment has obtained identification information including a store ID indicating a predetermined shop store. An application ID indicating a game application running on information equipment and a user ID indicating a user of the game application are received together with the store ID over a network from the information equipment. A first database which manages a progress level of the game for the user in association with the application ID and the user ID and a second database which manages the application ID and a first game remuneration ID indicating a first game remuneration corresponding to the progress level are referred to, in accordance with the application ID and the user ID. First indication data indicating that the first game remuneration corresponding to the progress level of the game is provided to the user of the game application is transmitted over the network to the information equipment.
US09943760B2
A game console includes a receiver that receives motion data in response to motion of a gaming object. A trajectory generation module generates trajectory data based on the motion data and based on a motion prediction model. A processor executes a gaming application based on the trajectory data to generate display data.
US09943759B2
A system in accordance with present embodiments includes a surface that displays a plurality of images related to a game, a vehicle comprising interface circuitry configured to receive an input from the rider related to a vehicle path on the surface, wherein the vehicle operates according to the input to move on the surface on the vehicle path, and a controller that determines that the vehicle has moved over a first image of the plurality of images while on the vehicle path based on a signal from the vehicle, the surface, an external sensor, or a combination thereof; provides instructions to display circuitry associated with the surface to change the first image when the vehicle has moved over the first image while on the vehicle path; and updates a score associated with the vehicle when the vehicle has moved over the first image while on the vehicle path.
US09943749B2
A powered skateboard having a skateboard deck formed from a blank core. The skateboard deck has a top surface for supporting a rider of the powered skateboard and a bottom surface configured to facilitate engagement with one or more skateboard trucks. The skateboard deck can include a well in the top surface of the skateboard deck. The well can be adapted to store one of more components of the powered skateboard.
US09943744B2
A location-aware device includes a position determination sensor that determines a position of the location-aware device. A receiver receives, from a tag coupled to a golf club, data corresponding to an output of a sensor included in the tag. A processor associates the data received from the tag with the determined position, and processes the data received from the tag to determine whether to register a golf shot as having occurred at the determined position. A memory stores a golf shot determined to be registered by the processor along with the determined position.
US09943742B2
A boxing trainer includes a housing and a controller. The housing includes a plurality of targets. Each of the plurality of targets includes a target pad and a light operable to illuminate the target pad. The controller includes a plurality of target commands. Each target command is linked to and corresponds with one of the targets. Therefore, activating one of the target commands will activate the light of one of the target pads that the target command is linked with.
US09943728B2
The present invention relates to golf balls having improved packing efficiency and aerodynamic characteristics and a high degree of dimple interdigitation. In particular, the present invention relates to a golf ball including at least a portion of dimples having a plan shape defined by low frequency periodic functions having high amplitudes. The present invention is also directed to methods of developing the dimple plan shape geometries, as well as methods of making the finished golf balls with the inventive dimple patterns applied thereto.
US09943727B2
The invention is a semi-rigid adjustable diving foot pocket with a clamping system to allow simple attachment and detachment of a multitude of various flippers/blades. This foot pocket is adjustable to the foot and is semi-rigid to allow partial medial rotation, but very limited lateral rotation. The flippers secured to the foot-pocket by a system utilizing clamping pressure to hold the flipper in place. This system allows for the flipper to be attached and detached easily, with no damage occurring to either the invention or the flipper.
US09943721B2
An exercise machine for performing dip exercises, having: a stationary main frame; first and second mounting brackets connected to the stationary main frame; first and second dip handle assemblies connected to the mounting brackets, each dip handle assembly having a first exercise arm, a first stop plate, and a first arm mount hub, wherein the first and second dip handle assemblies are each configured to be converted between an exercise position and a storage position while connected to the exercise machine.
US09943717B2
The present disclosure relates to compositions comprising 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene that may be useful as heat transfer compositions, aerosol propellants, foaming agents, blowing agents, solvents, cleaning agents, carrier fluids, displacement drying agents, buffing abrasion agents, polymerization media, expansion agents for polyolefins and polyurethane, gaseous dielectrics, extinguishing agents, and fire suppression agents in liquid or gaseous form. Additionally, the present disclosure relates to compositions comprising 1,1,2,3-tetrachloropropene, 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, or 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane, which may be useful in processes to produce 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene.
US09943712B2
A communication and speech enhancement system featuring a first transducer designed to be temporarily affixed to a human such as a hospital patient to convert the audible vibrations of human speech into an electrical signal. The transducer provides this electrical signal to one or more electronic modules which modify and enhance the signal. The enhanced signal may then be amplified and converted back into audible sound by means of a second transducer. A user of the system controls the electronic modules through a user interface. In an embodiment, one or both of the user interface and second transducer feature smooth surfaces amenable to cleaning sterilizing with liquid agents.
US09943711B2
A tank attachment arrangement for a self-contained breathing apparatus having at least one tank, including: a base member having a saddle portion comprising a contact side having at least one contact member directly or indirectly attached thereto, the at least one contact member configured to contact a surface of the at least one tank; and at least one tank retainer arrangement configured to retain the at least one tank with respect to the base member; wherein the at least one contact member includes at least one sloped portion to facilitate engagement or disengagement of the at least one tank with the tank attachment arrangement.
US09943705B2
A method includes determining a first estimate of leaf positions for a plurality of leaves of a multi-leaf collimator (MLC) in a reference coordinate space based on an image generated by an image-based aperture verification system, wherein the leaf positions for the plurality of leaves define an aperture for the MLC. The method further includes determining a second estimate of the leaf positions for the plurality of leaves in the reference coordinate space based on data from an additional source. The method further includes verifying the leaf positions for the plurality of leaves based on comparing the first estimate to the second estimate, wherein the leaf positions are verified if the first estimate deviates from the second estimate by less than a threshold value.
US09943699B2
A reconfigurable magnetic therapy apparatus is formed by multiple magnetic magnetic components which are maintained in a stable planar array by either mutual magnetic attraction or mechanical fixtures which may include a ferromagnetic backing plate to which the elements are magnetically attached. The array can be separated and reconfigured by the user to provide different magnetic patterns that favor either high surface strength, or deep penetration, or multiple smaller sub arrays to treat multiple sites.
US09943698B2
In an embodiment, a method includes determining a target frequency corresponding to a target brain state and stimulating a brain of a user using feedback to attempt to achieve the target brain state in the user. The stimulating step may include measuring an electrical output of the brain of the user received from one or more sensors coupled to the user, determining a current frequency associated with the brain of the user based on the measured electrical output, and determining a difference between the current frequency and the target frequency. When the difference between the current frequency and the target frequency is greater than a predetermined amount, the method includes sending a signal to the brain of the user through one or more pathways. The signal may have a frequency operable to modify the current frequency associated with the brain of the user towards the target frequency.
US09943696B2
The invention relates to a method for supplying an electrical energy-converting implant with electrical energy, wherein an electrical voltage source is provided, wherein electrical voltage is generated by the linear movement of a piston of a free-piston generator.
US09943691B2
A stimulation system, such as a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system, having a programmer for establishing a program to treat a patient. The programmer uses a discretized, interrupted, and safe spatial electrode migration process for establishing the stimulation program.
US09943690B2
An implantable neurostimulator system adapted to provide therapy for various neurological disorders is capable of varying therapy delivery strategies based on the context, physiological or otherwise, into which the therapy is to be delivered. Responsive and scheduled therapies can be varied depending on various sensor measurements, calculations, inferences, and device states (including elapsed times and times of day) to deliver an appropriate course of therapy under the circumstances.
US09943686B2
A method for delivering energy as a function of degree coupling may utilize an external unit configured for location external to a body of a subject and at least one processor associated with the implant unit and configured for electrical communication with a power source. The method may determine a degree of coupling between the primary antenna and a secondary antenna associated with the implant unit, and regulate delivery of power to the implant unit based on the degree of coupling between the primary antenna and the secondary antenna.
US09943666B2
Method and apparatus for treatment of hypertension through percutaneous ultrasound renal denervation
Apparatus and methods for deactivating renal nerves extending along a renal artery of a mammalian subject to treat hypertension and related conditions. An ultrasonic transducer (30) is inserted into the renal artery (10) as, for example, by advancing the distal end of a catheter (18) bearing the transducer into the renal artery. The ultrasonic transducer emits unfocused ultrasound so as to heat tissues throughout a relatively large impact volume (11) as, for example, at least about 0.5 cm3 encompassing the renal artery to a temperature sufficient to inactivate nerve conduction but insufficient to cause rapid ablation or necrosis of the tissues. The treatment can be performed without locating or focusing on individual renal nerves.
US09943657B2
A tracheostoma valve for attachment to a tracheostoma valve plaster may include a tubular base portion with a proximal opening through which inhaled and exhaled air enters and exits, respectively. A distal lid portion may be arranged distally of the tubular base portion. The distal lid portion may have a distal opening through which inhaled and exhaled air enters and exits, respectively. The tracheostoma valve may have a valve flap member for closing the distal opening via interaction between a front side of the valve flap member and an edge of the distal opening. A valve retaining arm may be included for interaction with the valve flap member to prevent the valve flap member from interacting with the distal opening.
US09943652B2
Fill stations and base stations are provided for personal pump systems. The fill stations may be opened and closed to accept a reservoir and to allow fluid to be introduced into the reservoir for use with personal pump systems. The fill stations may hold the reservoir at a tilt relative to an underlying surface and may discourage overfilling of the reservoir. The filling stations may also include viewing windows having fluid lines marked thereon for indicating volume of fluid within the reservoir.
US09943651B2
A pressure regulating syringe comprises a barrel assembly terminating with a tubular tip positionable in fluid communication with a fluid chamber, a plunger that is manually and axially displaceable within a barrel of the barrel assembly, a pressure sensor mounted onto the plunger adjacent to its distal end, for generating one or more electrical signals representative of a change in pressure within the fluid chamber, circuitry housed within the plunger for processing the generated signals, and a display mounted on the plunger for displaying an output indicative of the processed signals. The output is changeable upon axial displacement of the plunger when the tubular tip is positioned in fluid communication with the fluid chamber, which is for example a cuff surrounding a medical tube. Fluid is delivered by manually manipulating a fluid delivery element in response to the displayed output until a desired fluid delivery operation is performed.
US09943641B2
A package for a multi-component medical device is disclosed. The package includes a bottom portion with cavities providing individual access to different components of the medical device, thereby enabling a user to remove components from the package in any order without disturbing the remaining component or components. The package also includes a barrier affixed to the bottom portion for sealing the package.
US09943639B2
A hysteroscopic fluid management system includes a saline source with an electrolyte concentration, at least one pressure mechanism for circulating saline to and from a targeted site and through a filter having filter characteristics back to the source, and a controller. The controller provides a saline inflow in a first flow path to the site and a saline outflow in a second flow path from the site through the filter and back to the source at a controlled flow rate. A diagnostic or therapeutic procedure is performed at the site in the presence of the saline. The filter characteristics and the controlled flow rate are selected to (1) cause substantially no change in the electrolyte concentration in the saline, (2) to prevent hemolysis of greater than 5% of filtered red blood cells exposed to the saline, and/or (3) to minimize effect on prothrombin time of plasma exposed to the filter.
US09943629B2
Described herein are alarm systems for suction devices for reduced pressure therapy. Alarms systems provide alerts to the patient and/or practitioner regarding the ability of the suction device to continue to provide negative pressure to a tissue region. Alarm systems comprise a sensor mechanism, which is capable of detecting the position of a slidable seal within the suction device, and generating an alert. Certain variations of alarms systems comprise magnetic field sensitive switches and/or electric switches. Other variations of alarm systems comprise rotary encoders to detect the motion and location of constant force springs, which signal the notification mechanism to issue alerts accordingly. Described herein are alarm devices configured to retain a suction device therein and to attach the suction device to a patient. The alarm devices disclosed herein detect the depleted state of the suction device and are capable of retaining the suction device in a plurality of orientations.
US09943627B2
A method for using 3D printing technology produces personalized biomimetic drug-eluting coronary stent and the product thereof. The process of manufacturing stent, based on coronary angiography imaging data, measures the diameter of diseased coronary and conducts 3D reconstruction. A personalized stent for each patient according to diameter, length, and morphological characteristics of target vessel that suited to the lesion is produced. The coronary stent is formed from biodegradable poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) or other materials. The stent is modeled by 3D printing and then coated with polymers carrying antiproliferative drug to reduce restenosis (the polymers is a mixture of antiproliferative drug and PDLLA at a ratio of 1:1). The biomimetic drug-eluting coronary stent produced by 3D printing technology is personalized stent for each patient according to different characteristics of diseased coronary, reduces the incidence of vascular injury, thrombosis, dissection and other complications caused by stent and vessel diameter mismatch.
US09943626B2
A granule form e d from a tubular body having an outer surface and an inner surface separated by a matrix, and at least one core defining an opening extending through the tubular body. The outer surface of the matrix is adapted to permit fluid flow into and out of the matrix.
US09943620B2
A scalable, portable and modular chlorine dioxide fumigant decontamination system having an activating area and a neutralizing area which may be housed separately or as a single operationally connected unit, and which may be configured as a closed loop system connected to a decontamination chamber for decontamination of articles, or as an open loop system for decontamination of interiors and large confined spaces, and employing a specialized activating cup that is permeable to air yet substantially impermeable to water and chlorine dioxide reaction by-products such that directing air through the activation cup releases nearly pure chlorine dioxide fumigant. Methods and articles relating to the system are also described.
US09943614B2
The invention relates to diagnostic, detection, screening and imaging methods. In various embodiments, methods of diagnosis, detection, screening and imaging include administering a cationic steroid antimicrobial or CSA to a subject having or at risk of having an infection or a hyperproliferative disorder (e.g., a tumor, cancer or neoplasia) in an amount effective to diagnose or detect the infection or the hyperproliferative disorder (e.g., a tumor, cancer or neoplasia) in the subject. In a particular aspect, a detectable CSA, namely CSA-13 labeled with 99mTc is used to detect the presence of an infection.
US09943613B2
A method of imaging a joint of a subject comprises administering to the subject an amount of a salt of DAB-4 linked nitroxide citrate effective to enhance an MRI image of the joint and taking an MRI image of said joint.
US09943605B2
The invention relates to (among other things) polymer-semaxanib moiety conjugates and related compounds. A compound of the invention, when administered by any of a number of administration routes, exhibits advantages over the semaxanib moiety in unconjugated form.
US09943586B2
The invention relates to a truncated L1 protein of the Human Papillomavirus Type 11, a virus-like particle consisting of the protein, a vaccine comprising said virus-like particle, and the use of the vaccine in the prevention of condyloma acuminatum or HPV infections.
US09943583B2
The invention relates to lipopeptides consisting of a peptide chain comprising a parallel coiled-coil domain, a proline-rich peptide antigen, and a lipid moiety, all covalently linked, which aggregate to synthetic virus-like particles. Proline-rich peptide antigens considered contain negatively and positively charged amino acid, and at least 15% of the amino acids are proline. Such synthetic virus-like particles carrying proline-rich antigens derived from pneumococcal proteins are useful as vaccines against infectious diseases caused by Gram-positive bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae.
US09943582B2
The present invention relates to chimeric protein vaccines and methods of use thereof in the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of generating an immune response in a mammal, that includes administering to the mammal, a composition having a chimeric protein having at least one of: a portion of a cholera toxin, a portion of a heat-labile toxin, and a portion of a shiga toxin; and an antigen having at least one of: an antigenic material from S. aureus and an antigenic material from a S. aureus-specific polypeptide.
US09943578B2
The invention relates to methods, peptides, nucleic acids and cells for use in isolating and expanding human T cell populations in an antigen-specific manner for immunodiagnostic or therapeutic purposes. The invention also relates to professional antigen presenting cells derived from pluripotent human stem cells, and to customizable antigen presentation by the antigen presenting cells.
US09943573B2
The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for the prevention or treatment of ocular neovascularization, such as AMD, in a human subject, by administering subretinally a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of a vector comprising a nucleic acid encoding soluble Fms-related tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) protein to the human subject.
US09943569B2
The present invention relates to methods for preventing or reducing the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications in surgical patients after an esophagectomy. The inventors discovered that the occurrence of postoperative pulmonary complications after an esophagectomy may be reduced through the perioperative administration of ghrelin to surgical patients.
US09943567B2
The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for treating and/or preventing arthritis, which comprising, as an active ingredient, a gene delivery vehicle into which an IK factor or a fragment thereof, or a nucleic acid encoding thereof is inserted. IK factor or the fragment thereof, and the nucleic acid encoding thereof, which are the active ingredient of the pharmaceutical composition according to the present invention, are derived from an organism and therefore, show no side effects in administered into a subject for a long time. Accordingly, they ensures safety and are expected to effectively treat arthritis by being involved in the upstream mechanism for suppressing arthritis.
US09943565B2
Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for treating trinucleotide repeat disorders.
US09943564B2
The present disclosure teaches the protection of plants and human and non-human subjects from pathogens. The present disclosure enables a multivalent approach to inhibiting pathogen infection in plant and human and non-human animal subjects and to ameliorate damage to susceptible subjects.
US09943561B2
A method of reducing the number of microorganisms entering the nose and proliferating in the nasal cavity including application of a solution of an antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal composition to the anterior vestibular region of the nares. The antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal solution includes ethyl alcohol as an active ingredient. Various embodiments may also include one or more of the following additional ingredients: orange oil; coconut oil; soy oil; emu oil; grapefruit seed extract; glycine soja; simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba); lauric acid; chlorhexidine gluconate; ginger oil; lavender oil; peppermint oil; spearmint oil; aloe oil; and a preservative, such as benzalkonium chloride and vitamin E.
US09943560B2
The invention provides drug compositions with synergistic effects, which includes alcohol-soluble and water-insoluble liquorices extracts and at least one kind of anti-tumor or glucose-and-lipid-lowering drug/eatable substance, and can be used to treat tumor or lower blood glucose and lipid. Besides, the invention also provides pharmaceutical preparation, pharmaceutical application, therapeutic and preparation methods, etc. related to this drug compositon.
US09943557B2
Composition comprising (optionally processed) edible parts of an okra plant species for use in reducing dietary fat absorption in a subject or for use in treating or preventing obesity and/or for use in treating or preventing a metabolic disease such as metabolic syndrome, or for managing the weight of a subject, by binding dietary fat in the subject's stomach.
US09943556B2
A preparation includes N-acetyl-lactosamine and/or an oligosaccharide containing N-acetyl-lactosamine and a probiotic Lactobacillus sp. In other aspects, a nutritional composition includes such a preparation, and the preparation is used in the prevention and treatment of pathogenic infections of the gastro-intestinal and upper respiratory tracts.
US09943551B2
Described herein are tissue grafts composed of at least one membrane, where at least one side of the membrane has micronized placental tissue applied it. Also described herein are methods for making and using the tissue grafts.
US09943550B2
The present invention provides a population of connective tissue derived cells that respond to interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) by expressing indolamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) for use in preventing, treating or ameliorating one or more symptoms associated with disorders in which modulation of a subject's immune system is beneficial, including, but not limited to, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory disorders, and immunologically mediated diseases including rejection of transplanted organs and tissues.
US09943545B2
The invention provides improved methods for preparing hematopoietic cells for transplantation and the resulting improved hematopoietic cell compositions. The invention further relates to improved culture media and methods of culturing, processing, modulating, and expanding blood cell products for hematopoietic transplantation.
US09943543B2
A profertility composition for administration to infertile men with sperm oxidative stress is disclosed. The composition comprises a unique combination of a pharmaceutically acceptable vitamin E, vitamin C, selenium, zinc, folic acid, lycopene and at least one carnitine source.
US09943535B2
Foods or meals high in available carbohydrate such as sucrose or starch increase postprandial blood glucose concentrations. Repeated high post-prandial plasma glucose “spikes” are associated with an increased risk of developing type II diabetes. Unregulated glycemic excursions are undesirable, and any reduction or “blunting” of the post-prandial glucose concentration in blood is potentially beneficial. This invention relates to an edible composition for delay of intestinal glucose uptake through synergistic inhibition of both active sodium glucose co-transporter 1 (SGLT1) and passive glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) leading to flattening or blunting of the post-prandial glucose peak. In a first aspect of the invention, an edible composition is provided, in the form of a single serving of one or more unit dosages, wherein the edible composition comprises 20-2000, preferably 30-1000, most preferably 40-500 mg a 3,5-dihydroxy-trans-stilbene and 10-2000, preferably 20-1000, most preferably 40-500 mg flavonoid mono-glucoside or dihydrochalcone monoglucoside.
US09943533B2
A new class of pseudo-trisaccharide aminoglycosides having an alkyl group at the 5″ position, exhibiting efficient stop codon mutation readthrough activity, low cytotoxicity and high selectivity towards eukaryotic translation systems are provided. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions containing the same, and uses thereof in the treatment of genetic disorders, as well as processes of preparing these aminoglycosides. The disclosed aminoglycosides can be represented by the general formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl and aryl; and all other variables and features are as described in the specification.
US09943531B2
Oral dosage forms of osteoclast inhibitors, such as zoledronic acid, in an acid or a salt form can be used to treat or alleviate pain or related conditions, such as Modic changes type I.
US09943528B2
The present invention relates to methods for the treatment of treatment-resistant depression (TRD), comprising the administration of compounds of formula (I), which are blocked in C3 position and cannot metabolize in vivo into pregnenolone derivatives and which do not have significant affinity for steroid hormonal receptors and for all tested classical main receptors and receptors of neurotransmitters of the central nervous system.
US09943511B2
A nicotine lozenge provided herein includes a body that is partially or wholly receivable in an oral cavity. The body includes a soluble-fiber matrix and nicotine or a derivative thereof dispersed in the soluble-fiber matrix. In some cases, a nicotine lozenge provided herein includes at least 40 weight percent of soluble fiber. In some cases, soluble fiber in a nicotine lozenge provided herein can include maltodextrin. The nicotine lozenge is adapted to release the nicotine or a derivative thereof from the body when the body is received within the oral cavity of an adult consumer and exposed to saliva.
US09943510B2
Provided is a pharmaceutical preparation for treatment or prevention of glaucoma or ocular hypertension, comprising 0.0003 to 0.01% (w/v) of isopropyl (6-{[4-(pyrazol-1-yl)benzyl] (pyridin-3-ylsulfonyl)aminomethyl}pyridin-2-ylamino) acetate, or a salt thereof. The pharmaceutical preparation has an excellent intraocular pressure lowering effect and may be used as a therapeutic or preventive agent for glaucoma or ocular hypertension or an intraocular pressure lowering agent.
US09943492B2
The invention relates to an aqueous paracetamol solution for its use by perfusion with a pH between 4.5 and 6.0, comprising at least one substance that can react with phenolates giving rise to its O-derivatives or other coordination compounds. The injectable paracetamol solution of the present invention has high stability, does not develop color over time and has a minimal content of impurities.
US09943490B2
The invention described herein relates to sterically stabilized colloidal constructs comprising preformed colloidal particles encapsulated within a polymeric shell. The constructs, which are controllably sized, are nanoparticles comprising hydrophobic elements, electrostatically charged particles with hydrophobic surfaces, hydrophobic inorganic nanostructures, and amphiphilic copolymers with hydrophobic domains and hydrophilic domains. The constructs are made by a process that allows for the simultaneous encapsulation of a preformed colloidal agent as well as a dissolved hydrophobic active within the core of the polymeric nanoparticle. Among the actives incorporated in various embodiments are organic fluorescent dyes, metal nanostructures and superparamagnetic materials for use in combined fluorescence, optical and magnetic resonance imaging applications, and hydrophobic drugs for therapeutic applications.
US09943482B2
A composition is provided that comprises a therapeutic agent encapsulated by a milk-derived microvesicle. The compositions can include therapeutic agents such as phytochemical agents or chemotherapeutic agents, while the milk-derived microvesicle can be derived from raw milk or colostrum. Further provided are methods for isolating a microvesicle that includes the steps of obtaining an amount of milk, and subjecting the milk to a series of sequential centrifugations configured to yield greater than about 300 mg of microvesicle protein per 100 ml of milk. Methods of modifying an immune response and treating a cancer in which a milk-derived microvesicle composition is administered are also provided.
US09943478B2
The invention relates to a composition, especially a cosmetic composition, comprising at least one dispersion of film forming particles in aqueous phase and high levels of plant oil, as well as to methods of using such compositions.
US09943476B2
Agents for lightening keratinic fibers, which include, based on their weight, 20 to 75% by weight of oil(s), 0.05 to 5% by weight of polymer(s) from the group of ethylene/propylene/styrene copolymers and/or butylene/ethylene/styrene copolymers and/or butylene/propylene/styrene copolymers, and 1 to 70% by weight of peroxydisulfate(s), whereby the weight ratio of sodium peroxydisulfate in the agent to the total amount of peroxydisulfates in the agent is at least 0.2, possess increased storage stability, the improvement being not only in physical stability (sedimentation, phase separation) but also in chemical stability (degradation of the persalts). There are also improvements in product yield, spreadability of the application mixture, and the bleaching effect.
US09943474B2
A water-based cosmetic including: agar having a weight average molecular weight of 10,000 to 60,000 (component (A)); xanthan gum (component (B)); and a water-soluble polymer excluding the component (A) or (B) (component (C)).
US09943472B2
Described herein is a hair treatment composition including one or more fluorescent compounds. The one or more fluorescent compounds each include a fluorophore, one or two permanent cations, one to four incipient cations, and one or more hydrophobic moieties. The incipient cations are pendant to the core structure and are neutral. The one or more fluorescent compounds enter the hair shaft after the hair treatment composition is applied to the hair. The hair treatment composition has a pH of from about 7 to about 11.
US09943469B2
A fragrance releasing complex with extended fragrance retention capability including an acrylic polymer, to be applied a human body surface is provided. The fragrance releasing complex can be applied by using a kit which includes means for applying the fragrance releasing complex to the body surface.
US09943466B1
The disclosure provides biocompatible dental material that is moldable and biodegradable and provides sustained and/or controlled delivery of one or more local anesthetics within a dental cavity or space. Such dental material is customizable for the size and shape needed for a particular patient or particular application. The dental material may also provide customizable sustained and/or controlled delivery of one or more local anesthetics.
US09943464B2
The invention relates to a method for using a medical syringe, in which method the medical syringe comprises a cylinder part with retaining lugs or a retaining flange and a needle, and a plunger part which is movable within the cylinder part by moving the plunger rod extending outside the cylinder part with respect to the cylinder part, and the method comprising moving the plunger part with respect to the cylinder part by at least one industrial robot either outwards for drawing liquid into the medical syringe or inwards for injecting the liquid out of the medical syringe. In the method according to the invention, the plunger part is gripped with a gripper configured to prevent the plunger part from turning with respect to the gripper. The invention also relates to an apparatus for using a medical syringe, and a method and an apparatus for dissolving a pharmaceutical substance in a liquid by utilizing the method according to the invention for using a medical syringe.
US09943463B2
Medical devices including a vial adapter with an inline dry drug module for use with a vial, a needleless syringe and a carrier liquid for filling the needleless syringe with an injection solution for injection to a patient. The inline dry drug modules include a dry drug storage component for storing a dry drug dosage and a uniform carrier liquid distribution component for promoting uniform contact of the dry drug storage component by the carrier liquid to form an injection solution from the dry drug dosage. The inline dry drug modules can include a discrete dry drug storage component and a discrete uniform carrier liquid distribution component or a dual purpose component for both drug storage and uniform carrier liquid distribution. The vial adapters can be provided in vented or non-vented versions.
US09943460B2
A driving module and a motion assistance apparatus including the same may be provided. For example, the driving module including a driving source provided on one side of a user and configured to transmit power, a power transmitting rotary body configured to rotate by the power transmitted from the driving source, and a first decelerator configured to transmit power between the driving source and the power transmitting rotary body, the first decelerator having an input side rotary body configured to receive power from the driving source, and an output side rotary body configured to transmit power to the power transmitting rotary body may be provided.
US09943455B2
A mobility vehicle including a wheeled frame having two front wheels and two rear wheels; a seat disposed at a widthwise center of the mobility vehicle over the front wheels and the two rear wheels; a first mounting member mounted between a first front wheel and a first rear wheel on a first side of the mobility vehicle; a second mounting member mounted between a second front wheel and a second rear wheel on a second side of the mobility vehicle parallel to the first side of the mobility vehicle; and a protection system mounted to the first mounting member and to the second mounting member and providing cover over the seat.
US09943450B2
The invention relates to a diaper closing strip (1), comprising a substrate (2) and a plurality of mechanical closing elements (3) arranged thereon, which mechanical closing elements have a front-side engaging surface and a rear-side fastening surface, wherein an adhesive element (6) is arranged between the substrate (1) and the rear-side fastening surface of each mechanical closing element (3), which adhesive element does not completely cover the rear-side fastening surface of the mechanical closing element (3).
US09943449B2
An absorbent article with a primary visual fullness indicator and a secondary visual wetness indicator.
US09943448B2
A method for forming a wrapping material for hygiene articles involves: providing one of the inner edge portion and the outer edge portion of the edge zone of the first region with a first resealable adhesive, such that the other of the inner edge portion and the outer edge portion of the edge zone of the first region is adhesive-free; providing one of the inner edge portion and the outer edge portion of the edge zone of the second region with a first resealable adhesive, such that the other of the inner edge portion and the outer edge portion of the edge zone of the second region is adhesive-free; and providing at least one of the first central portion of the first region and the second central portion of the second region with a second adhesive; wherein the steps a-c are performed simultaneously.
US09943439B2
A combination of an irrigation sleeve 20 and a phacoemulsification needle 22. The irrigation sleeve 20 has a proximal end 32 and a distal end 30, the proximal end for attachment to a surgical handpiece. The phacoemulsification needle 22 has a proximal end 26, a distal end 24, and a lumen 38 spanning a length of the needle 22 from the proximal end 26 to the distal end 24. The needle proximal end 26 is for connection to the surgical handpiece, and the needle 22 has structure 44 proximate the needle distal end 24 for retaining the sleeve distal end 30 near the needle distal end 24.
US09943438B2
Devices and methods for warming or cooling blood flowing through the vasculature of a human or animal subject so as to alter or control the temperature of all or part of the subject's body. Heat exchangers are positioned within the subject's vasculature and heated or cooled heat exchange fluid is circulated through the heat exchanger. For certain therapeutic applications, the heat exchanger and associated elements of the system have sufficient power to lower the subject's body temperature by at least 3 degrees C. in less than 30 minutes.
US09943426B2
A stent (scaffold) or other luminal prosthesis comprising circumferential structural elements which provides high strength after deployment and allows for scaffold to uncage, and/or allow for scaffold or luminal expansion thereafter. The circumferential scaffold may be formed from degradable material, or may be formed from non-degradable material and will be modified to expand and/or uncage after deployment.
US09943425B2
A stent comprising a stent body and a plurality of cells is disclosed. The stent body defines a length. Each cell includes two structural members extending in an undulating pattern. Each structural member includes a plurality of cell segments defining a plurality of nodes therebetween. At least one node includes a non-constant radius of curvature.
US09943424B2
An artificial blood vessel includes a tubular woven fabric composed of a multifilament yarn A including a first polyester and a multifilament yarn B including a second polyester, and has an inner diameter of 8 mm or less and a layer thickness of 50 μm or more and 250 μm or less, wherein the multifilament yarn A has a single fiber fineness of 1.0 dtex or more and a total fineness of 33 dtex or less, the multifilament yarn B has a single fiber fineness of 0.08 dtex or less and a total fineness of 66 dtex or less, and the multifilament yarn B forms loops on an inner wall surface of the tubular woven fabric.
US09943421B2
A vacuum suspension system includes a pump system arranged to be in fluid communication with a prosthetic socket. The pump system includes a pump mechanism having a housing and a membrane situated on the housing such that a fluid chamber is defined between the membrane and the housing. The pump mechanism is movable between an original configuration in which the volume of the fluid chamber is zero or near-zero, and an expanded configuration in which the volume of the fluid chamber is increased.
US09943420B2
The invention relates to a liner that is intended to be pulled over an amputation stump, is made of an electrically non-conducting material, has a form that is adapted or that adapts to the amputation stump, has an inner wall that lies against the skin of the amputation stump, and is provided with at least one electrode, which is arranged between the skin of the amputation stump and the outside of the liner in order to transmit electrical signals, a high level of wearing comfort is ensured along with reliable transmission of the electrical signals in that at least one conducting section is integrated into the material of the liner in the area of the electrodes, the at least one conducting section forming a uniform and consistently oriented inner wall together with the non-conducting material of the liner.
US09943417B2
The present disclosure relates to a spinal implant. The spinal implant may be used for lateral insertion into an intervertebral disc space. For example, the spinal implant may include a spacer body to which a plate is fixed. The intervertebral spacer body may include a pair of opposite sides having a pyramid-shaped teeth to fuse to bone. The plate defines at least one upper and lower borehole that each receives a screw. Each screw attaches the plate to a vertebral body between which the intervertebral spacer body is inserted. The boreholes may include locking threads that are adapted to lock the screws into place by engaging complementary locking threads of head of the screw.
US09943414B2
Provided is a system and method for providing a non-binding allograft subtalar joint implant for surgical implant into a person's foot proximate to the ankle. This system for repair includes at least one sterile non-binding allograft subtablar joint implant provided as a pre-formed allograft rod plug “ARP” having a diameter about equal to an average width of a canal between a person's talus and calcaneus bones, the ARP being resiliently compressible and flexible. When snuggly disposed between the person's talus and calcaneus bones, the ARP compresses during normal use of the person's foot and maintains the canal in an anatomically correct alignment and reduces a tendency for abnormal motion between the person's talus and calcaneus bones. An associated method of use is also provided.
US09943412B2
An implantable repair device for the repair, augmentation or replacement of tissue, uses silk fibroin and has a smooth surface and a porous surface. The smooth surface has a measured Sa value of less than approximately 0.1 μm when using Atomic Force Microscopy when samples of the repair device are fully hydrated by imaging through fluid in peak force tapping mode. A method of preparing such an implantable repair device includes preparing a gel from a fibroin solution in a mold, preparing a material by subjecting the gel to one or more steps of freezing and thawing the gel, and creating at least a porous surface on the device, wherein a portion of the mold is adapted to provide at least one smooth surface.
US09943400B2
An endoluminal prosthesis comprises a prosthetic trunk having a trunk lumen and a trunk wall, a first prosthetic branch having a first branch lumen and a branch wall, and a second prosthetic branch having a second branch lumen. The first branch lumen and the second branch lumen are both in fluid communication with the trunk lumen through the trunk wall and the second branch lumen is in fluid communication with the first branch lumen through the branch wall. Additional devices, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US09943391B2
The present invention discloses a medical device that includes an elongate member, needle, needle deployment mechanism, and a head portion. The elongate member has a proximal portion, distal portion and a lumen defined along the elongate member. The needle deployment mechanism is disposed at least partially within the lumen. The head portion includes a tip portion that includes a front throat region, an opening, and a needle receiving portion. The front throat region includes a front edge and a lateral edge. The opening is defined by the lateral edge of the front throat region. The needle moves in and out of the device through the opening in a direction along the front edge of the front throat region. The needle receiving portion can be configured to capture the needle.
US09943389B2
A plug of an artificial insemination tube for livestock breeding includes a leading portion and a viewing portion, each having different color layers or different hardness layers, and being formed by stacking and combining different foam layers. In an artificial insemination for livestock breeding, the plug installed at the front of a sperm delivery duct is inserted into a reproductive organ of the livestock, and secretion or fluid is attached and shown on surfaces of the plug leading portion and the viewing portion with different colors to achieve the effect of detecting the physical and physiological conditions of the livestock. In addition, the leading portion is a foam layer with relatively greater hardness, density, and smoothness, so that the plug may be entered into the female livestock body more easily, and the injection hole will not be deformed easily, so as to improve the smoothness and efficiency of the artificial insemination.
US09943367B2
A system for monitoring ablation size is provided and includes a power source including a microprocessor for executing at least one control algorithm. A microwave antenna is configured to deliver microwave energy from the power source to tissue to form an ablation zone. An ablation zone control module is in operative communication with a memory associated with the power source. The memory includes one or more data look-up tables including data pertaining to a control curve varying over time and being representative of one or more electrical parameters associated with the microwave antenna. Points along the control curve correspond to a value of the electrical parameters and the ablation zone control module triggers a signal when a predetermined threshold value of the electrical parameter(s) is measured corresponding to the radius of the ablation zone.
US09943365B2
A renal nerve ablation device may include an elongate tubular member having a distal region. An expandable member may be coupled to the distal region. An electrode support may be coupled to the distal region of the elongate tubular member and extend over a body of the expandable member. The electrode support may be free of connection to the body of the expandable member. One or more electrodes may be coupled to the electrode support.
US09943360B2
A coil electrode for use with an RFA (radio frequency ablation) apparatus, has a lead portion, and a helical portion coupled to the lead portion, the helical portion being formed of Nitinol SE510. Further, an RFA (radio frequency ablation) apparatus, comprises an applicator, the applicator including a handle and a cannulating delivery needle mounted to the handle, the cannulating delivery needle including a tip spaced apart from the handle. A coil electrode includes a lead portion housed in the cannulating delivery needle, and a helical portion coupled to the lead portion, the helical portion formed of Nitinol. The helical portion has a retracted state when housed within the cannulating delivery needle and a deployed state when moved out of the tip of the cannulating delivery needle.
US09943353B2
Methods, systems and devices for applying energy to tissue, and more particularly relates to a system for ablating or modifying structures in a body with systems and methods that generate a flow of vapor at a controlled flow rate for applying energy to the body structure.
US09943348B2
A compression plate kit that allows for manual compression of a bone discontinuity includes a bone plate, two or more reduction screws, and a compression clamp. The compression clamp can include engagement members configured to engage the reduction screws, thereby allowing a practitioner to compress a bone discontinuity by manually closing the compression clamp. One or more implementations of a kit of the present invention can provide a practitioner with physical or tactile feedback during the compression of a bone discontinuity, and thus, provide the practitioner with the ability to better control the compression and spacing of bone portions during a reduction.
US09943339B2
An osseous anchorage implant comprising an attachment structure adapted to receive and be attached to at least one bar is disclosed. The implant is made up of an osseous anchor and an attachment head bearing the attachment means. The attachment head is suitably traversed by a channel that is adapted to receive the bar. The attachment head comprises a clamp that is adapted to clamp the bar against an inside support wall of the channel. The implant is further characterized by the attachment means and the support wall enabling the rotation of the bar about a first axis that is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bar. The clamp comprises a moving clamping face, that is adapted to contact the bar, and that is borne by a support head. The bar is enabled to be introduced into the channel from a side of the channel.
US09943335B2
A method of retrieving a pair of previously implanted magnets from a patient's body includes maneuvering a guide catheter, which includes a guide magnet affixed to its distal end, toward the implantation site of the implanted magnets. The guide magnet is magnetically coupled to one of the implanted magnets in an orientation in which a through hole of the guide magnet is in register with through holes of the first and second implant magnets. An elongate capture member is slid through the lumen of the guide catheter until one of a proximal segment and a distal segment extends through the through holes of the guide magnet and the implanted magnets. An abutment segment of the elongate capture member, which separates the proximal segment and the distal segment is maneuvered into contact with the magnets. Then, the abutment segment, the guide magnet and the implanted magnets are moved as a group away from the implantation site.
US09943334B2
A kit having instructions for use for performing uterine lavage in a female patient includes a uterine lavage catheter configured for insertion into a woman's uterus to remove viable blastocysts from the uterus, and one or more first containers having a sufficient dosage amount of a GnRH antagonist to cause desynchronization of the endometrium of the patient prior to, during and/or following recovery of viable blastocysts from the uterus.
US09943323B2
The devices and methods described herein relate to improved structures for removing obstructions from body lumens. Such devices have applicability in through-out the body, including clearing of blockages within the vasculature, by addressing the frictional resistance on the obstruction prior to attempting to translate and/or mobilize the obstruction within the body lumen.
US09943318B2
Reciprocating rasps for the surgical preparation of the bone prior to the implantation of a glenoid or acetabular component with complex geometry are disclosed. Surgical methods for the use of such reciprocating rasps are also disclosed. Some of the methods include inserting a guide pin into the glenoid of the patient, advancing a reciprocating surgical rasp over the guide pin, reciprocating the surgical rasp so as to abrade bone tissue to form a cavity shaped to receive the glenoid component, and implanting the glenoid component in the cavity.
US09943314B2
Assemblies and methods for delivering an implant to a patient are disclosed. A delivery assembly can comprise an elongate tube, an outer magnetic member, and an inner magnetic member. The elongate tube extends from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion and defines a delivery lumen. The outer magnetic member can be movable along an outer surface of the tube; the inner magnetic member can be positioned within the delivery lumen and magnetically coupled to the outer magnetic member through a sidewall of the tube. The inner magnetic member can be movable through the delivery lumen when actuated by relative movement between the outer magnetic member and the tube. The delivery assembly can further comprise a syringe or an inflator/deflator couplable to a hub at the proximal end portion of the tube. The syringe or inflator/deflator can be used to urge fluid against a proximal end portion of the inner magnetic member.
US09943312B2
Devices and methods are provided for locking a surgical device based on loading of a fastener cartridge in the surgical device. In general, a surgical device can be configured to prevent at least one of closure of an end effector of the surgical device and firing of fasteners from the end effector when a cartridge is not fully seated in the end effector. In an exemplary embodiment, the surgical device can include a lockout element configured to prevent at least one of closure of the end effector and firing of fasteners from the end effector when a cartridge is not fully seated in the end effector. The locking element can be configured to automatically prevent firing and/or prevent closing of the end effector if a cartridge is not fully seated in the end effector.
US09943305B2
Methods and apparatuses for lifting, suspending and stiffening a patient's tissue are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method of lifting and stiffening a patient's tissue includes inserting at least one suture into the patient's tissue in a first direction, pulling the suture in a second direction so as to lift and suspend the tissue in a lifted position and stiffen the tissue in the lifted position, and cutting the suture so that the tissue remains in the lifted position. Preferably, the patient's tissue is the patient's soft palate.
US09943304B2
A suture management device comprises a handle defining at least a first door cavity, a shaft extending distally from the handle, and a suture anchor coupled to a distal end of the shaft. The suture anchor is configured to couple one or more sutures to a bone. A first releasable door is sized and configured to fit within the first door cavity. The first releasable door is releasably coupled to the handle. The first releasable door defining a suture channel extending longitudinally about the circumference of the releasable door. The suture channel is configured to receive the one or more sutures therein.
US09943303B2
A method of passing suture through a pledget is disclosed. A first suture tail is passed through a first suture engaging loop extending out of a first aperture in the pledget on a distal side of the pledget. A second suture tail is passed through a second suture engaging loop extending out of a second aperture in the pledget on the distal side of the pledget. The first and second suture tails are drawn proximally through their respective pledget apertures by pulling a handle coupled to the first and second suture engaging loops on a proximal side of the pledget.
US09943299B2
Disclosed is an adjustable occlusion device for use in a body lumen such as the left atrial appendage. The occlusion device is removably carried by a deployment catheter. The device may be enlarged or reduced to facilitate optimal placement or removal. Methods are also disclosed.
US09943282B2
An image processing apparatus includes an estimation unit, a noise reduction unit, and an output unit. The estimation unit estimates a scattered-ray component contained in a radiation image acquired by irradiating an object with a radiation, wherein the scattered-ray component originates from a scattered ray which is a radiation scattered in the object. The noise reduction unit reduces a noise component included in the radiation image in accordance with first noise information obtained from the radiation image and second noise information obtained from a scattered-ray reduction image obtained by reducing the scattered-ray component from the radiation image. The output unit outputs a correction image obtained by reducing the scattered-ray component and the noise component in the radiation image.
US09943273B2
A method of preparing a radioactive material to serve as a radiation source for an intra-lumen imaging capsule, including, receiving a radioactive substance having grains in powder form, forming a solid pellet wherein the grains of the radioactive substance are dispersed homogenously in the pellet and surrounded by less dense materials having lower radiation absorption.
US09943272B2
Improved system and method of X-ray laser microscopy that combines information obtained from both X-ray diffraction and X-ray imaging methods. The sample is placed in an ultra-cold, ultra-low pressure vacuum chamber, and exposed to brief bursts of coherent X-ray illumination further concentrated using X-ray mirrors and pinhole collimation methods. Higher resolution data from a sample is obtained using hard X-ray lasers, such as free electron X-ray lasers, and X-ray diffraction methods. Lower resolution data from the same sample can be obtained using any of hard or soft X-ray laser sources, and X-ray imaging methods employing nanoscale etched zone plate technology. In some embodiments both diffraction and imaging data can be obtained simultaneously. Data from both sources are combined to create a more complete representation of the sample. Methods to further improve performance, such as concave or curved detectors, improved temperature control, and alternative X-ray optics are also disclosed.
US09943269B2
A first medical device can receive a physiological parameter value from a second medical device. The second physiological parameter value may be formatted according to a protocol not used by the first medical device such that the first medical device is not able to process the second physiological parameter value to produce a displayable output value. The first medical device can pass the physiological parameter data from the first medical device to a separate translation module and receive translated parameter data from the translation module at the first medical device. The translated parameter data can be processed for display by the first medical device. The first medical device can output a value from the translated parameter data for display on the first medical device or an auxiliary device.
US09943260B2
An alcohol consumption determination method includes detecting a plurality of effective frames of an input voice signal; detecting a difference in signal of within the original signal of each of the effective frames; detecting average energy of the original signal and average energy of the difference signal for each of the effective frames; and determining whether alcohol has been consumed based on a difference between the average energy of the original signal and the average energy of the difference between the signals for each effective frame. Accordingly, it is also possible to determine, from a remote location, whether a driver or an operator remote has consumed alcohol and the degree of inebriation by using a difference signal energy method using a voice signal, thus preventing an accident caused by a operation vehicles and machines under the influence of alcohol.
US09943259B2
An analytical magazine is proposed, which comprises a plurality of analytical aids accommodated in chambers. The analytical magazine is arranged to be accommodated in at least two orientations in an analytical system. The analytical magazine is furthermore arranged to provide the analytical system, in the orientations, in each case with a plurality of analytical aids. At least one sampling movement can be executed by means of the analytical aids. The analytical magazine is arranged to make a remagazining of the analytical aids possible.
US09943255B2
The present disclosure relates to a method for monitoring oxygen level of an environment. The method comprises receiving at least one image of the environment comprising plurality of users from a capturing device. Then, at least one region of interest of each of the plurality of users is detected in the at least one image. A video plethysmographic waveform is generated by analyzing the at least one region of interest. Further, Peripheral Capillary Oxygen Saturation (SPO2) based on the video plethysmographic waveform is determined. Thereafter, oxygen level of the environment is determined by averaging the SPO2 level of each of the plurality of users. The determined oxygen level of the environment is compared with predefined oxygen level of the environment and an appropriate action is performed based on the comparison.
US09943247B2
The systems, methods, and devices described herein generally relate to achieving accurate and robust motion correction by detecting and accounting for false movements in motion correction systems used in conjunction with medical imaging and/or therapeutic systems. In other words, in some embodiments of the systems, methods, and devices described herein can be configured to detect false movements for motion correction during a medical imaging scan and/or therapeutic procedure, and thereby ensure that such false movements are not accounted for in the motion correction process. Upon detection of false movements, the imaging or therapeutic system can be configured to transiently suppress and/or subsequently repeat acquisitions.
US09943246B2
A system and method for assessing magnetic susceptibility of tissue of a subject using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to acquire chemical-shift-encoded, water-fat separated data. From the water-fat separated data, separated water and fat images, as well as a magnetic field inhomogeneity map are used to estimate the magnetic susceptibility within tissue.
US09943241B2
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward obtaining a plurality of impedance-measurement signals while a set of at least three electrodes are concurrently contacting a user. Additionally, various aspects of the present disclosure include determining a plurality of pulse characteristic signals based on the plurality of impedance-measurement signals. One of the pulse characteristic signals is extracted from one of the impedance-measurement signals and is used as a timing reference to extract and process another of the pulse characteristic signals.
US09943239B2
An optical sensing system is disclosed. The optical sensing system includes a printed circuit board (PCB), a supporter and an optical sensor. The PCB includes a top surface, a bottom surface and a through cavity, wherein the through cavity extends downwardly from the top surface to the bottom surface. The supporter has a top surface and a bottom surface. The optical sensor is bonded and coupled to the top surface of the supporter, wherein the optical sensor includes a primary optic structure. Wherein the supporter is flipped over and bonded to the PCB with the top surface facing the through cavity, so that the optical sensor is coupled to the PCB and at least partially extends to the through cavity. Associated electronic devices are also disclosed.
US09943238B2
A pulse wave measuring device includes a light emitter unit, a light receiver unit, a pulse wave measuring unit and a contact portion. The light receiver unit receives reflected light, which is reflected from a finger after transmission of the light from the light emitter unit. The pulse wave measuring unit measures a pulse wave based on the reflected light, which is received with the light receiver unit. The finger contacts the contact portion at a time of measuring the pulse wave. The contact portion has a recess, which receives at least a portion of the finger at the time of measuring the pulse wave, and a protrusion is provided in an inside of the recess.
US09943229B1
Aspects of the invention relate to a system and a method for monitoring health of a patient by using wireless sensor devices positioned to monitor one or more physiological parameters of the patient, and a gateway device in wireless communication with the wireless sensor devices, the wireless sensor devices and the gateway device forming a wireless body area network. The gateway device includes two or more radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) connected in at least a series or a parallel connection and provides multiple frequency channels for receiving sensor data from the wireless sensor devices, where the sensor data is transmitted based on time synchronization signals and an multi-channel adaptive protocol.
US09943228B2
A functional skin patch having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface is provided. The functional skin patch includes a functional unit having a thermo harvester and an antenna unit. The thermo harvester has a first terminal thermally connected to the first surface and a second terminal. The antenna unit has a first terminal thermally connected to the second terminal of the thermo harvester and a second terminal thermally connected to the second surface. The antenna unit has a stacked layer structure including, in this sequence, a metal layer thermally connected to the second terminal of the thermo harvester, a ferrite layer thermally connected to the metal layer, and an antenna layer thermally connected to the ferrite layer.
US09943225B1
An AMD prediction model utilizes an OCT image estimation model. The OCT image estimation module is created by segmenting an OCT image to generate an OCT projection image for each of multiple biological layers; extracting from each of the generated OCT projection images a first set of features; extracting a second set of features from an input retinal fundus image; for each respective biological layer, registering the input retinal fundus image to the respective OCT projection image by matching at least some of the second set of features with corresponding ones of the first set of features; repeating the above with changes to the input retinal fundus image; and modelling how the changes to the input retinal fundus image are manifest at the correspondingly registered projection images. Estimated OCT projection images can then be generated for the multiple biological layers from a given retinal fundus image.
US09943224B2
This invention provides an image processing apparatus which allows an operator to easily recognize relevance between morbid portions, which exist in a plurality of layers, according to a disease. An image processing apparatus according to this invention includes an ophthalmic feature acquisition unit which acquires ophthalmic features as anatomical features of the tomogram, a layer designation unit which designates at least two layers required to detect morbid portions corresponding to a disease of a predetermined type from a plurality of layers specified by the ophthalmic features, a morbid portion acquisition unit which detects morbid portions corresponding to the disease of the predetermined type respectively from the layers designated by the layer designation unit, and a composite display unit which generates a composite image by projecting the morbid portions respectively detected from the layers by the morbid portion acquisition unit onto a predetermined two-dimensional image, and displays the composite image.
US09943221B2
A medical, in particular dental, diagnostic device having means for image capture and a hand piece that has a window located in the optical path of the means for image capture, wherein there are means for heating the window formed by a resistance heater.
US09943218B2
The present specification describes a medical endoscope, such as but not limited to a gastroscope, a colonoscope or a bronchoscope. In particular, the present specification describes an endoscope having a supply cable that includes a coupling element dividing the supply cable into a first section and a second section capable of rotating relative to each other, wherein the endoscope system further includes a control unit or endoscope handle and a main connector or supply plug connected to opposite ends of the supply cable.
US09943217B2
An endoscope including an operation part having a forceps entrance, a distal end part having a flat end surface, an observation window base part formed on the flat end surface of the distal end part so as to protrude distally from the flat end surface, an observation window disposed on the observation window base part, and a forceps exit disposed on the distal end part, a forceps being inserted through a forceps entrance protruding from the forceps exit. The observation window base part has a flat surface, and an outer peripheral shape of the observation window base part is inclined and connects the flat end surface of the distal end part with the flat surface of the observation window base part.
US09943212B2
A dust suction device includes: a housing having a plurality of inlets for the inflow of impurities formed thereon and an inner region of which is independently divided; and resilient actuating members, provided inside the inlets, for opening or closing the inlets by pressure applied from the outside.
US09943198B2
A one-touch quick-release device of a toilet cover is provided. One end of a connecting member is installed to the toilet cover through a turning member, and another end of the connecting member is connected with an engaging member. A return elastic member is provided between the engaging member and the connecting member. The connecting member is radially provided with an insertion rod. The retaining member is vertically provided with a support rod. The support rod is formed with a central hole for insertion of the insertion rod. An upper end of the support rod is provided with an annular flange. The engaging member is provided with an annular through trough. The annular flange is inserted through the annular through trough to lean against the connecting member. The insertion rod of the connecting member is inserted into the central hole of the support rod.
US09943195B2
Methods, apparatus, and systems are described that provide an improved way to monitor the state of a dispensing system and apparatus. The method begins when an activation sensor generates a signal indicating a desired dispense cycle operation in response to detecting user input, such as user hand motion in front of the sensor. The dispenser motor is energized in response to the generated signal, and a battery sensor monitors a status of the battery during a startup phase of the dispenser motor. The monitored status of the battery during the startup phase is indicative of a state (e.g., power state or operational state) of the dispensing system, and a dispenser controller determines if the system can complete the desired dispense cycle operation based upon the monitored status and reacts to control the system accordingly, e.g., aborting a dispense cycle or allowing the dispense cycle to initiate.
US09943192B2
Various shelving systems, such as shower caddies, are disclosed. In some embodiments, a shower caddy includes an elongate support member and a plurality of shelves, each of which can be supported by a clamping mechanism. The support member can have a telescoping configuration so that upper and lower ends of the support member can be pressed against upper and lower stationary objects. The shelving system can include a shroud configured to conceal, block, or surround a portion of a shelf in a closed position and allow access to the portion of the shelf in the open position.
US09943157B1
In some implementations, an applicator includes a container and an insert disposed in the container. The insert may include a flange extending radially outwardly from an elongate post, and a porous tip covering the flange. A passageway is provided to convey, via material comprising the porous tip, a substance contained in the container to an external surface of the porous tip for application.
US09943154B2
A drawing apparatus includes a drawing unit that forms a nail design on a nail of an object by performing a plurality of processes and a processor that extracts a feature value of the object and controls the drawing unit.The processor acquires information on a performed process with respect to the nail of one object, whose nail is provided to be formed with the nail design, based on process management information in which the feature value with respect to each of a plurality of the objects and an information on the performed process with respect to the nail of each of the plurality of the objects are registered in association with each other and the feature value with respect to the one object, and determines a specific process to be performed to the nail of the one object, and causes the drawing unit to perform the specific process.
US09943153B2
An applicator for applying a product to head hair comprises a neck portion and a flexible/elastic spatula. The neck portion comprises inner threads and an upper end and the spatula comprises a free end at a distal end from said neck portion. The free end comprises an edge extending in a substantially orthogonal direction to the extension of the spatula, said edge having a dispensing opening. The spatula forms a flat shaped body portion between said neck portion and said flat shaped body portion. The applicator comprises a bridging portion, comprising a bottom extending in a substantially transversal direction to the neck portion. The substantially flat shaped body portion extends in a substantially orthogonal direction from said bottom, defining an internal channel extending from the dispensing opening to an inlet opening. The inlet opening is arranged at the lower side of the bottom in the interior of the neck portion.
US09943142B1
A clasp which has a primary body and a secondary body couples an elongated member. A bore has a groove within the primary body. A rod has a leg coupled to the secondary body and slidably engages the groove. A shaped locking channel is coupled to the groove. The leg engages with the shaped locking channel for coupling and decoupling the primary body with the secondary body.
US09943111B2
Disclosed are methods, systems, and apparatuses for vapor cooling. The methods and systems can be used in conjunction with all vaping devices including e-cigarettes, hybrid communication device electronic vapor devices, robotic vapor devices, modified vapor devices “mods,” electronic vapor devices, and the like.
US09943109B2
The present invention provides an electronic cigarette, including a cartridge, an atomizer device, and a cartridge fixing element to detachably connect the cartridge to the atomizer device. A cartridge body can be switched to be in a pre-mounting position and a mounting position to engage the cartridge fixing element. When in the pre-mounting position, a sealing element and a puncturing element of the cartridge are spaced by a certain distance or abut against each other, to ensure that a first sealing portion will not be punctured and E-liquid in the cartridge will not be contaminated before smoking. When in the mounting position, the installation of the cartridge is completed, a second sealing portion is punctured to communicate a liquid reservoir chamber with a liquid reservoir room, to allow the E-liquid in the liquid reservoir chamber to flow to the liquid reservoir room, and users can smoke.
US09943090B2
Disclosed are methods and system for reducing or eliminating the possibility of cross-contamination between food to be cooked in a cooking device and food cooking in the cooking device. The methods and systems determine the placement into a cooking device of food product to be cooked by the distance sensor, determine a hygienic safe cooking time (HSCT) for that product based on the identification of food product to be cooked, and compare the HSCT to one or more remaining cooking times of food product cooking in the cooking device on levels below and/or above the desired placement of the food product to be cooked. Various methods of identifying the food to be cooked may be employed, both manual and automatic. As a result of the comparison, the methods and systems of the disclosure can identify safe carrier/tray level(s) for accepting placement of the food to be cooked.
US09943089B2
The present invention relates generally to a method for enzymatic production of food protein ingredients from keratin-containing proteinaceous materials and the resulting compositions. The process includes treating a proteinaceous containing material with an amount of a reducing agent, followed by hydrolysis of the keratin by a proteolytic enzyme to efficiently and economically convert a keratinaceous protein source into a palatable, highly digestible protein food product.
US09943086B2
Disclosed are sugar reduced aerated confections. The confections essentially comprise a first heterogeneous continuous phase including a structured amorphous saccharide, a second discontinuous phase including a multiplicity of gas cells. The first heterogeneous continuous phase includes a multiplicity of crystals distributed evenly throughout also including about 1%-35% by dry weight basis of a non-hydrated polysaccharide filler ingredient preferably starch in the form of discrete particles evenly distributed through the continuous phase having a mean particle size distribution of preferably less than 150 microns. The confectionery food products find particular suitability for use as ingredients for reduced sugar children's RTE cereals.
US09943085B2
The prevent invention relates to a fondant comprising a sugar system made up of a first non-crystalline phase and a second crystalline phase, wherein the non-crystalline phase contains isomaltulose and sucrose and wherein the crystalline phase contains isomaltulose. The invention also relates to a method for the production thereof, the use of the fondant as icing, coating or filling for baked goods and baked goods that are completely or partially coated with the fondant according to the invention.
US09943080B2
A self-generated antimicrobial alcoholic foam prepared by combining an alcoholic pre-mix comprising at least 50 wt. % of a lower alcohol, based upon the total weight of the alcoholic pre-mix, at least one acidic component, and at least one waxy component; and an aqueous pre-mix comprising a carbonate. A dispenser and a two-part refill for a dispenser are also provided.
US09943073B2
A bird capture net which allows the use of quickly adjusting the height for capture and release is described, which includes height adjustable poles attached to bird netting.
US09943059B1
A novel alfalfa variety designated 54VR70 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing an alfalfa plant that comprise crossing alfalfa variety 54VR70 with another alfalfa plant. Methods for producing an alfalfa plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into 54VR70 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the alfalfa seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Alfalfa seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing alfalfa variety 54VR70 or a trait conversion of 54VR70 with another alfalfa plant or population. Alfalfa populations derived from alfalfa variety 54VR70, methods for producing other alfalfa populations derived from alfalfa variety 54VR70 and the alfalfa populations and their parts derived by the use of those methods.
US09943058B2
A wheat variety designated W040637U2, the plants and seeds of wheat variety W040637U2, methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing the variety W040637U2 with another wheat plant, and hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety W040637U2 with another wheat line or plant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of variety W040637U2. This invention also relates to methods for producing other wheat varieties or breeding lines derived from wheat variety W040637U2 and to wheat varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods.
US09943049B2
Methods and apparatus for a vision-based pollination system. The vision-based pollination system includes a mobile support apparatus configured to traverse a crop field. The mobile support apparatus supports a pollination liquid storage tank fluidly coupled to a plurality of pollen applicators. The apparatus includes pollination nodes including a vision system and a camera. Each pollination node is coupled to and controls a portion of the pollen applicators. In operation, the mobile support apparatus traverses the crop field, each pollination node repeatedly taking photographs of a portion of the crop field, identifying locations for delivering the pollination liquid, and determining when to operate the pollen applicators to deliver the pollination liquid to the identified locations as the vision-based pollination system traverses the crop field.
US09943047B2
The present disclosure relates systems and methods for providing remote irrigation system operation. In any embodiment, the method for a home automation system may include coupling an irrigation control bypass module with a legacy irrigation control panel associated with a legacy irrigation automation system. The method may also include setting the legacy irrigation control panel to an inactive state, and operating the legacy irrigation automation system based at least in part on a first set of one or more instructions received from the irrigation control bypass module. In any embodiment, the irrigation control bypass module may be initiated based at least in part on a second set of one or more instructions received from the home automation system.
US09943045B2
An emitter is arranged inside a tube and has: an emitter main body that is constituted by a resin molded body that has at least a recessed part and a through hole; and a flexible film that is joined to at least one surface of the emitter main body and that forms a flow path by closing off the recessed part and an opening part of at least one part the through hole. The emitter has a discharge amount adjusting part that is for making adjustments in accordance with the water pressure inside the tube. When the pressure of an irrigation liquid that is inside the tube is at or above a set value, the film slackens, and the discharge amount adjusting part narrows the flow path of the liquid and reduces flow rate.
US09943034B2
A picking apparatus having at least one holder movable in a working direction. The holder has at least one conveying device with a front gathering region. The produce bearing plants come in contact with the conveying device in the front gathering region. The conveying device is operable to gather and transport plants in at least one conveying direction. The conveying direction extend in a straight or substantially straight line and transverse or substantially transverse to the working direction. The picking apparatus also has a picking gap defined behind the conveying device, wherein the plants are guided through the picking gap while separating the produce.
US09943025B2
A seed growing device, method, and system are described. The seed growing device may comprise a solid-shape and a seed-enclosure located within the solid-shape. The solid-shape may comprise a mixture. The mixture may comprise a dry acid and a dry base. The seed-enclosure may comprise a seed and/or spore. The seed-enclosure may comprise an outer-layer that may be dissolvable upon contact with liquid water. When the solid-shape may be sufficiently wetted with liquid water, the dry acid and the dry base may absorb at least some of the liquid water to interact in an aqueous acid base chemical reaction causing bubbling and transitioning the solid-shape from a dry state into a liquid state; and in some embodiments emitting a fragrance. At least some of the liquid water may dissolve the seed-enclosure enough to permit some of the liquid water to reach the seed and initiate seed germination.
US09943023B2
A lift control apparatus includes a height sensor that outputs a height detection signal after a height of a ground work apparatus is detected. The ground work apparatus is coupled to a traveling work vehicle via a lift mechanism. An upper limit manager sets an upper limit position of the ground work apparatus based on an operation input signal from an input operation device for an upper limit setting USD. A setting prohibitor prohibits, when the upper limit position being set by the operation input signal is lower than the height of the ground work apparatus based on the height detection signal, the setting of the upper limit position from the operation input signal, and setting the upper limit position to the height of the ground work apparatus based on the height detection signal.
US09949402B2
A liquid loop cooling apparatus includes: an evaporator thermally coupled to a heating element; a condenser configured to be cooled by an airflow; a pump configured to circulate a refrigerant between the evaporator and the condenser; a first piping configured to couple the evaporator and the condenser; a second piping configured to couple the condenser and the pump; and a third piping configured to couple the pump and the evaporator, wherein the first piping is arranged on a destination side of the airflow, and the second piping is arranged on a source side of the airflow.
US09949400B2
Systems, appartuses and devices are used for front cable management of equipment modules mounted in equipment racks. One aspect is directed to an apparatus for front cable management generally including a cable management device for a rack-mounted equipment module supported in an equipment rack. The cable management device generally includes an articulated arm assembly movable between a retracted operational position and a service position extending forwardly out from the equipment rack. Another aspect is directed to a system for front cable management generally including an equipment rack and a rack-mount support for movably positioning a rack-mount equipment module on the equipment rack. The rack-mount support generally includes a front end configured to receive a cable management device for routing cables from a cable zone of the equipment rack to a front end of the rack-mount support.
US09949399B2
A latch mechanism is provided for latching a field-replaceable unit within an enclosure. The latch mechanism includes a pivotable latch coupled to the field-replaceable unit via a pivot, at a first side of the unit, and a spring member associated with the enclosure. The spring member is engaged by the latch and deflects with rotating of the latch from an open position to a latched position. The pivotable latch includes the first end and a second end, with the pivot being disposed closer to the first end than the second. The deflecting spring member facilitates provision of positive pressure on the unit directed towards a second side of the unit opposite to the first side to facilitate, for example, fixedly coupling a first connector at the second side to a second connector associated with the enclosure when the unit is latched within the enclosure.
US09949398B2
A backplane and a communications device are disclosed. The backplane includes: at least one fixing plate, multiple connectors, and multiple flexible cables, where signal connection is implemented between corresponding connectors by means of the flexible cables, each of the connectors is provided with a housing and multiple signal pins installed on the housing, and the housing is installed on the fixing plate and is provided with a jack for insertion of a connector of a subcard in the communications device; one end of each signal pin is inserted into the jack, and the other end is connected to each flexible cable. When the communications device provided with the backplane transmits a high-rate signal, transmission quality and a transmission rate are relatively high.
US09949386B2
A case includes a base and a cover and defines an accommodation space therein. The base has a first through hole through which a magnetoelectric conversion element, which is mounted on a circuit board, is opposed to a sensor magnet of a motor. A connector includes a terminal and a housing, which supports the terminal. The connector has a first protrusion projected toward the base for positioning. The first protrusion of the connector has a tip end inserted through a second through hole of the printed circuit board and further inserted in a hole portion of the base. A second protrusion of the base is projected toward the printed circuit board and is inserted in a third through hole of the printed circuit board for positioning.
US09949385B2
A semiconductor module includes a base plate, a substrate on the base plate and carrying at least one semiconductor chip, a housing attached to the base plate and at least partially enclosing the substrate, and at least one terminal having one end which protrudes from the housing and another end which has a terminal foot attached on a terminal pad of the metallization by means of ultrasonic welding. The housing has a protective wall which encloses the terminal and divides an interior space of the housing into an unprotected region and a protected region. The protective wall is formed such that a gap is formed between the substrate and the protective wall. The gap is designed to carry a fluid flow such that particles produced during the ultrasonic welding of the terminal foot to the terminal pad are prevented from penetrating into the protected region from the unprotected region.
US09949370B2
A suspension board with circuit includes a metal supporting board, a base insulating layer disposed at one side in a thickness direction of the metal supporting board, a conductor layer disposed at the one side of the base insulating layer and including a connecting terminal electrically connected to a slider, a cover insulating layer covering the conductor layer to expose the connecting terminal and disposed at the one side of the base insulating layer, and a plating layer covering the connecting terminal. The cover insulating layer includes a first cover insulating layer disposed at the one side of the base insulating layer and a second cover insulating layer disposed at the one side of the first cover insulating layer, and the thickness of the plating layer is not more than the total sum of the thickness of the first cover insulating layer and that of the second cover insulating layer.
US09949369B2
The present invention is a cyanate ester compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein Ar represents an aromatic ring; R1 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group; n each independently represents an integer of 1 to 3; m+n is the same as the total number of hydrogen atoms in a monovalent aromatic group containing the aromatic ring and the hydrogen atoms; R2 represents a hydrogen atom (excluding a case where Ar represents a benzene ring; n each represents 1; R1 represents a hydrogen atom; m each represents 4, and a cyanate group is bonded to the benzene ring in the 4-position relative to an adamantyl group), or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and R3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
US09949349B2
Disclosed are a lighting control apparatus, a lighting control method, and a lighting control system. The lighting control apparatus makes communication with lighting devices, registers at least one of the lighting devices according to received signal strengths of the lighting devices, and controls the registered lighting device. The lighting control apparatus easily registers and controls the lighting devices.
US09949344B1
This disclosure describes systems, devices, and techniques for causing an accessory device to present predefined lighting sequences. In some instances, the accessory device is a battery-powered device that includes a wireless radio, an actuatable button, and one or more lighting elements. The accessory device may receive a lighting-sequence schema specifying how to illuminate the lighting elements as well as trigger event upon which to present the lighting sequence. The accessory device may store the received schema and, upon identifying the specified trigger event, may present the corresponding lighting sequence on the lighting elements.
US09949331B1
The disclosed devices, systems, and methods may be used to automatically identify, locate, and assign luminaires into groups such that lighting systems may be more efficiently configured, used, and maintained especially in large buildings, etc. For example, a wink function may be used with a system of sensors which are capable of detecting light patterns from individual and groups of luminaires to form virtual maps of luminaire locations which may be correlated with actual luminaire floor plans to efficiently identify, locate, and group the luminaires.
US09949328B1
A method and circuit for dimmable light emitting diode (LED) applications are provided. The circuit includes digital processing circuitry and a DC output chopper. The digital processing circuitry produces a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal in response to one or more of voltage, frequency, dimmer type and phase angle requirements determined from a voltage and a phase position of a received input signal. The DC output chopper is coupled to the digital processing circuitry and operates in response to the PWM signal to generate a chopped DC output duty cycle voltage signal from a DC output signal derived from the input signal to provide linear dimming for a LED load.
US09949327B2
One example includes a light-emitting diode (LED) system. The LED system includes an LED array comprising a plurality of LEDs that are each activated via an LED current provided therethrough to provide illumination. The system also includes an LED controller configured to sequentially activate the plurality of LEDs via at least one LED driver system configured to selectively provide the LED current through each sequential one of the plurality of LEDs in an activated state in response to an activation signal. The at least one LED driver system includes a voltage clamp configured to maintain a substantial constant amplitude difference of a driver voltage associated with the LED current from the activated state to a deactivated state.
US09949320B2
A heating device (1) of a container processing device includes a main turret (2) which supplies a container (10) to high-frequency induction heating element (3) for providing a heat treatment to the container (10) so that the container (10) is sucked by bottom suction device (21), a container supply turret (5) which supplies the container (10) to the main turret (2); and an auxiliary turret (4) provided in a receiving area of the main turret (2). The auxiliary turret (4) is configured to center the container (10) towards the bottom suction device (21) in the receiving area.
US09949316B2
There is provided mechanisms for reconfiguration in a wireless mesh network served by at least one network node. A method is performed by a first network device having a first metric. The method comprises maintaining an operative connection to a network node via a second network device, the second network device having a better metric than the first metric. The method comprises acquiring an indication that the first network device is to be detached from the operative connection to the network node. The method comprises scanning for, and establishing an operative connection to, a further second network device having a metric, for establishing a new operative connection to one of the at least one network node. The method comprises updating the first metric based on the metric of the further second network device.
US09949315B2
Techniques are described for wireless communication. One method includes monitoring, by a first base station of a first operator, for clear channel assessment (CCA) exempt transmission (CET) timing information of a second base station of a second operator; identifying transmission timings of CETs of the second base station of the second operator based at least in part on the monitoring; and discontinuing transmissions of the first base station of the first operator during the transmission timings of the CETs of the second base station of the second operator. Transmissions of the second base station of the second operator may be asynchronous to transmissions of the first base station of the first operator.
US09949308B2
A communication control method comprises: transmitting, by a communication apparatus, a Device to Device (D2D) resource notification to a user terminal. The D2D resource notification includes information indicating a predetermined D2D radio resource available in a D2D proximity service and information indicating a condition not allowing for use of the predetermined D2D radio resource.
US09949307B2
To enable an addition or a removal of a control into or from a communication line without an interruption of the ongoing communication of the communication line, a method is provided of adding a control into a network of at least one first and one second control, which are provided for operating actuators, during an operation of the network, wherein the first and second controls are connected to one another in a communication line and communicate with one another via a first transmission connection of the first control and a second transmission connection of the second control; and wherein each control has an unambiguous identifier, comprising the steps of providing a third transmission connection and a fourth transmission connection between the control to be added and the first control to be connected upstream of the control to be added; providing a fifth transmission connection and a sixth transmission connection between the control to be added and the second control to be connected downstream of the control to be added; and activating the third to sixth transmission connections between the first and second controls and the control to be added on the simultaneous deactivation of the first and second transmission connections between the first and second controls and methods of removing a control from a network of at least one first and one second control and the control to be removed.
US09949298B1
Enhanced beam management for a wireless communication system is provided. In one example, a method comprises: receiving, from a mobile device, a message indicating first beam information for a selected first beam of beams associated with the base station device, wherein the message is a first received message of a random access channel procedure; and receiving, from the mobile device, message indicating second beam information for a selected second beam of the beams associated with the base station device, wherein the selected second beam is an alternative to the selected first beam for transmission of downlink data to the mobile device from the base station device, and wherein the second beam is indicated in the first message of a two-step random access channel procedure. Methods of signaling the second beam and/or transmission diversity approaches employing the first beam and/or the second beam are described.
US09949290B2
The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for determining a bandwidth for Multi-User (MU) transmission in a High Efficiency WLAN (HEW). According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method for transmitting by a Station (STA) to an Access point (AP) an uplink Physical layer Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) frame in a WLAN may be provided. The method may include receiving a trigger frame including bandwidth information, the trigger frame eliciting a transmission of the uplink PPDU frame including a data unit of the STA and at least one data unit of at least one other STA, and transmitting the data unit of the STA in the uplink PPDU frame, based on an available bandwidth of the STA and a bandwidth indicated by the bandwidth information included in the trigger frame.
US09949282B2
With respect to generating and sending a MAC PDU by using the radio resources allocated to the mobile terminal, the level of priority between the buffer status report (BSR) and the established logical channels are defined such that the data of each logical channel and buffer status report can be more effectively, efficiently and quickly transmitted.
US09949277B1
Disclosed is a system for mitigating co-channel interference (CCI) in white space (WS) modems. The system includes a base-station that includes a base-station transmitter and a base-station receiver. The base-station receiver receives an OFDM signal from one or more CPE transmitters. An interference detection module detects presence of co-channel interference in carriers of the OFDM signal and determines co-channel interference affected carriers. A dynamic notch filter module (i) receives central interference carriers from interference detection module and (ii) mitigates the co-channel interference of co-channel interference affected carriers without affecting frame detection capability of the system. An interference aware signal to noise ratio (SNR) estimation module determines an average signal to noise ratio (SNR) of (i) interference unaffected carriers and (ii) co-channel interference affected carriers. An interference aware de-mapper module processes average signal to noise ratio of (i) interference unaffected carriers and (ii) co-channel interference affected carriers.
US09949268B2
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a portable communication device includes a first communication module, a second communication module, and a control module. The first communication module can communicate with a first network wirelessly via a first protocol. The second communication module can communicate wirelessly via a second protocol. The control module can control the first communication module and the second communication module. When the portable communication device starts recharging while communication by the second communication module is disable, the control module can permit the second communication module to connect with at least one external device in a first mode. During the second communication module sets in the first mode, the external devices can communicate wirelessly via the second communication module and the first communication module.
US09949259B2
An apparatus for wireless communications is disclosed. The apparatus includes a processing system configured to generate a frame having a preamble, a header, and a data payload, wherein the preamble, the header, and the data payload are decodable by a first device when operating according to a first protocol, wherein the preamble and the header are decodable by a second device when operating according to a second protocol, the data payload not being decodable by the second device when operating according to the second protocol; and an interface configured to output the frame for transmission.
US09949253B2
A method for communicating data between a base station and a terminal device in a wireless telecommunications system, for example an LTE-based system. The wireless communication system uses plural frequency sub-carriers spanning a system frequency band. Physical-layer control information for the terminal device is transmitted from the base station using sub-carriers selected from across the system frequency band, for example to provide frequency diversity. However, higher-layer data for the terminal device is transmitted using only sub-carriers selected from within a restricted frequency band which is smaller than and within the system frequency band. The terminal device is aware of the restricted frequency band, and as such need only buffer and process data within this restricted frequency band during periods where higher-layer data is being transmitted. The terminal device buffers and processes the full system frequency band during periods when physical-layer control information is transmitted.
US09949250B2
A method and apparatus are provided for receiving ACK/NACK information by a base station. The method includes transmitting data and control information to at least one UE, the control information being transmitted on a downlink control channel including at least one CCE; transmitting information related to cyclic shift values of a sequence used for transmission of the ACK/NACK information in an RB, wherein the ACK/NACK information and CQI are multiplexed in the RB; checking a resource for reception of ACK/NACK information mapped to the at least one CCE based on the information related to cyclic shift values and a mapping rule between CCEs and a resource for reception of the ACK/NACK information, wherein the resource for reception of the ACK/NACK information is identified by a cyclic shift index, an orthogonal sequence index, and a resource block index; and receiving the ACK/NACK information for the transmitted data using the checked resource.
US09949249B2
The present disclosure relates to a communication method and system for converging a 5th-Generation communication system to support higher data rates beyond a 4th-Generation system with a technology for Internet of Things (IoT). The present disclosure is applied to intelligent services based on the 5G communication technology and the IoT-related technology, such as smart home, smart building, smart city, smart car, connected car, health care, digital education, smart retail, security and safety services. A method and apparatus for two-dimensional spatial multiplexing transmission using multiple antennas in a wireless communication system is provided. A user equipment receives pieces of antenna configuration information and corresponding channel measurement resources from a base station, and sends channel information with respect to at least one antenna configuration as feedback to the base station. An indicator indicating a composition of the feedback information is transmitted first, and then the composition information and feedback information are transmitted.
US09949248B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for improving blind-decoding and interference suppression associated with interference from non-serving cells in a wireless network, specifically, performing interference suppression on the non-serving cell control channel. Various aspect employ network-assisted blind-decoding of non-serving cell signals at UEs through the coordination, communication, and use of communication restriction conditions. Network aspects may restrict certain communications between eNBs and served UEs, and communicate the restrictions to non-served UE. The non-served UEs can then leverage the restrictions for more efficient blind-decoding of interfering eNB signals and interference cancellation of interfering eNB signals.
US09949247B2
A method and an apparatus for configuring a control channel in a communication system, according to the present invention, allocate resources of different sizes according to a distributed transmission mode and a localized transmission mode and apply different antenna transmission techniques, to a control channel on the basis of frequency division. In addition, the present invention relates to a method by which a terminal estimates a channel irrespective of the transmission mode. According to the present invention, a control channel transmitted to different terminals from a base station can be efficiently multiplexed and the control channel be received faster by reducing the complexity of the terminal.
US09949243B2
Embodiments of user equipment (UE) and methods for application-agnostic discontinuous reception (DRX) triggering are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a UE is configured to monitor buffer status history and traffic activity history, and trigger DRX mode activation based on the buffer status and the traffic activity history. In some embodiments, the UE may determine a probability, based on the buffer status history and the traffic activity history, that a level of traffic activity that cannot be handled during DRX mode would occur. In these embodiments, the UE may trigger DRX mode activation when the probability is below a threshold.
US09949239B2
The technology described in this case facilitates random access by a user terminal with a radio base station. A user terminal determines one of a first type of uplink scrambling sequences and generates a random access message using the determined one of the first type of uplink scrambling sequences. The random access message is transmitted to the base station. The user terminal receives from the base station a second, different type of uplink scrambling sequence and uses it for subsequent communication with the radio base station. For example, the first uplink scrambling sequences may be specifically associated with the radio base station's cell area or a random access radio channel associated with the radio base station, but they are not specifically assigned to any user terminal, and the second uplink scrambling sequence may be selected from a second set of uplink scrambling sequences specifically assignable to individual user terminals.
US09949237B2
An apparatus (20) for providing facilitation of mobile gateway operation may include at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured, with the processor, to cause the apparatus to perform at least causing provision of configuration instructions (210) to one or more machines (42) where the configuration instructions define at least a discontinuous reception period and beaconing instructions for the one or more machines relative to machine communications utilizing network defined resources, and causing provision of connection information (220) to a mobile terminal (10) to identify connection parameters that correspond to the configuration instructions provided to the one or more machines where the connection information enables establishment of communication between the mobile terminal and the one or more machines. A corresponding method is also provided.
US09949235B2
Method and apparatus for generating and receiving a paging signal are provided. The paging signal may be received by a wireless device in a low-power state. The paging signal may include a target identification (ID) that may be associated with the wireless device. If the target ID is associated with the wireless device, the wireless device may leave the low-power state, enter an active power state and communicate with other wireless devices. The wireless device may include power harvesting circuitry to convert RF energy from the paging signal into power to operate a portion of the wireless device.
US09949229B2
To improve the usability of an electronic device, the electronic device includes: a first communication unit located near a user; a receive unit configured to receive data through communication via a body of the user or near field communication between a second communication unit located in a member used by the user and the first communication unit; and a recording unit configured to record data pertaining to the member when communication is established between the first communication unit and the second communication unit.
US09949226B1
A system comprising beacon-generating clusters for enabling a mobile computing device to perform location or proximity determination is provided. Each cluster comprises a primary station for broadcasting a primary beacon, and an offset-assisted station, positioned from the primary station by an offset distance along a direction, for broadcasting a secondary beacon. The offset distance and the direction are unique for all the clusters, causing a jittering area, within which the mobile computing device is unable to determine which one of adjacent primary stations is closer to from detecting the primary beacons, to be reduced by further utilizing the secondary beacons provided by the clusters. Fluctuation in received signal strength indicator (RSSI) can be reduced by having each station, primary or secondary, installed with multiple co-located broadcasting units for utilizing space and time diversity to reduce RSSI fluctuation. In another option, multiple offset-assisted stations are used for each cluster.
US09949216B2
This disclosure relates to optimizing power consumption for cellular communication based on transport block size in combination with channel condition measurements via power amplifier biasing. According to one embodiment, an indication of a transport block size to be used for uplink communication with a base station may be received. It may be determined that the transport block size provides more robust communication characteristics than required for current channel conditions. A power amplifier (PA) bias current for uplink communication with the cellular base station may be selected based at least in part on determining that the transport block size provides more robust communication characteristics than required for the current channel conditions. In particular, PA bias current selection may be biased to reduce power consumption at a cost of greater non-linearity based on the transport block size providing more robust communication characteristics than required for the current channel conditions.
US09949206B2
A configuration method of a first access point of a network is disclosed, which comprises a configuration of the first access point as belonging to a low power set and able to transmit at a power level lower than a first value on at least one low power channel; a transmission of an indication that the first access point belongs to the low power set and a selection of a low power channel for transmission among at least one low power channel on which the reception power of a signal transmitted by the neighboring access points is less than a second power level.
US09949202B2
According to the invention in a first aspect, there is provided a communication device (114, 200) configured to form part of a telecommunications network and to carry out an access network discovery and selection function, ANDSF. The communication device comprises a receiver (204) configured to receive a request for access network policy information relating to a user equipment, UE, (100, 300) and current UE location data. The communication device comprises a policy information unit (214) configured to determine primary information comprising access network policy information for the UE based at least in part on the current UE location data. The policy information unit is further configured to determine secondary information specifying one or more further UE locations at which the UE should make a further request for access network policy information. The communication device comprises a transmitter (202) configured to transmit the primary and secondary information towards the UE.
US09949200B2
A centralized beacon management service includes a beacon database for storing beacon information for different enterprises. The beacon database includes tables that associate beacons deployed by enterprises with beacon information. The beacon information can include information for commissioning the beacons and payload data to be broadcast by the beacon to client devices within communication range of the beacon. Based on proximity sensing data provided by a client device, beacon information is retrieved and sent to the client device over a communication channel (e.g., WiFi, cellular) established with the client device.
US09949195B1
A method and system for handover of a wireless communication device (WCD) from a source base station to a target base station that is a relay base station. The source base station may engage in procedure to handover the WCD to the target base station. A determination may be made as to whether or not the target base station is a relay base station with a wireless backhaul. If the target base station is determined to be a relay base station with a wireless backhaul, then the source base station may transmit to the WCD on an air interface a message containing a particular identifier for use by the WCD in a contention-free random access request to the source base station. In the event that the handover fails, the WCD may make a contention-free random access request to the source base station to regain access through the source base station.
US09949191B2
In a method for providing, for a terminal device, a service or service component requiring a first packet-forwarding treatment, a network node hosting a policy decision function determines that a dedicated bearer for carrying the traffic associated with the service or service component requiring the first packet-forwarding treatment cannot be used. This occurs when the service is initiated or, in the alternative, for an ongoing service. The service or service component is then initiated or, in the alternative, maintained, using a fallback bearer allowing the traffic associated with the service or service component to be carried with a second packet-forwarding treatment differing from the first one. The invention also relates to a method carried out, in such a context, by a network node hosting an application function, and to computer programs, computer program products and storage mediums for carrying out such methods.
US09949187B2
A mobile wireless terminal is provided that controls a timing or a position in which handover is conducted between a plurality of access points, the terminal includes an antenna that receives a radio wave from an access point, a wireless communication interface that measures the radio wave, a processor, and a memory. The processor stores first and second received powers from respective first and second access points in the memory, conducts handover where a difference acquired by subtracting the first received power from the second received power is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, estimates a first available bandwidth before the handover and stores it in the memory, estimates a second available bandwidth after the handover and stores it in the memory, and controls a timing when handover of the mobile wireless terminal is conducted based on an available bandwidth difference between the first and second available bandwidths.
US09949182B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a cell reselection method, device, and system, where the method includes: receiving a broadcast message sent in a first cell by a base station, where the broadcast message includes information about a set of second cells; when it is determined, according to the information about the set of the second cells, that a target reselection cell is a second cell, determining, according to second-cell reselection parameter information, time for performing cell reselection; or when it is determined, according to the information about the set of the second cells, that a target reselection cell is not a second cell, determining, according to first-cell reselection parameter information, time for performing cell reselection.
US09949181B2
An access terminal adapts (e.g., self-optimizes) at least one handover parameter used by the access terminal for determining whether and/or how to handover from one access point to another access point. In addition, the access terminal uses different handover parameters for handover between different pairs of access points. For each of the access point pairs, the access terminal maintains a record of any handover issues that occur during handover of the access terminal between the access points. In the event a handover issue arises for a given pair of access points, the access terminal may adapt the handover parameter(s) associated with that access point pair in an attempt to mitigate the handover issue. In the event handover parameter adaptation occurs or occurs too frequently, the access terminal may store the adapted handover parameters for use during a subsequent handover operation and/or handover parameter adaptation operation.
US09949180B2
A method and apparatus for handling cell reselections and transitions includes executing a cell reselection. A medium access control (MAC)-ehs reset is performed.
US09949177B2
The present disclosure presents a method and an apparatus for determining a target cell that is under cell identifier confusion during handovers at a small cell. For example, the disclosure presents a method that includes detecting that a target cell confusion exists at a source small cell for a target physical cell identity (PCI) during a handover of a user equipment (UE) from the source small cell to a target small cell, comparing PCI information reported by the UE during the handover with PCI information of neighbors of each of the plurality of neighboring small cells with the same PCI value, determining whether the target small cell has been identified based at least on the PCI comparison, and performing the handover of the UE from the source small cell to the target small cell. As such, a target cell may be determined.
US09949176B2
A wireless communication device executes first and second virtual transmission nodes in a wireless communication network. The wireless communication device includes a database for storing identification information of the first and second virtual transmission nodes, and a centralized service unit for accessing the database. When a handover from the first virtual transmission node to the second virtual transmission node occurs, the first virtual transmission node requests the centralized service unit to check whether the second virtual transmission node is co-located in the wireless communication device, and forwards buffered data packets to the second virtual transmission node internally without IPsec processing.
US09949169B2
Control flow enhancement for LTE-U operation. Aspects include enhancements to control flow processing for floating TTI operation for unlicensed cells including ePDCCH processing, aperiodic CSI reporting, DRX operation, and extended TTIs at the end of a transmission burst. The described aspects also include enhancements for reference signal configuration for unlicensed cells, processing of joint grants for multiple unlicensed cells, ePDCCH processing for partial subframes, and multi-channel DRS operation.
US09949166B2
Technology for core network signaling of an extended access barring (EAB) action between a node (e.g., an eNodeB) and a core network (CN) entity (e.g., a mobility management entity (MME)) is disclosed. One method can include a node receiving from a core network entity an EAB action in an overload start message. The node can transmit EAB configuration information from the node to a wireless device based on the received EAB action.
US09949157B2
A receiver receives a first packet signal including first position information indicating a position of a radio device from the radio device. A storage stores a list containing the first position information. An acquirer obtains second position information indicating the position of the terminal device. A determiner determines whether it is possible for the receiver to receive a second packet signal from the radio device based on the second position information and on the first position information contained in the list. An estimator estimates that a reception failure occurs in the receiver if the receiver fails to receive the second packet signal when the determiner determines that it is possible to receive the second packet signal.
US09949152B2
A method for testing multiple mobile phones performs the testing of a receiving characteristic of each mobile phone in a cyclical sequence of several first measuring tasks. The receiving characteristic of multiple mobile phones in multiple first measuring tasks is tested in parallel.
US09949147B2
A method and system are provided. The system includes a communication system including a first transmitter/receiver operating on a first frequency and a second transmitter/receiver operating on a second frequency. The system also includes a controller monitoring at least one of interference and throughput on the first and second transmitter/receiver and shifting demand based on the monitoring.
US09949146B1
A wireless communication network controls data services that are delivered over a wireless access point. The wireless access point broadcasts service identifiers for the data services to user communication devices. The user communication devices and the wireless access point exchange the user data for the data services. The wireless access point and a network gateway exchange the user data for the data services. The network gateway processes the user data to determine if one of the data services falls below a Quality-of-Service (QoS) threshold. If one of the data services falls below its QoS threshold, then the network gateway transfers an instruction to stop wirelessly broadcasting the service identifier for the data service. The wireless access point receives the instruction and stops its wireless broadcast of the service identifier for the data service.
US09949145B2
A method of monitoring a downlink control channel by a user equipment performing D2D (device-to-device) communication in a wireless communication system, and a user equipment therefore are discussed. The method according to an embodiment includes receiving information of a plurality of first subframes for counting a DRX (discontinuous reception) timer via a high layer signaling, the first subframes being located so as not to overlap with second subframes for D2D signal transmission; monitoring the downlink control channel at the plurality of first subframes; and counting the DRX timer, when the monitoring the downlink control channel is performed on the plurality of first subframes.
US09949143B2
The present disclosure relates to radio communication and, more particularly, utilization of probing pilots (e.g. F-CPICHs) in a combined radio cell deployment. In one of its aspects, the disclosure presents an adaptive utilization of probing pilots in a combined radio cell deployment.
US09949142B2
Small cell provisioning and validation may be performed, for small cells, in a small cell cluster, based on wireless cellular network connections (i.e., without requiring the use of a backhaul connection). In some implementations, the small cells may communicate with one another using direct Device-to-Device (D2D) communications. The D2D communications may be used to further enhance the network connectivity (i.e., to the cellular network and the OAM server) and to transmit test traffic during performance of the validation functions.
US09949136B2
Measurement data collected by a set of femto access points (FAPs) can be utilized, during a network listen procedure, to detect one or more areas with weak macro network coverage and/or high interference. Moreover, an automatic cell planning (ACP) component can be employed to analyze the measurement data and update a transmission parameter(s) associated with a macro access point. After the update is implemented, the ACP component can trigger another network listen procedure at the set of FAPs and receive new measurement data. The ACP component can evaluate the new measurement data to dynamically verify that the implementation of the update resulted in an improvement of macro network coverage and/or interference within the one or more areas.
US09949126B1
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with multi SIM card device binding are described herein. According to one embodiment, a system includes an authentication logic configured to enable communication between an entity and a user. The user is associated with a user profile. The system further includes a carrier logic configured to identify a subscriber identity module (SIM) card of a carrier. The carrier logic also requests carrier data, associated with the SIM card from the carrier. An update logic is configured to update the user profile with the carrier data.
US09949124B1
An authentication system for pairing two or more electronic devices is taught whereby two or more devices, such as cellular phones, receive a first vibration or motion and register a first event, they receive a second vibration or motion and register a second event, the said two or more devices pair or otherwise recognize devices that received first event and second event based on the detected interval between the first and second events. By measuring the interval or phase between two vibration or motion events, the current invention allows pairing without complex movement, without a great amount of a user's attention on the interfaces of the devices, and without the need for compensation between differences in the clocks internal to the devices.
US09949120B2
This application discloses a data transfer method for transferring information concerning a service set associated with a communication network. An electronic device obtains a plurality of data packets that comply with a specific data format corresponding to a network access protocol, and each data packet includes a respective header that further includes at least one data field. A service set identifier (SSID) data set is arranged in the at least one data field of the plurality of data packets according to a link layer data structure. The SSID data set at least includes a SSID and a SSID password, and identifies a wireless network that transmits the plurality of data packets and is accessible when the SSID password is verified. The data packets that include the SSID data set are encrypted, and to a receiver device that is communicatively coupled to the electronic device via the identified wireless network.
US09949103B2
A processor may determine, using natural language processing, a writing style of content of a composed message written by a composer. The processor may analyze, using natural language processing, a set of previous message written by the composer. The processor may identify, based on the analyzing, writing habits of the composer. The processor may also identify a difference between the writing style of the content and the writing habits of the composer. The processor may display a notification of the difference to the user.
US09949101B2
An example of an emergency call system includes a device for triggering an emergency call and a communications device having a secure element. In various implementations, the secure element includes at least two profiles, one of which is an emergency profile; and a receiver that receives, over a local communications channel, an event issued by the device for triggering an emergency call. The communications device may also include means for activating the emergency profile, which enables emergency calls to be made in a communications network if the emergency profile is not already active. The communications device may also include means for calling an emergency number in the communications network in order to make the emergency call.
US09949097B1
Various implementations provide techniques and devices for a donor device to allow a beneficiary device to use a subscriber identity of a donor subscriber identification module (“SIM”) card when the donor SIM is coupled and to and active on the donor device. In an implementation, the donor device receives a request from the beneficiary device to communicate using the donor SIM. In some implementations, the request is sent via a donor application installed on both the donor device and beneficiary device. If the request is acceptable, the donor device establishes a wireless telephone call via a wide-area network (“WAN”) on behalf of the beneficiary device and authenticates the wireless telephone call on the WAN using the identity associated with the donor SIM. In some implementations, audio data of the wireless telephone call is encrypted and exchanged via a communication link between the donor device and the beneficiary device.
US09949096B2
A navigation device, a system for inputting a place, and a method for inputting a place to the navigation device implement inputting a place to a navigation device communicating with a terminal device, searching for and extracting place-associated information from text received by the terminal device. If the place-associated information is extracted from the text, the implementation carries out transmitting, by the terminal device, the text or the place-associated information detected from the text to the navigation device; and setting, by the navigation device, a place obtained on basis of the place-associated information to a destination.
US09949094B2
A broadcast signal transmitter is provided that includes an Forward Error Correction (FEC) encoder configured to error correction process Physical Layer Pipe (PLP) data; a bit interleaver configured to bit interleave the PLP data; a framer configured to generate a signal frame comprising the PLP data, the signal frame comprising a preamble and at least one subframe; a pilot inserter configured to insert Scattered Pilots (SPs) into the signal frame; and an Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) modulator configured to perform Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)-modulation on the signal frame. An SP pattern of the SPs is defined by Dx and Dy, the Dx being a separation of pilot bearing carriers in a frequency direction and the Dy being a number of symbols forming one scattered pilot sequence in a time direction. The amplitude of the SPs is determined from a SP boosting parameter and the SP pattern of the SPs.
US09949072B2
A wireless provider system can manage services provided to a plurality of electronic wireless devices based upon geo-fenced spaces defined by respective sets of points in space. A wireless provider system can provide wireless access service to the plurality of electronic wireless devices. The wireless provider system can detect that a particular electronic wireless device of the plurality of electronic wireless devices is within a particular geo-fenced space. In response to this detecting, the system can identify at least one service associated with the particular geo-fenced space. The wireless provider system can, in response to the identifying, modify the wireless access service provided to the wireless device by attaching the at least one service to the particular electronic wireless device.
US09949071B2
A method and device of providing a contact based on geographical position information are provided. The method includes: detecting current geographical position information of a mobile terminal; obtaining a contact list in the mobile terminal if it is determined that the mobile terminal enters a new region according to the current geographical position information, in which the contact list comprises contacts and geographical position information corresponding to the contacts; and obtaining a contact whose geographical position information belongs to the new region from the contact list, and providing the contact to the mobile terminal.
US09949065B1
A method and system for automatically connecting one customer device with another over a Bluetooth or similar connection. The automatic connection may be made by generating a unique identifier to store on a new customer device and a backend system associated with an existing customer device and connecting the new customer device with the existing customer device using the unique identifier.
US09949053B2
A method for processing an audio signal includes: decomposing an audio signal comprising spatial information into a set of audio signal components; and processing a first subset of the set of audio signal components according to a first processing scheme and processing a second subset of the set of audio signal components according to a second processing scheme different from the first processing scheme, wherein the first subset comprises audio signal components corresponding to at least one frontal signal source and the second subset comprises audio signal components corresponding to at least one ambient signal source; and wherein the second processing scheme is based on crosstalk cancellation.
US09949051B2
Described are techniques for creating acoustic inlet manifolds for a microphone that utilize existing flex or printed circuit board (PCB) technology to create an ultra-low profile manifold. The described techniques: take advantage of the ability to allow reflow connection. By embedding an acoustic path between the layers or creating an acoustic path on the surface of a flex or PCB assembly, the microphone can be reflowed onto the manifold assembly.
US09949048B2
A system and method are provided for controlling the own-voice experience of a user who talks while an earpiece is mounted to occlude an ear of the user. A vibration sensor is engaged with the user's head to sense vibrations formed by the user speaking and conducted by the user's head to the vibration sensor. A signal generator operates a speaker element, which is integrated with the earpiece, to generate sound waves in the ear canal of the user, based on the output signal of the vibration sensor. The signal generator generates the sound waves to at least partially cancel other sound waves that are generated by at least part of said vibrations entering the ear canal from surrounding bone and/or tissue. The system and method counteracts the occlusion effect and are applicable in connection with in-ear headsets, earphones, in-ear headphones, in-ear monitors, circumaural headphones, hearing aids, earplugs and earmuffs.
US09949043B2
Application of a hearing aid alters the distribution of sound pressure at the tympanic membrane in the ear. Measurements of sound pressure of a free ear and with a hearing aid are performed to evaluate the alteration produced and the in situ frequency response of the hearing aid itself. The following steps are performed: calculating the REUG; calculating a magnitude; calculating one of two components and designing of the filter for the compensation for such component; calculating the REAG; calculating one of two components. The sum of two components is the Insertion Gain; designing the compensating filter of the POST component of the Insertion Gain; testing and verifying, on the subject wearing the hearing aid, the compensating filter of REIG, and possible refinement procedure to correct the compensation of the Insertion Gain obtained in the previous step; tuning the hearing aid for deafness taking into account the compensating filter.
US09949041B2
A hearing assistance system includes an adaptive binaural beamformer based on a multichannel Wiener filter (MWF) optimized for noise reduction and speech quality criteria using a priori spatial information. In various embodiments, the optimization problem is formulated as a quadratically constrained quadratic program (QCQP) aiming at striking an appropriate balance between these criteria. In various embodiments, the MWF executes a low-complexity iterative dual decomposition algorithm to solve the QCQP formulation.
US09949036B2
An electronic device in which a vibration generator is attached to a panel allows further improvement in sound pressure characteristics. An electronic device (1) includes a housing (60), a panel (10) held by the housing (60), a vibration generator (30) attached to the panel (10), and a sheet member (80) between the housing (60) and the panel (10). The panel (10) deforms due to deformation of the vibration generator (30) to transmit human body vibration sound to an object that contacts the panel (10). A first portion of the sheet member (80) is joined to the panel (10), and a second portion of the sheet member (80) differing from the first portion is joined to the housing (60). Between the first portion and the second portion, the sheet member (80) includes an area to which neither the panel (10) nor the housing (60) is attached.
US09949033B2
A method (500) for constructing a three-dimensional (3D) wave field representation of a 3D wave field using a two-dimensional (2D) sensor array (110), said method comprising: acquiring 3D wave field signals using a 2D array (110) of sensors (340, 350), said 2D array (110) of sensors (340, 350) comprising omnidirectional sensors (340) and first order sensors (350) arranged in a 2D plane; digitizing said acquired 3D wave field signals; computing even coefficients of spherical harmonics dependent upon said digitized 3D wave field signals acquired by said omnidirectional sensors (340); computing odd coefficients of said spherical harmonics dependent upon said digitized 3D wave field signals acquired by said first order sensors (350); and constructing a 3D wave field representation dependent upon said computed even and odd coefficients for said acquired 3D wave field signals.
US09949027B2
Systems and methods for handling silence in audio streams are disclosed. In one aspect, a transmitter detects a halt in an audio stream. After detection of the halt in the audio stream, the transmitter embeds a silence signal into the audio stream and transmits the silence signal to associated receivers. The associated receivers may respond to the embedded silence signal by “playing” silence or by using the silence signal to activate a silence protocol. In either event, the associated receivers do not receive the original audio halt and do not produce an unwanted audio artifact.
US09949023B2
Circuitry for biasing a MEMS transducer and associated signal processing circuitry. A reference voltage generator is configured to generate a reference voltage at a reference voltage node. Control circuitry generates a drive signal to control a first current source which is operable to supply a current to the reference voltage generator in response to the drive signal. A switched DC-DC converter, such as a charge pump has a voltage input connected to the reference voltage node and a voltage output for providing a bias voltage for the MEMS transducer. The DC-DC converter cyclically switches in a sequence of states including at least a first state where a first converter capacitance is disconnected from the voltage input followed by a second state where the first converter capacitance is connected to the voltage input. A second current source is operable to supply a bias current in response to a voltage at a bias control node. Switch control circuitry is configured to cyclically open and close a switch connected between the drive node and the bias control node, such that the switch is open during a time window that includes the time at which the switched DC-DC converter switches from the first state to the second state.
US09949022B2
Underwater communication systems, underwater speakers, underwater microphone assemblies and associated methods are described. According to one aspect, an underwater speaker includes a housing, a transducer member coupled with the housing and positioned to contact a body of water, wherein the transducer member is configured to vibrate to generate sound pressure waves within the body of water which comprise content which is audible to humans within the body of water, and an exciter coupled with the transducer member and configured to impart forces to the transducer member to cause the vibration of the transducer member to generate the sound pressure waves in the body of water as result of a received electrical signal which comprises the content.
US09949019B2
A microphone includes a tubular first and second acoustic tubes configured with a gap between the second acoustic tube and an inner side of the wall surface of the first acoustic tube. A first opening portion is provided in a wall surface of the first acoustic tube. A second opening portion is provided in a wall surface of the second acoustic tube. A microphone unit is provided inside the second acoustic tube and is configured to acquire sound waves from outside the microphone. A sound wave introduction path formed by the first opening portion, the gap, and the second opening portion, is configured to transmit the sound wave from the outside to the microphone unit.
US09949015B1
A case for a wireless electronic listening device (e.g., a pair of wireless earbuds) is configured to house a pair of wireless earbuds and charge the earbuds when they are in the case. The case is further configured to receive media received by the wireless earbuds and transmit the media to a non-wireless output device connected to the case. The case may further include its own wireless radio that can wirelessly communicate audio to the wireless earbuds when the earbuds are not in the case. The case may further include an input port to receive an audio signal from a non-wireless source and may be configured to wirelessly transmit the audio received from the source to the wireless earbuds.
US09949006B2
An earphone device includes a housing having a driver unit, and a sound guide tube mounted on a front surface of the housing to protrude from the front surface, in which the sound guide tube is disposed at a position deviated from a center position of the housing.
US09949000B1
Apparatus and methods concerning routing of calls in an IPBX are disclosed. As an example, one apparatus includes an IPBX server configured to route VoIP calls for a plurality of end-users having respective VoIP-enabled devices communicatively coupled to the IPBX via a network. A user-activity detection circuit is communicatively coupled to the IPBX server. The user-activity detection circuit is configured to receive activity data indicating activity of end-users in a virtual office environment and receive event messages indicating statuses of pending calls in the IPBX server. The user-activity detection circuit determines user-activity statuses of the end-users based on received activity data and event messages. A computing server is communicatively coupled to the user-activity detection circuit and is configured to provide a set of services for one or more of the plurality of users as a function of the determined user-activity statuses of the end-user.
US09948999B2
The video processing system provides for automatic selection of video sequences showing goals in a video stream from cameras directed at a playing field. Classification is applied to image content from different foreground positions in an image. The set of classes comprising a first and second class corresponding players of different teams. Medians or averages of the image positions of the local image content assigned to the first and second class are determined. A condition is tested whether the results are on mutually opposite sides of a reference position and a distance between collected positions or distances between the reference position and the first and second collected positions exceed a threshold value. When the test shows that the condition is met, a preceding video sequence is selected, for example for display.
US09948996B2
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving registration information indicating a plurality of registered communication devices in proximity to a set-top box, the plurality of registered communication devices being registered according to a communication exchange between the set-top box and each of the plurality of registered communication devices, identifying a group of users associated with the plurality of registered communication devices, and determining characteristics for the group of users according to the identifying of the group of users, correlating the characteristics for the group of users, selecting a directed advertisement according to the correlating of the characteristics, and providing the directed advertisement to the set-top box for presentation. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09948995B2
Methods and apparatus for allowing a telephone user to share captured audio and/or video with a set top box user are described. The methods and apparatus of the present invention can be implemented without the need for a called party to support video conferencing and/or have a computer system. In various embodiments a telephone call is used to first contact a party to who content from a telephone may be streamed, e.g., in real time. Assuming the contacted party is interested a video session is established with a STB or other device corresponding to the called party and video content delivered from the cell phone. Audio may also be streamed with the video and/or the initial telephone call is maintained while video content is delivered allowing for bi-direction communication via the calling party and called party's telephones.
US09948993B2
Transmission and reception of a stream are appropriately performed between a plurality of information processing apparatuses. An information processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit and a control unit. The acquisition unit acquires information for use in determination for controlling transmission and reception of a stream performed between a plurality of information processing apparatuses in accordance with the Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) CERTIFIED Miracast specification. Also, the control unit controls the transmission and reception of a stream on the basis of the acquired information (information for use in determination for controlling transmission and reception of a stream).
US09948990B2
Disclosed are a method and device for transmitting and receiving broadcast signals. The disclosed reception method comprises a step for extracting second program table information which indicates the association properties between a plurality of programs, the programs being obtained by using a broadcast stream which comprises at least one program, program table information which indicates the broadcast stream, and at least one broadcast service, from a received broadcast signal. The method further comprises a step for parsing the broadcast stream by using the extracted program table information; and a step for acquiring information about the groups to which the plurality of programs belong by using the extracted second program table information.
US09948989B1
An interactive media content listing search system is herein disclosed which provides for enhanced interactive access of media content listings contained within an media content display system. Enhanced searching for available media contents is enabled by a plurality of user configurable attributes, which defines characteristics of media content that may be similar to the user's tastes. The plurality of user configurable attributes may be logically combined during the search operation using “AND” and/or “OR” boolean operators. Additionally, means are provided to allow recursive searches of available media content listings in an easy manner such that the results may be more finely tailored to suit the user's tastes. Following the search operation, the user may save the search attributes to a file that is stored within the system for use at a later time.
US09948988B2
Systems and methods are provided for hosting collaboration between multiple clients. The system includes a network interface able to communicate with clients, and a control unit. The control unit is able to receive a screen capture that represents visual content at a display of a client, to identify multiple clients for receiving the screen capture, and to transmit the screen capture to the multiple clients for presentation at displays of the multiple clients. The control unit is further able to receive instructions in parallel from the multiple clients representing marks made upon the screen capture, and to transmit the instructions in parallel to the multiple clients to apply the marks onto the screen capture as presented at the displays of the multiple clients.
US09948984B2
Network devices provide, to a content source device, an uplink user interface to describe and upload video content. The network devices receive, via the uplink user interface, descriptive information for the video content and generate, based on the descriptive information received via the uplink user interface, a unique content identifier for the video content. The network devices incorporate, based on the descriptive information, a listing of the video content into a catalog of content available to users of a content distribution network. The network devices receive, from the content source device, the video content and receive, from a user device, a request to view the video content that includes the unique content identifier. The network devices provide, to the user device, a link to enable the user device to access the video content via the content distribution network.
US09948983B2
Systems and methods for allowing a user to access a different version of a blocked media asset. These systems and methods allow a first user to request access to the blocked media asset from a second user who has authority to approve access to the blocked media asset. These systems and methods determine different versions of the media asset available from different sources. These systems and methods notify the second user that the first user has requested access to the blocked media asset and include, in the notification, an option to unblock any one of the different versions of the media asset available from the different sources. This allows the second user to determine if there is a version of the media asset that the second user deems suitable for unblocking.
US09948977B2
Presented herein are system(s), method(s), and apparatus for determining the presentation time for a picture without a presentation time stamp. A first and second picture are decoded. The first picture is a reference picture for the second picture. The presentation time for the second pictures is computed as a function of a presentation time and a decode time for the first picture.
US09948973B2
An apparatus and method for receiving a broadcast stream is provided. The apparatus is configured to receive key information and additional information through the broadcast stream, select one of a plurality of predetermined functions based on the additional information, and perform the selected function in response to a control signal identified by the key information. The additional information may include link information such as a URL or telephone number, and the function may be selected based on a type of the link information. In some embodiments, the link information may be extracted from audio-visual data of a selected programme, using optical character recognition. The apparatus may connect to a secondary device to transmit information to the secondary device, and may receive information relating to the selected programme from the secondary device.
US09948959B2
A device for processing a stream of video data which comprises a sequence of frames comprises an interface configured to receive the stream of video data. A processing device is configured to create a three-dimensional environment from a frame of the sequence of frames when a freeze condition is detected. The processing device is configured to generate a series of frames from the three-dimensional environment. The series of frames represents the three-dimensional environment from a plurality of points of view. The processing device is configured to insert the generated series of frames into the sequence of frames to generate a modified sequence of frames to conceal a freeze.
US09948953B2
Systems, apparatus, articles, and methods are described including operations for size based transform unit context derivation.
US09948952B2
A broadcast signal transmitting apparatus is provided. The broadcast signal transmitting apparatus includes a first encoder, a second encoder and a transmitter. The first encoder generates a video stream of a frame compatible 3-Dimensional Television (3DTV) service. The second encoder generates signaling information for signaling the video stream. The transmitter transmits a broadcast signal comprising the video stream and the signaling information. The signaling information includes first information indicating whether the video stream includes a frame packing arrangement supplemental enhancement information (SEI) message, service type information indicating that a service type of the video stream is a High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) frame compatible 3DTV service, and a plurality of component descriptors indicating a type of component stream with respect to the video stream. Each of the plurality of component descriptors includes: component tag information, first stream content information, second stream content information, and component type information.
US09948947B2
When a block (MB22) of which motion vector is referred to in the direct mode contains a plurality of motion vectors, 2 motion vectors MV23 and MV24, which are used for inter picture prediction of a current picture (P23) to be coded, are determined by scaling a value obtained from averaging the plurality of motion vectors or selecting one of the plurality of the motion vectors.
US09948946B1
A method for temporal filtering based on reduced-resolution motion detection is disclosed. Step (A) may down-sample a target picture in a sequence of pictures to generate a reduced-resolution target picture. Step (B) may down-sample a reference picture in the sequence of pictures to generate a reduced-resolution reference picture. Step (C) may compute a plurality of reduced-resolution motion scores by motion detection between the reduced-resolution reference picture and the reduced-resolution target picture. Step (D) may temporal filter the target picture with the reference picture based on the reduced-resolution motion scores to generate a filtered picture. At least one of (i) the reduced-resolution motion scores and (ii) the generation of the filtered picture is controlled by one or more gain settings in a circuit.
US09948943B2
A combination of image data and depth data is supplied defining luminance and/or color for image positions in an image and distance to objects visible at said image positions respectively. The image data and the depth data are compressed by a compressor (120) and decompressed by a decompressor (16). The depth data is dilated before said compressing, to move an edge between a region of image positions with a relatively smaller distance and a region of image positions with a relatively greater distance towards the region of image positions with a relatively greater distance.
US09948935B2
An image decoding apparatus includes a request unit that requests an image transmission apparatus to transmit an image, a transmission unit that transmits range information indicating a range which is a partial range of the image and which is selected in accordance with a user operation to the image transmission apparatus, a receiving unit that, while the partial range of the image is selected, receives, from the image transmission apparatus, the entirety of the image when the image belongs to a first type and a portion of the image when the image belongs to a second type, by receiving one or more tiles, which corresponds to the partial range of the image and outside which a reference to is prohibited in inter-picture prediction, among a plurality of tiles included in the image, and a decoding unit that decodes the received entirety or portion of the image.
US09948934B2
A component of an entropy encoding stage of a block processing pipeline (e.g., a CABAC encoder) may, for a block of pixels in a video frame, accumulate counts indicating the number of times each of two possible symbols is used in encoding a syntax element bin. An empirical probability for each symbol, an estimated entropy, and an estimated rate cost for encoding the bin may be computed, dependent on the symbol counts. A pipeline stage that precedes the entropy encoding stage may, upon receiving another block of pixels for the video frame, calculate and use the estimated rate cost when making encoding decisions for the other block of pixels based on a cost function that includes a rate cost term. The symbol counts or empirical probabilities may be passed to the earlier pipeline stage or written to a shared memory, from which components of the earlier stage may obtain them.
US09948933B2
In general, this disclosure describes techniques for coding video blocks using a color-space conversion process. A video coder, such as a video encoder or a video decoder, may determine whether to use color-space conversion for a coding unit and set a value of a syntax element of the coding unit to indicate the use of color-space conversion. The video coder may apply a color-space transform process in encoding the coding unit. The video coder may decode the syntax element of the coding unit. The video coder may determine whether a value of the syntax element indicates that the coding unit was encoded using color-space conversion. The video coder may apply a color-space inverse transform process in decoding the coding unit in response to determining that the syntax element indicates that the coding unit was coded using color-space conversion.
US09948929B2
A video coding or decoding method operable to generate blocks of quantized spatial frequency data by quantizing the video data according to a selected quantization step size and a matrix of data modifying the quantization step size for use at different respective block positions within an ordered block of samples, the method being operable with respect to at least two different chrominance subsampling formats, and includes for at least one of the chrominance subsampling formats, defining one or more quantization matrices as one or more predetermined modifications with respect to one or more reference quantization matrices defined for a reference one of the chrominance subsampling formats.
US09948926B2
Method and apparatus for calibrating multiple cameras. A first mirror and a second mirror are arranged opposite each other. An object is disposed between the first mirror and the second mirror. Calibration of the multiple cameras is performed using a figure of the object formed on the second mirror via reflection from the first mirror and the second mirror.
US09948921B2
An image processing apparatus includes: a subject detector that detects a predetermined subject in at least one of a first input image and a second input image between which parallax is present; and a combiner that combines a subject frame corresponding to the detected subject with each of the first and second input images stereoscopically displayed on a display section in such away that the subject frames combined with the first and second input images also provide a depth sensation.
US09948920B2
Systems and methods for error correction in structured light are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes receiving, via a receiver sensor, a structured light image of at least a portion of a composite code mask encoding a plurality of codewords, the image including an invalid codeword. The method further includes detecting the invalid codeword. The method further includes generating a plurality of candidate codewords based on the invalid codeword. The method further includes selecting one of the plurality of candidate codewords to replace the invalid codeword. The method further includes generating a depth map for an image of the scene based on the selected candidate codeword. The method further includes generating a digital representation of a scene based on the depth map. The method further includes outputting the digital representation of the scene to an output device.
US09948917B2
It is described an autonomous system for tracking an individual, comprising: wheeled vehicle; 3D depth camera, distance and/or touch sensors; at least two motors, each to drive one or more wheels respectively from both sides, left and right, of the mentioned vehicle; data processing module, comprising a decision unit configured to: if the 3D depth camera detects that the distance between the system and the individual to follow is inferior to a predetermined limit, decrease the speed of the two motors; if the 3D depth camera detects that the person to be followed exceeds a predetermined limit on the left or right of a horizontal predefined point, increase the engine speed on the right, slowing the speed of the left engine, or vice versa.
US09948914B1
A mobile three-dimensional sensor configuration is provided with a first sensor of a second type mounted proximate to the first sensor of a first type. A second sensor of the second type is mounted proximate to a second sensor of the first type. The first and second sensors are coupled to a first platform operable to vary the azimuth and elevation of the first and second sensors of the first and second types. The first and second platforms are mounted on a translational drive configured to independently translate the first and second platforms with respect to one another. A controller is configured to receive images sensors of and further configured to create a pair fused images of the first sensors of the first and second type and the second sensors of the first and second type. The controller is still further configured to display the pair of fused images.
US09948913B2
An image processing method and apparatus are provided. The image processing method may include determining whether stereoscopic objects that are included in an image pair and that correspond to each other are aligned on the same horizontal line. The method includes determining whether the image pair includes target objects having different geometric features from those of the stereoscopic objects if the stereoscopic objects are not aligned on the same horizontal line. The method includes performing image processing differently for the stereoscopic objects and for the target objects if the image pair includes the target objects.
US09948912B2
A method for performing depth information management in an electronic device, an associated apparatus, and an associated computer program product are provided, where the method includes the steps of: modifying a two dimensional (2D) image, and selectively modifying a depth map of the 2D image based on modification of the 2D image before, when, or after the 2D image is modified, wherein the 2D image is retrieved from a storage module, wherein, for example, the storage module may be positioned within or outside the electronic device; and saving the modified depth map into an image file of the modified 2D image. For example, the modified depth map and the modified 2D image may correspond to each other.
US09948911B2
Disclosed are a system, apparatus, and method for depth camera image re-mapping. A depth camera image from a depth camera may be received and a depth camera's physical position may be determined. The depth camera's physical position may be determined relative to an other physical position, such as the physical position of a color camera. The depth camera image may be transformed according to a processing order associated with the other physical position.
US09948898B2
Aerial images, such as images from satellites or other aerial imaging devices, may be used to assist in responding to the occurrence of events (such as vehicle accidents or other emergency events) or conditions. In one implementation, an alert may be received indicating a condition or event associated with a user device. In response, an aerial image associated with the location of the user device may be requested. The alert may be responded to based on the received image. Aerial imaging may also provide views of the road ahead of a driver that terrain, topography, or darkness may otherwise impede. Image recognition may provide analysis of a hazard, condition, or occurrence at a scene that the aerial imaging system has captured and transmitted in response to a request.
US09948897B2
The surveillance areas of cameras registered on a map having a surveillance region set thereon are projected onto the map. The shortest paths between the cameras registered on the map are searched for. Links between the cameras are determined based on the surveillance areas of the cameras projected on the map and the shortest paths between the cameras detected on the map. Unlike a conventional technique by which link information is manually acquired, this technique does not require a surveillance object to walk around so as to be actually captured by all the cameras, and can be applied even in a case where there is congestion in the surveillance region. Accordingly, the load on the user can be reduced.
US09948894B2
A device may include videoconferencing circuitry. The videoconferencing circuitry may access video data of a user captured through a camera. The videoconferencing circuitry may further determine, for the captured video data, that a user portion of the user is not in a field of view of the camera, such as the hand of the user. The videoconferencing circuitry may augment the video data to include a virtual representation of the user portion of the user and transmit the video data augmented with the virtual representation of the user portion to a remote videoconferencing device.
US09948892B2
A wireless speaker device configured for use with a wireless A/V recording and communication device, such as a doorbell. The wireless speaker device, which includes a speaker, may connect to the user's local area network (LAN), such as a Wi-Fi network. The LAN is connected to a wide area network (WAN), such as the Internet and/or a public switched telephone network (PSTN). When the wireless A/V recording and communication device detects a visitor, it sends a signal, via the LAN, to at least one device in the WAN, such as a server and/or a service. In response, the at least one device in the WAN sends a signal, via the LAN, to the wireless speaker device. The signal to the wireless speaker device includes a command for the wireless speaker device to emit a tone through its speaker. The wireless speaker device then emits a tone through its speaker to alert the user that a visitor is at the wireless A/V recording and communication device. The wireless speaker device may further include a wireless repeater configured to receive a wireless signal from the one or more LAN devices and rebroadcast the wireless signal. The wireless speaker device may further include a wireless communication module configured to transmit data wirelessly to and/or receive data wirelessly from another wireless device, independently of the LAN, via a direct connection to the another wireless device.
US09948887B2
Exemplary embodiments for visual communication between a first device and a second device, comprising: creating a 3D mesh model of a first device user; receiving sensor data from a sensor array during the visual communication session between the first device and the second device, wherein the image data includes motion of the first device user; determining 3D mesh model updates using the image data; transmitting the 3D mesh model updates to the second device for the second device to update display of the 3D mesh model of the first device user, wherein the update is represented as one or more of a blend shape and a relative vertex position change of the 3D mesh model.
US09948885B2
A virtual encounter system includes a mannequin coupled to a camera for receiving a video image. The camera sends the video image to a communications network. The virtual encounter system also includes a processor for overlaying a virtual environment over one or more portions of the video image to form a virtual scene and a set of goggles to render the virtual scene.
US09948879B2
An image processing apparatus for processing signals read out from an image sensor that includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions for each of a plurality of micro-lenses, and can read out signals for each row selectively by either an addition readout operation, or a divisional readout operation. The image processing apparatus includes a first processing unit to perform offset correction on signals of a first row read out by the addition readout operation using signals in two or more rows that were read out by the addition readout operation before the first row, and a second processing unit to perform offset correction on signals of a second row read out by the divisional readout operation using the signals of the second row and a predetermined value.
US09948868B2
A multi-point spectral system includes an imaging lens, an image capturing module and a multiwavelength filter (MWF) disposed between the imaging lens and the image capturing module. The MWF has a plurality of narrow-bandpass filter (NBPF) units arranged in an array, and each of the plurality of NBPF units has a respective predetermined central transmitted wavelength. The multi-point spectral system is provided to capture plural spectral images of a scene, which contain spectral or color information of the scene. The multi-point spectral system may utilize the information of the plural spectral images to recognize features revealed at the scene.
US09948848B2
First image information whose depth of field includes a subject in a focus position set by a control section before photo shooting and second image information captured in a position focus different from that of the first image information are included. The focus position of the second image information is determined on the basis of the focus position of the first image information. The first image information is stored together with an image with an extended depth of field. This makes it possible to provide an imaging device which, when obtaining an extended depth of field from a plurality of images of different focus positions, can reduce failures in photo shooting due to a movement of a subject or camera shake.
US09948846B2
A system, method and computer program product for communicating between a primary audio video device and other audio video devices comprising: detecting orientation and position of the primary audio video device; detecting a distance between the primary audio video device and a primary subject in focus on the primary audio video device; locating other networkable audio video devices for communication; receiving subject data for a real time video of a subject from one or more of the located networkable audio video devices; determining from subject data which networkable audio video devices are near the primary subject; determining one or more primary subject audio video devices for use in recording audio for a video; and synchronizing determined one or more primary subject audio video devices for recording audio when one or more of the audio video devices is recording video of the primary subject.
US09948832B2
Camera device including multiple optical chains, e.g., camera modules, some of which have different orientations relative to the base of the camera device and methods of using such a camera device are described. The orientation of the camera modules within the camera device is taken into consideration when determining the direction in which lines of the sensors of the individual camera modules are read out. Information with regard to the read out direction to be used with particular camera modules is stored in some embodiments and used to control the readout of sensors, e.g., sensors which use a rolling shutter to capture images of a scene area. The sensors may have the same field of view or overlapping fields of view.
US09948825B2
Provided is a processing apparatus that receives an operation and executes a process according to the operation, the processing apparatus including a housing that is provided with an opening facing a forward direction, a camera that causes a lens to be looked from the opening to generate a captured image, a filter that extends over a front surface of the lens and is placed with interposing a reflection reducing material between the filter and the housing, and a control unit that analyzes a human within an angle of a view of image capturing based on the captured image generated by the camera, using analysis results as one basis determines whether to cause the processing apparatus to transition to an enabled state, and causes the processing apparatus to transition to an enabled state when the determination of the transition to an enabled state is made.
US09948824B2
An image compressing device includes: a histogram creating unit configured to create a histogram regarding an input image; an original type recognizing unit configured to recognize an original type of the input image using the histogram; and an image compressing unit configured to perform a compression process for creating a high-compressed image file from the input image and to control a compression mode of the compression process depending on at least the original type recognized by the original type recognizing unit.
US09948822B1
An image forming apparatus includes a detection section that detects a distance between the image forming apparatus and a portable terminal, and a controller. The controller determines whether the distance meets a predetermined condition, and controls operations relating to an image forming job if the detected distance meets the predetermined condition.
US09948820B2
A method for routing object data that defines a 3-dimensional (3D) object to a 3D printer includes receiving the object data at a server and determining, by the server, object attributes associated with the object defined by the object data. The server searches a database that stores 3D printer attributes for one or more 3D printers capable of printing objects that possess the determined object attributes. If one or more capable printers are identified, the server communicates a list that identifies the one or more capable printers to a user.
US09948816B2
Provided is an image forming system including an image forming apparatus, and a processing apparatus that is provided in the image forming apparatus, wherein the processing apparatus includes a memory that stores at least image data, a determiner that determines degradation status of the memory, and an interface unit that is used for connection of a processing-apparatus-side display device which displays information of the processing apparatus, the image forming apparatus includes an image-forming-apparatus-side display that displays information of the image forming apparatus, and the processing apparatus causes the image-forming-apparatus-side display to display an alert in a case where the determiner determines that the degradation status satisfies a predetermined condition, when the processing-apparatus-side display device is not connected to the interface unit.
US09948814B2
The disclosure provides a scanning device including a flatbed scanner and an ADF. The flatbed scanner includes a first body, a transparent substrate disposed on top surface of the first body, a first film disposed on top surface of the transparent substrate, and an image capturing module disposed under bottom surface of the transparent substrate. The ADF includes a second body, a backplane disposed at bottom of the second body for covering top surface of the flatbed scanner, a paper passage disposed inside the ADF, and a second film. An open portion is configured in the paper passage corresponding to top surface of the transparent substrate, and results communication between the paper passage and top surface of the transparent substrate. The second film is disposed at paper entrance of the open portion. Wherein, the first film and the second film are not overlap on top surface of the transparent substrate.
US09948812B2
When an image on an original document placed on the original document table is scanned, a scanning device is moved along the original document table, starting from a first position, while an image on the original document fed by the automatic document feeder is scanned, the scanning device located at a second position. When an original document sensor detects the original document at a particular position in the automatic document feeder, the scanning device is moved to the second position, while when the original document sensor does not detect the original document at the particular position after scanning of the original document placed on the original document table has completed and before the scanning device is returned to the first position, the scanning device is located at the first position, on condition that the controller executes the first scanning process and a continuous scanning mode is effected.
US09948810B2
In an image forming apparatus, setting information is stored in a storage part for a function which the image forming apparatus operates based on the setting information. An acquisition request of common setting information is sent to an information processing apparatus including the common setting information in common with multiple of the image forming apparatuses connected through a network. The common setting information is received from the information processing apparatus. The common setting information received by the receiving part is set in the setting information stored in the storage part.
US09948808B2
Prior to CPU master configuration, an information processing apparatus checks consistency of each piece of circuit configuration data required for a programmable logic device to prevent malfunctions of the information processing apparatus. A method for controlling the information processing apparatus having a programmable processing unit requiring at least two pieces of circuit configuration data for circuit configuration includes storing a first identifier included in first circuit configuration data set in the programmable processing unit, and performing, based on the first identifier stored in the storage unit and a second identifier included in second circuit configuration data, control to install the second circuit configuration data.
US09948804B2
An image forming apparatus including: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet; a plurality of discharge trays to which the sheet is discharged; a receiving unit configured to receive, from an external apparatus, print information including first image data, second image data, and discharge destination information that indicates a discharge destination of a printed product; and a control unit configured to control the image forming unit to form a first image on a first sheet for the printed product based on the first image data, and to form a second image on a second sheet for separating printed products based on the second image data, wherein the first sheet and the second sheet are discharged to one of the plurality of discharge trays that corresponds to the discharge destination set by the control unit based on the discharge destination information.
US09948799B2
An image reading apparatus includes a medium reading unit that extends in a main scanning direction and reads an image of a medium while moving in a sub-scanning direction which is a direction crossing the main scanning direction; a signal transmission cable that is a flexible cable having a curved section and connected to the medium reading unit and that deforms following a movement of the medium reading unit; a power supply that supplies power to the medium reading unit; and a housing that accommodates the medium reading unit and the power supply. At least a portion of an insertion/extraction space for inserting/extracting a plug of a power cable from outside the housing to the power supply and at least a portion of an area where the signal transmission cable deforms following the movement of the medium reading unit overlap in a height direction of the medium reading unit.
US09948797B2
An information processing system includes a first display unit, a second display unit, and a control unit. If the first display unit that displays first operating instruction information indicating explanation of an operation receives an instruction to display second operating instruction information indicating explanation of a next operation, the control unit displays the second operating instruction information on the second display unit, and hides the first operating instruction information that is displayed on the first display unit.
US09948796B2
There is provided an image scanner apparatus, including: a platen; a carriage including an image sensor that captures an image of a script on the platen; an antenna unit on the carriage; and a controller circuit that controls the carriage to move in a forward way and a backward way in a sub-scanning direction over the platen, detects a position of an NFC (Near Field Communication) tag on the script in the sub-scanning direction via the antenna unit, and then detects a position of the NFC tag in a main-scanning direction via the antenna unit.
US09948792B2
A system for enhancing tonal quality for ringback signals in a telecommunications network by adjusting audio processing during an alerting interval of a telecommunications session (e.g. during a telephone call). The system may be embodied in a telecommunications switching device and include a ringback manager process that provides the ability to adjust audio processing (e.g., by signaling to in-path equipment) which enhances the tonal quality of the ringback signal. As an example, a telephone system (e.g. equipment associated with establishment and operation of telephone communications sessions) can disable or attenuate operation of voice quality enhancement processing such as echo cancellation, noise reduction, adaptive level control, and the like, during the ringback or alerting interval or period of a telephone call so that the ringback tone provided to the calling party is not distorted by such processing.
US09948791B2
A method, computer program product, and apparatus are disclosed. The method includes determining whether a shared balance threshold has been breached, and notifying a member of a sharing group, in response to a determination that the balance threshold has been breached. The shared balance threshold is for the sharing group, which includes a number of members.
US09948790B2
A system and method that allows for information relating to data and communication resource usage to be gathered and analyzed such that particular data transactions and usage can be classified based on purpose and/or type. Further, the system and method provide reporting based on amount of usage and/or purpose or type of usage so that associated costs and usage can be calculated applied and allocated to particular accounts, divisions, groups or individuals within and outside of a company or entity. Further, the system may restrict data usage of devices to data usage that can be allocated to particular accounts based on purpose, source, destination or other.
US09948779B2
A computing apparatus configured in the communication system to store data about advisers, including availability status of the advisers for real time communications with customers, ratings of the advisers by prior customers, compensate rates of the advisers, probability of being connected within a period of time for real time communication with customers, etc. The computing apparatus presents the advisers to customers based on the stored information and provide real time communication connections in response to selections of the presented advisers. Based on monitoring customer interaction with the system, the computing apparatus is configured to detect dissatisfactions, determine authenticity of the dissatisfactions based on user history and usage patterns of the system, and automatically provide a refund to the user without a refund request from the user and/or an explicitly user confirmation of the detected dissatisfaction.
US09948773B2
When authorized, a user of a computing device, such as a smart phone, may place a communication using an originating number that is different from the number assigned to the computing device. An IMS application server that handles requests for the computing device associated with the originating number is notified when the telephone number assigned to the computing device is used by a different computing device. The notification to the IMS application server might include, but is not limited to device information, location information, and the like. After being notified of the communications terminated by other computing devices that are associated with the device number, accurate call records may be provided regarding the communications involving the originating number.
US09948768B1
A method for accessing call information communicated between a source terminal and a target terminal over a carrier network is provided. The method includes receiving, at a real-time duplication server (RTDS), context information specified by a user of the source terminal that defines information to be communicated to the target terminal prior to establishment of an audio/visual call between the source terminal and target terminal. The method also includes converting, by the RTDS, the context information into a visual representation of the context information; and communicating, by the RTDS, the visual representation of the context information to a user.
US09948767B2
In an embodiment, rejecting or accepting a phone call is disclosed. In an embodiment, a device is disclosed. The device comprises a processor, a storage comprising a set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the device to in response to received call present at a user interface of the device a first option and a second option of the call. In response to a first selection between the first option and the second option, the device initiates a lag time of pre-determined length before performing the first selection; and in response to a second selection between the first option and the second option, performs the second selection.
US09948751B2
A first apparatus inquires the second apparatus about whether a first data can be transmitted, in a case where the transmission is approved by the second apparatus, transmits the data to the second apparatus, and in a case where the transmission is not approved by the second apparatus, receives data from the second apparatus and outputs the data with its own data to a storage medium, and the second apparatus determines that a data is transmitted from the first apparatus on the basis of a condition pertaining to a second data communications channel, and upon having determined to approve the transmission from the first apparatus, receives the data from the first apparatus and transmits the data with its own data to a server via the second data communications channel, and upon having determined not to approve the transmission from the first apparatus, transmits its own data to the first apparatus.
US09948747B1
Improving a content player engagement is described. An engagement of a first content player with respect to a content item being downloaded by the first client is measured. Performance information associated with the first content player is obtained. A quantitative relationship between the engagement and the performance information is determined. How a second client obtains the same content is adjusted based at least in part on the determined quantitative relationship.
US09948742B1
Technologies are disclosed herein for providing a media application service for predictive caching of media content on a mobile device. The media application service is configured to consider usage data related to media content playback by a user on one or more devices, a connectivity profile of the mobile device, and to generate a list of media content to cache on the mobile device when power and network connectivity requirements of the mobile device are met or exceeded.
US09948741B2
A distributed health-check method for web caching in a telecommunication network, wherein a plurality of web caching nodes are coordinated to monitor a set of origin servers where web content is generated. The method includes associating to each user of the telecommunication network requesting the web content buckets as logical containers for holding the web content requested; generating a list of users of the telecommunication network requesting the web content; and performing the plurality of web caching nodes a number of health-checks to the set of origin servers to download the requested web content. A filtering of the set of origin servers is performed for grouping in different areas of interest and the number of health-checks are performed by a limited number of caching nodes receiving the web content requests. The limited number of caching nodes selected belonging to a specific area of interest of the set of origin servers monitoring them.
US09948737B2
In one embodiment, a first computing device receives a communication from a second computing device. If the communication is a keep-alive ping from the second computing device for a network connection between the first computing device and the second computing device, then the first computing device sends a response to the ping to the second computing device using a secondary processor of the first computing device.
US09948732B2
Method for providing status messaging service in electronic device and the electronic device thereof
An electronic device provides a status messaging service. The electronic device includes a communication module, a display module, and a processor that is configured to acquire a status message of the electronic device, and during a service discovery operation, add the acquired status message to a session initiation protocol (SIP) Options message and transmitting the SIP Options message. A method includes acquiring a status message of the electronic device, and adding the acquired status message to a session initiation protocol (SIP) Options message and transmitting out the SIP Options message during a service discovery operation.
US09948729B1
A method for browsing session transfer which includes: communicating by a head mounted device (HMD) with a first browser, the first browser displaying a browser session; responsive to the first browser creating a first session QR code, capturing by the HMD the first session QR code; communicating by the HMD with a second browser; responsive to the second browser creating a second session QR code, capturing by the HMD the second session QR code; merging by the HMD the first session QR code with the second session QR code into a merged QR code; transmitting by the HMD the merged QR code to the second browser; and responsive to the second browser loading the merged QR code, the second browser displaying the browser session from the first browser. Also included is a system and computer program product.
US09948727B2
For securely transferring session information, code creates a session transfer packet in response to receiving a selected option associated with running a server application using a second browser. The session transfer packet has a claim number and a session transfer key. Code activates an authentication application on an electronic device in response to receiving the selected option. In addition, code communicates a claim packet to the electronic device in response to the selected option. The claim packet has the claim number and a server address. The code also receives the claim number from the authentication application. The code further communicates the session transfer packet to the authentication application in response to receiving the claim number. In addition the code communicates a cookie header to the second browser in response to receiving the session transfer key from the second browser.
US09948725B2
Techniques for electronic devices to control a multipath transmission control protocol (MPTCP) connection. An MPTCP connection between two endpoints may be established. The MPTCP connection may include at least one MPTCP subflow. At least one of the endpoints may be configured to act as a master with respect to the MPTCP connection. The master may perform one or more control operations on the MPTCP connection, while if one of the endpoints is not a master, that endpoint may not perform control operations on the MPTCP connection. The control operations may include initiating or establishing new MPTCP subflows or modifying a priority level of one or more MPTCP subflows of the MPTCP connection.
US09948724B2
Methods, systems, and computer program products for handling multi-pipe connections is provided. A primary pipe request for a connection between a client and a server is received. The connection includes a plurality of pipes between the client and the server. The primary pipe request includes a number corresponding to the amount of pipes required for the connection. A first response acknowledging the receipt of the primary pipe request is transmitted. The first response includes a token. A plurality of subsequent pipe requests are received for the connection between the client and the server. Each subsequent pipe request includes the token. A subsequent response to each subsequent pipe request is transmitted. A count of the number of pipe requests received is maintained. The established pipes are released after a period of time has elapsed when the number of pipe requests received doesn't reach the number of pipes required for the connection.
US09948720B2
This disclosure relates to remote control of dialysis machines. In certain aspects, a method includes receiving a request for a network connection from a dialysis machine and establishing the network connection with the dialysis machine. The method also includes receiving, from a client device, a request to access the dialysis machine, authorizing the client device to access the dialysis machine, receiving, from the dialysis machine, information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine, and providing, to the client device, the received information.
US09948710B2
According to a peer-to-peer protocol, a peer-to-peer network includes multiple clubs and multiple peers that receive content distributed by a source of the network. Each of the plurality of peers is part of at least two of the clubs. As content is generated, the source divides the content into multiple data blocks and assigns each data block to a club. Each data block is transmitted to peers that belong to the club assigned to the data block. When a peer in a club receives a data block assigned to that club, the peer distributes the data block to other peers in the club. Additionally, the peer transmits the data block to peers in other clubs. Also, the peer receives data blocks assigned to other clubs from peers that are not members of the club.
US09948702B2
A method for distributing documentation for an application service includes receiving, at an endpoint configured to provide an application service, a documentation request from a requester, preparing a response that includes documentation corresponding to the application service, and transmitting the response to the requester. The method may also include receiving, at the endpoint, a service request for the application service and responding to the service request. The documentation may conform to a requested format.
US09948700B2
In various embodiments, methods, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable media are disclosed that expand the ability of integrated workbook developers to drive the integrated workbook experience from model metadata by defining custom properties on model attributes and then binding those custom properties to UI component properties in desktop UI components.
US09948684B2
Different residences can be communicatively linked to a communication backbone via a multi-access gateway, where each residence comprises an adapter through which a set of IP devices directly connect to the multi-access gateway via IPSec compliant communication channels. The multi-access gateway can connect each of the IP devices to remotely located resources. Telecommunication services can be provided to the IP devices in the residences for fees. The multi-access gateway can controls specifics of the telecommunication services, which can include emergency (e.g., 911) services, home control services, and residential administration services. Any of the telecommunication services can be initiated, modified, or terminated by a carrier maintaining the multi-access gateway on a per residence basis for any of the different residences.
US09948678B2
A method and system for aggregating and correlating disparate and unrelated events to enable faster security event detection. A plurality of event logs generated by a number of disparate, unrelated, independent components of a fault-tolerant server and platform-specific data are contextualized through the use of a security context map, enabling unrelated events to be correlated to identify security incidents indicative of security threats. User- or system-generated rules may then be applied to the contextualized data to enable more sophisticated security breach identification.
US09948674B2
An origin server selectively enables an intermediary (e.g., an edge server) to shunt into and out of an active TLS session that is on-going between a client and the origin server. The technique allows for selective pieces of a data stream to be delegated from an origin to the edge server for the transmission (by the edge server) of authentic cached content, but without the edge server having the ability to obtain control of the entire stream or to decrypt arbitrary data after that point. The technique enables an origin to authorize the edge server to inject cached data at certain points in a TLS session, as well as to mathematically and cryptographically revoke any further access to the stream until the origin deems appropriate.
US09948673B2
A process for generating an access credential by a communication device may include determining whether a communication device successfully executed a predetermined shutdown sequence when the communication device last transitioned to an inactive state, determining whether the communication device has synchronized with an authorization network subsequent to transitioning back to an active state, and generating the access credential including a timestamp. The access credential may indicate whether the access credential has reliable timestamp information. The access credential can be provided to an access device associated with an authorization network to authenticate the communication device.
US09948671B2
A computerized system and method for performing behavioral clustering of malware samples, comprising: executing malware samples in a controlled computer environment for a predetermined time to obtain Hypertext Transfer Protocol. HTTP traffic; clustering the malware samples into at least one cluster based on network behavioral information from the HTTP traffic; and extracting, using the at least one processor, network signatures from the HTTP traffic information for each cluster, the network signatures being indicative of malware infection.
US09948658B2
An embodiment of a method includes receiving a request from a user agent to use a communication network, determining that the user agent is not recognized on the communication network, and requiring submission of location information prior to allowing the user agent to use the network. An embodiment of a system includes a recognition module configured to determine whether the communication device is recognized in response to a request to use a communication network from the communication device, a notification module configured to notify the communication device that the communication device is not recognized, wherein notification that the communication device is not recognized indicates that location information must be submitted prior to the communication device using the communication network; and a location update module configured to receive submitted location information and update the location of the communication device based on the location information.
US09948654B2
The invention relates to a method for enabling the user of at least one mobile terminal to access a plurality of services, said method consisting of: creating (E1) a user account containing user identification data; installing (E2) a software application for accessing the plurality of services on said mobile terminal; creating (E5) an image containing at least one software application identifier on the mobile terminal using the software application; decoding (E6) the data contained in the image using a secure entity for managing the software application; and authorizing (E8) or not authorizing (E9) the access of the user to the plurality of services based on the decoded data.
US09948651B1
Network traffic is monitored, and activities concerning posting images to sharing sites are detected. Detected activities can be attempts to login to sharing sites, or attempts to post images. Privacy concerns associated with sharing images on target sites are identified. In the case of detecting a successful attempt to login to a known sharing site, the site is scanned for the privacy settings in effect for the user, and it is determined whether the settings are below a given threshold. Another example of a privacy concern is detecting an attempt to post an image to an unknown site. When a privacy concern is detected, the user is warned, and prompted to indicate whether images are to be posted to the target site anyway. Attempts to post images to sites that are subject to privacy concerns are processed according to received user directives (e.g., blocked or allowed).
US09948648B1
A method for enforcing access control to a web application. The method includes generating a computationally-secure pseudo-random password, associating the generated computationally-secure pseudo-random password with an application username of at least one web client, and storing, in a user account credential store module, the generated computationally-secure pseudo-random password and the associated application username. The method also includes requesting, via a web proxy connected to the at least one web client, access to a protected page offered by the web application, intercepting, by the web proxy, a login page from the web application, and inserting, by the web proxy on behalf of the at least one web client, the stored generated computationally-secure pseudo-random password and the associated application username into the login page. The method also includes forwarding the login page with the inserted computationally-secure pseudo-random password and the associated application username to the web application to complete, by the web proxy, an authentication process with the web application to allow the at least one web client to access the protected page offered by the web application.
US09948642B2
At least two biometric measurement signals are generated by contact with a single individual. At least one feature is extracted from each signal of the at least two biometric measurement signals, the extracted features are combined to generate a combined biometric signal. The combined biometric signal is compared with a defined biometric signal associated with a known individual, responsive to the combined biometric signal matching the defined biometric signal, a signal is transmitted indicating that the single individual is the known individual. The biometric measurement signals can be collected by a biometric identification device worn or carried by the single individual. The processing may be done by the biometric identification device or a remote server.
US09948639B2
The present invention relates to a system and method for issuing an OTP application in a face-to-face confirmation manner, and the system includes at least one or more service provider devices for transmitting OTP application issuance request information, including information on recognition of a terminal device tagged on a reader provided for each service provider or entering a previously set service area, to an integrated service device; and the integrated service device for registering secure storage medium identification information as medium identification information for OTP authentication and transmitting an OTP installation guide to the terminal device if the recognition information is the secure storage medium identification information, and transmitting the OTP installation guide to the terminal device if the recognition information is terminal device identification information, in which the terminal device can be a terminal device of a user seeing a service provider face-to-face.
US09948638B2
A system and method for securely and automatically identifying users to an inquirer for purposes of obtaining user identifying information is described. The system consisting of at least one client device associated with a user, at least one inquiring device associated with a host, a client information server and a network. The system allows computer based systems to automatically authenticate the identities of a plurality of users entering a physical space and obtain information pertaining to user preferences. The inquiring device may enable transactions with the user based on the authentication. The authentication may be enhanced by capturing biometric data from the user by the inquiring device as well as identifying known associates physically present with the user at the time of authentication.
US09948637B2
Systems and methods of securely storing and retrieving data are disclosed. A database may include a table of data with rows and columns and encrypted at rest. The data may be desired to be accessed by users. However, each user may have different access permissions and each row or column may have different characteristics, such as encryption, data type, and/or the like. As such, access to the data may be controlled in according to the characteristics of the data, the access permissions of the user, and/or the encryption of the data.
US09948622B2
Methods, devices, and machine-readable media are provided to provide secure communications between entities. As provided in this disclosure, this may include receiving a request to begin a new communication session, determining one or more desired parameters of the session, and determining whether the desired parameters of the message match proposed parameters provided by the entity requesting the new communication session. When the one or more proposed parameters match the one or more desired parameters, a secure communication session is established between the entities, using shared password information.
US09948620B2
A streaming environment includes at least a first processing element of a first compute node and a second processing element of a second compute node. A tuple encryption operation is determined of the first processing element and the second processing element. The first processing element includes a first encryption key for encrypting the tuples as the leave the first processing element. An encryption workload is measured of the tuple encryption operation of a processing workload of the use of the first encryption key of a transfer of the stream of tuples. A threshold of the tuple encryption operation is determined. The second processing element is migrated to the first compute node and fused to the first compute node with the first processing element. The tuple encryption operation is removed from the first processing element.
US09948619B2
A system and method for protecting streams in a mixed infrastructure includes determining processing elements that are to access a data stream in a stream processing environment and determining a security level for each processing element. Keys are generated per stream per processing element in accordance with the security level. The keys are associated with processing elements in an access control list in a location accessible by producing and consuming processing elements. The stream is decrypted for processing using keys released upon authenticating processing elements in accordance with the access control list. At security boundaries, the stream is re-encrypted in accordance with a next processing element.
US09948612B1
Methods and systems for implementing single sign on (SSO) and/or conditional access for client applications are described herein. The system may comprise an identity provider gateway, and the system may authenticate a user of the client application using the identity provider gateway. In some aspects, a secure communication tunnel may be established between the client application and the identity provider gateway, and the secure communication tunnel may use, for example, a client certificate. The identity provider gateway may grant or deny the client application access to one or more resources based on information associated with the client certificate.
US09948611B2
Some embodiments provide a novel method for monitoring network requests from a machine. The method captures the network request at various layers of a protocol stack. At a first layer of a protocol stack, the method tags a packet related to the network request with a tag value, maps the tag value to a set of tuples associated with the packet, and sends a first set of data related to the packet to a security engine. At a second layer of the protocol stack, the method determines whether the packet has been modified through the protocol stack, and sends an updated second set of data to the security engine when the packet has been modified.
US09948609B2
Provided are a cloud-based mail system and a mail service method for providing an improved security. The cloud-based mail system including: an e-mail transmission manager configured to encode an e-mail received from a terminal of a user or an external mail server with a first key, and to forward the e-mail encoded with the first key to a cloud mail server that provides a cloud mail service, the first key being configured to be inaccessible by the cloud mail server; and a communication interface to transmit the e-mail encoded with the first key to the cloud mail server. The e-mail encoded with the first key is configured to be encoded at the cloud mail server with a second key of the cloud mail server and stored in a storage of the cloud mail server.
US09948601B2
Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method, a computing system, and a computer-readable medium configured to respond to requests for payload data and provide unique cache keys for caching the payload data. The computer-implemented method includes accepting a first request for translation that specifies a first path configured to identify first payload data associated with a graph object. The computer-implemented method further includes determining that the graph object includes a first translation node associated with a first portion of the first path. The computer-implemented method also includes obtaining, from the graph object, a second path that is associated with the first translation node. The computer-implemented method further includes replacing the first portion of the first path with the second path to generate a first translated path. The computer-implemented method also includes obtaining, from the graph object, the first payload data, based on the first translated path.
US09948596B2
The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for relaying messages in a communications system. In one aspect, a method is performed at a server having one or more processors and memory storing instructions for execution by the one or more processors. The method includes: (1) obtaining a plurality of incoming messages; (2) identifying one or more messages having popularity above a first threshold of popularity from among the plurality of incoming messages, the one or more messages obtained from a first user; (3) receiving a feedback message from a second user about at least one of: the first user and a first message of the one or more messages; and (4) sending the feedback message from the second user to a plurality of users, where the plurality of users track at least one of: the first user and the first message.
US09948585B2
A message processing device with a split-architecture is described that allows for flexible control over data flow while enabling optimal processing based on available system resources. In one particular example, messages are processed in two stages prior to transmission to a destination. A cursory evaluation of each message determines whether a deeper level of processing is to be performed using additional resources. Then, messages capable of transmission with no perceivable delay may be transmitted directly, whereas messages to be processed using greater resources are directed to a workflow pipeline engine for more expensive processing at a later stage. The result is a low latency system allowing for efficient resource management, whose architecture is scalable and readily extendible, for example, to increase resources available during periods of high data flow.
US09948580B2
An apparatus may include a messaging server component operative to determine a sharing event for a data item, the sharing event associated with a source client device with a local storage of the data item. The apparatus may request that the source client device upload the data item to a destination storage device in response to a determination that network storage of the data item is scheduled for relocation from a source storage device to the destination storage device. The apparatus may include a storage management component operative to determine that the network storage of the data item is scheduled for relocation from a source storage device to a destination storage device and de-schedule the relocation of the data item.
US09948573B2
Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media may be configured for establishing at least one session for delivery of multimedia. In an aspect, a first transmission of data fragments of a first component and a second transmission of data fragments of a second component may be transmitted and synchronized for presentation. If an inactivity event is detected the session may be maintained while reducing bandwidth consumption.
US09948569B2
A station-side terminal apparatus comprises terminal devices and a terminal device sorting unit. The terminal devices includes: a buffer unit; a subscriber-side terminal apparatus sorting unit configured to transmit a unicast packet addressed to a switch-target subscriber-side terminal apparatus to the switch queues, and transmit a packet addressed to a plurality of subscriber-side terminal apparatuses to the broadcast queue, and transmit a unicast packet addressed to a non-switch-target subscriber-side terminal apparatus to the through queue; and a scheduler unit configured to read a packet from the switch queues, the broadcast queue, and the through queue. The terminal device sorting unit is configured to transmit a received unicast packet to the terminal device, and transmit a received packet addressed to a plurality of subscriber-side terminal apparatuses, to each of the terminal devices.
US09948547B2
Mechanisms are provided for tracing a route taken by a packet in a Software Defined Network (SDN). Each switch in the SDN is assigned a first color label, from a set of color labels, such that such that adjacent switches have different color labels. Rules are installed in each switch to forward a received data packet to the SDN controller in response to a second color label of the received data packet not matching the first color label assigned to the switch. A second color label, from the set of color labels, is assigned to a trace data packet. A route of the trace data packet is traced through the SDN based on the second color label and application of the one or more rules to the trace data packet at each of the switches in the SDN as the trace data packet is received by each of the switches in the SDN.
US09948540B2
A method for detecting proxy internet access includes intercepting an access request from a proxied terminal of a same internet account; and sending a redirection packet to the proxied terminal sending the access request. The redirection packet carries a first timestamp indicating when the redirection packet is sent. The method also includes receiving a reported timestamp difference between the first timestamp and a second timestamp. The second timestamp is a system time of the proxied terminal acquired after the proxied terminal receives the redirection packet. Further, the method includes executing a clustering process on the reported timestamp difference to obtain a clustering result; and based on the clustering result, detecting whether the same internet account is a proxy account.
US09948537B2
Modifying an activity stream to display recent events of a resource includes checking-in a user to a resource to provide context about the resource, specifying a time duration for which the user is checked-in to the resource, and modifying, based on the time duration, an activity stream of the user to display recent events of the resource.
US09948534B2
Embodiments include systems and methods for managing resource consumption by a processor of a wireless access point. The processor may monitor associations and dissociations of one or more client devices with the access point, and may monitor a network load of the access point. The processor may determine whether the network load is below a load threshold, and may determine radio capabilities of one or more client devices associated with the access point. The processor may select a radio of the access point based on the determined radio capabilities of one or more client devices associated with the access point, and may place the selected radio of the access point in a low-power mode.
US09948529B2
A platform for remote management of production and optimization of manufacturing efficiency by utilizing a cloud server to provide data obtained from sensors on production machines to mobile devices. The service box is coupled to sensors on a production machine. The service box receives appropriate data from the sensors and transfers the data to a cloud server in real-time. The data is analyzed and appropriate information is sent to a mobile device in order for personnel in a location remote from the facility to observe production data and perform management functions. A message broker is provided between the mobile device and the cloud server to facilitate information transfers and to balance the data transfer load according to network or device capabilities and statuses.
US09948520B2
A method allows each individual node in the multi-node computing system to detect the topology of the computing system. Each individual node detects its own connections with neighboring nodes directly connected to the individual node, and sends out a topology packet on all of its interfaces with a local topology change indicator that increments with each topology packet sent out. Each individual node stores their own topology table with an entry for each node from which it has received a topology packet, including the local topology change number which enables the node to determine whether a received topology packet is more recent than data already stored in the topology table. Each node updates its topology table with new topology data, forwards new topology data, and sends back acknowledgements to a source node only upon receiving acknowledgements from all other nodes.
US09948507B2
One embodiment provides a network controller. The network controller includes a modulation module. The modulation module includes a high rate (HR) bit sequence generator configured to generate a first high rate bit sequence, encoder circuitry configured to encode a first low rate bit stream, the first low rate bit stream comprising backchannel information, and modulation circuitry configured to modulate the encoded first low rate bit stream onto the first high rate bit sequence. The network controller further includes transmit circuitry configured to transmit the modulated first HR bit sequence to a link partner during a link initialization period.
US09948500B2
One example procedure of managing agents via a session client may include selecting multiple endpoint devices to manage, establishing a connection to a server, and identifying at least two agent identifiers identifying multiple agents corresponding to the multiple endpoint devices. The procedure may also include transmitting a session setup command to the server including the at least two agent identifiers and receiving a confirmation that a session has been established between the session client and the multiple agents of the multiple endpoint devices.
US09948495B2
A method placing a device in safe state is disclosed. The method includes initiating a safe state for a device. In one embodiment, an operational functionality of the device is disabled. A safe state message at an interface of the device may be received. The interface may be designated as a management interface. Information may be received at the management interface, wherein the information manages the device. The method may also include disabling a non-management interface of the device, wherein the non-management interface is an interface that does not receive a safe state message. The method may further include shutting down a non-management interface of the device, wherein the non-management interface is an interface that does not receive a safe state message. A normal state for the device may be initiated, wherein in the normal state the device restores the operational functionality of the device.
US09948488B2
In a broadband wireless communication system, a spread spectrum signal is intentionally overlapped with an OFDM signal, in a time domain, a frequency domain, or both. The OFDM signal, which inherently has a high spectral efficiency, is used for carrying broadband data or control information. The spread spectrum signal, which is designed to have a high spread gain for overcoming severe interference, is used for facilitating system functions such as initial random access, channel probing, or short messaging. Methods and techniques are devised to ensure that the mutual interference between the overlapped signals is minimized to have insignificant impact on either signal and that both signals are detectable with expected performance by a receiver.
US09948474B2
A network system includes a plurality of first communication apparatuses that perform multicast routing, and a plurality of second communication apparatuses configured to connect between the plurality of first communication apparatuses and forward a multicast packet from a port other than a receiving port. Each one of the plurality of second communication apparatuses includes a first memory configured to store the receiving port at which an entry request for a multicast group sent by one of the plurality of first communication apparatuses has been received as a forward port for multicast packets for that multicast group, and a forwarding unit configured to forward a multicast packet for the multicast group from the forward port among the ports of the second communication apparatus.
US09948466B2
Devices, systems, and methods for reconditioning an intravascular device for reuse are provided. The method includes reading first security data from a memory of the intravascular device; determining if the intravascular device is authentic; generating second security data, when the intravascular device is authentic; and writing the second security data to the memory of the intravascular device. Devices, systems, and methods for authenticating an intravascular device for use are also provided. The method includes bringing an intravascular device into communication with a computing device, the intravascular device including a memory; determining if first security data is authentic; determining, when the first security data is authentic, if the intravascular device has been reconditioned; determining, when the intravascular device has been reconditioned, if the second security data is authentic base; and permitting, when second security data is authentic, use of the intravascular device in the clinical procedure.
US09948465B2
Digital data locker system providing enhanced security and protection for data storage and retrieval
The subject matter herein is directed to a digital data locker that acts as an intermediary between end users operating end user device and document providers. The data locker provides the end user with a secure and easy way to manage, store, and retrieve data that is stored at the document providers. Specifically, the features provided by the data locker include, but are not limited to, a dual level of encryption for data, content assurance to determine whether the data is corrupted, and dissociation between an identity of an end user and the data of the end user stored at the document providers. More specifically, an end user device operated by the end user, through use of a single application, may access the data locker to securely store and retrieve data on/from the document providers.
US09948463B2
Multivariate public key signature/verification system including a signature module and a verification module. The signature module contains a processor, first affine transformation inversion component, isomorphic inversion component, trapdoor component, isomorphic component, and second affine transformation inversion component. Corresponding computations are executed sequentially by the components on a message to be signed; solutions are generated after being processed by the trapdoor component; one solution is selected randomly and transmitted to the isomorphic component and second affine component for processing, and a signature generated is transmitted with the message to the processor. The verification module contains the processor and a public key transformation component. The signature is transmitted by the processor to the transformation component and substituted into each multivariate polynomial in a public key mapping. The processor judges whether the obtained data is equal to the message in a memory: if yes, the signature is valid, if not, it is invalid.
US09948462B2
A hypersphere-based multivariable public key signature/verification system includes signature and verification modules, wherein the signature module comprises a processor, an affine transformation inversion part I, a trap door part and an affine transformation inversion part II. Corresponding operations are sequentially executed on a message, one or more groups of solutions are produced after the processing of the trapdoor part, a group of solutions are randomly selected, then a signature is continuously produced by the various parts, and finally the signature, together with the message, is transmitted to the processor. The verification module comprises a processor and a public key transformation part, wherein the processor transmits a signature to the public key transformation part to execute an operation, and then judges whether the obtained data is equal to a message in a memory or not: if so, the signature is valid, otherwise the signature is invalid.
US09948456B2
Systems and methods applicable, for instance, in interactive session provision. One or more nodes and/or other computers might, for example, provide to one or more other nodes and/or other computers the ability to employ certain software for an interactive session. A node and/or other computer providing the ability might, for instance, provide to a node and/or other computer receiving the ability software to be used in the interactive session, and/or one or more appropriate keys. A node and/or other computer that has received the ability might, for example, lose the ability with interactive session termination.
US09948453B2
A threshold encryption system comprising a sender device configured to generate ciphertexts and at least one entity device configured to perform partial decryption of ciphertexts. The system is based on Cramer-Shoup encryption systems and use linearly homomorphic signatures as publicly verifiable proofs of ciphertext validity.
US09948450B2
A frequency generator for providing one or more clock signals with reduced phase jitter can include a phase-locked loop (PLL) configured to couple with a crystal and to provide a first clock signal, a multiplier circuit configured to receive the first clock signal and to provide a second clock signal, the second clock signal having a higher frequency than the first clock signal, wherein the multiplier circuit includes a second PLL, and wherein the second clock signal is an output frequency signal of the frequency generator.
US09948434B2
This application provides a method for bit error rate detection, and a device. The method includes: sending, by a first device, a first notification packet to a second device, where the first notification packet is used to instruct the second device to perform bit error rate detection, the first device is an ingress node of a first LSP, and the second device is a downstream node; and receiving, a second notification packet, where the second notification packet carries a second bit error rate, the second bit error rate includes a first bit error rate of a first interface of the second device, and the first interface is an interface that receives an MPLS packet sent by the first device. By using the technical solutions of the present disclosure, the first device can perceive a bit error rate of the second device, thereby helping ensure reliability of MPLS packet transmission.
US09948429B2
A method for operating a distributed base station includes performing Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) processing. The distributed base station comprises a centralized processing entity and distributed remote radio access points, which are coupled to the centralized processing entity via a backhaul connection. The HARQ processing is performed locally by the remote radio access points, by performing an assessment a quality of received data and/or current radio conditions. Based on the assessment, it is decided locally on a necessity of re-transmissions without decoding the received data at the remote radio access points.
US09948421B2
The present disclosure provides an orthogonal codes based code division multiplexing method of performing the code division multiplexing of demodulation reference signals in multiple layers of resource blocks by using orthogonal matrices, the method comprising: changing the order of chips in particular rows of a first orthogonal matrix to obtain a second orthogonal matrix with the changed order of chips; and multiplying the chips in respective rows of the second orthogonal matrix by the demodulation reference signals in corresponding layers of resource blocks correspondingly in the time direction to obtain code division multiplexing signals. The technical scheme of the present disclosure can improve the power jitter situation of downlink signals on the time, thereby the usage efficiency of the power amplifier at the base station side can be improved.
US09948420B2
Systems and methods for time aligning time-stamped measurements using a voting scheme are disclosed. The system and method filter incoming measurements based on whether the time-stamped measurements fall within a defined time window. In response to determining that the time stamp falls within the defined time window, the time-stamped measurement is added to a time slice corresponding with the time stamp. In response to determining that the time-stamped measurement does not fall within the defined time window, the time window is re-established based on a voting scheme.
US09948418B2
A synchronous measurement system includes a controller and a sensor unit connected to the controller. The controller transmits a plurality of synchronization commands to the sensor unit at every predetermined interval. The sensor unit transmits measurement data to the controller in synchronization with each one of the plurality of synchronization commands. The controller includes a data processing section configured to process the measurement data transmitted from the sensor unit and a counter configured to count the synchronization command. The controller builds a data structure in which a count value of the synchronization command corresponding to the measurement data is added to the measurement data.
US09948414B2
A method for performing measurements in a device with at least two radio access technologies (RATs) is disclosed. The method may include establishing a first measurement schedule on a first RAT, and establishing a first transmission schedule for a second RAT. The method may further include changing at least one of the first measurement schedule or the first transmission schedule to prevent measurements of the first measurement schedule from occurring contemporaneously with transmissions of the first transmission schedule. Transmissions from the second RAT may interfere with measurements on the first RAT. The method may include transitioning from the first measurement mode to a second measurement mode based determining the second RAT is operating on potentially interfering frequency.
US09948412B2
A system, method, and apparatus for detecting wireless video cameras includes receiving radio waves in a radio frequency band and filtering the radio waves. Then it is determined whether a signal strength of the radio waves exceeds a threshold for a period of time, indicating that a video signal is present and if a video signal is present, the detection of a wireless video signal is signaled (e.g., making noise, vibrating, illuminating, blinking).
US09948406B2
With increasing user requirements for social networking services (SNS), communication between user equipments (UEs) at a physically close distance, i.e., device to device (D2D) communication, is needed. D2D communication is performed on the basis of the discovery between UEs. However, D2D communication between UEs may cause interference to communication with an existing system, i.e., a base station. Thus, one aspect of the present invention provides a user equipment comprising a transceiver capable of removing self-interference.
US09948405B1
An underwater mobile body includes: a communication unit that has a plurality of communicators adopting different communication systems and that performs underwater wireless communication with another device using one of the plurality of communicators; an acquisition unit that acquires information on depth or information varying with depth; and a control unit that controls the communication unit to switch, between the plurality of communicators and based on the acquired information, the one communicator used for underwater wireless communication.
US09948404B2
Provided is a human body communication system including a master device configured to output a first signal based on a first data signal and a signal having a pattern in which a waveform of a first carrier wave and a waveform of a second carrier wave are repeated; and a slave device configured to receive the first signal to determine a carrier wave having a low level of attenuation among the first carrier wave and the second carrier wave, and output a second signal based on the determined carrier wave and a second data signal.
US09948401B1
A circuit may include amplifier circuitry configured to receive a current signal at an amplifier input node, convert the current signal to a voltage signal, and output the voltage signal at an amplifier output node. The circuit may also include overload circuitry configured to receive a replica DC input voltage and a replica DC output voltage. The overload circuitry may be further configured to detect that the current signal exceeds a threshold level based on the replica DC input voltage and the replica DC output voltage. In addition, the overload circuitry may be configured to, in response to and based on detecting that the current signal exceeds the threshold level, direct DC current of the current signal through a DC shunt path and direct AC current of the current signal through an AC shunt path. The AC shunt path may be different from the DC shunt path.
US09948397B2
A data mapping method and a data mapping device for an optical transport network are provided. The method includes: mapping packet service data or constant bit rate data to a Super Optical Channel Data Unit (ODUS) and mapping the ODUS to a Super Optical Channel Transport Unit (OTUS); distributing the OTUS to a plurality of electrical lane signals, dividing the plurality of electrical lane signals into one or more groups and mapping the one or more groups of electrical lane signals to corresponding Super Optical Channels (OChSi), wherein rates of the ODUS and the OTUS are both N times of 100 Gb/s, a rate of the OChSi is M times of 100 Gb/s, tributary slot sizes of the ODUS and the OTUS are both 100 Gb/s, where N is a positive integer equal to or greater than 2, i is a positive integer, and M is a positive integer equal to or greater than 1 but less than N. The present document enables an operator to deploy a beyond-100 G optical transmission system more flexibly, without being limited to select a fixed rate, and improves the spectrum utilization rate of fiber as well as the flexibility and the compatibility of a system.
US09948391B2
Techniques are disclosed for determining a light-based communication (LCom) receiver position. The techniques can be used to determine the position of a receiver relative to a specific luminaire within the field of view (FOV) of the receiver camera. The relative position may be calculated by determining the distance and the orientation of the receiver relative to the luminaire. The distance relative to the luminaire may be calculated using the observed size of the luminaire in an image generated by the receiver camera, the image zoom factor, and actual geometry of the luminaire. The orientation relative to the luminaire may be determined using a fiducial associated with the luminaire that can be used as an orientation cue. Once the position of a receiver relative to a luminaire is determined, the absolute position of the receiver may be calculated using the absolute position of the luminaire.
US09948380B1
An example embodiment may involve receiving a request to provide unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based wireless coverage to a particular geographical location. Possibly in response to the request, a UAV may fly to the particular geographical location. A first wireless interface of the UAV may define a wireless coverage area that covers at least part of the particular geographical location. A second wireless interface of the UAV may establish a wireless backhaul link to a data network. The UAV may provide wireless data transfer services to at least one device in the particular geographical location, where the wireless data transfer services allow the device to exchange data communication with the data network via the UAV.
US09948373B2
The invention relates to a MIMO-FBMC transmitter/receiver with linear precoding implemented in the frequency domain. In one embodiment, at the transmitter the linear precoding is performed (5251, . . . ,525KN) after filtering and spectral spreading, before the IFFT and combination of FBMC symbols in the time domain, such that the precoding does not introduce interference between data streams. In a second embodiment the linear precoding may be combined with the beamforming at transmission or at reception so as to spatially separate the data streams.
US09948368B2
A wireless communication system with directional transmission for simultaneously relaying communications between an access point (AP) and multiple radio nodes in the network which are in a first category that supports multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability, or a second category having different signal processing capabilities. Utilizing a superframe, which is a modification of an existing protocol, a relaying service period (SP) controls multiple simultaneous training and data transmission frames. The AP selects a relay device from the radio nodes based on metrics selected from signal strength, estimation of air time, category of radio node, AoA/AoD, power connectivity. This allows data to be communicated in a MIMO hop from said AP to the selected relay device, with a multi-user (MU) MIMO hop from the selected relay device and a destination radio node (client).
US09948364B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a decoder for decoding a data signal received through a transmission channel in a communication system, said transmission channel being represented by an upper triangular matrix, said signal carrying transmitted symbols, each symbol carrying a set of information bits, wherein said decoder comprises: a processing unit (213) configured to determine at least one sub-block decoding parameter given a target quality of service metric; A sub-block decoding unit (214) configured to divide said data signal into a number of sub-vectors based on said at least one sub-block decoding parameter in accordance with a division of said upper triangular matrix into a number of sub-matrices, said sub-block decoding unit (214) being further configured to determine at least one estimate of each sub-vector of transmitted symbols from said sub-vectors, and determine an estimate of the transmitted symbols from said estimates.
US09948358B2
There is disclosed an inductive power transfer system comprising a primary unit and a secondary device separable from the primary unit, the primary unit comprising a power transfer surface and more than two field generators each operable to generate an electromagnetic field, the field generators being located at different positions relative to the power transfer surface, the secondary device comprising a power receiver having a secondary coil, the system further comprising: determining means for determining at least one of the position and the orientation of the power receiver relative to the power transfer surface; and controlling means for controlling the field generators such that at least one first field generator and at least one second field generator, selected in dependence upon such determination, are active in a substantially opposite sense to one another so as to direct magnetic flux through the secondary coil thereby supplying power to the secondary device, and further such that a third one of the field generators is inactive so that fewer than all of the field generators are active simultaneously.
US09948356B2
An electrical coupler includes: a sending transformer having a winding for receiving data signals and two windings connected in series with a common point and two terminals to be connected to a first wires pair of a bus to deliver the data signals at the first winding terminals to said wire pair; a receiving transformer having two windings connected in series with a common point and two terminals to be connected to a second pair of wires of said bus to receive data signals on the pair of wires and a winding for delivering said data signals; and a galvanic isolation transformer with a first winding, the terminals of which are connected to the coupler's power supply pins, and second and third windings connected in series with a common point connected to a mechanical ground and the respective free terminals connected to the common terminals of sending and receiving transformers.
US09948354B2
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a coupling device including a receiving portion that receives a radio frequency signal conveying data from a transmitting device. A magnetic coupler magnetically couples the radio frequency signal to a transmission medium as a guided electromagnetic wave that is bound by an outer surface of the transmission medium. A cap includes a dielectric portion that secures the transmission medium adjacent to the magnetic coupler and a reflective plate that reduces electromagnetic emissions from the magnetic coupler. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09948353B2
Disclosed is a device and method for decreasing interference in a cable bundle. The device includes a plurality of concentration devices, an interference measurer, and a concentration device. Each concentration device accesses an uplink and provides a network service to a terminal through a cable bundle in an access section. An interference measurer is connected between the cable bundle and the terminal. The interference measure is configured to measure an interference signal by measuring a signal transmitted to the terminal through the cable bundle, calculate an interference coefficient for generating a quasi-interference signal, and transmit the same to the concentration devices. The concentration devices is configured to calculate an additional signal for offsetting an interference signal by using the interference coefficient, add the additional signal to the original signal, and transmit the additional signal to the cable bundle.
US09948344B1
A dual mobile phone carrying system includes a pliable elongated body extending from a first end to a second end, the pliable elongated body having a front surface and an opposing back surface; an attachment device having a first fastener and a second fastener, both fixedly attached to the front surface of the pliable elongated body, a third fastener fixedly attached to an outer surface of a first mobile phone, and a fourth fastener fixedly attached to an outer surface of a second mobile phone; a locking device having a first device secured to the first end of the pliable elongated body, and a second device secured to the second end of the pliable elongated body; and a clip secured to back surface of the pliable elongated body, the clip is configured to removably secure to a pair of pants.
US09948342B2
An apparatus including a sound transducer; a casing member, where the sound transducer is mounted to the casing member, and where the casing member is configured to at least partially form an enclosure for the sound transducer; and electrical conductors integrally formed with the casing member. The electrical conductors are electrically connected to the sound transducer. The electrical conductors are configured to provide electrical connectivity for the sound transducer, where at least one of the electrical conductors is configured to couple to an antenna pattern to form part of an antenna arrangement.
US09948340B2
There is disclosed a mobile terminal including a base body wearable on a user's body, a module body detachably coupled to the base body, a rotary unit coupled to a rear surface of the module body or an upper surface of the base body, the rotary unit comprising a rotary hinge portion provided in a center of the rotary unit, and a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion provided in a rear surface of the rotary unit and a front surface of the base body or a front surface of the rotary unit and a rear surface of the module body, respectively, the second coupling portion detachably coupled to the first coupling portion. The module body may be relatively rotated with respect to the base body. Accordingly, the functions of the mobile terminal can be converted and intuitive operation can be performed.
US09948337B2
A packaged cellular modem system includes a capacitor for receiving power from a DC power source, a DC-to-DC converter coupled to capacitor electrodes, a cellular modem coupled to the converter output and to an antenna, and an IS barrier circuit coupled to a modem output. A microcontroller coupled to a boost regulator has its output coupled to electrodes. A metrology jumper is between the microcontroller and ground. An encapsulation material provides a potted area for the capacitor, converter, modem, IS barrier circuit and microcontroller. A SIM card is coupled to the modem by the IS barrier circuit. LED's are coupled to the microcontroller. The SIM card and LEDs are in a non-potted area. A transparent SIM card access cover over the SIM card and LEDs enables exposing the SIM card.
US09948328B2
Embodiments disclose a radio frequency front-end system and a signal transmission control method. The system includes a first antenna, a second antenna, a first radio frequency circuit, a second radio frequency circuit, and a controller. The controller is configured to acquire a transmission frequency band selected by the first radio frequency circuit, and when a frequency in the transmission frequency band selected by the first radio frequency circuit is less than a preset frequency, to control the first radio frequency circuit to connect to the second antenna. The controller is further configured to disconnect a connection between the second radio frequency circuit and the second antenna, or to maintain an open circuit state between the second radio frequency circuit and the second antenna.
US09948325B2
A data processing circuit for performing a de-interleaving process in a DVB-T2 system is provided. The data processing circuit includes: a buffer, buffering a plurality of data symbols; a memory, coupled to the buffer; an address generator, generating a plurality of addresses according to an operation logic and a permutation rule, and selecting and outputting a target address from the addresses; and a memory controller, coupled to the memory, the buffer and the address generator, writing the target data into the memory according to the target address, or/and reading the target data from the memory according to the target address, until the data symbols are de-interleaved when the data symbols are read from the memory.
US09948324B1
Information reduction in data processing environments includes at least one of: one or more Error Correcting Codes that decode n-vectors into k-vectors and utilize said decoding to information-reduce data from a higher dimensional space into a lower dimensional space. The information reduction further provides for a hierarchy of information reduction allowing a variety of information reductions. Transformations are provided to utilize available data space, and data may be transformed using several techniques including windowing functions, filters in the time and frequency domains, or any numeric processing on the data.
US09948322B1
A method of merging data frames includes: receiving a first data frame having a plurality of sectors; receiving a second data frame having a plurality of sectors; generating a merged output data frame by merging, using a plurality of data paths including a plurality of multiplexers, sectors of the second data frame with sectors of the first data frame; and performing an error check on at least one check-data frame having sectors corresponding to those in the first data frame or the second data frame, where at least some of the sectors in the check-data frame are transmitted on a subset of the plurality of data paths that transmits sectors of the merged output data frame, and where the error check verifies the merged output data frame.
US09948318B1
A delta-sigma modulator includes a receiving circuit, a loop filter, a quantizer with a negative capacitor circuit and a feedback circuit. The receiving circuit is arranged for receiving an input signal and a feedback signal to generate a first signal. The loop filter is coupled to the receiving circuit, and is arranged for receiving the first signal to generate a filtered signal. The quantizer is coupled to the loop filter, and is arranged for generating a digital output signal according to the filtered signal, wherein the negative capacitor circuit is arranged at an input terminal of the quantizer. The feedback circuit is arranged for receiving the digital output signal to generate the feedback signal.
US09948316B1
An analog-to-digital converter includes a ramp signal generation unit suitable for decreasing a voltage range of a ramp signal in reverse proportion to a multiple of a gain and repeatedly generating the ramp signal by the multiple of the gain; a comparator suitable for repeatedly outputting a comparison signal by the multiple of the gain in response to the ramp signal; and a counter suitable for performing a counting operation in response to the comparison signal.
US09948307B2
Techniques and mechanisms allow a Programmable Logic Device (PLD) to support a pseudo open drain (POD) input/output (I/O) standard used in interface protocols such as fourth generation double data rate (DDR4). An OR gate with inputs including data and an inverted output enable from a user's design may be inserted into programmable logic. The output of the OR gate may be coupled with an input of an I/O buffer.
US09948281B2
Methods and devices providing Positive Logic biasing schemes for use in a digitally tuning capacitor in an integrated circuit device are described. The described methods can be used in integrated circuits with stringent requirements in terms of switching time, power handling, noise sensitivity and power consumption. The described devices include DC blocking capacitors arranged in series with stacked switches coupled to RF nodes. The stacked FET switches receive non-negative supply voltages through their drains and gates during the ON and OFF states to adjust the capacitance between the two nodes.
US09948277B2
Methods of designing band-pass filters are disclosed. A baseline filter design is established, the baseline filter design including a plurality of surface acoustic wave resonators having respective resonant frequencies, the surface acoustic wave resonators organized by resonant frequency into two or more groups. One or more alternative filter designs are established, each alternative filter design derived from the baseline filter design by reordering the resonant frequencies of two or more surface acoustic wave resonators within at least one of the two or more groups. A respective performance metric related to input impedance over a pass band is calculated for each of the baseline filter design and the alternative filter designs. A final filter design is selected from the baseline filter design and the alternative filter designs based on the respective performance metrics.
US09948262B2
In one embodiment, a signal-processing apparatus for generating an amplified output signal based on an input signal is provided. The apparatus comprises: an amplifier configured to generate the output signal, wherein the amplifier is configured to receive a supply voltage; and a limiter configured to inhibit increases in the input signal power level from being applied to the amplifier, wherein the limiter comprises: a variable attenuator configured to selectively attenuate the input signal before being applied to the amplifier; wherein the limiter integrates over a voltage difference between a current measure of attenuated input signal power level and a limiter threshold level to control a level of attenuation applied by the variable attenuator to the input signal.
US09948257B1
Phantom-powered inline preamplifiers capable of variable impedance loading are disclosed with unique adjustable interfaces. By enabling a user to adjust impedance loading from an actively-powered audio preamplifier which takes a microphone electrical signal or another sound source signal as an input, this unique audio preamplifier design with various adjustable impedance loading interface configurations can change sound characteristics according to the user's preference in a recording, production, or live concert environment. In addition, a high pass filter incorporated in a preamplifier with the variable impedance loading feature allows the user to further customize sound characteristics in the recording environment. This novel inline preamplifier, which may be standalone or integrated into a microphone casing, is powered via a microphone cable from a component (e.g. another preamplifier) providing the phantom power. This inline preamplifier may be connected to a conventional microphone and receive phantom-power into the inline preamplifier from a conventional preamplifier.
US09948255B2
Provided is an amplification circuit that amplifies an input signal and outputs an amplified signal. The amplification circuit includes: an amplification element that outputs the amplified signal from an output terminal thereof; an inductor having one end to which a power supply voltage is supplied and another end that is connected to the output terminal of the amplification element; a variable resistor that is connected in parallel with the inductor; and a resistance value adjusting circuit that adjusts a resistance value of the variable resistor in accordance with the temperature.
US09948245B2
An amplifier circuit including an amplifying stage and a predistortion stage is disclosed. The amplifier circuit outputs an output signal Xo. The predistortion stage is arranged for providing a predistortion signal Xp to be added to an input signal Xin of the amplifier circuit in order to compensate for non-linearites of said amplifying stage. According to the present invention, the amplifier circuit includes a working point unit arranged for determining a suitable working point WPsuitable to be used for said amplifying stage based on said predistortion signal Xp, and for adjusting an actual working point WPactual being used by said amplifying stage towards said suitable working point WPsuitable.
US09948244B1
An amplifier with adjustable gain including a plurality of differential amplifiers and an output stage circuit is provided. Each of the differential amplifiers has at least one differential pair, two current terminals of each of the differential pairs are coupled by a connection structure, and the connection structure provides a negative feedback resistance. The differential amplifiers commonly receive a differential input signal pair, and output terminals of the differential amplifiers are coupled together. The output stage circuit inverts a voltage on the output terminals of the differential amplifiers to generate an output voltage. A direct current gain of the amplifier with adjustable gain is determined by adjusting at least one of working numbers of the differential amplifiers and the differential pairs.
US09948236B2
A method includes forming a resonator comprising a plurality of switched impedances spatially distributed within the resonator, selecting a resonant frequency for the resonator, and distributing two or more transconductance elements within the resonator based on the selected resonant frequency. Distributing the two or more transconductance elements may include non-uniformly distributing the two or more transconductance elements within the resonator.
US09948235B2
A method includes forming a resonator comprising a plurality of switched impedances spatially distributed within the resonator, selecting a resonant frequency for the resonator, and distributing two or more transconductance elements within the resonator based on the selected resonant frequency. Distributing the two or more transconductance elements may include non-uniformly distributing the two or more transconductance elements within the resonator.
US09948224B1
A system and method for position sensorless control of an AC electric machine is disclosed. A drive system for driving an AC electric machine provides a primary current excitation to drive the AC electric machine, the primary current excitation comprising a current vector having a magnitude and angle. The drive system injects a carrier signal to the AC electric machine that is superimposed onto the current vector, with the carrier signal being selected to generate a carrier response signal that has sensitivity to magnetic alignment information of the AC electric machine at its operating point. The drive system measures at least one magnetic alignment signature of the AC electric machine from the generated carrier response signal and controls an orientation of the current vector using the measured at least one magnetic alignment signature, so as to achieve a desired magnetic operation of the AC electric machine.
US09948220B2
A rotation angle estimation apparatus includes: a high-frequency voltage setting unit that sets high-frequency voltages; a circuit operating unit that operates an electric power conversion circuit to apply each of the high-frequency voltages to a corresponding one of winding groups of a rotating electric machine; and a rotation angle estimating unit that estimates a rotation angle of the rotating electric machine based on at least one of high-frequency currents that flow in the winding groups upon application of the high-frequency voltages to the winding groups. Moreover, the high-frequency voltage setting unit sets the high-frequency voltages based on the spatial phase difference between the winding groups so that in a fixed coordinate system of the rotating electric machine, the magnitude of a resultant vector of a plurality of high-frequency voltage vectors, which are respectively applied to the winding groups, becomes smaller than the magnitude of each of the high-frequency voltage vectors.
US09948218B2
This linear motor apparatus includes: a first linear motor and a second linear motor, movable bodies of which move in the same direction in a linked manner; a first control portion that causes the first linear motor to produce thrust to apply a load to a pressurizing target via the movable bodies; and a second control portion that causes the second linear motor to produce thrust and controls the thrust, wherein, if the first control portion is causing a load to be applied to the pressurizing target, then the second control portion causes the second linear motor to produce thrust that cancels an external force produced to the movable bodies.
US09948212B2
The present invention generally relates to a method of operating a MEMS DVC while minimizing impact of the MEMS device on contact surfaces. By reducing the drive voltage upon the pull-in movement of the MEMS device, the acceleration of the MEMS device towards the contact surface is reduced and thus, the impact velocity is reduced and less damage of the MEMS DVC device occurs.
US09948208B1
The various implementations described herein include inverter devices and systems. In one aspect, an inverter includes: a case; a capacitor within the case having a first terminal and a second terminal; a first bus bar including a first portion within the case and a second portion extending from the case to contact a first transistor; a second bus bar including a first portion situated in the case and a second portion extending from the case to contact a second transistor; and a phase-out bus bar including a first portion situated in the case, a second portion extending from the case to contact the first transistor, and a third portion extending from the case to contact the second transistor.
US09948202B2
A circuit module equipped with a primary coil of a step-down transformer formed by primary coils of a plurality of transformer elements connected in series with each other and a secondary coil formed by secondary coils of the transformer elements connected in series with each other, includes a printed substrate on which the transformer elements are mounted in a lengthwise direction, a connection terminal coupled to a first end of the primary coil of the step-down transformer and connection terminals coupled to the secondary coil of the step-down transformer, the connection terminals are positioned such that the transformer elements are interposed therebetween. As a result, provided are a transformer module that reduces the effect of a high-voltage portion on a low-voltage portion by securing a distance between the high-voltage portion and the low-voltage portion, and a power reception device and a power transmission device equipped with the transformer module.
US09948200B2
A first capacitor is connected between first and second power supply lines. A reactor is connected in series with the first power supply line or the second power supply line. A single-phase AC voltage is applied to a rectifying circuit. The rectifying circuit, which includes the first capacitor and the reactor, outputs a rectified voltage to the first and second power supply lines. A buffer circuit includes a second capacitor provided between the first and second power supply lines. The buffer circuit discharges the second capacitor at a controllable duty ratio. A booster circuit boosts the rectified voltage to charge the second capacitor. A DC current to be input to the booster circuit is reduced more as a voltage across the reactor is higher.
US09948196B2
The synchronous rectifier controller is provided at the secondary side of the insulation-type synchronous DC/DC converter and controls the synchronous rectifier transistor. The controller is coupled to the output of the feedback photo coupler and drives the switching transistor according to the feedback signal. The synchronous rectifier controller includes a driver circuit and an abnormal detection circuit and is configured as a single module. The driver circuit drives the synchronous rectifier transistor. The abnormal detection circuit detects an abnormal condition in the secondary side of the DC/DC converter. FAIL terminal is coupled to notify outside of an occurrence of the abnormal condition.
US09948190B2
A power control module for an electronic converter is disclosed. The electronic converter includes a power stage comprising two input terminals for receiving a first power signal and two output terminals for providing a second power signal. The electronic converter includes, moreover, a control circuit configured to control operation of the power stage as a function of a feedback control signal. In particular, the power control module includes a pre-elaboration module configured to generate a reference signal as a function of the feedback control signal and a first signal being representative of a voltage applied to the two input terminals. An error amplifier is configured to generate a modified control signal as a function the reference signal and a second signal being representative of a current flowing through the two input terminals.
US09948186B2
Described is an apparatus which comprises: a first bridge to be coupled to a first load; a first Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) circuit to drive the first bridge; a second bridge to be coupled to a second load; and a second PWM circuit to drive the second bridge, wherein the first PWM circuit is controlled by a first digital word separate from a second digital word, wherein the second PWM circuit is controlled by the second digital, and wherein the second digital word is derived from the first digital word.
US09948179B2
Described is an apparatus for power management. The apparatus comprises: a first power supply node; a second power supply node; a controllable device coupled to the first power supply node and to the second power supply node, the controllable device operable to short the first power supply node to the second power supply node; a load coupled to the second power supply node; and a charge recovery pump (CRP) coupled to the first and second power supply nodes.
US09948177B2
A system for supplying a load comprising: an input inductor configured to receive an input voltage, a selection module connected to the inductor via a switching node, and a multi-level half-bridge stage comprising a plurality of half-bridge stages, each half-bridge stage comprising a pair of switches connected between a switching node; a power combining stage coupled to each half-bridge stage using parallel bus voltage lines output from the multi-level half-bridge stage, the power combining stage configured to output a voltage to the load; and a controller configured, based on the input voltage, to selectively control a half-bridge stage to operate in a half-bridge mode to provide a stepped-up voltage on a bus voltage line, wherein the controller is further configured to control the power combining stage to provide a voltage between the bus voltage lines and the sum of these voltages is higher than a peak of the input voltage.
US09948173B1
A method of controlling the stability of a power converter in a closed-loop control system. The method includes inputting a variable to be controlled such as an output voltage of the power converter to a compensator or mathematical function for processing; determining, using the compensator, an error signal representative of a difference between the output voltage and a reference voltage; evaluating an energy content in a short-time Fourier transform spectrogram of the error signal from the compensator and/or evaluating the sinusoidality shape of the error signal; updating a transfer function of the compensator and other system parameters in accordance with the energy content or sinusoidality.
US09948171B1
A positive displacement inductive pump includes a central piston formed of a ferromagnetic material having non-ferromagnetic end pistons that extend from each of its opposite ends. Stationary end walls are mounted to opposite ends of a housing and are centrally bored. First and second inductive coils are alternately energized, causing the central piston and the end pistons to conjointly reciprocate within an axial bore and the end wall central bores, respectively. First and second check valves are positioned outboard of each end wall and allow valve-controlled ingress and egress of material into and out of the axial and central bores. The relative diameters of the central piston and the end pistons are changed to control the relationship between the magnetic force applied and the output pressure for a given volume of fluid.
US09948162B2
A power tool (1; 90) includes a motor (17) having a stator (18) and a rotor (19). The stator (18) includes front and rear insulators (21, 22) respectively disposed forward and rearward of a stator core (20) in an axial direction thereof. At least six coils (23) are respectively wound on the stator (18) such that the coils (23) are wound through the front and rear insulators (21, 22). Winding wires (23a) respectively electrically connect circumferentially-adjacent pairs of the coils (23). A short circuiting device (25) short circuits respective pairs of windings (23a) that are located diagonally or diametrically across from one another.
US09948160B2
A base of a case has an inner groove portion, which surrounds a circuit board, and an outer groove portion. A first projected portion of a connector is inserted in the inner groove portion via a first seal portion. A second projected portion of the connector is inserted in the outer groove portion via a second seal portion. The first seal portion and the second seal portion are formed of the same material and are interposed between a periphery of an opening of the case and the connector. The first seal portion in the inner groove portion is in contact with the first projected portion of the connector to water tightly seal an accommodation space formed in the case. The second seal portion in the outer groove portion is in contact with the second projected portion of the connector to restrict vibration of the connector.
US09948158B2
A motor cooling system for cooling a motor unit including a stator assembly and a rotor assembly configured to rotate a rotor shaft, which includes a stator casing and an arm casing. The stator casing includes a stator casing body having a stator casing wall with an internal cavity to receive the motor unit and a rib with a groove defined between adjacent portions of the rib. The arm casing includes an arm casing body having an internal cavity to receive the stator casing and a port in fluid communication with the groove.
US09948152B2
A motor for a laundry appliance includes a drive shaft coupled to a drum at a first end. The rotor frame is coupled proximate the second end of the drive shaft, where the rotor frame includes at least one polymeric material. A central hub includes a core and a perimetrical ring that extends circumferentially around the core. A plurality of recesses are defined within a planar surface of the perimetrical ring, wherein a portion of the polymeric material is received within the plurality of recesses to secure the rotor frame to the central hub.
US09948139B2
A solar panel is disclosed that can be daisy-chained with other solar panels. The solar panel automatically generates output alternative current (AC) power that is in parallel with input AC power coming into the solar panel when the solar panel senses the input AC power so that the solar panel operates as a slave in this state. The solar panel automatically generates standalone AC output power when the solar panel fails to detect input AC power coming into the solar panel where the solar panel operates as a master in this state. The solar panel generates the standalone output AC power without any reliance on input AC power generated by a utility grid and/or other AC power sources external to the solar panel.
US09948128B2
A power tool system includes a power tool, a power tool battery pack and a battery pack charger. The power tool battery pack is separable from and attachable to the power tool, and electrically connectable to the power tool electrical terminals when attached to the power tool. The power tool battery pack has at least one battery cell, a receiver coil, and a control circuit for controlling the amount of power that is provided to the at least one battery cell. The battery pack charger has at least one transmitter coil for generating a magnetic field which induces a voltage in the receiver coil, and a control circuit for controlling the amount of power that is provided to the transmitter coil.
US09948114B2
A power supply apparatus includes a power supply unit that wirelessly supplies power to an electronic apparatus, a communication unit that communicates with the electronic apparatus, and a control unit that controls, based on whether information regarding the electronic apparatus that is received from the electronic apparatus is updated by the electronic apparatus, power to be supplied from the power supply apparatus to the electronic apparatus.
US09948113B2
Systems (100) and methods (500, 600) for adaptively managing power for an Energy Harvesting System (“EHS”). The methods involve: measuring a light intensity level available in a surrounding environment; wirelessly communicating a first wireless signal from the EHS (100) to a remote device (700) for causing the light intensity level to be increased by remotely turning on a light source (106, 108) or opening a cover preventing light emitted from the light source from reaching the EHC, when the light intensity level is below a pre-specified level; using an Energy Harvesting Circuit (“EHC”) to recharge a rechargeable battery (310) when the light intensity level rises above the pre-specified level; and wirelessly communicating a second wireless signal from the EHS to the remote device for causing the light source be turned off or the cover to be closed, when the capacity or state-of-charge of the rechargeable battery reaches a pre-specified value.
US09948111B2
An electrical load control method includes: collecting, by an electrical load control apparatus, state information of one or more electrical loads; receiving, by an output device, the state information of the one or more electrical loads from the electrical load control apparatus; outputting, by the output device, the state information; receiving, by an input device, one or more control objects among the one or more electrical loads and control methods for the one or more control objects; and receiving, by the electrical load control apparatus, a signal corresponding to the received one or more control objects and the received control methods for the one or more control objects from the input device to deliver a signal corresponding to a respective control method for each of the one or more control objects.
US09948110B2
An example power distribution system includes a relay moveable to a position that holds at least one contactor closed. The relay is moved to the position in response to an alternate source powering a power distribution system rather than a main source powering the power distribution system.
US09948101B2
The systems and methods disclosed herein relate to management of peak electrical demand as registered by an electrical utility meter of an electrical utility customer. The metered demand level of the customer may be monitored over a first portion of a demand charge measuring period, then a cumulative amount of energy consumed by the customer in the first portion and a projected total energy consumed during the demand charge measuring period may be calculated. Next, an offset energy amount may be determined that is the amount required to bring a net amount of energy consumed by the customer during the demand charge measuring period to lie within a target value range for the demand charge measuring period. A power source such as a battery may then be controlled to provide the offset energy amount to the customer over a second portion of the demand charge measuring period.
US09948099B1
A system to mitigate weather exposure risk includes a processor operatively coupled to memory. The processor is configured to generate predicted energy consumption based on a model for expected energy usage in response to detection of a weather event, and compare the predicted energy consumption data with energy consumption data. An alert is generated based at least in part on the comparison, and the alert is sent to one or more entities over one or more networks via one or more delivery methods.
US09948098B1
A power distribution system includes at least a ground power unit, an aerial vehicle, and a power station. The ground power unit is configured to convert an input AC power into DC power output, wherein the ground power unit includes at least a first bus, second bus, and a third bus, wherein the first bus is configured to operate at a first voltage level referenced to the third bus, and wherein the second bus is configured to operate at a second voltage level referenced to the third bus that is different from the first voltage level. The aerial vehicle may include a plurality of motor-generators coupled to a respective plurality of turbines, wherein the plurality of motor-generators may be configured to be energized by power received from a tether. The power station may be electrically coupled to at least the first bus, the second bus, and the tether and configured to: (i) selectively energize the tether using the first bus; and (ii) responsive to detecting a fault by at least one motor-generator of the plurality of motor-generators, selectively energize the tether using the second bus and not the first bus.
US09948096B2
The present invention relates to a method for providing control power to stabilize an AC electrical grid, comprising an energy store which can take up and emit electrical energy, wherein for the purpose of providing the control power, the energy store is used together with a differential power provider, wherein the AC electrical grid operates at a predefined frequency and a frequency band around the predefined frequency is defined and the control power to be provided in the case of a frequency deviation within the frequency band is provided by the energy store to the extent of more than 50%, relative to the total control power to be provided.
