US09999831B2

The puzzle with attachable and releasable pieces includes shaped puzzle pieces and a two-part base, which includes a front base section and a back baseplate. The puzzle pieces have rear-facing engaging mechanisms that are attachable to forward-facing male studs carried by the back baseplate. The puzzle pieces each have a particular outer shape determining placement. The puzzle may be stored with the puzzle pieces engaged to the back baseplate, but may be later released for repeat play by using a provided puzzle release mechanism.
US09999830B2

A roulette game enables single-spin formation of meaningful character strings, which character strings may be coupled to tones for enhancing the gaming experience. The meaningful character strings may be defined by solfege-enabling letter groups, which letter groups may prompt underlying tones in solmization. The syllabic roulette game comprises a roulette wheel, a wager-enabling layout, and a plurality of balls. The wheel comprises alphabetic characters against a rainbow colored backdrop for enabling various payout schemes. A color-coordinated wager support surface is preferably disposed adjacent the roulette wheel for facilitating wager placement.
US09999827B2

A self-balancing electric vehicle may include a platform having first and second foot placement sections rigidly coupled to each other, and a pair of coaxial, motorized wheels independently mounted between the first and second foot placement sections. The first and second wheels may be coupled to the platform via spring suspensions. Rider presence and turning intentions may be determined based on strain induced in the platform by the rider. The strain may be detected by one or more strain gauge systems. One of the strain gauge systems may be configured for use in a steering control circuit, and may include a strain gauge sensor mounted diagonally with respect to a long axis of the platform, such that the strain gauge detects only twist-induced strain.
US09999824B2

A mat for practicing golf shots, including an upper mat and a lower mat. The lower mat is larger than the upper mat. The upper mat is secured on top of the lower mat such that the additional area of the lower mat extends in the direction of the anticipated trajectory of a golf club head. A golf ball is placed on the edge of the upper mat such that the club head will travel through the empty space above the lower mat and in front of the lower mat. As a result, the golfer experiences less force due to the club head striking the mat.
US09999819B2

The present invention provides for a martial arts kicking and punching apparatus comprising: a first portion designed like a martial arts chest protector; a paddle having a handle on one end and a padded portion designed to look like a martial arts helmet; a device for securing the paddle to the first portion; and an electronic scoring system comprising a sensor, a transmitter and a receiver.
US09999818B2

A bicycle trainer including folding legs and a vertically adjustable frame member supporting an axle and cassette where a rider mounts the rear frame, such as dropouts, of a conventional bicycle with the rear wheel removed. The trainer includes a flywheel with a magnetic brake assembly controlled through an open protocol and configured to receive wireless transmitted signals from an app running on a smart phone or other such applications. The flywheel assembly also includes a bracket coupling the magnetic brake with a frame. A strain gauge is mounted on the bracket to detect torque, which is used to calculate a rider's power while using the trainer.
US09999815B2

A lightweight compression molded multicolor golf grip having at least a first section and a second section of differing colors and composed of elastomer compounds having a density of less than 0.90 g/cc, and joined by cross-linking across a sharply defined cross-color interface having an interface transition zone beyond which there is no mixing of the colors. The grip has a soft feel and unique compression characteristics achieved in some embodiments through the controlled use of an expanding blowing agent in a rubber compound including an EPDM mixture. Achieving the sharply defined cross-color interface is due in part to the use of complementary geometries at opposing interface edges to increase the stability of the interface and reduce the flow during molding associated with the increased viscosity of low density rubber compounds, promote cross-linking of the sections, and better distribute and control the consolidation pressure.
US09999814B2

Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a hollow body portion having a front portion, a rear portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, a bottom portion, a top portion, a plurality of ports on the bottom portion and a plurality of inner support portions in the hollow body portion. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09999810B2

A baseball/softball comprises a core and a cover, wherein the core is wrapped with a layer of fiber material, and the layer of fiber material is wrapped and glued with the cover. A method of processing baseball/softball comprises wrapping the core with the layer of fiber material, placing the core and the layer of fiber material into a cover material, placing the core, the layer of fiber material outside the core and the layer of cover material outside the layer of fiber material into a mold; molding the layer of cover material into the cover through a vulcanization process, gluing a vulcanization melting layer formed on inner wall of the cover to the layer of fiber material, and finally taking the finished product out of the mold. From the perspectives of smell, touch and visual sense, the product has good simulation effect of baseball/softball and better service effect.
US09999808B2

Multi-layered golf balls containing a two or three-layered cover assembly are provided. In one embodiment, the cover assembly includes a relatively hard inner cover and relatively soft outer cover. Alternatively, the cover assembly may include a relatively soft inner cover with a relatively hard outer cover. Three-layered covers comprising an inner cover, intermediate cover, and outer cover layer also may be prepared. Preferably, at least one of the layers is formed from a thermoplastic composition that preferably comprises: a) ethylene acid copolymer, b) plasticizer, and c) cation source. A fatty acid ester such as ethyl oleate is preferably used as the plasticizer. The cover assembly has good impact durability and helps provide the ball with relatively high resiliency at given compressions.
US09999804B2

Analysis of sporting equipment characteristics may be analyzed using dynamic sampling rates. For example, analyzing a golf swing may include the use of one or more sensors providing data at various sampling rates. According to some aspects, the sampling rate may be dynamically modified upon determination of one or more golf equipment characteristics, environmental conditions, player characteristics and the like. In one example, a sampling rate processor may dynamically select a sampling rate at which data is sampled from one or more sensors. In some examples, by dynamically selecting the sampling rate, an analysis may be tailored to various types, and portions of a golf swing, in addition to producing power consumption by the analysis instruments in the golf club system. According to other aspects, triggering conditions for modifying a sampling rate may be determined from a population of one or more previous golf swings performed by a user.
US09999796B2

A supplemental weight stack is disclosed. The supplemental weights add a weight load to an exercise machine in increments less than the main weight increments. The supplemental weights can be stacked horizontally and can be designed such that when engaged, each supplemental weight acts upon an engagement mechanism. The user selects the supplemental weight by acting upon an adjustment mechanism, which, in turn, actuates the engagement mechanism.
US09999794B2

Use of a gas mixture selected from the group comprising: —trifluoroiodomethane (CF3I) in concentrations from 85% to 99% by weight and a gas selected from the group comprising fluoroethane, pentafluoroiodoethane, pentafluoroethane, dimethyl ether, propylene or their mixtures in concentrations from 15% to 1% by weight as refrigerant, propellant, foaming and/or extinguishing gases as replacements or alternatives for other gases or HFC (hydrofluorocarbon), HFO (hydrofluoro-olefin) and HFE (hydrofluoroether) mixtures.
US09999788B2

Simulating particle beam interactions includes identifying a set of n functions F1, F2, . . . , Fn corresponding to a plurality of different physical aspects of a particle beam, performing simulations of each Fi using a full physics model, selecting for each Fi a distribution function fi that models relevant behavior and reducing computation of the full physics model for each Fi by replacing Fi with a distribution function fi. The computation reduction includes comparing a set of simulations wherein each fi replaces its respective Fi to determine if relevant behavior is accurately modeled and selecting one of fi or Fi for each n, for a Monte Carlo simulation based on a runtime and accuracy criteria.
US09999786B2

A radiation emitting apparatus includes a radiation source to generate radiation, a first collimator to define a maximum radiation field of the radiation; a second collimator to regulate the radiation field and direction of irradiation; a swing portion that swings in two directions orthogonal to each other; a displacement detector to detect displacement of the second collimator relative to a reference point; a drive mechanism to drive the swing portion; a control unit to control the drive mechanism; and a storage unit included in the control unit to store one or more parameters related to mechanical movement of the swing portion. The control unit generates feedforward control information based on an inputted target swing angle, a detected displacement, and the one or more parameters stored in the storage unit, and outputs a drive signal containing the feedforward control information to the drive mechanism.
US09999778B2

A cardiac defibrillator comprises electrical wires or terminals (24) connected with or configured to connect with defibrillation electrode pads (22), and an electrical circuit (32, 32a, 32b) including an electrical storage element (52) and a piezoelectric transformer (50) arranged to charge the electrical storage element to a voltage effective for delivering a cardiac defibrillation shock. The electrical circuit is configured to discharge the electrical storage element across the electrical wires or terminals to deliver a cardiac defibrillation shock to the electrical wires or terminals.
US09999776B2

A method includes a method implemented in a medical apparatus implanted in an animal and configured to at least one of transmit or receive a communication externally of the animal. The method includes receiving a communication. The method also includes detecting an indication of a malware in the received communication. The method further includes implementing in the implanted medical device a countermeasure responsive to the detected indication of malware in the received communication.
US09999766B2

A device and method verifies the electrical output of a microcurrent therapy device. The current and/or voltage of an electrical pulse, being supplied to an electrode adapted to contact tissue, is measured by a control unit. The current and/or voltage is supplied by the control unit according to a predefined waveform. Any difference in the current or voltage of the electrical pulse being supplied with respect to the current or voltage of the predefined waveform is detected.
US09999764B2

An implantable medical assist device includes a medical device. The medical device has a housing and electronics contained therein. A lead provides an electrical path to or from the electronics within the medical device. A resonance tuning module is located in the housing and is connected to the lead. The resonance tuning module includes a control circuit for determining a resonant frequency of the implantable medical assist device and an adjustable impedance circuit to change the combined resonant frequency of the medical device and lead.
US09999763B2

Apparatus for neuromuscular electrical stimulation and methods for anchoring the same are provided. The apparatus may include an elongated member having one or more electrodes disposed at the distal region of the elongated member and at least one fixation element disposed at the distal region of the elongated member. The fixation element may be shaped and sized to be deployed between tissue layers, such as muscle layers, without damaging the tissue layers so as to secure the one or more electrodes in or adjacent to a desired anatomical site within a patient. An additional fixation element may be disposed at the distal region of the elongated member so that tissue, such as a muscle, may be sandwiched between the fixation elements without damaging the tissue.
US09999749B2

A catheter includes an inner layer, and a braid provided on an outer periphery of the inner layer. The braid includes a first wire and a second wire that are woven together. The catheter further includes a tip provided on a distal end of the inner layer and a distal end of the braid. A residual portion having a sharp shape formed at a distal end of the first wire when the first wire is cut is not left untreated, but is formed into a bulging portion.
US09999746B2

A catheter that comprises a hub, an elongated conduit, and at least one lumen therein. The lumen includes a proximal lumen section, a distal lumen section, and an intermediate lumen section extending between the proximal and distal lumen sections. The cross-sectional dimension of the intermediate lumen section is less than the cross-sectional dimension of the distal lumen section. In one embodiment, the cross-sectional dimension of the intermediate lumen section is less than the cross-sectional dimension of the proximal lumen section. In certain embodiments, the lumen tapers from the dial and/or proximal lumen sections to the intermediate lumen section.
US09999742B2

A combination positive airway pressure (PAP) or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and resuscitation system and related methods. The systems can be well-suited for use in providing CPAP therapy for a neonate or infant patient, with the ability to also provide resuscitation therapy at a peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) as needed or desired without switching to another system or switching the patient interface. The system can include an expiratory pressure device capable of regulating a positive end expiration pressure (PEEP) of the system, which preferably can also induce pressure oscillations relative to a mean PEEP.
US09999736B2

The present invention relates to a device comprising at least one fluid reception chamber and at least one hydrophobic filter means, wherein a vertical through the hydrophobic filter means does not have a point of intersection with a fluid level of fluids present in the fluid reception chamber. It further relates to an external functional means as well as a treatment apparatus.
US09999721B2

Infusion systems, infusion devices, and related operating methods are provided. An exemplary infusion device includes a motor operable to deliver fluid to a body of a user, a first control module to enable input power for the motor and provide a dosage command for operating the motor, and a second control module coupled to the first control module to receive the dosage command and operate the motor using at least a portion of the input power based at least in part on the dosage command. One of the first control module and the second control module detects an anomalous condition, and in response, disables the input power to the motor, stores diagnostic information for the anomalous condition in its internal memory, and automatically resets thereafter.
US09999716B2

A renal therapy apparatus including at least two feedback controls is disclosed. Each control includes an estimated volume calculator to calculate an estimated volume based on a set flow, a comparator to compare the estimated volume with a measured volume, a volume deviation determining means to determine a volume deviation based on the comparison, a correction calculator to calculate a correction based on the volume deviation, a flow control generator to generate a flow control signal based on the calculated correction amount and the set flow, and a feedback control output to output the controlled flow control signal to a pump associated with each feedback control. A flow correction distributor includes an input to receive correction signals from the correction calculator, a limited correction signal calculator to calculate a limited correction signal for the input correction required signals, and an output to output each calculated limited correction signal to the feedback control from which its underlying correction required signal has been received.
US09999706B2

Implantable devices having antibacterial activity for preventing periprosthetic infections and for improving osteointegration capacity are provided. Methods for making and using such devices are also provided.
US09999688B2

This invention relates to, in part, methods and compositions that are useful for the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of a blinding eye disease, including in the discovery of drugs that are efficacious against these diseases. Diseases include, for example, age related macular degeneration and reticular pseudodrusen disease, and the methods described herein include, for example, the method named delayed near infrared analysis (DNIRA).
US09999676B2

The present invention relates to a biodegradable microbead having improved adsorptive power to anticancer drugs, to a method for preparing same, and to a method for treating cancer using same. According to the present invention, a rigid bead having excellent adsorptive power to anticancer drugs can be prepared through cross-linking and an amide bond between an albumin and an anionic polymer. Also, the microbead of the present invention is prepared by a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer so as to be safe when applied to the human body. Further, the microbead of the present invention can effectively inhibit the growth of a tumor by effectively blocking a blood vessel which supplies nutrients to a liver tumor, while continuously releasing anticancer drugs which are adsorbed into the surface of the bead. Thus, the present invention can be usefully applied to a chemoembolization of liver cancer.
US09999670B2

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising benzyl alcohol and polyoxyethylene derivatives of sorbitan esters of carboxylic acids that are useful for the delivery of anti-psychotic drugs.
US09999662B2

The present invention is directed generally to M1 polypeptides that can be utilized as vaccines and/or antigens for generation of anti-M1 polypeptide antibodies for prophylactic treatment of individuals who are susceptible to infection by influenza virus. The anti-M1 polypeptide antibodies of the invention are useful for treatment of individuals infected with influenza virus, or useful for prophylactic treatment of individuals who are susceptible to infection by influenza virus, or for immune-suppressed individuals who cannot generate an effective antibody response.
US09999659B2

The present invention relates to a vaccine capable to induce the formation of antibodies directed to PCSK9 in vivo.
US09999653B2

The present invention is directed to a method of treating a patient suffering from the metabolic syndrome and/or related disorders including obesity, Type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, pro-inflammatory state, and pro-coagulative state, and comprising the steps of (a) providing to the patient a dietary regimen that decreases overactive CNS noradrenergic tone; followed by (b) providing to the patient a dietary regimen that increases dopaminergic tone while maintaining the above decreased overactive CNS noradrenergic tone. The present invention is also directed to food products useful in implementing the dietary regimens.
US09999652B2

Disclosed are methods for identifying patients at increased risk of developing disseminated staphylococcal infection, which includes the steps of determining that the patient has a mutation in one or more genes selected from a MPDZ network gene, a CGNL1 network gene, a PRKRIR network gene, a MED26 network gene, a tight junction protein gene, or an immune modulator gene; and treating the patient for disseminated staphylococcal infection. Also disclosed are solid substrates and/or assays useful for carrying out the disclosed methods.
US09999646B2

The present invention relates to inventive novel industrialized method for preparing purified extract containing more abundant active ingredients such as catalpol derivatives from the extract of Pseudolysimachion rotundum var subintegrum than that prepared by the conventional preparation method disclosed in the prior art and the therapeutics or functional health food comprising the purified extract for treating and preventing inflammatory, allergic or asthmatic disease. The purified extract showed more potent anti-inflammatory, anti-allergy and anti-asthma activity than that prepared by the conventional preparation method disclosed in the prior art through various in vivo tests such as inhibition test on the reproduction of eosinophil, the release of immunoglobulin and inflammatory chemokines in plasma and bronchoalveolar fluid as well as the suppression of airway hyperresponsiveness and goblet cell hyperplasia in a OVA-sensitized/challenged mouse model.
US09999641B2

Provided herein are compositions and methods for the treatment or prevention of pathogenic infections.
US09999635B2

The present invention provides methods for treating conditions that involve infection and/or inflammation, including acute and chronic inflammation, as well as delayed-type and immediate-type hypersensitivity. The invention in various embodiments provides methods for treating microbial infection and the associated inflammatory response, as well methods for treating inflammatory conditions that spawn or are susceptible to secondary microbial infection. Further, the invention provides methods for treating inflammation, such as chronic inflammation, without any associated microbial infection.
US09999609B2

The present invention relates to the use of compounds of the invention for treatment and/or prevention of fatigue, including fatigue associated with diseases or treatments.
US09999608B2

The present disclosure provides methods for evaluating daily ammonia exposure based on a single fasting ammonia blood level measurement, as well as methods that utilize this technique to adjust the dosage of a nitrogen scavenging drug, determine whether to administer a nitrogen scavenging drug, and treat nitrogen retention disorders.
US09999606B2

An oral pharmaceutical composition of isotretinoin and a carrier substrate, having isotretinoin in the form of gel, dispersion, solution or emulsion, which is absorbed onto the carrier substrate to form solid particles, powder, or granules. The oral pharmaceutical composition has enhanced bioavailability. A process is used for preparing the oral composition.
US09999601B2

The presently claimed and disclosed invention(s) provides a therapeutically effective composition and method of inhibiting nerve cell transmission. In a preferred embodiment of the presently claimed and disclosed invention(s), the treatment of neuropathic pain utilizing terpene compounds isolated from plant essential oils or manufactured synthetically is detailed. These compounds, such as geraniol and citronellol, as well as chemical analogs thereof, used in combination or individually, can be used alone or in a composition with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in a suitable dosage form.
US09999599B2

The invention provides novel nanoscale delivery vehicles and composite nanoassemblies built from distinct nanoassembly units (e.g., block copolymer micelles and nanogels) with stoichiometric control. These intelligent composite nanoassemblies independently retain the key features of the nanoassembly units and greatly expand the potential functional features attainable based on the surface functionalization. The invention provides a novel approach to constructing nano-vehicles with controllable morphology based on combination of cooperative releasing mechanisms (e.g., redox sensitive nanogels and pH sensitive micelles). Two kinds of guests can be seperately and stably encapsulated in the composite nanocontainers, and then released sequentially under the stimulation of pH change and reduced glutathione.
US09999597B2

Irregular, angular particles are produced by a manufacturing method that comprises forming a film on a substrate and then stretching the substrate along one or more axes to fracture the film into particle structures. The substrate may be moved continuously along a production line as the film is formed and may be stretched by accelerating that movement. The substrate may comprise a surface with elevated patterns to control the fracturing of the film. The particles are particularly suitable for the transdermal delivery of a biologically active substance into the body of a patient.
US09999593B2

The present invention relates to an ophthalmic aqueous composition containing PGF2α analogs for treating ocular hypertension and glaucoma, to a method for treating ocular hypertension and glaucoma by administering said composition to a subject in need of such treatment, and to a method for increasing aqueous solubility and stability of PGF2α analogs in an aqueous composition.
US09999582B2

An agent for coloring keratinic fibers, particularly human hairs, includes in a cosmetic carrier (a) at least one preservative from the group of sorbic acid, 2-hydroxydiphenyl, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, dehydroacetic acid, dibromohexamidine, 10-undecylenic acid, hexetidine, triclocarban, triclosanum, 4-chloro-3,4-dimethylphenol, imidazolidinyl urea, hexamethylenetetramine, 1-(4-chlorophenoxy)-1-(imidazole-1-yl)-3,3-dimethyl-2-butanone, 1,3-Bis-(hydroxymethyl)-5,5-dimethyl-2,4-imidazolidinedione, 1-hydroxy-4-methyl-6-(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)-2-pyridone, bromochlorophene, 3-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)phenol, 5-chloro-2-methyl-3(2H)-isothiazolone, 2-benzyl-4-chlorophenol, 2-chloroacetamide, chlorohexidine, 4,4-dimethyl-1,3-oxazolidine, 1-phenoxy-propane-2-ol, hexamidine, 5-ethyl-1-aza-3,7-dioxabicyclo-[3.3.0]-octane, chlorphenesin, sodium hydroxymethyl amino acetate, benzyl hemiformal, 3-iodo-2-propynyl butylcarbamate, methylisothiazolinone and ethyl lauroyl arginate, and (b) at least one oxidation dye precursor and/or at least one direct dye. A second object of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a colorant of the first object of the invention.
US09999579B2

A method of forming dual melamine/acrylic walled microcapsules having improved physical properties and release control as well as the microcapsules formed by the process wherein the capsule wall is formed by the use of select (meth)acrylate monomers and/or oligomers and/or select self-condensing melamine resins.
US09999578B2

Disclosed is a stable cosmetic composition having a syrupy texture while not being sticky, and translucent (or even transparent) appearance. Further disclosed is a method of preparation of such composition, as well as a method of its use.
US09999571B2

A uniform-distribution filling mechanism for medicinal powder includes a metering disk, a powder storage ring, and a lateral powder blocker. One end of the blocker is provided with a pointed tip, and the other end thereof is provided with a sloping stage. The middle portion of the metering disk is provided with a support shaft, said shaft and the blocker being connected one to the other by means of a support arm. Medicinal powder enters via the pointed tip of the blocker, is evenly agitated, exits via the sloping stage of the blocker, and is evenly dispensed. Thus, the powder is able to enter one side of the blocker and come out the other side thereof such that the powder is evenly dispensed and then uniformly distributed onto the metering disk. This ensures that powder holes of a same group on the metering disk are filled with medicinal powder uniformly and with precision, thereby ensuring that capsules are filled uniformly and consistently with medicinal powder, thus increasing the success rate when filling capsules.
US09999561B2

A physical therapy device comprising a bench, having a seating surface and legs and a pair of horizontal supports positioned to either side of the knees of a person seated on the bench, a quick release securing device connected to each of the pair of supports, a rail connected to one of the quick release securing devices, a body pivotally attached to said rail, a foot rest attached to said rail and the foot rest and rail arranged to rotate with respect to said body about a pivot axis, the body having an adjustment mechanism to adjust the amount of force required to rotate the rail with respect to the body, wherein said body is repositionable between first and second positions, to provide physical therapy to the knee.
US09999558B2

An adjustable bed having a mattress support platform and a fixed frame base with wheels. A lift mechanism interconnects the mattress support platform and the fixed frame base to displace the mattress support platform between a fully collapsed position and a fully elevated position. The lift mechanism includes leg members pivotally connected with the fixed frame base and with the mattress support platform. A force multiplying actuating linkage interconnects an actuator and the fixed frame base. The actuating linkage includes a driving link and an intermediate link. The driving link has a first end pivotally mounted to the fixed frame base and a second end pivotally connected to the actuator. The intermediate link is pivotally connected to the driving link, and is pivotally engaged with one of the leg members and a stabilizing link. The stabilizing link interconnects one of the leg members and the fixed frame base.
US09999556B2

Embodiments of a method of operation of a roll-in push cot for transport onto a first surface comprising initially loading the roll-in cot onto a first surface thereby releasing automatically at least one leading leg, continuing of loading the roll-in cot onto the first surface to move a front carriage member toward a front actuator, such that movement of the front carriage member triggers the front actuator that releases a middle release lever, thereby initiating the release of at least one trailing leg, supporting the weight of the cot at least partially in order to disengage a locking mechanism for the at least one trailing leg, and loading the cot in order to move a rear carriage member in conjunction with folding of the at least one trailing leg and thereby trigger a reset actuator and release a latch pin to engage the rear carriage member when the trailing and leading legs of the roll-in push cot are in a fully folded position on the first surface.
US09999555B2

Roll-in cots having wheel alignment mechanisms. According to one embodiment, a roll-in cot includes a support frame, a pair of legs pivotably and slidably coupled to the support frame, and a pair of hinge members that are pivotably coupled to the support frame and to one of the legs. The roll-in cot also includes a wheel linkage pivotably coupled to the pair of legs and a wheel alignment mechanism. The legs and the hinge members pivot relative to one another in a relative angular rotation ratio and the wheel alignment mechanism rotates the wheel alignment mechanism relative to the hinge members at a reduction ratio. The relative angular rotation ratio of the legs and the hinge members is approximately inverse to the reduction ratio of the wheel alignment mechanism.
US09999550B2

The machine according to the invention, for making absorbent sanitary articles, comprises a device for forming inside the absorbent article a pad composed of a plurality of superposed layers of absorbent material, a transfer roller located downstream of the device and having a cylindrical lateral surface, and a wrapping unit which is located downstream of the transfer roller and by which the pad is placed between a first sheet of impermeable or permeable material and a second sheet of permeable material; the transfer roller transfers the internal pad from the forming device to the wrapping unit, the forming device also comprises, for each layer of absorbent material, a respective forming unit for cutting into lengths a continuous web of absorbent material fed into the selfsame unit and for transferring the lengths to the transfer roller; the lengths of material fed by each unit are mutually superposed on the lateral surface of the transfer roller so as to form the layers of the pad and the pad itself.
US09999544B2

Apparatuses and methods for the treatment of glaucoma are provided. The instrument uses either cauterization, a laser to ablate, sonic or ultrasonic energy to emulsify, or mechanical cutting of a portion of the trabecular meshwork. The instrument may also be provided with irrigation, aspiration, and a footplate. The footplate is used to enter Schlemm's canal, serves as a guide, and also protects Schlemm's canal.
US09999537B2

A base plate comprising an adhesive wafer and a convex supporting device. An ostomy appliance comprising a base plate with an adhesive wafer and a convex supporting device.
US09999535B2

An ostomy wafer (1) comprising a proximal surface in an axial direction facing the user during use provided with an adhesive layer (7), a distal surface (5) in the axial direction facing away from the user during use provided with a backing layer, coupling means for attaching a collection bag, an opening having an inner radial boundary defining a stoma receiving opening, and an outer radial boundary defining the peripheral edge of the ostomy wafer. Furthermore, the wafer is provided with a reinforcement structure (6).
US09999529B2

A stent is formed from a wire that in cross-section includes an outer member having a lumen and a radiopaque core member partially filling the lumen. A substance for elution through openings formed through the outer member fills the portion of the lumen not filled by the radiopaque core member. In a method of forming the stent, a composite wire including an outer member and a dual core member is shaped into a stent pattern. The dual core member includes a first core member and a second, radiopaque core member. The shaped composite wire is processed to remove the first core member from the outer member without adversely affecting the outer member and the second core member. The portion of the lumen that was occupied by the first core member may be filled with a substance for elution through openings from through the outer member to the lumen.
US09999521B2

The disclosure provides apparatus and methods of use pertaining to a prosthetic finger assembly. In one embodiment, the assembly includes a coupling tip and a distal ring coupled with the coupling tip. The assembly further includes a proximal ring coupled with the distal ring. A rocker formed in an H-shape with a first end forming a first split prong and a second end forming a second split prong may extend between the coupling tip and the proximal ring. The coupling tip, distal ring, proximal ring, and H-shaped rocker may all be hingedly connected such that movements of the residual finger within the proximal ring articulate the distal ring together with the rocker to articulate the coupling tip. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US09999513B2

The present application concerns a shoulder prosthesis assembly. The shoulder prosthesis assembly comprises a humeral stem including a first articulating coupling means, a base portion of a substantially disc shaped geometry including a second articulating coupling means. Said first articulating coupling means and said second articulating coupling means connect the stem to the base portion. The ratio between the circumference of the disc shaped base portion and the peripheral thickness of the disc shaped base portion is at least 18:1.
US09999493B2

Systems and methods can remove material of interest, including blood clots, from a body region, including but not limited to the circulatory system for the treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE), deep vein thrombosis (DVT), cerebrovascular embolism, and other vascular occlusions.
US09999486B2

A spring mechanism for an electromagnetic drive unit converts or translates the movement and/or actuation of the electromagnet into a desired movement of the workpiece and enables simple and efficient tuning of the workpiece movement. The spring mechanism includes a housing, a spring connected to the housing, wherein at least a section of the spring is movable with respect to the housing, a drive shaft that includes a first end having a magnet and a second end for attachment to a workpiece, and an adjustable tuning element connecting the drive shaft to the movable portion of the spring. In one embodiment, the spring may be a flat spring, and the movable section may be a positioned between a pair of cutouts defined in the spring. In one embodiment, the adjustable tuning element is connected to the spring such that the adjustable tuning element places the movable portion of the spring under a degree of tension.
US09999485B2

A method for digital archiving and manufacturing of dental prosthetics and a prosthesis, and teaching and training for same are provided. The method mainly includes the following steps: preoperative scanning: creating a first digital model file; optical positioning and turning treatment: creating a second digital model file from a turning process; physical model calculation: creating reversely an autologous crown model file of a patient; and fixed denture manufacturing: manufacturing, according to the second digital model file and the autologous crown model file, a fixed denture that meets needs of the patient, so that an inner layer structure of a crown of the fixed denture can be tightly bound to an abutment, and it may be decided to retain an original crown contour according to needs. A tooth model based on a teaching digital model file can be used for teaching and training of a trainee with the foregoing method.
US09999481B2

Adjustable-prescription orthodontic bracket assemblies. The orthodontic bracket assemblies include a bracket body, an arcuate core, and a retention structure. The bracket body defines an arcuate receptacle that extends toward a base of the bracket body from a top of the bracket body. The arcuate core is received within the arcuate receptacle and defines an archwire slot. The arcuate receptacle is shaped to retain the arcuate core therein and to permit rotation of the arcuate core therein. The retention structure is configured to selectively retain the arcuate core at a selected rotational orientation with the bracket body. The retention structure is configured to selectively transition between a disengaged configuration, in which the retention structure permits rotation of the arcuate core relative to the bracket body, and an engaged configuration, in which the retention structure retains the arcuate core at the selected rotational orientation.
US09999477B2

A manipulator system including a manipulator that includes an insertion part having a main section and a bending section, a bending-section driving portion, and a linear member inserted through a sheath fixed to the main section at one end thereof, the linear member connecting the bending section and the bending-section driving portion through the main section and transmitting a driving force generated by the bending-section driving portion to the bending section; an operation input unit via which an operation instruction to the bending section is input; a sheath-tension detecting portion that detects the tension in the sheath; a compensation-value setting portion that sets a compensation value for a bending control signal on the basis of the tension in the sheath, and a control unit that generates the bending control signal and sends the bending control signal corrected with the compensation value to the bending-section driving portion.
US09999475B2

Embodiments of an actuated cannula seal are disclosed. In some embodiments, a cannula seal includes a base portion that engages with a cannula; and a seal portion integrally formed with the base portion, the sealing portion capable of engaging with an instrument shaft, the sealing portion capable of being actuated by an actuator so that the sealing portion is continually in motion relative to the instrument shaft. The actuation of the sealing portion can be accomplished by rotation or vibration of the sealing portion relative to the instrument shaft.
US09999466B2

Tissue may be cut and extracted from an interior location in a patient's body using a probe or tool which both effects cutting and causes vaporization of a liquid or other fluid to propel the cut tissue through an extraction lumen of the cutting device. The cutting may be achieved using an electrosurgical electrode assembly, including a first electrode on a cutting member and a second electrode within a cutting probe or tool.
US09999462B2

A system that does conversion from regular hot plasma produced by ESU to cold plasma which is thermally harmless for the tissue. The system is comprised of Conversion Unit and Cold Plasma Probe. Output signal for ESU connects to CU along with Helium flow. The CU converts signal from ESU and send it to the output connector along with helium flow. Cold Plasma Probe is connected directly to the CU output. At the end of the CPP probe cold plasma is produced.
US09999461B2

According to some embodiments, a method of treating a subject having diabetes or symptoms associated with diabetes is provided. The method includes delivering a neuromodulation catheter within a vessel (e.g., hepatic artery) having surrounding nerves that innervate the liver (e.g., sympathetic nerves of the hepatic plexus). The method may also include modulating (e.g., disrupting, ablating, stimulating) the nerves by mechanical compression, energy delivery, or fluid delivery.
US09999457B2

An orthopedic fastener has a head and a shank. The shank has a leading end portion adjacent a distal tip and a trailing end portion adjacent a head. An intermediate portion is positioned between the leading and trailing end portions. At the intermediate portion, the shank increases in diameter. The leading end portion has a first thread which includes one or more self-tapping cutting grooves extending adjacent the distal tip and through a plurality of the first threads. The intermediate portion has second threads extending toward the head from the leading end portion. The second threads of the intermediate portion are larger in outer diameter than the first threads in the leading end portion. The intermediate portion has one or more cutting grooves traversing at each of a leading transition at the leading end portion and at a trailing transition.
US09999456B2

A bone fixation clamp includes a first arcuate clamp member conforming to a shape of a bone and extending between a first connection end and a first free end, a second arcuate clamp member conforming to a shape of the bone, a second connection end of the second clamp member being pivotally attached to the first clamp member, the second clamp member extending between the second connection end and a second free end and a driving member received in the first clamp member passing out of the first clamp member to abut an abutment portion of the second member so that, as the driving member is extended further out of the first member, the driving member pivots the second clamp member relative to the first clamp member to draw the first and second free ends toward one another to apply a radially compressive force to the bone.
US09999454B2

A bone plate system is provided that permits rapid, secure stabilization of a plurality of bones, such as portions of a cut rib. The bone plate system includes a bone plate having anchor devices for securing the bone plate to, for example, cortical bone of the cut rib portions. The anchor devices have an open configuration that permits the anchor devices to be connected to the cortical bone of the cut rib portions and a clamping configuration that fixes the bone plate to the cortical bone of the cut portions. The bone plate connects the cut rib portions and stabilizes the cut rib portions against relative movement therebetween.
US09999453B2

A bone fixation system comprises an elongated implant shaft extending from a proximal end to a distal end along a central longitudinal axis and including a first channel extending from the proximal end to a side opening formed in a side wall of the implant shaft along a first channel axis. The bone fixation system further comprises a bone plate having a first plate portion and a second plate portion, the first plate portion having a first opening extending therethrough along a first opening axis and the second plate portion having a second opening extending therethrough along a second opening axis, the second opening being configured to receive the implant shaft therethrough to permit insertion thereof into a head of a bone.
US09999443B2

A single instrument head loading device for use in needlescopic surgery comprises a shaft having maneuverable structure on a proximal end for use in correctly positioning an instrument head at a distal end thereof through manipulation of at least one wire engaged to a distal end loader within which the instrument head is held by maneuvering the maneuverable structure at the proximal end, to which a proximal end of the at least one wire is attached, the at least one wire traversing the length of the shaft and the distal end loader being positioned in a suitable position allowing engagement of the instrument head under continuous direct visualization to a distal end of a cooperating shaft of a surgical instrument as well as allowing for disengagement of the instrument head back into the distal end loader under continuous direct visualization, the engagement and disengagement taking place within a body cavity.
US09999442B2

Two minimally invasive therapeutic procedures, particularly for patients with congestive heart failure, may be performed separately or together. One procedure involves providing a valved passageway through the patient's left ventricular wall at the apex of the patient's heart and advancing instruments through the valved passageway to connect the valve leaflets of the patient's heart valve, e.g. the mitral valve. The second procedure involves advancing a pacing lead and a pacing lead implanting device through a trocar in the patient's chest and implanting the pacing lead on an exposed epicardial region of the patient's heart wall. The pacing lead has a penetrating electrode which is secured within the heart wall. Improved devices for these procedures include a minimally invasive grasping device for heart leaflets, a leaflet connector with artificial cordae tendenae and a pacing lead implant instrument.
US09999435B2

Endoscopic instrument having a shaft extending between a proximal end and a distal end along a longitudinal direction, wherein a working section on the distal end and an actuating element on the proximal end are operatively connected by a thrust element extending along the longitudinal direction, wherein the working section has a jaw piece with first and second jaw parts, which jaw piece is arranged pivotably on a jaw part holder, which is arranged in the shaft so as to be displaceable along the longitudinal direction and rotatable about the longitudinal direction and the thrust element is coupled to the jaw piece, wherein the jaw piece, in the closed state, can be retracted into the shaft, and a blocking device is provided in the instrument which is configured to block a retraction of the jaw piece into the shaft in a predefined angle range about the longitudinal direction.
US09999433B2

A method of securing a turbinate to a nasal septum includes positioning an instrument in a nostril. The turbinate and nasal septum are pierced. The instrument is used to urge a barbed suture through the pierced turbinate and nasal septum. The turbinate is medialized against the nasal septum by urging the turbinate against the septum. The barbed suture holds the turbinate in a medialized state against the nasal septum.
US09999432B2

The invention relates to a snare device for catching an object, in particular for catching objects or foreign bodies in a human or animal body, comprising a hollow element, in particular a catheter, and a snare of a flexible elastic shape-memory material, wherein the snare can be moved relative to the hollow element and can be pulled into the hollow element and can be pushed out of the hollow element, and wherein the snare has a memorized original shape, to which the snare returns, when the snare is pushed out of the hollow element, by means of the material stresses caused when the snare is pulled in, and the hollow element has an outlet opening, which is arranged laterally on the hollow element and which is set back from the distal end of the hollow element and through which the snare can be pushed out of the hollow element and can be pulled into the hollow element.
US09999430B2

A tissue protection sleeve for use in suprapatellar surgery is provided. The sleeve has a first end, a second end, an inner surface and an outer surface. The sleeve further comprises at least two open grooves that extend along the inner surface from the first end to the second end. The grooves are adapted to accommodate elongated fixation elements inserted into a tibia. A drill guide sleeve and a trocar for inserting a guide wire are also provided and can be accommodated by the tissue protection sleeve.
US09999426B2

A stapling system configured to be operably engaged with a surgical device is disclosed. The stapling system comprises a staple cartridge carrier, a staple cartridge body, staples, drivers, a sled, an anvil, a housing removably attachable to the surgical device, and a drive system. The drive system comprises a rotatable shaft and a translatable drive member. The translatable drive member is selectively movable through the stable cartridge body when a rotary motion is applied to the rotatable shaft. The translatable drive member is configured to advance the sled to motivate the drivers to deploy the stables into tissue. The stapling system further comprises an electric motor operably engaging the rotatable shaft to selectively apply the rotary motion to the rotatable shaft. The electric motor is configured to receive power from a power supply only when the housing is attached to the surgical device.
US09999425B2

A clip used to repair the tissue of a heart valve leaflet may include a shaft having a barb and a plurality of legs connected to the shaft. The plurality of legs may extend away from the barb in a first condition, and may extend towards the barb in a use condition. The clips may be delivered to the heart valve leaflet and applied to the same in a minimally invasive procedure using a transcatheter device. The device may be used to apply a single clip to the leaflet tissue or multiple clips.
US09999421B2

A method for repairing a soft tissue includes passing an asymmetric suture having a first region proximal to a first end of the suture, an asymmetric second region, and a third region proximal to a second end of the suture through a first suture anchor located at a first location on a bone beneath the soft tissue, passing the suture from the first suture anchor to a top surface of the soft tissue such that the first region of the suture forms a medial row, extending the suture along the top surface of the soft tissue such that the asymmetric second region of the suture forms a lateral row that lays across the top surface of the soft tissue, passing the suture through a second suture anchor located at a second location on the bone beneath the soft tissue, and tensioning the suture.
US09999413B2

A device for occluding a vasculature of a patient including a micrograft having an absorbent polymeric structure with a lumen of transporting blood. The micrograft has a series of peaks and valleys formed by crimping. The occluding device is sufficiently small and flexible to be tracked on a guidewire and/or pushed through a microcatheter to a site within the vasculature of the patient. Delivery systems for delivering the micrografts are also disclosed.
US09999408B2

An apparatus comprises a surgical instrument and a buttress configured to hold a fluid adhesive. In some versions, the buttress contains a two-part fluid adhesive where two fluid materials form a fluid adhesive when combined. In some versions, the buttress is configured to be compressed by the surgical instrument thereby pressurizing a portion of the buttress. Thereafter, the buttress may be severed and the pressurized region may be operable to urge the fluid adhesive to a tissue site.
US09999406B2

A biopsy device comprises a body, a needle, a cutter, and a tissue sample holder. The tissue sample holder comprises an outer cup and a cap. A tray retains severed tissue samples from a biopsy procedure. In some versions, the tray is selectively detachable from the cap in a one-handed operation by the user. The tray may be ejected into a sample container, such as a formalin cup. The cap may include a threaded portion that is configured to engage a complementary threaded portion of a sample container to seal the sample container once the tissue samples have been transferred to the sample container from the tissue sample holder of the biopsy device. One or more ports may be provided in the cap to manage excess fluid within the outer cup of the tissue sample holder, and/or to provide integrated access for a marker delivery device.
US09999398B2

A computer implemented method for transmitting messages generated by a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), the method comprising: generating a first message at the CGM at a first time, the first message being related to blood glucose measuring; generating a second message at the CGM at a second time, the second time being after the first time, the second message being related to blood glucose measuring; determining an elapsed time since a transmitter of the CGM has transmitted data; determining whether the elapsed time is greater than a threshold; determining whether the second message is to be transmitted before the first message, in response to the elapsed time being greater than the threshold; and transmitting data corresponding with the second message before transmitting data corresponding with the first message to a diabetes management device, in response to determining that the second message is to be transmitted before the first message.
US09999396B2

An exercise physiological sensing system, a motion artifact suppression processing method and a motion artifact suppression processing device for obtaining a stable exercise heart rate signal of a user during exercise are provided. The exercise physiological sensing system includes a bone conduction body, a signal-to-noise ratio analysis module, and a computation module. The bone conduction body has a physiological sensor. The physiological sensor detects a physiological signal from a detected area of the user. The signal-to-noise ratio analysis module is coupled to the physiological sensor and detects a quality stability of the physiological signal. The computation module is coupled to the signal-to-noise ratio analysis module and generates the stable exercise heart rate signal according to the physiological signal. Accordingly, the exercise physiological sensing system can effectively improve the stability of the detected physiological signal during exercise.
US09999391B2

A wearable electromyogram sensor system is provided. The wearable electromyogram sensor system includes: an elastic band having a plurality of electrodes; an electromyogram sensor including an electrode connected to an electrode of the band so as to receive a bio-signal related to contraction of a muscle, and configured to sense a change of motion information through the bio-signal or previously sense the change of the motion information before the motion information is changed; and a fixing unit fixing the electromyogram sensor to the band. The electrode of the electromyogram sensor is connected to an electrode at an arbitrary position of the band.
US09999389B2

An activity meter (100) includes (i) a sleep level judging section (112) for repeatedly detecting a sleep level of a user and (ii) a notifying section (113) for automatically notifying the user of specific information only during a period during which a most recent sleep level is less than a predetermined level.
US09999388B2

A method and device for determining respiratory airflow metrics during a single inspiratory breath and using those metrics to calculate indicators of aerobic capacity and athletic endurance as well as a method and device for strengthening the respiratory muscles.
US09999387B2

In order to assist in evaluating/monitoring pain, and in treating same, a touch-sensitive graphics tool is provided with a local application (TGapps) for displaying a graphical representation of a patient's body, on which the patient can delimit a zone. A control application cooperates with the local application in order to record each delimited zone together with the corresponding surface data. The control application has a first mode in which the local application (TGapps) can be used by the patient to delimit zones of pain and a second mode in which the local application can be used by the patient to delimit treated zones. The tool is configured to activate graphical and/or numerical comparisons between the surface areas of the pain zones and the surface areas of the treated zones. In this way, it is possible to evaluate pain and the effects of treatment.
US09999381B2

A device for performing at least one medical function on a user is proposed. The device has at least one medical functional element that is designed to perform the medical function. The medical function is selected from a diagnostic, a therapeutic and a surgical function. The device has at least one evaluation and control part that comprises at least one actuation component for controlling the medical function. The evaluation and control part has at least one casing and at least one battery receptacle. The battery receptacle comprises at least one electrical energy reservoir, more particularly at least one battery. The battery receptacle is designed to be opened irreversibly by the user for removing the energy reservoir.
US09999379B2

Systems and methods for a continuous monitoring of analyte values received from an analyte sensor system are provided. One method for a wireless data communication between an analyte sensor system and a mobile device involves storing identification information associated with a transceiver of the analyte sensor system, the identification information entered by a user of the mobile device via a custom application running on the mobile device; causing the custom application to enter a background mode; searching for advertisement signals; receiving an advertisement signal from the transceiver; authenticating the transceiver based on the identification information; prompting the user to bring the custom application to a foreground mode; causing the custom application to request a confirmation from the user that a data connection with the transceiver is desired; receiving the confirmation from the user; and completing the data connection with the transceiver.
US09999376B2

A method and wireless sensor device for determining body postures and activities. In one aspect, a method includes receiving sensor data. The method also includes detecting and classifying a body transition of a body based on the sensor data. The method also includes detecting if there is activity of the body based on the sensor data. If there is activity, the method also includes classifying the activity. If there is no activity, the method also includes classifying a rest position of the body based on the sensor data and based on a previous body transition.
US09999371B2

An integrated catheter placement system for accurately placing a catheter within a patient's vasculature is disclosed. In one embodiment, the integrated system comprises a system console, a tip location sensor for temporary placement on the patient's chest, and an ultrasound probe. The tip location sensor senses a magnetic field of a stylet disposed in a lumen of the catheter when the catheter is disposed in the vasculature. The ultrasound probe ultrasonically images a portion of the vasculature prior to intravascular introduction of the catheter. The ultrasound probe includes user input controls for controlling use of the ultrasound probe in an ultrasound mode and use of the tip location sensor in a tip location mode. In another embodiment, ECG signal-based catheter tip guidance is included in the integrated system to enable guidance of the catheter tip to a desired position with respect to a node of the patient's heart.
US09999370B2

Apparatus and method for imaging a patient in an MRI system. This includes a frame, and at least one assembly that includes a patient-interface positioner connected to a reference position on the frame, a first lockable joint on the positioner; and a patient interface connected to a patient-proximal end of the positioner by a second joint, wherein the first patient-interface is moveably positioned to a selected pitch angle, a selected yaw angle, and a selected one of a plurality of distances relative to the reference position on the frame. The first lockable joint is configured to be tightened to yieldably hold the first patient-interface at the selected pitch and yaw angles, and at the selected one of the plurality of distances, relative to the reference position. Optionally a second substantially similar patient-interface and assembly are provided. The earpiece(s) optionally include audio transducer(s) and/or RF coil(s).
US09999369B2

A method of making a sensor includes depositing a layer of hydrogel over a substrate, the hydrogel configured to change thickness or volume in response to a selected condition and including a plurality of magnetic particles disposed in the hydrogel so that a magnetic property of the hydrogel changes with changes of thickness or volume of the hydrogel. The hydrogel is sacrificed in selected region(s) of the layer so that the hydrogel outside the selected region(s) forms a plurality of spaced-apart islands of the hydrogel. The islands of the hydrogel are enclosed in an enclosure at least partly permeable to a selected fluid. A sensor for detecting a condition includes the substrate, islands, and a device coil arranged with respect to the hydrogel so that changes in the magnetic property modulate an electrical property of the sensor. A system includes the substrate, islands, and a magnetic-field detector.
US09999367B2

An improved fetal ST monitoring system and method is provided using an ECG monitoring system collecting a plurality of T/QRS segments of a fetus, and a data analysis computer system connected to the ECG monitoring system calculating from the plurality of T/QRS segments.
US09999366B2

A catheter for use in a patient's heart, especially for mapping a tubular region of the heart, has a catheter body, a deflectable intermediate section and a distal mapping assembly that has a generally circular portion adapted to sit on or in a tubular region of the heart. A control handle of the catheter allows for single-handed manipulation of various control mechanisms that can deflect the intermediate section and contract the mapping assembly by means of a deflection control assembly and a rotational control assembly. The deflection control assembly has a deflection arm and a rocker member. The rotational control assembly has an outer rotational member, an inner rotational member and a cam. A pair of puller members are responsive to the deflection control assembly to bi-directionally deflect the intermediate section. A third puller member is responsive to the rotational control assembly to contract the generally circular portion of the mapping assembly.
US09999360B2

The invention relates to a coupling and method in a heart-rate measuring apparatus. The coupling in the heart-rate measuring apparatus (10) comprises means (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) for measuring heart rate and means for wireless data transmission (7). According to the invention, the heart-rate measuring device (10) comprises means (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) implemented by analog electronics for defining the maximum value of the heart-rate signal, or a parameter proportional to it.
US09999358B2

A blood pressure measurement device includes a cuff and a control unit. The cuff includes a first securing portion, provided on one surface of the cuff, for securing the cuff to the measurement area in a wrapped state, and a second securing portion, provided on another surface of the cuff, for securing the cuff to the measurement area in a wrapped state. At least one of the first securing portion and the second securing portion includes an electromagnet portion. The control unit secures the cuff to the measurement area by controlling a magnetic force emitted from the electromagnet portion and causing the second securing portion to be attracted to the first securing portion.
US09999352B2

In accordance with one aspect of the present technique, a method is disclosed. The method includes applying a mechanical perturbation to a tissue region using a displacement device. The method further includes calculating a compression impedance of the tissue region in response to applying the mechanical perturbation. The method further includes retracting the displacement device and calculating a retraction impedance of the tissue region in response to retracting the displacement device. The method also includes determining a hydration level of the tissue region based on at least one of the compression impedance and the retraction impedances.
US09999351B2

A system for is provided for using telemetry data based on patient habit information or patient monitoring. One or more patient monitoring devices has a unique patient ID. The one or more monitoring devices acquire patient information selected from of at least one of, a patient's activities, behaviors and habit information, and patient monitoring. ID circuitry is at the patient monitoring device. The ID circuitry includes ID storage, a communication system that reads and transmits the unique ID from an ID storage, a power source and a pathway system to route signals through the circuitry. An alarm is at the patient monitoring device that provides an alert only when the patient is in a wake-state. A telemetry system is in communication with the patient monitoring device. The telemetry system includes a database of patient ID's.
US09999349B2

An ophthalmologic apparatus comprises a light source 12, an optical measurement system 13 that radiates first light from the light source to inside an eye to be examined and guides first reflected light from the eye, an optical reference system (24, 22) that radiates second light from the light source to a reference surface and guides second reflected light from the reference surface, a photo detector 26 that detects interfering light between the first reflected light from the optical measurement system and the second reflected light from the optical reference system, and a processor that determines a position of a measuring portion of the inside of the eye based on the detected interfering light. The optical measurement system comprises an incident angle changing member 46 that changes an incident angle of the first light radiated to the eye within a predetermined angular range relative to an axis of vision of the eye.
US09999342B2

A modular video imaging system, and more particularly, a modular video imaging system having a control module connectable to multiple input modules. The control module and each input module having its own power supply and the input modules each capable of receiving differing types of image data from different types of cameras and processing the image data into a format recognizable by the control module. The control module controlling the ON/OFF condition of the input modules, such that each input module can be connected and disconnected during use.
US09999339B2

A removable non-integrated treating chemistry dispensing cartridge assembly may emit a signal in response to a predetermined amount of treating chemistry being detected and in response to a predetermined amount of illumination being detected.
US09999336B2

A self-wrung flat mop includes a mop handle and a flat panel mop head with a backside attached to a cleaning cloth. The mop handle is coupled with an operation handgrip which is slidable up and down. The operation handgrip includes a head at a lower end. The head includes a slot and a squeezing portion at a bottom plane corresponding to the slot. The flat panel mop head has a use state and a wringing state. At the wringing state the operation handgrip is moved upward to squeeze water from the cleaning cloth via the squeezing portion. The head also includes a support plane extended transversely. When in use the entire mop (including the flat panel mop head) can be positioned upright to facilitate drying of the cleaning cloth on the flat panel mop head without touching the floor surface that might otherwise make the cleaning cloth dirty.
US09999329B2

The present invention relates to an suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner and a vacuum cleaner having same, the suction nozzle of a vacuum cleaner of the present invention comprising: an suction main body having an suction portion for air suction formed thereon; an suction flow channel that is attached to the nozzle main body, and into which the air aspirated through the suction portion flows; an interlocking lever that is coupled in such a manner that enables rotation on both sides of the suction flow channel; an adsorption portion that is connected to one end of the interlocking lever, and provided so as to confront an suction hole formed on the suction flow channel; and a cleaning member provided on one side of the nozzle main body by coupling to the other end of the interlocking lever, wherein the air flowing through the suction hole rotates the interlocking lever by adsorbing or separating the adsorption portion to/from the suction flow channel, and the cleaning member moves in an up-down direction as the interlocking lever rotates.
US09999327B2

According to one embodiment, a seating detection sensor includes a strain generating body and a strain gauge. The strain generating body is held on a casing or a toilet seat. The strain generating body receives a load from the toilet seat via a shaft portion to generate a strain. The strain gauge is provided on the strain generating body and detects a strain amount of the strain generating body. A force release portion releases a force applied to an opening in a horizontal direction from the shaft portion in a state of the shaft portion abutting the opening so that the force is not converted downwardly in a vertical direction.
US09999319B2

In order to provide a processor in which a reception space occupied by a body thereof may be decreased when it is not used, a container may be mounted on and detached from the body without being hindered, visibility of an inner portion of the container may be improved, and noise generated at the time of an operation may be decreased, a soundproofing cover is mounted on the body so as to cover the container, is detachable from the body to be completely separated from the body, and has an internal space closed by closure of an opening of one end thereof by the body. One end portion of a first vacuum tube is disposed to be exposed to an upper surface of the body and is connected to one end portion of a second vacuum tube.
US09999317B2

A device for descaling flow passages of a pod-type beverage machine, comprising: a container having a bottom wall and a sidewall extending from the bottom wall, the sidewall defining an opening at a top of the container, wherein the container is configured to be received by the beverage machine; a dry, liquid-absorbing material disposed within the container adjacent to the bottom wall, and configured to retard a flow of liquid therethrough; a dry powder descaler disposed within the container, wherein at least a portion of the dry powder descaler is disposed on a surface of the absorbing material opposite the bottom wall; and a cover over the opening at the top of the container and configured to seal the liquid-absorbing material and the dry powder descaler in the container.
US09999315B2

Various beverage preparation machines having a multi-chambered basket unit are shown. The basket unit can be configured to accept multiple cartridge configurations. For example, some embodiments are configured to receive a first cartridge configuration in a first chamber of the basket unit and a second configuration in a second chamber of the basket unit. In various embodiments, the basket unit can rotate to allow selective accessibility of the first and second chambers. This can facilitate loading the cartridges into the appropriate chamber, such as loading the first cartridge configuration into the first chamber and the second cartridge configuration into the second chamber.
US09999309B2

A chopstick having a handling portion and an eating portion. The handling portion may be made from a first material. The eating portion may be made from a second material that is lighter than the first material. The handling portion may be attached to the eating portion. A pivot point may exist at a connection point between the handling portion and the eating portion. When the chopstick is placed on a horizontal surface, the eating portion may be elevated above a horizontal surface due to the first and second material properties and the pivot point configuration. Thus ensuring that the eating portion of the chopstick remains sanitary and clean, free of germs and dirt.
US09999300B2

An apparatus is disclosed that provides a storage system designed to allow pickers to easily and efficiently pull products from all portions of the storage system from a single side of the storage system. The storage system includes a first storage rack that has a first plurality of columns and a first platform extending from one of the first plurality of columns. An outer edge of the first platform forms an end of the first storage rack. Positioned adjacent to the first storage rack is a second storage rack with a second plurality of columns and a second platform that extends from one of the second plurality of columns, where an outer edge of the second platform forms an end of the second storage rack. An aisle is formed by a predetermined distance between the outer edges of the first and second platforms.
US09999295B1

Many traditional consoles struggle with changing user needs. Many existing technical furniture and consoles are custom manufactured, but may be expensive and/or cumbersome to design and assemble. According to some embodiments, there is provided a console support structure that includes two or more leg structures horizontally spaced apart. Each leg structure includes a respective base and at least one respective vertically adjustable support mounted on the base. For each adjacent pair of leg structure, a respective elongated lateral support structure extends between and interconnects the first and second leg structures. At least one work surface may be mounted on and supported by the vertically adjustable supports of the leg structures.
US09999292B1

A dual charging cable lanyard for use with a mobile phone includes a first cable and a second cable each having a data or charging connector at first ends, respectively. The lanyard includes a connector bride having receiving ports at opposite ends for receiving the data or charging connectors of the pair of cables so as to form a neck strap. The lanyard includes a cell phone holding member. Opposing ends of the first and second cables are received into a single signal port and is selectively received into the cell phone holding member for connection to a cell phone. The lanyard includes a dual action safety assembly intermediate the signal port and holding member for preventing inadvertent release of the cell phone holder from the cables.
US09999288B2

A cosmetic or dermatological system includes a receiver of data related to current and/or future surrounding conditions transmitted by a data transmitter external to the system, a packaging and dispenser device containing one or more compositions from which a preparation is delivered, an adjustment system that is coupled to or suitable for coupling to the packaging and dispenser device, and that enables at least one characteristic of the dispensed preparation to be varied, and a processor for automatically controlling the adjustment system as a function of the received data or for informing the user, as a function of the received data, about an action to be exerted on the adjustment system.
US09999286B2

A sealable powder box of the present application comprises an upper casing, a lower casing, an inner casing mounted in the upper casing, a storage box mounted in the lower casing, and a tray arranged in the storage box. The sealable powder box further comprises a gasket, the gasket is arranged in the tray by means of injection molding, or is sandwiched between the tray and the storage box and engaged with the tray. The inner casing is mounted in the upper casing, and the top part of the inner casing penetrates the top part of the upper casing. The upper casing and the inner casing are axially slidable and radially rotatable relative to each other, the storage box is engaged in the lower casing and threadingly connected with the upper casing, and the inner casing and the tray are rotatably connected with the lower casing by a pin.
US09999273B2

A sole for footwear capable of recovering part of the energy produced during deambulation including: at least one energy harvesting means, including: a tubular body, fixed in use, having a first and a second end and a movable part slidable in the tubular body; the energy harvesting means being provided, in use, for generating electrical energy following the sliding of the movable part with respect to the tubular body that is fixed in use, during the deambulation; at least one actuator group for the energy harvesting means, including at least one fluid-dynamic circuit including: at least one first and one second tank including a fluid, the first tank being housed at a rear area of the sole and the second tank being housed at a front area of the sole; at least one first and one second joining conduit in fluid connection between the first tank and the first end of the at least one tubular body, and the second tank and the second end of the tubular body, respectively, where, the first tank has a configuration in plan view which is substantially elongated and curved.
US09999263B2

The present invention is sport equipment for reducing the impact force by a user wearing the sport equipment. The sport equipment has an outer body, an inner body in spaced relation with the outer body, at least one impact absorbing member located between the outer and inner bodies, and at least one first magnetic element located in a longitudinal bore defined through the impact absorbing member. A gap is defined between the first magnetic element and an inner surface of the outer body. The first magnetic element has a first pole orientated in a direction exterior of the sport equipment, and is configured to produce a repulsive magnetic force when a second magnetic element of a second sport equipment is at a predetermined distance from the sport equipment prior to the sport equipment contacting the second sport equipment.
US09999260B2

A portable, personal storage and carrying case for an e-liquid e-cigarette PV in which the case includes: a refillable PV that is removable from the case; an electrical power source for re-charging a rechargeable battery in the PV; a user-replaceable reservoir for holding e-liquid; and an electrical or electronic pump adapted to transfer e-liquid from the reservoir to a chamber in the PV, the pump delivering a pre-defined or variable quantity of e-liquid from the reservoir; and in which the case has closed and open positions, and lifts up the removable PV when in the open position to enable a user to readily withdraw the PV from the case.
US09999259B2

A portable, personal storage and carrying case for an e-liquid e-cigarette PV in which the case includes: an electrical power source for re-charging a rechargeable battery in the PV; a user-replaceable reservoir for holding e-liquid; and an electrical or electronic pump adapted to transfer e-liquid from the reservoir to a chamber in the PV, the pump delivering a pre-defined or variable quantity of e-liquid from the reservoir; and in which the PV includes indicators that show when e-liquid equivalent to a single cigarette is present in the PV and when that e-liquid equivalent to a single cigarette has been consumed.
US09999257B2

The cylindrical connector includes a major body, the major body defining a longitudinal channel through a longitudinal length of the major body from a proximal portion through a distal portion, the proximal portion including a shaft with side walls. The connector further includes a flange located between the proximal portion and the distal portion, the flange at least partially defining at least a first portion of at least one first aperture in communication with the longitudinal channel. A distal portion of the major body being configured to attach to the first section of the e-vaping device and the proximal portion of the major body being configured to attach to the second section of the e-vaping device in order to define an airflow path that enters the longitudinal channel through the at least one first aperture and flows through the proximal portion of the major body.
US09999240B2

The invention provides carbohydrate compositions and products comprising the carbohydrate compositions, such as dry products or a low-viscosity reduced-sugar syrup, methods of making the carbohydrate compositions and products, and uses thereof.
US09999239B2

The present invention is directed to methods and compositions that are useful in producing, feeding and growing animals. Compositions of the present invention comprise an extracted mineral element composition as disclosed herein. Animal lifespan and production is improved when provided with compositions comprising an extracted mineral element composition.
US09999238B2

Provided herein are variants of Buttiauxella sp. phytases that may be used in industrial applications including methods for starch liquefaction, alcohol fermentations and for enhancing phosphate digestion in foods and animal feeds.
US09999230B2

The invention relates to a method for producing a baked article which is assembled in the manner of a sandwich and has two baked product parts which are of substantially plate-like design and have in each case an inner face and an outer face, and a filling layer arranged between the two baked product parts. Furthermore, the invention relates to a baked article, comprising two baked product parts which are of substantially plate-like design and have in each case an inner face and an outer face, and a filling layer arranged between the two baked product parts.
US09999228B2

Conventional pans used for baking pizza pies, bread, and other dough related products have only a few shapes. Almost all such pans are limited to geometric shapes such as circular, rectangular, or square. The limited number of shapes is primarily due to the nature of the dough which shrinks when cooking. Disclosed are pans which include a frame having a bottom wall, an outer wall upwardly extending from the bottom wall, and a rim outwardly extending from the outer wall. A support surface is configured to support the food product within the outer wall of the frame. A plurality of holding elements upwardly extend from the support surface within the outer wall and are configured to at least partially pierce and hold the food product on the support surface, substantially against shrinkage, in a desired shape. Such pans can be designed to produce food product in essentially any desired shape.
US09999227B2

Compositions useful for controlling pests are disclosed. In some embodiments, the composition includes a pesticidal natural oil and a polar aromatic solvent. Methods of making and using the compositions are disclosed.
US09999223B2

The present invention relates to a herbicidal composition which comprises: a) at least one herbicide A selected from glyphosate, glufosinate and their salts, and b) a herbicide B which is 3-[5-(difluoromethoxy)-1-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-4-ylmethylsulfonyl]-4,5-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-1,2-oxazole [common name: pyroxasulfone]. The present invention relates in particular to a herbicidal composition comprising: a) at least one herbicide A selected from glyphosate, glufosinate and their salts, b) a herbicide B which is 3-[5-(difluoromethoxy)-1-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-4-ylmethylsulfonyl]-4,5-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-1,2-oxazole [common name: pyroxasulfone], and c) at least one further herbicide C, which is selected from the herbicide groups C.1 to C.8: C.1 herbicides of the group of acetolactate synthase inhibitors (ALS inhibitors), C.2 herbicides of the group of protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitors (PPO inhibitors), C.3 herbicides of the group of auxines, C.4 herbicides of the group of 4-hydroxyphenyl-pyruvate-dioxygenase inhibitors (HPPD inhibitors), C.5 herbicides of the group of phytoene desaturase inhibitors (PDS inhibitors), C.6 herbicides of the group of photosystem II inhibitors (PSII inhibitors), C.7 herbicides of the group of microtubulin inhibitors, and C.8 herbicides of the group of inhibitors of the synthesis of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA inhibitors).
US09999213B2

An autonomous drone integrated with wide bandwidth, high energy acoustic wave generators sent to evict and eradicate agricultural pests within a patrolling area. The drone hovering close to a plant bombards its leaves and fruits with high energy acoustic waves via frequency and tone determined by an onboard synthesizer through acoustic power amplified to drive the sideways and bottom mounted acoustic wave generators. Agricultural pests such as caterpillar, beetle and the like are bombarded with powerful acoustic waves causing their bodies to vigorously vibrate and resonate with synthesizer frequency to dislodge or kill the pests. Other insects such as moths are forced airborne by a propeller's strong downdraft and are electrocuted by integrated high voltage screens. Inside a hotel room, the drone hovers close to a surface of a bedding mattress, bombarding the surfaces with powerful acoustic waves tuned to frequencies that cause bed bugs to resonate and die.
US09999208B2

Methods for the production of reproductively sterile fish and aquatic animals for aquaculture, the aquarium trade, and control of invasive species are described. The methods include disruption of gonadal development through the administration of compounds that lead to the failure of fertile gonadal development. Compounds may be delivered to the eggs prior to fertilization or water activation or post fertilization and water activation by contacting unfertilized or pre-water-activated fertilized eggs or fertilized eggs in an immersion medium including the compound of interest. Compounds may be conjugated with a molecular transporter compound effective for chorionic transport of the conjugate. The compounds may be antisense Morpholino oligomers that are capable of effectively suppressing the expression of the dead end gene or other essential genes for germ cell development in fish and other egg-producing aquatic animals.
US09999206B2

Herein provided are a model and method for a transgenic a bovidae having an TGF-β1 gene inserted into the bovidae genome and capable of expressing higher than normal levels of TGF-β1 in cardiac muscle.
US09999197B2

The present invention relates to the field of Lactuca sativa, in particular to a new variety of lettuce designated NUN 6109 LTL as well as seeds and plants and heads or leaves thereof.
US09999192B1

A soybean cultivar designated 50281686 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 50281686, to the plants of soybean cultivar 50281686, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 50281686, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 50281686. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 50281686. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 50281686, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar 50281686 with another soybean cultivar.
US09999184B1

An inbred corn line, designated D054062, the plants and seeds of the inbred corn line D054062, methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, produced by crossing the inbred corn line D054062 with itself or with another corn plant, and hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line D054062 with another corn line or plant and to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic corn plants produced by that method. This invention also relates to inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line D054062, to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line D054062 and to the inbred corn lines derived by the use of those methods.
US09999183B2

A soybean cultivar designated S140174 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S140174, to the plants of soybean cultivar S140174, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar S140174, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar S140174. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S140174. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S140174, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar S140174 with another soybean cultivar.
US09999180B2

A timber-working head and method of operation are provided. The head has a frame to which first and second arms are pivotally connected. Respective linear drive actuators pivot the respective arms relative to the frame to open and close them. At least one processor controls application of pressure by the linear drive actuators such that the arms grasp timber to be processed by the head. The position of the linear actuators is used to determine whether the timber is offset from a feed axis of the frame beyond a predetermined distance, and the application of pressure by one of the linear actuators to reduce the offset to be within the predetermined distance.
US09999175B2

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for monitoring and controlling an agricultural implement, including seed planting implements. Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for detecting seeds being conveyed by seed conveyor. Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for monitoring and controlling deposition of secondary crop inputs such as fertilizer and insecticide.
US10004170B2

There is provided an electronic component mounter configured to include a supplier holder in which a radial lead type electronic component supplier can be mounted, and to cause a mounting head to hold a radial lead type electronic component so as to mount the component on a board positioned by a board holder. The electronic component mounter includes a tape guide passage that guides a tape body after the radial lead type electronic components are picked up from the tape body. The electronic component supplier is configured to further include a posture converter that converts a posture of the tape body from a posture perpendicular to a horizontal plane to a posture parallel to the horizontal plane, after the radial lead type electronic components are picked up from the tape body, and that introduces the tape body to the tape guide passage.
US10004165B1

A humidification assembly includes an enclosure, for example, arranged around a component of a datacenter. A base extends through a wall of the enclosure. Inside the enclosure, the base includes a well. Outside the enclosure, the base receives a container having a total volume that includes water and air. Water may flow from the container through a passage in the base to the well, for example, until equilibrium is reached and a predetermined water level in the well is thereby maintained. Water from the well thus provides a replenishing source of water to be evaporated for humidifying the air within the enclosure.
US10004161B2

An electronic module is provided in which a chip is disposed over a substrate and electrically connected to the substrate by a plurality of electrical connect structures disposed between the chip and the substrate. A heat distributor, fabricated of a thermally conductive material, is disposed between the chip and the substrate and sized to extend beyond an edge of the chip to facilitate conduction of heat laterally out from between the chip and substrate. The heat distributor includes openings sized and positioned to allow the electrical connect structures to pass through the heat distributor without electrically contacting the heat distributor. The heat distributor is electrically isolated from the electrical connect structures, the chip and the substrate. In one implementation, the heat distributor physically contacts a thermally conductive enclosure of the electronic module to facilitate conduction of heat from between the chip and substrate to the enclosure.
US10004158B2

An electronic apparatus which is capable of suppressing temperature increase in an interior of the electronic apparatus and also reducing effects of noise arising from operation of a fan during sound recording even when sound is recorded over a long time period. A duct unit joins an inlet and an outlet, which are formed in a cabinet of the electronic apparatus, to each other and is thermally connected to a heat source. A first fan blows air in the duct unit from the inlet toward the outlet. A second fan circulates air inside the electronic apparatus. According to a sound recording operation, the first fan and the second fan are drivingly controlled in a selective manner.
US10004151B2

A display apparatus having a display module which may be selectively set to a flat surface state or a curved surface state. The display apparatus having a display module includes a bendable display panel configured to display images, a first frame provided at a front of the display panel, and a second frame provided at a back of the display panel. The second frame includes a first bracket positioned at a back of the display panel, and a second bracket provided to be slidable with respect to the first bracket.
US10004148B2

A wiring substrate is manufactured by attaching an adhesive protective film to a metal-foiled laminate sheet, forming bottomed via holes by partially removing the film and an insulating film, filling conductive pastes into the holes, and peeling the film. A wiring substrate is manufactured by forming an adhesive protective layer so as to cover a patterned metal foil on a metal-foiled laminate sheet, forming bottomed step via holes by partially removing the layer and an insulating film, filling conductive pastes into the holes, and peeling off a protective film. The wiring substrate and the second wiring substrate are laminated in such a way that protruding parts of the pastes come into contact with respective protruding parts of the pastes.
US10004144B2

A connector module includes a substrate including stacked magnetic layers, a first principal surface, and a second principal surface opposite to the first principal surface, a surface mount connector mounted on mounting electrodes on the first principal surface of the substrate, external mounting electrodes disposed on the second principal surface of the substrate, and inductors inside the substrate and each connected at a first end thereof to a corresponding one of the mounting electrodes and connected at a second end thereof to a corresponding one of the external mounting electrodes.
US10004137B2

The present invention provides a printed circuit board assembly including a substrate having a plurality of conductive layers vertically sandwiched between a first cap-insulation layer and a second cap-insulation layer. The substrate has a first part, a second part and a third part. For protecting the conductive layers from moisture, each of the areas of the conductive layers corresponding to the second part is smaller than the area of the first cap-insulation layer corresponding to the second part for at least a first predetermined percentage, and each of the areas of the conductive layers corresponding to the second part is smaller than the area of the second cap-insulation layer corresponding to the second part for at least the first predetermined percentage.
US10004134B2

In various embodiments, a reflector lamp having a longitudinal axis is provided. The reflector lamp may include: a reflector which has a contour and a neck, with a pin base resting at the end of said neck, a light source arranged in the reflector, wherein the light source is fastened in the reflector with the aid of a mounting clip, which simultaneously adjusts the light source, wherein the mounting clip comprises three sections, namely a first section which holds the light source, a second section which serves for the adjustment in the neck and a third section which is used for the base connection.
US10004127B2

A two-way load control system comprises a power device, such as a load control device for controlling an electrical load receiving power from an AC power source, and a controller adapted to be coupled in series between the source and the power device. The load control system may be installed without requiring any additional wires to be run, and is easily configured without the need for a computer or an advanced commissioning procedure. The power device receives both power and communication over two wires. The controller generates a phase-control voltage and transmits a forward digital message to the power device by encoding digital information in timing edges of the phase-control voltage. The power device transmits a reverse digital message to the controller via the power wiring.
US10004125B2

A path light control device that can include a processor and light source, and any combination of ambient light sensors (ALS), passive infrared (PIR) sensors, accelerometers and compass sensors, where the sensor sampling mode and sampling period may be dynamically determined to permit the ALS to accurately measure an ambient light without excessive operation. The accelerometer and compass sensor may be provided to determine device movement and orientation to avoid sensor operation when movement or orientation of the device indicates that the data of the sensor is not applicable for proper device control.
US10004121B2

A LED driving device is provided, which includes a LED string including at least one LED element, at least one channel connected to the at least one LED element, a current regulator configured to regulate a current flowing through the at least one channel according to at least one corresponding control voltage, and a control signal generating circuit configured to generate a control signal based on a difference between a reference voltage and a comparative voltage. The comparative voltage is determined based on a sensing voltage, and the sensing voltage corresponds to an LED current flowing through the LED string. The control signal generating circuit is further configured to generate the at least one corresponding control voltage based on the control signal.
US10004114B2

An induction heating cooker includes a plurality of heating coils to heat a container, an inverter having a plurality of switching elements to be operated such that a high-frequency voltage is selectively supplied to the plurality of heating coils, and a control unit to control the operations of the plurality of switching elements such that the high-frequency voltage is time-divisionally supplied to a heating coil, on which the container is positioned, among the plurality of heating coils. By this configuration, it is possible to reduce the number of inverters and manufacturing costs. In addition, since the thickness of the cooker is reduced, it is possible to reduce the overall size of the cooker.
US10004113B2

Provided is a heating wire arrangement for a ceramic heater, which is an arrangement of a heating wire on a ceramic substrate in a ceramic heater and emits heat. The heating wire arrangement for the ceramic heater includes a heating wire that is a metal wire member extending in a longitudinal direction and is two-dimensionally arranged on a virtual two-dimensional (2D) plane that is substantially parallel to a top surface of the ceramic substrate.Thus, a uniform heat density may be maintained and a rapid temperature ramp-up may be enabled, unlike a conventional heating wire of a three-dimensional (3D) type.
US10004112B2

A machine learning apparatus includes a state observing unit and a learning unit. The state observing unit observes a state variable comprised of at least one of an adhesion state, a dielectric strength voltage, an electric heating time temperature, and an actual electric heating time value of a coil electrically heated by a coil electric heating unit, and at least one of an electric heating time command value, a voltage, and a current in the coil electric heating unit. The learning unit performs a learning operation by linking at least one of an adhesion state, a dielectric strength voltage, an electric heating time temperature, and an actual electric heating time value of the coil observed by the state observing unit to at least one of the electric heating time command value, the voltage, and the current, which are observed by the state observing unit.
US10004111B2

An in-vehicle radiant heater control apparatus includes: a temperature detection device for a heater in a vehicle compartment; a first switch element connected in series to the radiant heater between a power supply and a ground; a temperature control device controlling the first switch element that the heater temperature approaches a target temperature; a resistive element having one electrode connected to one electrode of the heater; an inter-electrode voltage detection device for the resistive element; and a resistance calculation device repeatedly obtaining a heater resistance of the radiant heater based on a voltage between the other electrode of the resistive element and the other electrode of the heater, a detected resistance voltage, and a resistance of the resistive element. The temperature detection device obtains the heater temperature based on the heater resistance.
US10004108B2

A mobile wireless device for use with a mobile telecommunications network. The device comprises a controller unit for switching one or more mobile services on and off, and a user interface unit configured to receive user inputs indicating that a user wants to turn the one or more mobile services on or off and for causing the controller unit to act accordingly. The device further comprises a network signalling unit for identifying times at which the user switches the one or more mobile services on and off and for signalling those times to an entity within or connected to said mobile telecommunications network.
US10004098B2

A bearer reconfiguration method performed by a User Equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system supporting a multi-bearer is provided. The bearer reconfiguration method includes, if the UE performs a bearer reconfiguration from a single bearer to the multi-bearer, reordering Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) Protocol Data Units (PDUs) received through the multi-bearer, using a timer after a completion of the bearer reconfiguration, and processing the reordered PDCP PDUs into at least one PDCP Service Data Unit (SDU). The method may also include, if the UE performs bearer reconfiguration from the multi-bearer to the single bearer, reordering PDCP PDUs received through the multi-bearer, using a timer until a predetermined condition is satisfied, and processing the reordered PDCP PDUs into at least one PDCP SDU.
US10004091B2

A communication apparatus according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores, when the communication apparatus is connected to a first wireless network at a predetermined position, information about the predetermined position, a detection unit that detects whether the communication apparatus exists within a predetermined range including the predetermined position, and a transmission unit that transmits predetermined information, for connecting another communication apparatus to the first wireless network, to the another communication apparatus using a second communication system with a lower power consumption than a first communication system used in the first wireless network in response to the detection unit detecting that the communication apparatus exists within the predetermined range.
US10004086B2

Methods and apparatuses for improving device to device (D2D) communication are disclosed herein. One method includes a user equipment (UE) triggering a buffer status report (BSR) upon configuration or setup of radio resource allocation mode 1 for D2D communication while the UE has data available for transmission for D2D communication. The method further includes the UE transmitting a Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element corresponding to the BSR.
US10004084B2

Methods and apparatuses for coordinating resource scheduling between wireless networks are provided. The method comprises detecting whether interference on at least one interfered wireless link in the wireless network caused by at least one interfering wireless link in at least one second wireless network exceeds a pre-determined threshold. The method also comprises initiating a resource coordination procedure with the at least one second wireless network by transmitting a resource coordination message to the at least one second wireless network when the interference exceeds the pre-determined threshold. The method further comprises performing, based on the resource coordination message, the resource coordination procedure with the at least one second wireless network to determine schedulable resources. The method additionally comprises scheduling the at least one interfered wireless link based on the determined schedulable resources.
US10004080B2

A method for reporting channel quality from a user equipment (UE) to a base station is described. The UE derives a channel quality for each of a plurality of downlink resources. The UE transmits channel quality reports in a pattern of time intervals by rotating through the plurality of downlink resources in different time intervals of the pattern, wherein a channel quality report is not transmitted by the UE in each time interval of a frame.
US10004077B2

In a mobile communication network, after a target beam is determined based on signal intensity of a serving beam and a candidate beam, when the serving beam and the target beam are operated in the same base station, a terminal performs a beam switching procedure in a layer 2.
US10004068B2

The present disclosure discloses a method, a device and a system for uplink resource allocation, relating to a wireless communication field and used for further reducing interference of service transmission between cell uplinks. The method for uplink resource allocation includes: a first base station determines uplink almost blank subframe (UL ABS) subframe(s) unused currently of a user equipment (UE) served by the first base station; and the first base station sends information of the determined UL ABS subframe(s) unused currently of the UE served by the first base station to a second base station, so that the second base station acquires available UL ABS subframe(s) and takes the available UL ABS subframe(s) as uplink subframe resource(s) of the second base station. The present disclosure is applied to a resource allocation scenario.
US10004062B2

A method for allocating a resource for response information transmission and transmitting according to transmission conditions in a wireless communication system according to the present invention comprises the steps of: setting a specific field value of a control channel depending on the allocation method by determining a transmission method or transmission quantity of data to be transmitted to a user's terminal from a data channel, a method of generating response information of the data according to the transmission quantity or transmission method, and an allocation method for indicating the response information resource; transmitting the data channel including the transmitting data and the control channel to the user's terminal; confirming the response information, which is transmitted from a resource allocated by the allocation method, for the data transmitted from the user's terminal; and determining whether the transmitted data area retransmitted according to the confirmed response information.
US10004061B2

To improve manipulability.An information processing device includes a wireless communication unit and a control unit. The wireless communication unit performs real-time image transmission with at least one sink device according to a Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Miracast specification. The control unit performs control related to the real-time image transmission based on control information for controlling the information processing device according to the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Miracast specification, the control information being received from the at least one sink device. The control unit performs control such that on-off switching of a UIBC for transmitting manipulation information in the sink device that has transmitted the control information is performed when a plurality of pieces of control information are received.
US10004057B2

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for performing, by a base station, observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA)-related operations in a wireless communication system, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting a positioning reference signal (PRS) to a terminal through a PRS positioning occasion to which at least two precoding processes are applied; receiving, from the terminal, OTDOA signal measurement information on the basis of the PRS; and positioning the terminal on the basis of the OTDOA signal measurement information.
US10004052B2

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for estimating a Doppler shift for underwater communication. The apparatus includes: a multipath delay profile determiner for detecting a correlation of a known signal 1 and a received packet signal and time (T1o) at a point having maximum energy of the correlation, and detecting a multipath delay profile at the time (T1o); a correlation calculator for calculating a correlation between a correlation of a known signal 2 and the received packet signal, and the multipath delay profile; a maximum value detector for detecting time (T2o) at a point having maximum energy of the correlation calculated by the correlation calculator; and a Doppler shift estimator for determining a Doppler shift using a difference between the time (T1o) and the time (T2o) at points having respective maximum energy.
US10004051B2

An apparatus and a method for controlling traffic of a second electronic device, which interworks with a first electronic device, in the first electronic device is provided. The method includes detecting occurrence of an event which needs to be notified to the second electronic device, determining a time to notify the occurrence of the event based on a driving time of the second electronic device, and transmitting an event occurrence notification signal to the second electronic device at the determined notification time.
US10004047B2

One embodiment of the present specification discloses a method for performing power control for an uplink transmission in user equipment. The method comprises the steps of: receiving a signal including information about a maximum modulation order among modulation schemes of a low order that can be used for an uplink transmission; comparing the modulation order set to be used for an uplink transmission with the modulation order included in the signal; and setting a transmission radio frequency (RF) unit into a first power mode if the modulation order set to be used for an uplink transmission is lower than or equal to the modulation order included in the signal.
US10004043B2

The present invention proposes a method for controlling electric power of a user equipment in a wireless communication system supporting change in use of a radio resource, and an apparatus therefor. Specifically, the method comprises a step of receiving, from a base station, a transmission power control (TPC) command for a first radio resource set and a second radio resource set, wherein the first radio resource set is configured to dynamic changes of a use of radio resources in the first radio resource set, the second radio resource set is configured to prevent dynamic changes of a use of wireless resources in the second radio resource set, and different open-loop control parameters are applied to the first radio resource set and the second radio resource set and the same closed-loop control parameters are applied to the first radio resource set and the second radio resource set.
US10004037B2

The throughput of a wireless network can be boosted by network coding (NC). The present invention combines NC-aware routing and TDMA-based MAC protocol for energy-efficient design in the wireless network, and provides a method thereof. An optimization model, which is a minimum energy consumption model (MECM), is formulated for minimizing the energy consumption for accomplishing a set of flow transmissions. In particular, based on a set of user traffic-flow demands, a NC-aware traffic-flow assignment that minimizes a total energy consumption of packets delivering to meet the user traffic-flow demands is determined. Thereafter, given the optimal flow assignment, a minimum timeslots model (MTM) which leads to a TDMA-based scheduling strategy at the MAC layer is developed. The MTM is to minimize the total number of timeslots required for transmission under a condition that the NC-aware traffic-flow assignment as already determined is accomplishable.
US10004036B2

Method for managing power consumption in tree-based, Time-Division Multiple Access (TDMA), multi-hop wireless networks. The method includes at each node set the steps of: relinquishing its initial role in the network if a condition related to the power consumption of the node is not met; and adopting a new role in the network according to a TDMA protocol of said network; wherein the node stops emitting beacons to a child node thereof and/or stops acknowledging beacons from a parent node, and wherein each node has a lower power consumption in this new role than it had in its initial role.
US10004034B2

When a user of a mobile communication device is roaming in a visited network, an active network selection policy is formed of one or more partial policies. The partial policies typically include the network selection rules of the visited network, but may also include user home network rules, global network selection rules of the home network and/or further network selection rules of the home network. At least some of the partial policies, such as the network selection policy of the visited network, may be in accordance with Automatic Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF) mechanisms.
US10004033B2

Embodiments enable access to a wireless communications medium. In example embodiments, a method comprises receiving first synchronization messages from a wireless device transmitting synchronization messages in a first neighbor awareness network cluster, the first synchronization messages including a first hop count value to a first anchor master in the first cluster and information describing a first master rank value of the first anchor master; receiving second synchronization messages from a wireless device transmitting synchronization messages in a second neighbor awareness network cluster, the second synchronization messages including a second hop count value to a second anchor master in the second cluster and information describing a second master rank value of the second anchor master; and selecting the first neighbor awareness network cluster or the second neighbor awareness network cluster, based on at least one of the first and second hop count values and the first and second master rank values.
US10004029B2

A mobile station for receiving broadcast information for restriction control from a base station in a network environment shared by a plurality of operators includes a reception unit configured to receive from the base station the broadcast information including restriction control skip information indicating a type of a call which is not subject to restriction control; and a restriction control determination unit configured to identify restriction control skip information corresponding to an operator with which the mobile station registers from the received broadcast information and determine whether to apply the restriction control.
US10004028B2

A request to pair a first device with a second device is received. An indication is sent from the second device to the first device. The indication confirms that the second device is paired with the first device. One or more actions are received from the first device. The one or more actions may be taken on the second device.
US10004021B2

Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for one of restricting at least one service and providing one of the at least one service and a differential service to a subscriber, the method comprising steps of: receiving a connection request from a user equipment [102]; determining a location status of the subscriber, wherein the location status comprises one of an intra-national location and an inter-national location; generating one of a positive response in an event a source IP address is identified in a pre-stored list of source IP address and a negative response is in an event the source IP address is not identified in the pre-stored list of source IP address; and one of restricting the at least one service and providing one of the at least one service and the differential service to the subscriber.
US10004018B2

A method for performing a cell reselection process in a wireless communications system is provided. The method is used in a communications apparatus camping on a serving cell. The method includes: receiving priority information about a priority order of frequencies of candidate cells from a network operator; performing a cell reselection evaluation process to select a target cell from the serving cell and the candidate cells; and performing a cell reselection process from the serving cell to the target cell directly without passing through any intervening cell.
US10004010B2

Measurement reports are received from a plurality of user equipment (UE) in communication with a first base station on a network. The measurement reports include data characterizing physical cell identifiers (PCIDs) of neighboring base stations and signal strengths associated with the neighboring base stations. Relative positions of the plurality of UEs are determined based on the received measurement reports. The plurality of UEs are associated into one or more groups comprising UEs having similar relative positions. A UE is selected from each of the one or more groups for transmission of a request to resolve at least some of the neighboring base station cell global identities (CGIs). At least one of the receiving, determining, associating, and selecting are performed by at least one data processor forming part of at least one computing system. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.
US10004008B2

The present disclosure presents a method and an apparatus for hybrid management of handovers in a self organizing network. For example, the disclosure presents a method for transmitting, via a transmitting component at the base station, handover signaling data from the base station to a network entity, wherein the base station is one of a plurality of base stations transmitting handover signaling data to the network entity, receiving, at the base station, feedback associated with one or more handover parameters of the base station, wherein the feedback is received from the network entity and includes an indication of an amount of handover signaling data generated by the base station or the plurality of base stations, and updating the one or more handover parameters based on the feedback received and local information available at the base station. As such, hybrid management of handover in a self organizing network may be achieved.
US10004001B2

A streaming media adaptive transmission method is presented, which may include determining in real time, by user equipment, a transmission rate of to-be-transmitted data, or determining a transmission rate according to a negotiation request that includes an option of a transmission rate and is provided by a base station; sending, by the user equipment, a rate guarantee request to the base station, where the rate guarantee request includes the transmission rate; and after receiving a message that is for confirming that the transmission rate is available and that is returned by the base station, requesting, by the user equipment from a data sending end, to-be-transmitted data of which an encoding rate is corresponding to the transmission rate. User equipment, a base station, and a streaming media adaptive transmission system are further disclosed.
US10004000B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a broadcast control bandwidth allocation and data transceiving method. The method includes: acquiring location information and channel distribution information that are of current user equipment; preprocessing a time-frequency resource of a channel according to the location information and the channel distribution information that are of the current user equipment; updating bandwidth allocation information according to the preset bandwidth and quantities of each data channel and each control channel and the preset quantities of repetitions corresponding to each data channel and each control channel; and broadcasting broadcast information to the user equipment by using a broadcast channel.
US10003998B2

Systems and methods are disclosed which implement one or more overhead reduction technique, if channel conditions favorable to implementation of overhead reduction are present. The one or more overhead reduction technique may have one or more restriction corresponding to the channel for which the overhead reduction technique is implemented. The one or more overhead reduction technique implemented may include time-domain bundling, frequency-domain bundling, and pattern adaptation. Pattern adaptation may include pattern code-domain reduction, pattern timing-domain reduction, and pattern frequency-domain reduction.
US10003987B2

The embodiments herein relates to a method in a communications network. A first probing pilot signal is transmitted from a first network node to a wireless device. The first probing pilot signal is unique for the first network node. A second signal is transmitted from the first network node to the wireless device. The second signal is unique for the first network node. The first probing pilot signal together the second signal enables identification of that the first network node is suitable to transmit data to the wireless device. A first and second set of channel state parameters is transmitted from the wireless device to the central network node which identifies that the first network node is suitable to transmit data to the wireless device since it is substantially close to the first network node.
US10003980B2

A radio base station and a method therein for management of neighbor relations with respect to neighboring radio base stations are provided. The radio base station is connected to an Operation and Maintenance, O&M system requesting performance measurement data relating to the neighbor relations from the radio base station. The radio base station 200, 300, 400 is configured to associate each neighbor relation with a predefined first or a predefined second neighbor relation type, wherein the first neighbor relation type indicates that the neighbor relation is to be monitored and the second neighbor relation type indicates that the neighbor relation is to be unmonitored. The base station is further configured to collect performance measurement data relating to mobility for neighbor relations associated with the first neighbor relation type, and to send the collected performance measurement data only for neighbor relations associated with the first neighbor relation type to the O&M system.
US10003967B2

A user equipment method, user equipment, a base station method, a base station and computer program products. The user equipment method, comprises: on reception of a trigger instructing modification of an access stratum radio bearer, preventing release of an associated non-access stratum bearer. In this way, when an access stratum or data radio bearer is instructed to be modified (as may occur when security credentials for that bearer need to be updated), the associated non-access stratum bearer may be retained in order to allow a update in security credentials to occur without disrupting communication or losing data.
US10003965B2

An eUICC 100 embedded in an UE 200 authenticates an AUTN transmitted from an HSS 300, and calculates a transfer key TK by using a secret key K. The eUICC 100 acquires a transfer Token by decoding an enc Token by using the transfer key TK, and acquires a new Customer ID by decoding an enc New ID by using the transfer key TK. The eUICC 100 transmits a user auth resp in response to a User auth+transfer Setup Req including the AUTN, the enc Token, and the enc New ID to the HSS 300. The eUICC 100 generates a shared-Secret Key shared between the eUICC 100 and an HSS 400 by using the transfer Token, and executes an attach procedure for the HSS 400 by using the generated shared-Secret Key and the new Customer ID.
US10003955B2

A core network node (e.g., Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN)), a radio access network node (e.g., Base Station Subsystem (BSS)), a wireless device (e.g., mobile station, Internet of Things (IoT) device), and various methods are described herein which are related to the wireless device needing to determine that certain conditions are fulfilled prior to utilizing a mobility history list.
US10003947B2

A process of tracking usage of a wireless device in a third party wireless network with a metering system includes implementing the metering system in a network separate from the third party wireless network and activating the wireless device in response to identification of the wireless device and confirmation of use of a tracking system to the metering system. The process further includes obtaining, by the metering system, an amount of wireless services used by the wireless device. The obtaining includes at least one of obtaining an amount of wireless services used from the third party wireless network and obtaining an amount of wireless services used from the tracking system.
US10003942B2

A computer-implemented method for recommending a friend for a network utilizing a host site. The method includes obtaining, using a processor system, a first audio recording from a first user device associated with a first member having a first member profile affiliated with the host site and a second audio recording from a second user device associated with a second member having a second member profile affiliated with the host site. Determining if the first and second user are in proximity by comparing the first and second audio recordings; and based on a determination that the first and second users are in proximity, initiating steps for associating the first member profile with the second member profile via the host site.
US10003941B2

A wireless network connection method for an electronic device is provided, in which a first signal is transmitted to additional electronic device and is utilized to identify the electronic device. When the additional electronic device identifies the electronic device through the first signal, it establishes wireless communication between the electronic device and the additional electronic device. A second signal is transmitted to the additional electronic device. The second signal is an audio signal to instruct the additional electronic device to maintain the wireless communication.
US10003940B1

A call is received by a device without, or with limited, information about the calling party. The call is then forwarded to another device where more calling party information is determined (such as by using the automated number information (ANI) protocol) or a database of information associated with phone numbers). These additional data are sent to the device of the called party and are used to populate a contact list on the device with these additional data. Then the call is forwarded to the called party again, and the device of the called party now reports the data stored in the contact list in response to receiving the call.
US10003939B2

In a wireless communication system, when receiving a START DTMF message with an ITR indicator from a transmitting device, a network is configured to send a START DTMF ACK message to the transmitting device. After adjusting its settings and entering a text receiving mode, the transmitting device is configured to send a CONFIRM START DTMF TXT message to the network. The network is configured to send keypad information associated with the number of a receiving device to the receiving device. The receiving device is configured to send the corresponding text message to the network, which then forwards the text message to the transmitting device.
US10003937B2

Routing of short message service (SMS) communications from a networked communication device to a networked cable television (CATV) services system device (e.g., set-top box STB) is provided. SMS messages may be sent to a user's wireline phone, mobile phone, or other communication device as identified by a unique identification number (UIN). Upon identifying if the intended destination device is operative to receive SMS messages or if a provision has been made to route an incoming SMS message, the SMS message may be routed to a networked cable services system device (e.g., a set-top box or CATV-enabled telephone) associated with an account of the intended destination device. The cable services system device may receive an SMS message and may be operative to render the message on a display. In addition, the device may also be operative to send SMS messages.
US10003934B1

A method for providing messaging-related information to a mobile device is discussed. The method includes receiving from the mobile device a request for messaging-related information, using the request to identify a device-type indication for the mobile device, identifying one or more presentation parameters for presenting the messaging-related content properly on the mobile device, and transmitting the messaging-related content to the mobile device in a format corresponding to the one or more parameters.
US10003929B2

An apparatus includes at least one processor and a transceiver. The at least one processor is configured to execute computer readable instructions to: acquire first location information representing locations of a plurality of user terminals, second location information representing a location of at least one vehicle, and third location information representing a location of a destination of the plurality of user terminals; and determine a route from the location of the at least one vehicle to the location of the destination based on the first location information, the second location information and the third location information, wherein the route includes the location of each of the plurality of user terminals. The transceiver is configured to transmit the route to the plurality of user terminals.
US10003920B2

An architecture is provided that can facilitate and/or transmit notifications based upon device presence techniques in connection with a wireless communications network. For example, when certain mobile devices register with a particular network entity (e.g., a femtocell) that services a particular target location (e.g., place of residence), then such registration can be leveraged to indicate presence at the target location. Accordingly, notifications can be delivered to custodian devices that indicate the presence information if certain predetermined conditions or criteria are satisfied.
US10003911B2

A data processing system is proposed which comprises two electronic devices, each of them having an electro-magnetic coupler embedded on the exterior casing, at least one of the electronic device having one or more sliding surfaces for directing relative movement between the two devices, such that they automatically come into correct alignment during the sliding.
US10003907B2

Diffuse or spatially large audio objects may be identified for special processing. A decorrelation process may be performed on audio signals corresponding to the large audio objects to produce decorrelated large audio object audio signals. These decorrelated large audio object audio signals may be associated with object locations, which may be stationary or time-varying locations. For example, the decorrelated large audio object audio signals may be rendered to virtual or actual speaker locations. The output of such a rendering process may be input to a scene simplification process. The decorrelation, associating and/or scene simplification processes may be performed prior to a process of encoding the audio data.
US10003901B1

In an embodiment, a mix monitor system is provided in which a stage plot of the positions of the musicians and their instructions may be supplied. Based on the relative locations of a given musician who is monitoring the mix and the other musicians/instruments, the mix monitor system may generate a mix that incorporates modifications to make the sound appear to be three dimensional. That is, the source of the sound may be experienced by the musician as if the sound is being heard from the location of the musician/instrument.
US10003889B2

According to an embodiment, a MEMS transducer includes a stator, a rotor spaced apart from the stator, and a multi-electrode structure including electrodes with different polarities. The multi-electrode structure is formed on one of the rotor and the stator and is configured to generate a repulsive electrostatic force between the stator and the rotor. Other embodiments include corresponding systems and apparatus, each configured to perform corresponding embodiment methods.
US10003888B2

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for microspeaker devices. In one aspect, a microspeaker element may include a deformable dielectric membrane that spans a speaker cavity. The deformable dielectric membrane can include a piezoactuator and a dielectric layer. Upon application of a driving signal to the piezoactuator, the dielectric layer can deflect, producing sound. In some implementations, an array of microspeaker elements can be encapsulated between a glass substrate and a cover glass. Sound generated by the microspeaker elements can be emitted through a speaker grill formed in the cover glass.
US10003880B2

A wireless earbud includes a housing having a stem portion coupled to an ear portion. The stem portion has an electrical connector disposed on a distal end that includes first and second electrical contacts coupled to receive power for recharging a battery within the wireless earbuds.
US10003872B2

According to one aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising a frame and a speaker rigidly attached to the frame, where the speaker comprises a display module and at least one vibrating deformable plate element attached to a bottom surface of the display module and configured to at least partially bend, when actuated, the display module to generate at least one of sound waves or tactile feedback.
US10003867B2

Systems and methods for computing disjoint paths in a network considering continuity constraints include, responsive to a request for disjoint paths in the network which are subject to the continuity constraints, initializing a plurality of variables associated with a graph defining the network where edges constitute nodes and vertices constitute links; determining a first path through the graph; determining an auxiliary directed graph based on the first path; and determining a second path through the auxiliary directed graph, wherein the second path is determined by considering entry into cut edges, exit from cut edges, and a destination in the auxiliary directed graph and the plurality of variables are adjusted based on the entry, the exit, and the destination to address the continuity constraints. This approach concept applies to not just continuity constraints but to any constraints, which are non-additive in nature; the objective function is still additive for Shortest Path First (SPF).
US10003849B1

Video on Demand (VOD) content is enjoyed by consumers, but its selection and delivery is often tedious for consumers and uses large amounts of bandwidth for service providers. By providing VOD channels that consumers may freely navigate, service providers not only improve the user experience for consumers, but may reduce the bandwidth needed to request and send navigation commands. VOD channels provide VOD content to consumers according to criteria and preferences set by the consumer, and allow navigation within a VOD channel, between separate VOD channels, and between menus and linear channels. Channel guides and viewing features are tailored for VOD channels to further improve the user experience.
US10003840B2

Described herein are techniques for streaming digital media content, such as music, video, or television content. In accordance with an embodiment, the system includes support for watch-now functionality. A media play logic at a media device controls playback of media content and advertisements as received from a media server, and can be configured for regular media play, or extended media play. Periodically, for example when input is received from a user to skip to a next media option for playback, the user can be prompted to watch an advertisement, in return for extended media play. Upon receiving an election by the user to watch the advertisement in return for extended media play, the media application plays the advertisement, and configures the media play logic for an extended period of advertisement-free media play.
US10003837B2

Various arrangements for using a television programming distribution network with integrated predictive data gathering for distributing content are presented. Using a television service provider network, television programming may be broadcast to bi-directional communication television receivers and addressable television receivers. Viewership information may be collected by a viewership analysis system from the bi-directional communication television receivers. A viewership target model may then be constructed using the viewership information received from the plurality of bi-directional communication television receivers and data from a subscriber database accessible by the viewership analysis system. A differentiator model may then be trained using the viewership target model. The differentiator model may be applied to the addressable television receivers. Content may then be addressed to some of the addressable television receivers based on applying the differentiator model.
US10003835B2

In one aspect, an example method may be used in connection with a system including a first media-broadcast system (MBS) and a second MBS, wherein the first MBS includes a first automation-system and a first device, wherein the first automation-system transmits, to the first device, a first instruction configured to control operation of the first device, and wherein the second MBS includes a second automation-system and a second device. The method includes: receiving, by a computing device, from the first automation-system, the first instruction; and responsive to receiving the first instruction, transmitting, by the computing device, to the second automation-system, a second instruction configured to cause the second automation-system to transmit to the second device, the first instruction, thereby controlling operation of the second device.
US10003820B2

According to the present invention, an image encoding/decoding method comprises the steps of: performing an intra prediction on a current block so as to generate a prediction block; performing filtering on a filtering target pixel in the prediction block on the basis of the intra prediction mode of the current block so as to generate a final prediction block; and generating a reconstructed block on the basis of a reconstructed differential block corresponding to the current block and on the final prediction block. According to the present invention, image encoding/decoding efficiency can be improved.
US10003815B2

A device may determine, based on a value, whether all cross-layer random access skipped (CL-RAS) pictures of an intra random access point (IRAP) access unit are present in a video data bitstream. In addition, the device may reconstruct pictures of the video data based at least in part on syntax elements decoded from the video data bitstream.
US10003808B2

An encoding apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: an encoder configured to request for storage of an original frame; a frame processing unit configured to generate an encoded frame having the original framed encoded therein; and a frame memory configured to store the encoded frame. Here, the frame processing unit is configured to generate the original frame by encoding the encoded frame stored in the frame memory according to a request of the encoder, and the encoder is configured to perform encoding according to the original frame.
US10003800B2

An image coding method, comprising: subtracting a prediction signal from the input image signal for each coding unit, thereby generating respective prediction error signals; performing orthogonal transform and quantization on a corresponding one of the prediction error signals for each transform unit, eventually generating quantization coefficients; and coding pieces of management information indicating a structure of the transform units and the quantization coefficients into a tree structure. Each of the transform units corresponds to a corresponding one of leaf nodes in the tree structure. In the coding, for each leaf node, management information and a quantization coefficient are coded, eventually generating a coded signal in which the coded management information and the coded quantization coefficient are arranged in succession for each leaf node.
US10003797B2

Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can identify a beginning portion and a remaining portion of a video to be encoded. A first constant quality variable bit rate encoding process can be applied to the beginning portion, based on a first set of encoding parameters, to produce an encoded beginning portion. A second constant quality variable bit rate encoding process can be applied to the remaining portion, based on a second set of encoding parameters, to produce an encoded remaining portion. The encoded beginning portion can be provided for video playback. The encoded remaining portion can be provided, when requested, for video playback subsequent to the encoded beginning portion.
US10003795B2

Provided is a method that de-multiplexes a bit stream to extract intra prediction mode information and residual signals, restores an intra prediction mode of a current prediction unit using the intra prediction information and intra prediction modes of prediction units adjacent to the current prediction unit, generates reference pixels using one or more available reference pixel if there exist unavailable reference pixels of the prediction unit, adaptively filters the reference pixels based on the restored intra prediction mode, generates a prediction block using the restored intra prediction mode and the reference pixels, decodes the residual signal to generating a residual block, and generates a reconstructed block using the prediction block and the residual block. Accordingly, additional bits resulted from increase of a number of intra prediction mode are effectively reduced. Also, an image compression ratio can be improved by generating a prediction block similar to an original block.
US10003787B1

A method of refining a depth map determines a depth map by estimating a depth of pixels of an associated image. The depth map is divided into connected components based on similarity of each of the pixels of the depth map. A band of pixels along a boundary of each of the connected components is selected. A confidence score is assigned to pixels within each band of pixels. The confidence score increases with the estimated depth of the pixels. The depth map is updated based on the assigned confidence scores to determine a refined depth map.
US10003784B2

A stereo image matching apparatus includes a processor which includes: a bit distributor distributing values of each pixel of stereo images into sequential N bits and outputting a plurality of stereo images including the sequential N bits; a plurality of cost calculators each receiving the plurality of stereo images and calculating matching cost values for each pixel of each of the stereo images; a confidence calculator calculating a matching confidence by using cost characteristics lit of the respective matching cost values calculated by the plurality of cost calculators; and a depth determiner determining that a depth value of which the matching confidence is high and the matching cost values are relatively low is a final depth value.
US10003783B2

An apparatus comprises an input interface for receiving a color image of at least an object and a low resolution depth image of at least the object. The apparatus further comprises an image processing module configured to produce data for generating a three-dimensional color image based on a first color pixel image data of a first color pixel and a first derived depth pixel image data of a first derived depth pixel. The image processing module is configured to calculate the first derived depth pixel image data based on a measured depth pixel image data of a measured depth pixel and a weighting factor. The weighting factor is based on a color edge magnitude summation value of a path between the first color pixel and the reference color pixel. The apparatus further comprises an output interface for providing the generated three-dimensional color image.
US10003781B2

Tags provide information about items that are visible during video playback. The tags can identify the brand name, item name, location where the item can be purchased, additional information about the item, etc. The tags can be turned on or off by a viewer or user during playback.
US10003773B2

The present invention relates to a shock sensing device for vehicle and method for controlling thereof. The present invention can minimize battery consumption with faster handling of occurred accident more than prior art when camera was installed at a side of a vehicle to film a blind spot since the present invention can film information of a vehicle blind spot with camera of only 1 channel or 2 channel.
US10003762B2

A device comprising a first shared image device that captures at least one image representation. The first shared image device receives a request to share the at least one image representation to an at least one other shared image device. The first shared image device and the at least one other shared image device are each capable of capturing image representations. The first shared image device transmits the at least one image representation.
US10003749B1

An outdoor electronic signage apparatus configured to display background images for preselected intervals of time. The apparatus may be single sided, double sided, or in a “V” configuration. The apparatus is purposed to decrease billboard blight while it increases active conscious awareness of electronic bill board advertisements. The apparatus comprises outdoor electronic signage device, an electronic data device, and a controller.
US10003746B2

An optical unit with a shake correction function may include a movable module holding an optical element; a fixed body; a support mechanism swingably supporting the movable module at a midway position in an optical axis direction; and a shake correction drive mechanism to swing the movable module. The movable module may include an optical module which holds the optical element; and a weight provided on one side of a front side and a rear side in the optical axis direction of the optical module, the weight being configured to shift a gravity center position of the movable module to a support position side of the support mechanism relative to a gravity center position of the optical module in the optical axis direction. An end face of one side of the weight may be formed in a flat face which is perpendicular to the optical axis direction.
US10003743B2

In an example embodiment, a method, apparatus and computer program product are provided. The method includes facilitating receipt of a plurality of light-field images of a scene captured in a burst capture by a light-field camera. The method includes determining shifts between images of the plurality of light-field images, where the shifts between the images of the plurality of light-field images are associated with shake of the light-field camera while capturing the plurality of light-field images. The method includes generating a plurality of depth maps for the plurality of light-field images, and generating a set of view images of the scene based on the plurality of light-field images and the plurality of depth maps. The method includes generating a refocus image by combining the set of view images based at least on the shifts between the images of the plurality of light-field images.
US10003737B2

Provided is a video processing apparatus including: shooting template storage unit that stores shooting templates for individual themes available for a video work, the shooting templates indicating compositions and shoot times of individual scenes available for the video work; scene selecting unit that displays, upon selection of any one of the shooting templates for the individual themes stored in the shooting template storage unit, a list of scenes for the selected shooting template and receives a selection of scenes for commencement of shooting; scene shooting unit that displays, upon selection of the scenes through the scene selecting unit, a shooting screen with guide information on the screen, and shoots the selected scenes lasting for the shoot times defined by the shooting template, the guide information serving as a guide for the compositions defined by the shooting template; and video work completing unit that completes the video work by compiling videos for the respective selected scenes shot by the scene shooting unit. This facilitates making of story movies.
US10003732B2

An image processing device for simulating depth of field in a captured image, the image processing device comprising: a camera sensor configured to capture an image; an orientation sensor configured to determine an orientation of the device from which the direction of capture of the image by the camera sensor is derivable; and a processor configured to apply blur to a first area of the captured image in dependence on the orientation of the device.
US10003726B2

An illumination module can comprise a circuit board, a semiconductor-based light source mounted to the circuit board, an encasing mounted to the circuit board, and one or more optical surfaces at least partially contained within the encasing. The semiconductor-based light source can emit light in a first illumination pattern. The one or more optical surfaces can be collectively configured to receive the light from the edge-emitting semiconductor-based light source. The one or more optical surfaces can further be collectively configured to condition and redirect the light, and to output the conditioned and redirected light from the illumination module in a second illumination pattern different from the first illumination pattern.
US10003725B2

An open-ended, incoherent bundle of optical fibers transmits light from a nearby scene. A camera captures images of the back end of the fiber bundle. Because the fiber bundle is incoherent, the captured image is shuffled, in the sense that the relative position of pixels in the image differs from the relative position of the scene regions that correspond to the pixels. Calibration is performed in order to map from the front end positions to the back-end positions of the fibers. In the calibration, pulses of light are delivered, in such a way that the time at which light reflecting from a given pulse enters a given fiber directly correlates to the position of the front end of the given fiber. A time-of-flight sensor takes measurements indicative of these time signatures. Based on the map obtained from calibration, a computer de-shuffles the image.
US10003723B2

A camera module includes a coil member, a magnet member, and a sensor member. The coil member is positioned on a first surface of a fixed unit. The magnet member is positioned on a movable unit and facing the coil member. The sensor member is positioned on a second surface of the fixed unit and configured to sense a position of the movable unit.
US10003718B2

A scanning device comprises a light source, a reflecting mirror and a photosensor. The light source provides light to an original. A first portion of the light penetrates through a hole of the original and becomes penetrating light. A second portion of the light is reflected by a hole-free portion of the original and becomes second reflected light. The reflecting mirror reflects the penetrating light and generates first reflected light. The photosensor receives the first reflected light and the second reflected light and generates a hole-containing image signal representative of an image of the original.
US10003704B2

The elastic force of a spring 41 in a direction of an arrow X is applied to an end 51A of a coil spring 5A in a direction of an arrow Y through a holding plate 42. The end 52A of the coil spring 5A is engaged with a holding hole 12 and regulated from moving in the direction of the arrow Y. The elastic force of the spring 41 in the direction of the arrow X is constantly applied to the coil spring 5A in a direction in which the peripheral surface of the support post 3 is tightened.
US10003690B2

A call is received at an interactive voice response (IVR) system. A voice communications session is established between the IVR system and the telephonic device. A request from the IVR system to allocate a speech resource for processing voice data of the voice communications session is received by a dynamic speech allocation (DSA) engine. Configuration data associated with a current state of the voice communications session is accessed by the DSA engine. Dynamic characteristics associated with the caller are accessed by the DSA engine. A speech resource from among multiple speech resources is selected by the DSA engine based on the current state and the dynamic characteristics. The selected speech resource is allocated to the voice communications session by enabling the IVR system to use the selected speech resource to process voice data received from the caller during the current state of the voice communications session.
US10003685B2

A method of detecting, controlling and managing transmission of a transmitting device within a facility is disclosed. The method involves transmitting information to the transmission device at a power greater than a power of an available base station covering the facility, detecting a response transmission from the transmission device by a least one transmission detection facility, extracting identification information associated with the transmission device in response to the transmitted information; and determining a location of the transmission device based on the response transmission received by the at least one received transmission detection facility, wherein the response transmissions are sorted by the identification information, determining an allowability of the located transmission device with the set area and interacting and manipulating transmission of the detected transmitting device.
US10003682B2

A mobile terminal and a method for controlling the same that may perform wireless communication with an external terminal are disclosed. The mobile terminal comprises a wireless communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with an external terminal; a touch screen outputting screen information; and a controller extracting event information included in the screen information on the basis of a user request and transmitting the extracted event information to the external terminal such that a notification screen corresponding to the event information is output from the external terminal prior to a predetermined time from a closing time of an event corresponding to the event information.
US10003677B2

A network application is verified at a network processor by selecting network application functions based on a field of an ingress packet. The network application is composed of a set of network application functions, with each function carrying out a corresponding packet processing operation, such as packet parsing, statistical gathering, and the like. Each network application function can be invoked by the network processor with a corresponding command. Based on a field of an ingress packet, the network processor can select a sequence of functions to process the packet, wherein the sequence corresponds to functions of the network application or a portion thereof.
US10003674B1

A web server includes a communication unit for receiving or transmitting a message corresponding to the request message which has been processed as a WebSocket message from or to at least one of clients and WAS. A processor, after finishing a WebSocket upgrade, (a) instructs the communication unit to send, to a specific worker thread of the WAS via predetermined internal protocol, the request message which has been processed as the WebSocket message by using a specific connection among a plurality of connections established by a reverse connection scheme for interaction between the web server and the WAS; and (b) receives the response message corresponding to the request message from the specific worker thread via the internal protocol by using the specific connection. The reverse connection scheme establishes at least one connection between the web server and the WAS by the WAS sending a request to the web server.
US10003663B2

A method for network priming for an inmate of a controlled facility includes receiving authentication credentials for the inmate to access a third party social network, importing social network contacts from the third party social network, filtering the social network contacts for prohibited contacts, presenting the inmate with the social network contacts, receiving, from the inmate, a selection of social network contacts to obtain selected social network contacts, and populating a secure social network list of the inmate with the selected social network contacts.
US10003662B1

A method for adaptably brokering location based second degree social networking includes receiving in a broker from a mobile computing device a request indicating a geo-location of the device, an identification of a social networking member, and a listing of one or more social networks in a set of social networks. Then, the broker queries each social network in the set to identify first degree contacts of the social networking member and additionally queries each social network in the set to identify second degree contacts of the social networking member. Thereafter, the second degree contacts is geo-located and, on condition that one of the second degree contacts is determined to be geographically proximate to the geo-location of the device, a profile for the one of the second degree contacts is retrieved from one or more of the social networks in the set and transmitted to the device.
US10003657B2

A data transmission processing method and apparatus, where the method includes receiving, by a common services entity (CSE), a first request message that is sent by an application function (AF) and used to instruct the CSE to update a first underlying network information resource, where the first request message includes data for calling an underlying network service, and the first underlying network information resource is a resource specially used to store the data for calling an underlying network service, updating, by the CSE, original data in the first underlying network information resource to the data for calling an underlying network service, and sending, by the CSE, the data for calling an underlying network service in the first underlying network information resource to an underlying network using a control plane.
US10003654B2

A system provides communication among user devices and Internet of things (IoT) devices includes a user device able to execute at least one application that is able to communicate using at least a first IoT protocol; an IoT device able to communicate using at least a second IoT protocol; and a universal translator able to communicate using at least the first IoT protocol and the second IoT protocol. An automated method of providing communications between a user device and an IoT device includes: determining a protocol of the IoT device; determining a protocol of the user device; and inserting a virtual device if the protocols are different. An automated method of translating communications for IoT systems includes: receiving a device protocol and identifier; receiving an application protocol and identifier; adding the application identifier to an application list; and adding the device identifier to a device list.
US10003653B2

Methods, systems, and computer program products for wirelessly communicating with various system controllers of a facility through a wireless interface module. A mobile computing device may wirelessly connect with the wireless interface module to transmit information to and receive information from the wireless interface module. Specifically, a washing machine may be coupled to the system controller and may require various chemicals to perform the underlying washing tasks. As the chemicals are utilized, system controllers provide usage data and any other relevant data to the wireless machine interface, which may in turn provide the data to the mobile computing device upon request. Similarly, the mobile computing device may transmit system setting information, updated formulas, or other information to the wireless interface module for incorporation into one or more system controllers.
US10003651B2

The present invention relates to a maritime communication system and method and provides a maritime communication system and method, the maritime communication system comprising: a plurality of user terminals by which a SNS can be used on the sea, and in which an application for providing content is installed; at least one maritime communication server for providing the SNS and the content for the user terminal on the sea; a land communication server for communicating with the maritime communication server and controlling communication between a user of the maritime communication server and a user located on land or a user of another maritime communication server; a content server for providing the content of the application via the land communication server; and a management server for producing and distributing the application installed in the user terminals or controlling operations of all the servers.
US10003647B2

Methods, systems, and configured storage media are provided for flexible data mirroring. In particular, the invention provides many-to-one data mirroring, including mirroring from local servers running the same or different operating systems and/or file systems at two or more geographically dispersed locations. The invention also provides one-to-many data mirroring, mirroring with or without a dedicated private telecommunications link, and mirroring with or without a dedicated server or another server at the destination(s) to assist the remote mirroring unit(s). In addition, the invention provides flexibility by permitting the use of various combinations of one or more external storage units and/or RAID units to hold mirrored data. Spoofing, SCSI and other bus emulations, and further tools and techniques are used in various embodiments of the invention.
US10003642B2

A system, apparatus, and method are provided for operating a peer-to-peer communication environment. The environment includes one or more clusters of peer devices, wherein devices in a single cluster are organized into a logical hierarchy under an anchor master (at the root of the hierarchy) and any number of synchronization masters; other devices are non-master devices. Synchronization parameters established by the anchor master and disseminated throughout the hierarchy enable the clusters' devices to rendezvous, discover peers and services, and communicate among themselves. The anchor master may adjust the synchronization parameters to avoid conflict with another hierarchy. Each device issues beacons (e.g., heartbeats, discovery beacons) that identify the number of devices synchronized with the reporting device, which allows the anchor master to calculate the total number of cluster members. Devices may also report details of a neighboring cluster (e.g., its synchronization parameters) via a beacon or some other communication.
US10003639B2

Embodiments of the systems described herein can implement one or more processes remotely delivering customized code to a host application and/or computing device. The host application may be configured as an Application Programming Interface with a customized code processing library that may configure the host application to receive further instructions remotely. The host application may be further configured to execute host code and/or third-party code. The host application may be configured to receive remote application logic, after the host application has been installed on a computing device, and to execute the received application logic to alter the behavior of the host application, such as selectively tracking end user interactions.
US10003632B2

Provided is a method of providing, by a server apparatus, a continuous play service, the method including receiving user information from a first user terminal apparatus, obtaining at least one piece of web page information corresponding to the user information, and transmitting the at least one piece of web page information to the first user terminal apparatus such that the at least one piece of web page information is displayed on a screen of the first user terminal apparatus, wherein the at least one piece of web page information includes information about at least one web page previously accessed by a plurality of second user terminal apparatuses including the first user terminal apparatus.
US10003630B2

A method for managing static Uniform Resource Locator (URL) access, an associated apparatus, and an associated computer program product are provided, wherein the method includes the steps of: receiving a URL request from a browser running on another electronic device, wherein the URL request includes a static URL, and the static URL is utilized for accessing a specific web page on a specific web server; sending request information representing the URL request to a control server, wherein the control server stores registered information of each web server of at least one web server, and the at least one web server includes the specific web server; receiving response information corresponding to the request information from the control server; and controlling the browser to perform a test operation according to the registered information of the specific web server, in order to selectively control web page access of the browser.
US10003624B2

A graphical user interface is displayed. The graphical user interface includes at least one communication control for managing communications with other network nodes and at least one browser control for navigating to different network resource addresses. Human perceptible realtime output is generated from realtime communication data relating to a realtime communication session with at least one other client network node. In the process of generating of at least some of the human perceptible realtime output, operation of the client network node is managed based on at least one performance target. In the graphical user interface, a graphical representation of a network resource identified in connection with the browser control is displayed.
US10003623B2

A method for transferring control of an existing multi-participant conversation in which at least two communication terminals are connected to each other through a data connection to a conference control application can include the following steps: establishment of a virtual conference room that serves as an anchor point for the application and can be a virtual participant in the conference, switching of the conference room into the existing data connection and assignment of the master role to the conference room. A signal generated by the application can cause the switching of the conference room into the existing data connection and the assignment of the master role to the conference room.
US10003620B2

Techniques, systems, and articles of manufacture for collaborative analytics with edge devices. A method includes identifying multiple items of data pertaining to a user from one or more user actions implemented across multiple user devices, identifying one or more rules associated with one or more user preferences, exchanging the multiple items of data across the multiple user devices, and applying the one or more rules to the multiple items of data across the multiple user devices to generate an output via at least one of the multiple user devices.
US10003617B2

An application synchronization method for use in a terminal is provided. The application synchronization method includes acquiring an alarm registration request of a first repetitive synchronization operation, acquiring a next execution time of a second repetitive synchronization operation associated with a same application as an application of the first repetitive synchronization operation, adjusting, if a difference between an alarm time of the alarm registration request of the first repetitive synchronization operation and the next execution time of the second repetitive synchronization operation is less than or equal to a threshold value, the alarm time of the alarm registration request of the first repetitive synchronization operation according to the next execution time of the second repetitive synchronization operation, and registering the adjusted alarm time.
US10003613B2

A method and system are provided for performing a security inspection of a set of virtual images in a cloud infrastructure. The method includes merging the virtual images into a tree structure having a root and a plurality of leaves such that child leaves and a parent leaf to the child leaves have common ones of the virtual images. The method further includes identifying a security violation in a given one of the virtual images at a given one of the plurality of leaves. The method also includes applying a bisection method against a path in the tree from the root to the given one of the plurality of leaves to find a particular one of the virtual images that is a root cause of the security violation. The method additionally includes performing a corrective action for any of the plurality of images having the security violation.
US10003605B2

A security platform employs a variety techniques and mechanisms to detect security related anomalies and threats in a computer network environment. The security platform is “big data” driven and employs machine learning to perform security analytics. The security platform performs user/entity behavioral analytics (UEBA) to detect the security related anomalies and threats, regardless of whether such anomalies/threats were previously known. The security platform can include both real-time and batch paths/modes for detecting anomalies and threats. By visually presenting analytical results scored with risk ratings and supporting evidence, the security platform enables network security administrators to respond to a detected anomaly or threat, and to take action promptly.
US10003604B2

Apparatuses, computer readable media, and methods establishing and maintaining trust between security devices for distributing media content are provided. Two security devices bind to establish an initial trust so that security information can be exchanged. Subsequently, trust is refreshed to verify the source of a message is valid. In an embodiment, the security devices may comprise a security processor and a system on a chip (SoC) in a downloadable conditional access system. Trust may be refreshed by a security device inserting authentication information in a message to another security device, where authentication information may assume different forms, including a digital signature (asymmetric key) or a hash message authentication code (HMAC). Trust may also be refreshed by extracting header information from the message, determining state information from at least one parameter contained in the header information, and acting on message content only when the state information is valid.
US10003603B1

A processor is coupled to a hierarchical memory structure which includes a plurality of levels of cache memories that hierarchically cache data that is read by the processor from a main memory. The processor is integrated within a computer terminal. The processor performs operations that include generating a hierarchical cache latency signature vector by repeating for each of a plurality of buffer sizes, the following: 1) allocating in the main memory a buffer having the buffer size; 2) measuring elapsed time for the processor to read data from buffer addresses that include upper and lower boundaries of the buffer; and 3) storing the elapsed time and the buffer size as an associated set in the hierarchical cache latency signature vector. The operations further include communicating through a network interface circuit a computer identification message containing computer terminal identification information generated based on the hierarchical cache latency signature vector.
US10003601B1

Accessing a security enabled application may require certain access privileges that are not readily available or associated with the application at the time a user is seeking access via a login operation. In operation, an access attempt to a security enabled application may include identifying user credentials associated with the access attempt, generating a query based on the user credentials to identify whether the user credentials are associated with a predetermined group membership. A response to the query may be received that includes group information corresponding to the user and the group information may be compared to a set of predetermined rules to determine whether the group information includes privilege rules used to grant access to the access attempt.
US10003600B2

Techniques to provide secure access to a cloud-based service are disclosed. In various embodiments, a request is received from a client app on a device to connect to a security proxy associated with the cloud-based service. A secure tunnel connection between the device and a node with which the security proxy is associated is used to establish the requested connection to the security proxy. Information associated with the secure tunnel is used to determine that the requesting client app is authorized to access the cloud-based service from the device and to obtain from an identity provider associated with the cloud-based service a security token to be used by the client app to authenticate to the cloud-based service.
US10003592B2

A user authentication system enables control of access to historian data through a historian application. The user authentication system creates a user authentication directory for storing user authentication information. The system populates the directory with user authentication information. The system links the directory to a historian application and receives credential data from a user. The system grants access to the historian application when it determines that the credential data from the user matches a portion of the user authentication information on the directory.
US10003590B2

An electronic device with a display detects an input in a user interface for a second application not associated with a server system. In response to detecting the first input, the device sends a first request from the second application to a first application associated with the server system. In response to the first request, the device sends a first command from the first application to the server system on behalf of the second application. The first command is a command for performance of a first operation at the server system. The first operation corresponds to the input detected by the device. The device receives a voucher, or an indication that a voucher has been created, at the second application pre-authorizing performance of a predefined second operation at the server system upon receipt, by the server system, of a second command from the second application.
US10003589B2

The invention relates to a method for authenticating and/or identifying a device, a service, a person and/or money in a communication network, consisting of a first communication device and an additional communication device, for example a central database, between which an authentication query is carried out. Initially, a first key is provided in the communication device, which comprises at least one character sequence consisting of individual or several locally modifiable characters which can be dynamically modified in accordance with a measurable variable or an algorithm which is dependent on the measurable variable, rules and/or instructions in the communication device, between two authentication time points. A second key is also provided in the central database or an additional communication subscriber which comprises a character sequence consisting of centrally modifiable characters and optionally non-modifiable characters. In a further step, a transmission and a comparison of the key stored in the central database and the communication device is carried out.
US10003586B2

A method for generating a secret key via a reciprocal communication channel connecting a first communication node and a second communication node, wherein the first communication node obtains a first sample by a measurement of the communication channel, the first communication node performs a quantization of the first sample, the first communication node performs a matching of the quantized sample with the second communication node via the communication channel, during the matching, the first communication node obtains and quantizes a second sample by a second measurement of the communication channel and the communication nodes obtain the key from the samples by a privacy amplification.
US10003582B2

Generally, this disclosure describes technologies for restoring and/or synchronizing templates such as biometric templates to/among one or more client devices. In some embodiments one or more client devices may register with a synchronization server and provide encrypted copies of their reference templates to the server. In a restoration operation, the synchronization server may provide an encrypted copy of a client's reference template(s) to the client, which may decrypt them in a protected environment. In a synchronization operation, the synchronization server may provide encrypted copy of a first client's template(s) to a plurality of second clients. The second clients may then decrypt the encrypted template(s) within a protected environment using an appropriate decryption key.
US10003581B2

A wireless device implementing secure connection establishment may include at least one processor circuit. The at least one processor circuit may be configured to receive an advertising packet from a device over a first channel and generate, in response to receiving the advertising packet, a connection request packet that comprises control information for establishing a connection with the device over a second channel. The at least one processor circuit may be further configured to encrypt and authenticate at least a portion of the connection request packet based at least in part on a connection entry key previously exchanged with the device and transmit the at least partially encrypted connection request packet over the first channel. The at least one processor circuit may be further configured to establish the connection with the device over the second channel based at least in part on the control information of the connection request packet.
US10003575B2

There is provided a network management system using wireless network management devices each having a plurality of security policies. With the network management system, the wireless network management devices can be concurrently used in networks with a plurality of security levels, and security can be ensured without installing firewalls externally, so that labor for setting and operating a network for redundancy can be saved. The network management system includes: a first network NW1 to which plant management devices 11 and 12 are connected; a second network NW2 to which field devices 51 to 5n are connected; and wireless network management devices 61 and 62 each having a firewall function and connected to the first network NW1 and the second network NW2.
US10003572B2

An information processing apparatus includes plural network interfaces, a specifying unit, a setting unit, and an assigning unit. The plural network interfaces include a first network interface for connection of the apparatus to a network, and a second network interface for direct wireless connection of another device to the apparatus. The specifying unit specifies a subnet by way of which data transmitted from the first network interface pass. The setting unit sets a network address that belongs to a subnet that is different from the specified subnet to the second network interface. The assigning unit assigns a network address that belongs to a subnet that is the same as the network address set to the second network interface to the other device.
US10003571B2

In a method and an apparatus provided for implementing communication between virtual machines, a first switch receives an ARP response from an SDN controller, where the ARP response carries a MAC address of a destination gateway; the first switch acquires, according to the MAC address of the destination gateway, VTEP information corresponding to the MAC address of the destination gateway, where a router corresponding to the VTEP information is located in a first data center; and the first switch sends, according to the VTEP information, an IP packet to the router corresponding to the VTEP information, so that the router corresponding to the VTEP information sends the IP packet to a second virtual machine through a tunnel between the router and a second switch.
US10003570B2

A method and device for informing user address are disclosed. The method comprises: a defined network allocating, according to a user address prefix provided by a mobile network, a user address to a mobile network user accessing the mobile network from the defined network; and the defined network informing the mobile network of the allocated user address. The disclosure address the problems of complex flow for allocating user address and low allocation efficiency, and how to inform a mobile network of an allocated user address existing in the related art, thus achieving the allocation of an user address and improving informing efficiency.
US10003568B2

Dynamically assigning network addresses provided by a server in a network to virtual network adapters in virtual machines, in which a reassignment of the assigned network addresses due to suspending virtual machines is prevented. Network addresses of the virtual machines in the network are logged. Network addresses are combined with information about suspending and/or resuming virtual machines by a control instance. Information about the network addresses of suspended virtual machines for its virtual network adapters with dynamically assigned network addresses is sent to the server.
US10003562B2

A system for exchanging messages between crews stationed on a vehicle and staff or 3rd parties stationed within at least one or more travel points. A vehicle mail server has a shared e-mail account that is addressable with a unique vehicle attribute and accessible by the vehicle crew. The shared e-mail account is also addressable with a trip identifier alias. A central mail server also has a shared e-mail account that is associated with one of the travel points, and accessible by crew deployed thereto. The shared e-mail account is also addressable with one or more trip identification and status aliases. An association between the trip identifier alias and the vehicle attribute, as well as between the trip identification and status alias and the travel point is dynamically defined on the central mail server.
US10003561B2

Technologies are described for modification of conversation presentation for enhanced user experience. Parts of the conversation may be detected and analyzed for their properties such as who sent a message, who received, when, was anyone left out from or added to the conversation, etc. The extracted properties and analyzed information may then be used to reverse a chronological order of the conversation and present it using interactive features such as collapsing and expanding parts of the presented information, providing a summary, removing unnecessary content, and comparable features.
US10003558B2

Systems, apparatus, and computer program products provide for electronic mail (email) attachment hold and dispatch for security monitoring of email attachments. Specifically, embodiments of the invention provide for removing email attachments from emails containing such, holding the removed attachments in storage prior to delivering the email to the recipient and communicating the email to the intended recipient absent the attachment, but rather with a link or other means by which the email recipient can retrieve the attachment from the storage. Such a procedure not only allows for the attachment to be analyzed for threats prior to transferring the attachment to the email recipient, but also provides for a means by which information pertaining to the retrieval of the attachment is logged (e.g., who retrieved the attachment, from which computing device was the attachment retrieved, at what date and time was the attachment retrieved and the like).
US10003550B1

An apparatus comprising a method for allocating shared processing resources, comprising the steps of (A) predicting a first amount of processing resources needed to complete each of a plurality of transcoding jobs in a work queue of a project, (B) determining a second amount of processing resources available prior to processing the project and (C) adding processing resources needed to complete the project. The processing resources are added in a fixed number of predetermined processing units. The fixed number of computer resources are added (a) to minimize an overall use of said processing resources needed to complete the project and (b) to complete the project within a target time.
US10003546B1

Allowing a subscriber to modify a data transfer rate or available bandwidth associated with an Internet subscription tier for a selected or predetermined time period is provided. Upon receiving an indication of a selection to decrease an allowed amount of bandwidth or to boost or increase a data transfer rate to a next available service tier, a request may be sent to a gateway device associated with the subscriber to override firmware on the gateway device to restrict access to an amount of bandwidth or to allow access to additional bandwidth respectively.
US10003544B2

An apparatus is configured to perform a method for congestion control in an Ethernet network. The method includes determining an egress queue congestion state for each of a plurality of egress queues. The method also includes determining an ingress queue congestion state for each of a plurality of ingress queues. The method further includes determining a flow control state for at least one of the ingress queues based on the determined egress queue congestion states and ingress queue congestion states. In addition, the method includes transmitting a flow control message to the at least one ingress queue based on the determined flow control state.
US10003534B2

Some embodiments provide a method for a network controller in a network control system that manages a plurality of logical networks. The method receives a specification of a logical network that comprises a logical router with a logical port that connects to an external network. The method selects several host machines to host a L3 gateway that implements the connection to the external network for the logical router from a set of host machines designated for hosting logical routers. The method generates data tuples for provisioning a set of managed forwarding elements that implement the logical network to send data packets that require processing by the L3 gateway to the selected host machines. The data tuples specify for the managed forwarding elements to distribute the data packets across the selected host machines.
US10003528B2

The disclosed system handles a switch link failure in a switch fabric network. When a node in the switch fabric network detects a failure of a switch link coupled to the node, the system remaps traffic that is directed to a logical port number, which is currently mapped to a primary physical port number associated with the failed switch link, to a secondary physical port number associated with the alternative switch link. This remapping involves performing a lookup in a local mapping table at the node, wherein the local mapping table stores associations between logical port numbers and physical port numbers, wherein for each logical port number, the mapping table includes a primary physical port number and one or more secondary physical port numbers, which are associated with alternative switch links. The system notifies a subnet manager for the switch fabric network about the link failure and the remapping.
US10003523B2

A link cost determining method including computing, by a station, a new composite data rate using a set of data rates including an average data rate, a geometric mean data rate, and a minimum data rate for data samples, computing, by the station, a pair of hysteresis thresholds for a previous composite data rate, determining, by the station, whether the new composite data rate exceeds one of the pair of hysteresis thresholds, and advertising, by the station, the new composite data rate when the new composite data rate exceeds one of the pair of hysteresis thresholds.
US10003518B2

A monitoring session associated with a virtual nickname may be established in a TRILL network. A monitoring station may be connected to an edge switch of the TRILL network specifying the virtual nickname for the monitoring session. The monitoring station is set as a destination for the monitoring session and the virtual nickname is flooded throughout the TRILL network. A source may then be configured to the monitoring session by specifying the virtual nickname of the monitoring session without knowing the destination tied to the monitoring session. Network traffic through the source may then be forwarded to the destination tied to the monitoring session.
US10003516B2

The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for processing messages. The terminal message processing method According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method for processing terminal messages used by the apparatus for processing terminal messages can include the steps of: receiving a message from an application of the terminal; determining whether the message is from a pre-registered registration application; when the message is from the registration application, determining whether the message is a control message; and when the message is not from the registration application, transmitting the message to a device for processing server messages. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a message processing apparatus and method for reducing the transmission and reception of a control message for an application are provided, and battery consumption is reduced.
US10003502B1

An architecture, methods and apparatus are provided for managing sensor data. Sensor networks comprised of a plurality of sensors are managed by obtaining measurement data and context data from the plurality of sensors; storing the obtained measurement data and context data using a Massively Parallel Processing Database Management System (MPP DBMS); and managing the sensor network from outside of the sensor network using the MPP DBMS. Context-aware adaptation of sensors is based on context regarding a state of the sensor network and context regarding a state of one or more applications. The sensor nodes are optionally clustered based on semantic similarities among sensor readings from different sensor nodes and a distance among the sensor nodes. A subset of the sensor nodes is optionally selected to be active based on a residual energy of the sensor nodes and a relevance of the sensor nodes to an application. Data prediction models are generated and employed for data sensing and analytics.
US10003493B2

A monitoring device for a distributed antenna system including at least two node units communicatively coupled to each other transmits, to at least one target node unit among the node units, a data dump command for a first target signal passing through a first signal path in the target node unit. The monitoring device receives, from the target node unit, response data corresponding to the data dump command. The monitoring device generates first quality information indicative of the quality of the first target signal by using the response data.
US10003489B2

The apparatus may be a transmitter. The transmitter including a modulator configured to modulate a binary input sequence with a particular modulation coding scheme to generate a modulated input signal. The transmitter also including a spectral shaping circuit configured to spectral shape a first version of the input signal to generate a spectral shaped signal. The spectral shaping circuit also includes a FIR filter configured to lower peak-to-average power ratio of the spectral shaped signal. The transmitter also includes a discrete Fourier transform circuit configured to discrete Fourier transform a second version of the input signal to generate a discrete Fourier transformed signal. The modulated input signal is one of the first version of the input signal or the second version of the input signal and the spectral shaped signal is another of the first version of the input signal or the second version of the input signal.
US10003487B2

A system and method for orthogonal time frequency space communication and waveform generation. The method includes receiving a plurality of information symbols and encoding an N×M array containing the plurality of information symbols into a two-dimensional array of modulation symbols by spreading each of the plurality of information symbols with respect to both time and frequency. The two-dimensional array of modulation symbols is then transmitted using M mutually orthogonal waveforms included within M frequency sub-bands.
US10003483B1

Class types of input signals having unknown class types are automatically classified using a neural network. The neural network learns features associated with a plurality of different observed signals having respective different known class types. The neural network then recognizes features of the input signals having unknown class types that at least partially match at least some of the features associated with the plurality of different observed signals having respective different known class types. The neural network determines probabilities that each of the input signals has each of the known class types based on strengths of the matches between the recognized features of the input signals and the features associated with plurality of different observed signals. The neural network classifies each of the input signals as having one of the respective different known class types based on a highest determined probability.
US10003480B2

Apparatuses and methods for performing asynchronous multicarrier communications are provided. One such method involves generating, at a first wireless device, a waveform including one or more carriers, shaping the waveform to reduce interference between the waveform and adjacent waveforms, and transmitting, on a spectrum, the shaped waveform asynchronously.
US10003453B1

A system for measuring electrical characteristics of a device under test (DUT) includes a measuring instrument adapted to be connected with the DUT for transmitting tests signals to the DUT, a receiver adapted to be connected with the DUT and arranged remote from the measuring instrument, an optical transceiver having a first coupler electrically connectable with the measuring instrument and a second coupler electrically connectable with the receiver, and a first and second free space transceivers connected to respective couplers by fiber optic cable. The measuring instrument includes a clock signal generated from a synchronization signal. The synchronization signal is converted to an optical signal by the optical transceiver and transmitted from the first free space transceiver to the second free space transceiver. The second coupler converts the optical signal to the synchronization signal and a clock signal of the receiver is locked to the synchronization signal.
US10003452B2

According to the network-side teachings herein, transmission adaptations taken with respect to a secondary serving cell provide improved operation in the context of serving a half-duplex wireless device having a carrier aggregation configuration involving primary and secondary cells with different Time Division Duplex (TDD) uplink/downlink configurations. Transmission adaptations are taken with respect to a normal downlink subframe in a secondary cell that is time-wise overlapped by a special subframe in the primary cell. Similarly, improved operations are obtained on the device-side according to reception adaptations taken with respect to normal downlink subframes in a secondary cell that are overlapped by special subframes in the primary cell. Non-limiting improvements include better channel estimation and link adaptation, improved scheduling, and revised timings for the transmission and reception of user or control data targeting the device.
US10003450B2

To solve the above-mentioned problem, the method for transmitting and receiving a signal by user equipment (UE) through one or more cells, according to one embodiment of the present specification, comprises the steps of: receiving, from a base station, a first message indicating whether one or more cells usable by the UE are enabled; determining which cells to enable or disable on the basis of the first message; and enabling or disabling the selected cells. According to the embodiment of the present specification, by aggregating carriers amongst different base stations, a possibility for the UE to transmit and receive high-speed data through carrier aggregation can increase.
US10003442B2

A method for transmitting a signal to a receiver by a transmitter in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method includes mapping one or more transmission steams to first logical antenna ports, mapping signals mapped to the first logical antenna ports to second logical antenna ports, and mapping signals mapped to the second logical antenna ports to physical antennas to transmit the signals mapped to the physical antennas to the receiver, wherein the number of the first logical antenna ports is less than or equal to the number of the second logical antenna ports and varies with a channel state between the transmitter and the receiver.
US10003440B2

A receiver circuit comprising: an input terminal configured to receive an input-signal; an interfering-signal-strength-calculator configured to determine an interfering-signal-strength-indicator based on the input signal; a compensation-block configured to apply a co-channel-interference compensation operation to the input-signal in order to generate a compensated-input-signal; a compensation-weighting-component configured to apply a compensation-weighting-factor to the compensated-input-signal in order to generate a weighted-compensated-input-signal, wherein the compensation-weighting-factor is based on the interfering-signal-strength-indicator; a delay-block configured to apply a delay to the input-signal in order to generate a delayed-input-signal; a delayed-weighting-component configured to apply a delayed-weighting-factor to the delayed-input-signal in order to generate a weighted-delayed-input-signal, wherein the delayed-weighting-factor is based on the interfering-signal-strength-indicator; and a signal-combiner configured to combine the weighted-delayed-input-signal and the weighted-compensated-input-signal in order to provide a combined-input-signal for demodulation.
US10003432B2

A modulation coding scheme (MCS) is selected i) from a first set of MCSs when the PHY data unit is to be transmitted using a first channel bandwidth, and ii) from a second set of MCSs when the PHY data unit is to be transmitted using a second channel bandwidth. The first set of MCSs corresponds to i) a number of spatial streams, and ii) the first channel bandwidth, the second set of MCSs corresponds to i) the number of spatial streams, and ii) the second channel bandwidth. The second set of MCSs excludes one or more MCSs in the first set of MCSs that will result in a padding-related constraint not being met when the second channel bandwidth is to be used. Information bits are encoded according to the selected MCS, and modulated according to the selected MCS.
US10003424B2

Properties and the construction method of Orthogonal Differential Vector Signaling Codes are disclosed which are tolerant of order-reversal, as may occur when physical routing of communications channel wires causes the bus signal order to be reversed. Operation using the described codes with such bus-reversed signals can avoid complete logical or physical reordering of received signals or other significant duplication of receiver resources.
US10003404B2

Components, systems, and methods for determining efficiency of an optical signal source in distributed communication systems are disclosed. Environmentally induced variations in the performance of optical sources used to convert electrical signals to optical signals (such as laser diodes) at the transmitters within the system can be evaluated in real time. Steps can be taken to compensate for these variations. The efficiency of the laser diode can be measured and provided to receivers in the distributed communication system. The receiver may use information related to the slope efficiency measurement to adjust the gain of the receiving amplifiers to provide desired adjustments to the gain. Thus, the receivers in the remote units (RU) receive information about the slope efficiency of the laser diodes at the head end equipment (HEE) and the HEE receives information about the slope efficiency of the laser diodes at the RU.
US10003401B2

A light source emits a modulated light, and a radio-frequency transceiver disposed therewith emits a radio-frequency signal. A mobile device may receive either or both signals and determine its position based thereon. The light and radio-frequency sources may be disposed in node in a network of said sources, and the nodes may communicate via the radio-frequency transceivers.
US10003396B2

Novel tools and techniques might provide for implementing broadband wireless distribution, and, in particular embodiments, to methods, systems, apparatus, and computer software for implementing distributed broadband wireless implementation in premises electrical devices. In various embodiments, a first wireless distribution device may be disposed within a premises (electrical) device. A first switching device of the first wireless distribution device might switchably supply power to the premises device via a power line, the supplied power enabling the premises device to perform its designed functionalities. Meanwhile, a first wireless transceiver of the first wireless distribution device (to which is supplied with constant power from a power source) might relay wireless communications between a service provider access point and a premises-based wireless network. In this manner, premises electrical devices can be converted into wireless communications relay devices (to extend wireless communications coverage, to boost existing wireless communications, etc.) without affecting their designed functionalities.
US10003395B2

A transmission terminal includes a memory that stores first preferential rating information indicating a preferential rating of the transmission terminal in using each of a plurality of relay devices, a transmitter that transmits a start request for starting communication with a counterpart transmission terminal, a receiver that receives second preferential rating information indicating a preferential rating of the counterpart transmission terminal in using each of the plurality of relay devices, the second preferential rating information being transmitted from the counterpart transmission terminal in response to the start request, and circuitry that selects one relay device to relay content data between the transmission terminal and the counterpart transmission terminal, from the plurality of relay devices, using the first preferential rating information and the second preferential rating information.
US10003386B2

A method of providing an optimal transmission or reception (Tx/Rx) beam in a beamforming system. The method includes receiving a reference signal and selecting an optimal Tx/Rx beam that guarantees an optimal channel environment based on the received reference signal determining a possibility of occurrence of a Tx/Rx beam mismatch between the selected optimal Tx/Rx beam and a Tx/Rx beam used for transmitting information on the selected optimal Tx/Rx beam; and when there is the possibility of the occurrence of the Tx/Rx beam mismatch, performing at least one of widening a beam width of the Tx/Rx beam, increasing a number of Tx/Rx beams, reducing a period of a beam selection operation for selecting the optimal Tx/Rx beam, and reducing a transmission period of the reference signal. Other embodiments including a beamforming system are also disclosed.
US10003384B2

The embodiments relate to a docking station for a mobile electronic device. The energy supply and the data exchange between the docking station and the mobile electronic device is carried out in a wireless manner. The wireless energy supply and the wireless data connection are configured to each other. The initialization process for connecting the mobile electronic device to the docking station may be carried out in a fully automatic manner.
US10003379B2

A system embodiment includes a first device and a second device configured to communicate over a selected wireless communication channel selected from a band of channels or over a selected set of channels used in an adaptive frequency hopping scheme. The first device is configured to transmit a probe signal that has a plurality of frequencies contained within the band of channels, and the second device is configured to determine a signal strength of the probe signal for each of a plurality of potential communication channels within the band of channels. The first and second devices configured to switch to another wireless communication channel based at least in part on the signal strength of the probe signal for each of a plurality of potential wireless communication channels.
US10003371B1

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to a case for use with a personal electronic device comprising front and rear camera lenses. Particularly, the disclosed case comprises front and rear covers that selectively move to cover and uncover the camera lenses on demand. In addition, the covers prevent dust, dirt, and the like from contacting and damaging the device cameras. Optionally, the disclosed case includes an integral storage compartment for housing credit cards, ID cards, and the like. In some embodiments, the stored items can be used with a slot integral to the case to function as a support stand.
US10003369B2

A portable, wearable radio includes a modular harness having the flexibility to be reconfigured into a plurality of different profiles, the modular harness having an interior and a plurality of radio components removably disposed within the interior of the modular harness. The plurality of radio components includes a first radio component, a second radio component electrically coupled to the first radio component via a first flexible electrical connector, and a third radio component electrically coupled to the first radio component via at least one of a group selected from the first flexible electrical connector and a second flexible electrical connector.
US10003368B2

In some aspects, a cellular telephone includes (1) a user interface portion having a communications circuit; and (2) a cellular portion having a first communications circuit adapted to communicate with the communications circuit of the user interface portion and a second communications circuit adapted to communicate with a cellular network. The cellular portion is removably coupled to the user interface portion so as to allow a user of the cellular telephone to communicate over a cellular network by using the user interface portion while the cellular portion is separated from the user interface portion. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US10003367B2

Methods and apparatuses for communicating in a wireless network include provision of interfering signal characteristics information to a user equipment to facilitate suppression of an interfering signal present in a downlink signal being received at the user equipment.
US10003361B2

A method for controlling antennas in a vehicle having an external antenna and an internal antenna includes triggering an eCall service function upon sensing an accident occurrence event, measuring a quality of one or more wireless signals received through the external antenna, comparing the measured quality of the wireless signals with a reference quality value, and selecting one of the external antenna and the internal antenna to be used in the eCall service function based on the results of the step of comparing the measured quality of the wireless signals with the reference quality value. A system of emergency communication of a vehicle is also provided.
US10003351B2

An object of the present invention is to shorten time required for detecting disconnection in an input terminal of an A/D conversion circuit. A semiconductor device includes a first input channel that couples a first input terminal and an A/D conversion unit to each other, a second input channel that couples a second input terminal and the A/D conversion unit to each other, and a control circuit unit that separates the second input channel from the second input terminal and the A/D conversion unit to charge or discharge the second input channel when a signal input into the first input terminal is sampled by the A/D conversion unit.
US10003348B2

An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) using an amplifier-based noise shaping circuit. The amplifier-based noise shaping circuit generates a noise shaping signal. A comparator of the ADC has a first input terminal coupled to an output terminal of a capacitive data acquisition converter that captures an analog input, a second input terminal receiving the noise shaping signal, and an output terminal for observation of the digital representation of the analog input. The amplifier-based noise shaping circuit uses an amplifier to amplify a residual voltage obtained from the capacitive data acquisition converter and provides a switched capacitor network between the amplifier and the comparator for sampling the amplified residual voltage and generating the noise shaping signal.
US10003347B2

An asynchronous successive approximation register analog-to-digital converter (SAR ADC), which utilizes one or more overlapping redundant bits in each digital-to-analog converter (DAC) code word, is operable to generate an indication signal that indicates completion of each comparison step and indicates that an output decision for each comparison step is valid. A timer may be initiated based on the generated indication signal. A timeout signal may be generated that preempts the indication signal and forces a preemptive decision, where the preemptive decision sets one or more remaining bits up to, but not including, the one or more overlapping redundant bits in a corresponding digital-to-analog converter code word for a current comparison step to a particular value. For example, the one or more remaining bits may be set to a value that is derived from a value of a bit that was determined in an immediately preceding decision.
US10003341B1

An arithmetic processing block in which two inputs are provided for a multiplier, the block also including a pre-adder for combining the inputs to provide an additional option for a multiplier input.
US10003338B2

A threshold comparator block integrated in a programmable logic device (PLD) is disclosed. The threshold comparator block includes: one or more signal comparators configured to receive two analog input signals and provide a digital output signal indicating a comparison result of the two analog input signals; an analog output driver configured to interface with an analog fabric of a programmable fabric of the PLD; a digital input/output (I/O) driver configured to interface with a digital fabric of the programmable fabric of the PLD; and I/O pins configured to provide an interface with a signal wrapper to interface analog and digital signals between the analog output driver and the digital I/O driver and the programmable fabric. The threshold comparator block is configured to interface with one or more adaptive blocks integrated in the PLD via the programmable fabric and the signal wrapper.
US10003336B1

A pull-up leg of disclosed circuitry includes a pull-up pre-driver and a pull-up driver coupled to the pull-up pre-driver. A pull-down leg includes a pull-down pre-driver and a pull-down driver coupled to the pull-down pre-driver. An input/output pad is coupled between the pull-up driver and pull-down driver. A driver-and-termination control circuit is coupled to receive a tristate control signal, a termination control signal, and an input data signal. The driver-and-termination control circuit selects a drive mode, tristate mode, or termination mode in response to the tristate control signal and the termination control signal. The driver-and-termination control circuit drives a first data signal to the pull-up driver and drives a second data signal to the pull-down driver. The first and second data signals have equal logic states in the drive mode and have opposite logic states in the tristate and termination modes.
US10003329B2

Using a combination of frequency dithering of a PWM counter and a variable time delay circuit yields improved PWM frequency resolution with realizable circuit components and clock operating frequencies. A controllable time delay circuit lengthens a PWM signal during the first PWM cycle. During the second PWM cycle, the PWM period is increased beyond the desired amount, but the delay is reduced during this second PWM cycle to achieve the correct (desired) PWM signal period. The dithering of the PWM signal period enables the time delay circuit to be “reset” so that an infinite delay circuit is not required. The time delay circuit provides short term (one cycle) frequency adjustment so that the resulting PWM cycle is not dithered and has a period at the desired frequency resolution.
US10003322B2

Circuits and methods for eliminating or mitigating the amount of temperature-dependent variation in the relative attenuation of a multi-valued digital step attenuator (DSA) by using resistive components having temperature-dependent resistance values that compensate for or offset changes in the temperature-dependent ON resistance (RON) of the switches within the DSA. In some embodiments, DSA attenuator cell switches are fabricated to have positive first-order resistance temperature (FORT) coefficients, while temperature-compensating series attenuation resistances are fabricated as a positive FORT coefficient resistor and temperature-compensating shunt resistances are fabricated as either a negative FORT coefficient resistor or a combination of a negative FORT coefficient resistor in parallel with a positive FORT coefficient resistor.
US10003314B2

An active device and circuits utilized therewith are disclosed. In an aspect, the active device comprises an n-type transistor having a drain, gate and bulk and a p-type transistor having a drain, gate and bulk. The n-type transistor and the p-type transistor include a common source. The device includes a first capacitor coupled between the gate of the n-type transistor and the gate of the p-type transistor, a second capacitor coupled between the drain of the n-type transistor and the drain of p-type transistor and a third capacitor coupled between the bulk of the n-type transistor and the bulk of p-type transistor. The active device has a high breakdown voltage, is memory less and traps even harmonic signals.
US10003311B1

An amplifier circuit includes an RF input port, an RF output port, a reference potential port, and an RF amplifier having an input terminal and a first output terminal. An output impedance matching network electrically couples the first output terminal to the RF output port. A first inductor is electrically connected in series between the first output terminal and the RF output port, a first LC resonator is directly electrically connected between the first output terminal and the reference potential port, and a second LC resonator is directly electrically connected between the first output terminal and the reference potential port. The first LC resonator is configured to compensate for an output capacitance of the RF amplifier at a center frequency of the RF signal. The second LC resonator is configured to compensate for a second order harmonic of the RF signal.
US10003288B2

A control circuit for a motor, includes: a plurality of m number of analog ports to each of which a detection signal indicating an electrical state of the motor is input, m being an integer of 2 or more; an A/D converter including a multiplexer to receive detection signals of the m number of analog ports and being configured to convert a detection signal selected by the multiplexer into digital data; a processor to generate a drive command of the motor based on the digital data; a pulse width modulator to perform pulse width modulation to generate a PWM signal based on the drive command; and an interface circuit to be triggered by at least one internal signal generated in the control circuit to control an operation of the A/D converter according to a control command from the processor and deliver the digital data to the processor.
US10003286B2

A steering control device capable of suppressing a reduction in reliability even in the case where the redundancy of the power source is increased is provided. A steering ECU includes two control systems in which different external power sources are connected to two drive circuits. The low potential sides of the drive circuits and the low potential sides of the corresponding external power sources are independently connected to each other via power source ground lines for the two control systems. The low potential sides of the drive circuits are connected to each other via an internal ground. Two current detection circuits are provided between the power source ground lines and the internal ground to detect power source ground current values, respectively. The steering ECU includes microcomputers that detect a ground abnormality on the basis of the results of detection performed by the current detection circuits.
US10003284B2

Disclosed herein is a power apparatus including a first motor, a second motor connected with the first motor in parallel, a driver configured to supply driving currents to the first and second motors, a current detector configured to detect the driving current of the first motor and the driving current of the second motor, a speed calculator configured to calculate a rotating speed of the first motor and a rotating speed of the second motor, and a controller configured to control the driver based on the rotating speed of the first motor, wherein the controller controls the driver so that the rotating speed of the first motor and the rotating speed of the second motor are the same as each other, when the rotating speed of the first motor and the rotating speed of the second motor are different from each other.
US10003279B2

A method used to control the operation of a converting device such that it can provide multi-level output voltage for loads. This method comprises at least the steps of: determine whether the load which the converter is providing electricity for is operating under the first condition or the second condition; generate the first pulse signal after determining that this load is operating under the first condition, select at least one of at least three different current paths, such that when the converter is selecting any of the current paths, it can provide output voltage at the same level; as well as generate the second pulse signal after determining that this load is operating under the second condition, such that the converter can perform the regular energy conversion operations.
US10003274B2

A power conversion device includes: a metal housing; a power semiconductor module that is contained in the metal housing and converts direct electric current to alternating electric current; a capacitor module that is contained in the metal housing and arranged side by side with the power semiconductor module, wherein the capacitor module smoothes the direct electric current supplied to the power semiconductor module; a substrate that has a drive circuit part mounted in a first region, the drive circuit part driving the power semiconductor module, and a control circuit part mounted in a second region, the control circuit part controlling the drive circuit part, wherein the substrate is disposed so as to cover over the metal housing; a base plate that extends in a space in which the second region of the substrate and the capacitor module oppose to each other, and that is electrically connected to the metal housing; and a first noise shielding member that extends in a direction along a boundary between the first region and the second region of the substrate, wherein the first noise shielding member separates the space from a space of the housing in which the power semiconductor module is disposed, and the first noise shielding member is electrically connected to the metal housing or a ground of the control circuit part.
US10003258B2

A charge pump circuit includes a first charge pump unit and a second charge pump unit. The first charge pump unit pumps an input voltage to output a first pumped voltage according to a first clock signal, a second clock signal and a third clock signal. The second charge pump unit pumps the first pumped voltage to output a second pumped voltage according to the first clock signal, a fourth clock signal and the third clock signal. The first clock signal and the third clock signal are non-overlapping clock signals. A falling edge of the second clock signal leads a rising edge of the first clock signal. A falling edge of the fourth clock signal leads a rising edge of the third clock signal.
US10003243B2

A rotor 2 includes a rotor core 21 fixed to a rotation axis in such a manner that the rotor core 21 is rotatable integrally with the rotation axis, the rotor core 21 being configured to have a plurality of magnets 22 mounted thereon throughout a circumferential direction; a first rotor cover 24 that includes a first tubular portion 26, the first tubular portion 26 having a tubular shape configured to cover an outer circumference of one axial side of the rotor core 21; and a second rotor cover 25 that includes a second tubular portion 28, the second tubular portion 28 having a tubular shape configured to cover an outer circumference of the other axial side of the rotor core 21. An outer diameter of the first tubular portion 26 is configured to be larger than an inner diameter of the second tubular portion 28, and the first rotor cover 24 and the second rotor cover 25 are configured to be fixed to each other by press fitting to have the first tubular portion 26 arranged at an inner circumferential side of the second tubular portion 28.
US10003242B2

A shrink-fitting method for a laminated rotor includes: disposing, coaxially with a laminated rotor core, an annular ring having a through-hole, at an axial end of the laminated rotor core including laminated annular steel sheets and having a through-hole extending in its axial direction; and inserting a rotor shaft into the through-holes of the ring and the laminated rotor core after heating them. A ring attachment jig having a circular internal space, where the ring is disposed, has projections projecting from an axial end surface thereof in the axial direction and arranged along a circumferential direction of the circular internal space. The center of the ring is aligned with the center of the laminated rotor core, by fitting the projections in attachment holes axially extending in the laminated rotor core, and fitting the ring to an inner peripheral surface of the ring attachment jig, which defines the circular internal space.
US10003230B2

An axial-gap motor-generator includes a case, a rotor, a stator, a cooling plate, an air inlet, an outlet, an airflow generating groove, and a radial groove. The rotor is rotatable around a rotating shaft. The stator is fixed to the case. The stator has a first distal end and a second distal end. The first distal end faces the rotating shaft. The cooling plate is in contact with the second distal end. The stator is disposed between the rotating shaft and the cooling plate. The first distance between the air inlet and the rotating shaft is smaller than a second distance between the air outlet and the rotating shaft. The airflow generating groove is provided between the case and the rotor. The radial groove is provided between the case and the cooling plate via which the airflow generation groove is connected to the air outlet.
US10003225B2

A motor 10 comprises a stator 11 including a plurality of armature pole coils 14 for generation of magnetic flux when energized; a rotor 21 mounted for rotation within the stator owing to the magnetic flux. The rotor is formed for integral rotation in the state of magnetically coupling a plurality of rotor teeth 22, each having an outer peripheral surface 22a linked by magnetic flux, and a plurality of auxiliary salient structures 32, each situated between the adjacent two rotor teeth and having an outer peripheral surface 32a linked by magnetic flux. The rotor teeth and auxiliary salient structures include induction coils 27, 37, each for generation of induced current when linked by space harmonics contained in the magnetic flux, and electromagnetic coils 28, 38, each for generation of electromagnetic force when energized by the induced current generated by the induction coil.
US10003224B2

A motor assembly for a washing machine including: a stator core having teeth formed along the outer peripheral surface; upper and lower insulators coupled to the upper and lower portions of the stator core to surround the top and underside of the stator core; a first fastening rib protruding from the inner peripheral surface of the lower insulator; a second fastening rib protruding from the inner peripheral surface of the upper insulator to be coupled on the underside thereof to the top of the first fastening rib; and a round-shaped third fastening rib having the underside coupled to the top of the second fastening rib and the top protruding from the top of the upper insulator to be coupled to the underside of a housing in which various parts such as a brake drum and the like are mounted.
US10003216B2

Provided is a non-contact electric power feeding system including an electric power feeding device, and an electric power receiving device configured to receive electric power fed from the electric power feeding device. The electric power feeding device includes a primary-side coil, a driver, a primary-side control unit, and a primary-side communication unit. The electric power receiving device includes a secondary-side coil, a rectifier unit, a regulator, a secondary-side communication unit, and a secondary-side control unit.
US10003206B2

An electronic system may include a charging device and an electronic device. The charging device may include an input port, a charge circuit, a storage, and a connector device. The charging device may receive a direct current (DC) voltage at the input port. The charge circuit may receive the DC voltage and provide a charged voltage to the storage. The electronic device may include a body, a battery, a first pad directly on the battery and a second pad directly on the battery. The battery may receive the DC charged voltage when the electronic device is coupled to the charging device.
US10003205B2

A composite integrated circuit includes a protection IC that controls a switching circuit inserted in a power supply line to allow or prevent discharging of the secondary battery, and a monitoring IC that includes a ground terminal connected to the power supply line at a position between the secondary battery and the switching circuit, measures a voltage of the secondary battery, and sends the measured voltage to an external apparatus. The protection IC outputs an activation signal to turn on the switching circuit to allow discharging of the secondary battery, and outputs a deactivation signal to turn off the switching circuit to prevent discharging of the secondary battery. The monitoring IC consumes less power while the deactivation signal is output by the protection IC than the monitoring IC consumes while the activation signal is output by the protection IC.
US10003202B2

A device for balancing load of a storage device including plural elements connected in series. The device includes: a DC/AC converter including an inverter and a series resonant circuit connected to the output of the inverter; plural AC/DC converters, each including an input and an output that is connected to one of the respective storage elements and selectively supplies power to the output thereof; a transformer, the main winding of which is connected to the series resonant circuit and the secondary winding of which has outputs connected to an input of a respective AC/DC converter; and a control circuit configured to control the DC/AC converter at the current source when a number of outputs supplied with power is no higher than a threshold and moreover configured to control the DC/AC converter at a constant power when the number of outputs supplied with power is greater than the threshold.
US10003199B2

A power supply system includes: an electricity generation device configured to generate electrical energy; a plurality of DC/AC converters configured to convert the electrical energy into AC; and a battery energy storage system (BESS) configured to receive and charge the electrical energy and supplies the electrical energy to the plurality of DC/AC converters by discharging the charged electrical energy. The electrical energy generated by the electricity generation device charges the BESS without going through the plurality of DC/AC converters.
US10003195B1

A hybrid-STATCOM for providing compensating reactive power required by a load, the hybrid-STATCOM comprising: a TCLC part for each electric power phase, each TCLC part comprising: a coupling inductor; a power filter capacitor; and a thyristor-controlled reactor connected in series with a power filter inductor; and an active inverter part comprising: a voltage source inverter for each electric power phase; and a DC-link capacitor connected in parallel with the voltage source inverters. The control strategy of the hybrid-STATCOM is separated into two parts: TCLC part control and Active inverter part control. The TCLC part control is based on the instantaneous pq theory and aims to compensate the loading reactive power with the controllable TCLC part impedance. The active inverter part control is based on the instantaneous active and reactive current id-iq method and aims to improve the overall performance of the hybrid-STATCOM under different voltage and current conditions.
US10003190B2

A novel system is offered for supplying power from an input node to a load coupled to an output node. The system may have multiple switches coupled between the input node and the output node. One or more limiting circuits may be configured for controlling the switches so as to limit outputs of the switches. For example, the limiting circuits may limit current through the respective switches. One or more timers may set a delay period for indicating a fault condition after the limiting is initiated.
US10003184B2

A backflow preventing device includes a backflow preventing element connected between a power source and a load, for preventing a backflow of a current from the load side to the power source side, a commutation device configured to perform a commutation operation of causing a current to flow through an other path connected in parallel to the backflow preventing element, and a controller configured to change a pulse width of a commutation drive signal for controlling the commutation device to perform the commutation operation based on a current flowing through the backflow preventing element, and transmitting the commutation drive signal having the changed pulse width to the commutation device. The controller transmits the pulse to the commutation device only for a necessary time period so that the commutation device performs the commutation operation, to thereby reduce electric power relating to the commutation operation not contributing to the power conversion.
US10003182B2

A cover assembly for an insulator and first and second conductor portions extending therefrom includes first and second coupled hub members defining a central cavity sized and configured to receive the insulator. The first hub member includes a first leg defining a first lengthwise cavity extending from the central cavity and configured to receive the first conductor portion. The second hub member includes a second leg defining a second lengthwise cavity extending from the central cavity and configured to receive the second conductor portion. The first and second hub members are configured to be slidably rotated relative to one another to selectively adjust an angle between the first and second legs.
US10003175B2

An external resonator type light-emitting device includes a light source oscillating a semiconductor laser light and a grating element configuring an external resonator together with the light source. The light source includes an active layer oscillating the semiconductor laser light. The grating element includes an optical waveguide and a plurality of Bragg gratings formed in the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide includes an incident face on which the semiconductor laser light is incident and an emitting face from which an emitting light having a desired wavelength is emitted.
US10003147B2

A pressure contact type connector includes: an upper flat plate portion; a lower flat plate portion which is disposed below the upper flat plate portion; a first spring portion which connects the upper and lower flat plate portions; and a second spring portion which extends upward from the lower flat plate portion and applies a resilient force to the upper flat plate portion, in which the first and second spring portions are wound about the upper flat plate portion when viewed from above in a plan view, and extend so that the spring portions do not interfere with each other when being compressed and extended in the vertical direction, the first spring portion is formed to be bent so that a width dimension is larger than a thickness dimension, and the second spring portion is formed to be bent so that a width dimension is larger than a thickness dimension.
US10003138B2

In a noise suppression device of a washer pump, a first capacitor and a second capacitor are disposed with their height directions along a first direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the washer pump. This thereby enables installation space for the first capacitor and the second capacitor to be suppressed from becoming larger in the axial direction. A second terminal of the second capacitor is disposed between first terminals of the first capacitor. This thereby enables the installation space of the first capacitor and the second capacitor to be made smaller in the first direction and in a second direction orthogonal to the axial direction. The space between the pair of first terminals (the second terminals) is accordingly efficiently utilized for disposing the second terminal (the first terminal), enabling the first capacitor and the second capacitor to be disposed efficiently.
US10003137B2

This device is the modification of my U.S. Pat. No. 9,293,903, date: Mar. 22, 2016. A convenient electrical connector box will be used for repairing a broken household electrical line, or connecting an existing electrical line to new multiple locations. It provides all components in a package for completing a task. The package will include an electrical connector unit, a cover for enclosing the entire electrical connector unit, screws for securing the electrical connector box on a building structure, and screws for attaching the cover to the electrical connector unit. The electrical connector box can be mounted on a building structure in an open space such as the attic, crawlspace, or outer wall of a frame of a building or similar structure.
US10003135B1

Disclosed herein is a use-limiting connector for limiting use of an electrical tool. The use-limiting connector includes an electrical circuit, a plunger, movable between a first position and a second position, and a biasing member, configured to urge the plunger into the first position and configured to incrementally uncoil into respective torsional states as the plunger moves between the first position and the second position. With the plunger in the first position and the biasing member in a first one of the torsional states, the biasing member closes the electrical circuit. As the plunger moves from the first position to the second position, the plunger moves the biasing member to open the electrical circuit.
US10003130B2

A communication device including a ground element and an antenna element is provided. The antenna element is disposed adjacent to an edge of the ground element, and a loop structure is formed by the antenna element and the edge of the ground element. The antenna element includes a first and a second metal portions, and a first and second switches. When the first switch is turned on and the second switch is turned off, the first metal portion, the second metal portion, a shorting metal portion and the first switch form a loop antenna with the ground element. When the second switch is turned on and the first switch is turned off, an inverted-F antenna is formed by the second metal portion.
US10003128B2

Disclosed is a resonant type power transmission antenna device provided with a plurality of transmission antennas 12 and a plurality of reception antennas 13, the resonant type power transmission antenna device including a transmission shield antenna 22 arranged between the plurality of transmission antennas 12, a reception shield antenna 23 arranged between the plurality of reception antennas 13, transmission and reception circuits 21 and 24 to operate the transmission and reception shield antennas 22 and 23 in electromagnetic field resonance having a phase opposite to that of the transmission and reception antennas 12 and 13 respectively adjacent to the transmission and reception shield antennas.
US10003126B2

Disclosed are stretchable electrically conductive structure comprising a stretchable insulating substrate comprising nucleophile derivatized nanoparticles located at the surface of the stretchable insulating substrate, wherein the stretchable insulating substrate is a fiber or fabric; and a conducting polymer: template polymer coating disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the stretchable insulating substrate through which a chemical bond forms between at least one anion of the template polymer and nucleophile derivatized nanoparticles located at the surface of the stretchable insulating substrate.
US10003113B1

An exemplary fastening assembly includes a washer having a washer bore to receive a shank of a fastener, and a gasket secured about a radially outer perimeter of the washer. The gasket has an opening that is larger than a head of the fastener such that the gasket is radially spaced from the fastener when the shank is received within the washer bore. An exemplary fastening method includes pulling a gasket of a fastening device against a first component when securing the first component to a second component without clamping the gasket.
US10003109B2

A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly, and a case configured to accommodate the electrode assembly. At least a portion of the case includes a first insulation layer, a second insulation layer, and a capacitor between the first insulation layer and the second insulation layer, and the first insulation layer is nearer to the electrode assembly than the second insulation layer.
US10003104B2

Effecting a sleep mode of a cell supervision circuit of a rechargeable battery, in which the cell supervision circuit is not in the sleep mode after at least one sleep command sent to the cell supervision circuit, and in which a command for a software reset of the cell supervision circuit is sent to the cell supervision circuit after confirmation of the sleep mode is absent.
US10003103B2

Disclosed is an additive for a non-aqueous electrolyte, which is a compound having a double bond and at least two cyano groups, the two cyano groups being in a trans-formation to the double bond. Also, a non-aqueous electrolyte comprising the additive and an electrochemical device comprising the non-aqueous electrolyte are also disclosed. Further, an electrode comprising the cyano group-containing compound and an electrochemical device comprising the electrode are disclosed.
US10003102B2

An electrolyte additive for a lithium battery, an electrolyte including the electrolyte additive, and a lithium battery including the electrolyte additive are disclosed. The electrolyte additive for a lithium battery includes a sulfonylmethylisocyanide-based compound. The electrolyte additive including the sulfonylmethylisocyanide-based compound may form a protective layer having improved high-temperature stability on positive and negative electrodes of a lithium battery, thereby improving the safety of the lithium battery.
US10003101B2

A secondary battery includes a cathode, an anode, and non-aqueous electrolytic solution. The non-aqueous electrolytic solution includes a boron compound. The boron compound includes six or more boron (B) atoms, and includes an octavalent boron-hydrogen-containing structure represented by Formula (1), a dodecavalent boron-carbon-containing structure represented by Formula (2), or both.
US10003099B2

A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of power generation units, a reactant gas channel, and a coolant channel. The plurality of power generation units are stacked in a stacking direction to provide a stacked body and each includes a first separator, a first electrolyte electrode assembly, a second separator, a second electrolyte electrode assembly, and a third separator. The first electrolyte electrode assembly is provided on the first separator. The second separator is provided on the first electrolyte electrode assembly. The second electrolyte electrode assembly is provided on the second separator. The first electrolyte electrode assembly and the second electrolyte electrode assembly each include an electrolyte and a pair of electrodes sandwiching the electrolyte therebetween. The third separator is provided on the second electrolyte electrode assembly.
US10003096B2

The present invention relates to a polymer electrolyte membrane, and a membrane-electrode assembly and a fuel cell containing the same, and the polymer electrolyte membrane comprises a polymer comprising repeating units represented by the following chemical formulas 1-3. Chemical formulas 1-3 are as defined in the specification. The polymer electrolyte membrane has excellent resistance to radical attack and has improved acid-base interaction, thereby maximizing the function of an ion conductive group, and thus can improve the operation performance of a fuel cell in a low humidification state.
US10003093B2

A fuel cell system having a fuel cell operated under non-humidified conditions that includes a polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between an anode and a cathode, a fuel gas channel facing the anode to supply it with fuel gas, an oxidant gas channel facing the cathode to supply it with oxidant gas, and a flow direction of the fuel gas and the oxidant gas are opposite. The fuel cell system may control a water vapor amount at an outlet of the fuel gas channel based on a value that is set based on a relationship between a voltage of the fuel cell and the water vapor amount. The fuel cell system may control an average flow rate of the fuel gas in the fuel gas channel based on a value that is set based on a relationship between a voltage of the fuel cell and the average flow rate.
US10003092B2

A fuel cell stack assembly has a plurality of cells each having a fluid coolant conduit. A coolant feed manifold has a first inlet and a second inlet and is coupled to each fluid coolant conduit for distribution of fluid coolant within each cell. A pump is coupled for delivery of fluid coolant to the coolant feed manifold through the first and second inlets. A flow control assembly is configured to periodically modify the relative flow rates of fluid coolant through the first and second inlets so that stagnant regions in the coolant feed manifold are avoided. The flow control assembly may also be adapted to periodically interrupt the flow path between the pump and the manifold such that the fluid coolant is delivered to the manifold intermittently, thereby enabling low water flows below a minimum set point of the pump.
US10003090B2

According to an example embodiment, a method of making a fuel cell component includes permeating at least a portion of a component layer with a polymer. The portion of the component layer is adjacent an edge of the component layer. Some of the polymer is allowed to extend beyond the edge to thereby establish a flap beyond the edge of the component layer. A fuel cell component includes a component layer having a portion adjacent an edge of the layer that is impregnated with a polymer material and a flap of the polymer material extending beyond the edge.
US10003088B2

A solid oxide fuel cell stack includes a support, a plurality of power generation elements provided on a surface of the support, the plurality of power generation elements connected in series, each including at least a fuel electrode, a solid electrolyte, and an air electrode stacked in that order, and an interconnector that electrically connects an air electrode in one of adjacent power generation elements to a fuel electrode in the other power generation element. A solid electrolyte in adjacent one power generation element is provided between a fuel electrode in the adjacent one power generation element and the fuel electrode in the adjacent other power generation element, and an insulating member is provided at a position that is on the solid electrolyte in the adjacent one power generation element and between the air electrode in the adjacent one power generation element and the solid electrolyte therein.
US10003086B2

A DME-free lithium battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator arranged between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a liquid electrolyte composed of a solvent and at least one lithium electrolyte salt and with which the electrode and the separator are impregnated, wherein the solvent includes propylene carbonate (PC) as a first solvent component and 1,3-dioxolane (DOL) as a second solvent component, and the positive electrode and/or the negative electrode have a proportion of carbon black having a BET surface area of at least 1 m2/g.
US10003084B2

Methods of forming metal nanoparticle-graphene composites are provided. The methods can include mixing a metal precursor with graphite oxide in the presence of a liquid medium to form a metal precursor-graphite oxide mixture, and exfoliating the graphite oxide and reducing the metal precursor in the metal precursor-graphite oxide mixture to deposit metal nanoparticles on a first major surface of a graphene sheet formed by exfoliation of the graphite oxide.
US10003077B2

Disclosed is a battery electrode binder containing a polymer including (1) a constituent unit derived from a (meth)acrylate monomer (A) having a hydroxyl group, (2) a constituent unit derived from a vinyl ester monomer (B), and (3) a constituent unit derived from a polyfunctional (meth)acrylate monomer (C). Using the binder, an electrode is produced and adopted in a battery such as a lithium ion secondary battery. Obtained are: an aqueous binder that has a low environmental impact, has high adhesiveness, and in particular does not cause oxidative degradation in the electrode environment; and a battery and electrode using the binder.
US10003064B2

A secondary battery, including a case having one or more partition walls providing a plurality of accommodating spaces; a plurality of electrode assemblies in the accommodating spaces with an electrolyte, the plurality of electrode assemblies including electrode tabs; and a cap assembly including a cap plate sealing a top portion of the case, the cap assembly having the electrode tabs drawn therefrom and first connection tabs electrically connecting the plurality of electrode assemblies through the electrode tabs, the partition walls being impregnated with the electrolyte.
US10003041B2

An organic light emitting diode, including a first electrode and a second electrode facing each other; an emission layer between the first electrode and the second electrode; and an electron injection layer between the second electrode and the emission layer, the electron injection layer including a metal having a work function of 4.0 eV or less and a dipole material including a first component and a second component having different polarities.
US10003035B2

An organometallic compound represented by Formula 1: M(L1)n1(L2)n2  Formula 1 wherein in Formula 1, M, L1, L2, n1, and n2 are the same as described in the specification.
US10003029B2

An organic light-emitting device includes a first electrode; a second electrode facing the first electrode; and an organic emission layer between the first electrode and the second electrode. The organic emission layer may include a compound represented by Formula 1: wherein Formula 1 contains an indenoindenyl moiety. The compound may increase hole mobility in the device when used as a hole transport and/or hole injection material, thereby improving its lifetime, current, voltage, and luminescent characteristics.
US10003027B2

A ladder tetrazine polymer is disclosed.
US10003024B2

The present invention relates to an organic composition which comprises a conjugated polymer as hole-transport compound and a doping compound. The present invention furthermore relates to the use of the composition according to the invention in organic electroluminescent devices, in particular in the so-called buffer layer of such devices. The present invention also relates to a formulation which comprises the composition according to the invention and a solvent and to an organic electroluminescent device which comprises the composition according to the invention.
US10003022B2

The present disclosure relates to a resistive random access memory (RRAM) device architecture, that includes a thin single layer of a conductive etch-stop layer between a lower metal interconnect and a bottom electrode of an RRAM cell. The conductive etch-stop layer provides simplicity in structure and the etch-selectivity of this layer provides protection to the underlying layers. The conductive etch stop layer can be etched using a dry or wet etch to land on the lower metal interconnect. In instances where the lower metal interconnect is copper, etching the conductive etch stop layer to expose the copper does not produce as much non-volatile copper etching by-products as in traditional methods. Compared to traditional methods, some embodiments of the disclosed techniques reduce the number of mask step and also reduce chemical mechanical polishing during the formation of the bottom electrode.
US10003021B2

A method of forming a resistive memory cell, e.g., a CBRAM or ReRAM cell, may include forming a plurality of bottom electrode connections, depositing a bottom electrode layer over the bottom electrode connections, performing an etch to remove portions of the bottom electrode layer to form at least one upwardly-pointing bottom electrode region above the bottom electrode connections, each upwardly-pointing bottom electrode region defining a bottom electrode tip, and forming an electrolyte region and a top electrode over each bottom electrode tip such that the electrolyte region is arranged between the top electrode and the respective bottom electrode top.
US10003020B2

A memory device includes a first metal layer and a first metal oxide layer coupled to the first metal layer. The memory device includes a second metal oxide layer coupled to the first metal oxide layer and a second metal layer coupled to the second metal oxide layer. The formation of the first metal oxide layer has a Gibbs free energy that is lower than the Gibbs free energy for the formation of the second metal oxide layer.
US10003019B2

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device may include the following steps: preparing a substrate; preparing a first insulating layer on the substrate; preparing an electrode in the first insulating layer; preparing a second insulating layer on the first insulating layer; removing (e.g., using a dry etching process or a wet etching process) a portion of the second insulating layer to form a hole that at least partially exposes the electrode; providing a phase change material layer that may cover the electrode; and removing (e.g., using a sputtering process such as an argon sputtering process), a portion of the phase change material layer positioned inside the hole to form a phase change member that may expose a first portion of (a top side of) the electrode and may directly contact a second portion of (the top side of) the electrode.
US10003005B2

A method is provided of forming a superconductor device interconnect structure. The method includes forming a first high temperature dielectric layer overlying a substrate, forming a base electrode in the first high temperature dielectric layer with the base electrode having a top surface aligned with the top surface of the first high temperature dielectric layer, and depositing a second high temperature dielectric layer over the first high temperature dielectric layer and the base electrode. The method further comprises forming a first contact through the second dielectric layer to a first end of the base electrode, forming a Josephson junction (JJ) overlying and in contact with the first contact, and forming a second contact through the second dielectric layer to a second end of the base electrode.
US10003004B2

The present disclosure provides a method for forming a thermoelectric device, comprising providing a semiconductor substrate and providing a first layer of an etching material adjacent to the semiconductor substrate. The etching material facilitates the etching of the semiconductor substrate upon exposure to an oxidizing agent and a chemical etchant. Next, a second layer of a semiconductor oxide is provided adjacent to the first layer, and the second layer is patterned to form a pattern of holes or wires. The second layer and first layer are then sequentially etched to expose portions of the semiconductor substrate. Exposed portions of the semiconductor substrate are then contacted with an oxidizing agent and a chemical etchant to transfer the pattern to the semiconductor substrate.
US10003002B2

Disclosed are two geometrically identical integrated Z-device structures, integrated in two distinct silicon dices, joined together in a face-to-face configuration, such that a p-doped thin film leg of one structure faces toward a n-doped thin film leg of the other structure and vice versa. Upon joining the Z-device structures together, the hill-top metal contacts of one integrated structure are bonded in electrical and thermal continuity with correspondent hill-top metal contacts of the other integrated structure, forming a substantially bivalve TEG of increased power yield for the same footprint area and having an enhanced conversion efficiency. Thermo-electrically generated current may be gathered from one or several end pad pairs, the pads of which are connected to respective valley bottom contacts, on one and on the other of the two dices of the bivalve device, at the ends of conductive lines of micro cells respectively belonging to one and to the other of the two coupled dices.
US10002998B2

Thermoelectric materials and thermoelectric cells and devices incorporating the thermoelectric materials are provided. Also provided are methods of using the cells and devices to generate electricity and to power external electronic devices. The thermoelectric materials comprise SnSe single crystals, including hole doped SnSe single crystals.
US10002982B2

A thermo-photovoltaic system including an infrared radiation emitter including a body including a first external surface and a second external surface, the first and second external surfaces being distinct, the first external surface facing a concentrator for receiving a concentrated solar radiation, the second external surface facing a thermo-photovoltaic cell, and the body further including at least one gas and/or liquid combustion chamber therein, and an igniter is provided for causing combustion in the combustion chamber.
US10002974B2

A Zener diode includes a semiconductor substrate, an anode electrode and a cathode electrode. The semiconductor substrate includes a p-type anode region, an n-type current path region and a drift region. The p-type anode region is connected to the anode electrode. The n-type current path region is in contact with the anode region. The drift region is in contact with the anode region and the current path region. The drift region is of an n type. The drift region has a lower n-type impurity concentration than the current path region. The drift region is connected to the cathode electrode directly or via another n-type region.
US10002970B2

To provide a novel semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor film. The semiconductor device includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor includes a first gate electrode, a first insulating film over the first gate electrode, a first oxide semiconductor film over the first insulating film, a source electrode electrically connected to the first oxide semiconductor film, a drain electrode electrically connected to the first oxide semiconductor film, a second insulating film over the first oxide semiconductor film, a second oxide semiconductor film functioning as a second gate electrode, over the second insulating film, and a third insulating film over the second oxide semiconductor film. The second transistor includes a third oxide semiconductor film including a channel region, a source region, and a drain region over the second insulating film, a fourth insulating film over the channel region, a third gate electrode over the fourth insulating film, and the third insulating film over the source region and the drain region.
US10002969B2

A semiconductor device includes channel layers disposed over a substrate, a source/drain region disposed over the substrate, a gate dielectric layer disposed on and wrapping each of the channel layers, and a gate electrode layer disposed on the gate dielectric layer and wrapping each of the channel layers. Each of the channel layers includes a semiconductor wire made of a first semiconductor material. The semiconductor wire extends into the source/drain region. The semiconductor wire in the source/drain regions is wrapped around by a second semiconductor material.
US10002967B2

Semiconductor devices as described herein may include a fin-shaped pattern extending in a first direction, first and second side walls facing each other, first and second gate electrodes extending in a second direction and spaced apart from each other, a first gate spacer that is on a side wall of the first gate electrode, a second gate spacer that is on a side wall of the second gate electrode, a first trench in the fin-shaped pattern that is between the first and second gate electrodes and having a first width, and a second trench in the fin-shaped pattern that is below the first trench and has a second width smaller than the first width. The fin-shaped pattern may include first and second inflection points on the side walls of the fin-shaped pattern, and a bottom surface of the second trench may be lower than the inflection points.
US10002966B1

A field-effect transistor includes a substrate having thereon an isolation region. A fin structure protrudes from a top surface of the isolation region. The fin structure extends along a first direction. A gate electrode strides across the fin structure and extends along a second direction. A fin corner layer wraps a lower portion of the gate electrode around the fin structure. A spacer covers a sidewall of the gate electrode and the fin corner layer.
US10002964B2

An electrostatically formed nanowire transistor, includes a source, a drain, and multiple gates surrounding a doped silicon region. The gates include a top gate, a bottom gate, and side gates. The gates induce a channel in said doped silicon region. The channel has a width which is decreased by negative biasing of the side gates, and a height and vertical position controlled by the top and bottom gates.
US10002953B2

A performance of a semiconductor device is improved. A semiconductor device includes two element portions and an interposition portion interposed between the two element portions. The interposition portion includes a p-type body region formed in a part of a semiconductor layer, the part being located between two trenches, and two p-type floating regions formed in two respective parts of the semiconductor layer, the two respective portions being located on both sides of the p-type body region via the two respective trenches. A lower end of the p-type floating region is arranged on a lower side with reference to a lower end of the p-type body region.
US10002936B2

A process for depositing titanium aluminum or tantalum aluminum thin films comprising nitrogen on a substrate in a reaction space can include at least one deposition cycle. The deposition cycle can include alternately and sequentially contacting the substrate with a vapor phase Ti or Ta precursor and a vapor phase Al precursor. At least one of the vapor phase Ti or Ta precursor and the vapor phase Al precursor may contact the substrate in the presence of a vapor phase nitrogen precursor.
US10002934B2

A semiconductor device includes a first planar semiconductor (e.g., silicon) layer, first and second pillar-shaped semiconductor (e.g., silicon) layers, a first gate insulating film, a first gate electrode, a second gate insulating film, a second gate electrode, a first gate line connected to the first and second gate electrodes, a first n-type diffusion layer, a second n-type diffusion layer, a first p-type diffusion layer, and a second p-type diffusion layer. A center line extending along the first gate line is offset by a first predetermined amount from a line connecting a center of the first pillar-shaped semiconductor layer and a center of the second pillar-shaped semiconductor layer.
US10002929B2

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a p-doped layer formed on the substrate having a dislocation density exceeding 108 cm−2. An n-type layer is formed on or in the p-doped layer. The n-type layer includes a II-VI material configured to tolerate the dislocation density to form an electronic device with reduced leakage current over a device with a III-V n-type layer.
US10002928B1

A method for manufacturing a display panel comprising light emitting device including micro LEDs includes providing multiple donor wafers having a surface region and forming an epitaxial material overlying the surface region. The epitaxial material includes an n-type region, an active region comprising at least one light emitting layer overlying the n-type region, and a p-type region overlying the active layer region. The multiple donor wafers are configured to emit different color emissions. The epitaxial material on the multiple donor wafers is patterned to form a plurality of dice, characterized by a first pitch between a pair of dice less than a design width. At least some of the dice are selectively transferred from the multiple donor wafers to a common carrier wafer such that the carrier wafer is configured with different color emitting LEDs. The different color LEDs could comprise red-green-blue LEDs to form a RGB display panel.
US10002911B2

The present disclosure provides a display back plate and a fabricating method thereof and a display device. The display back plate includes a base layer. A plurality of recesses are formed in the base layer, and a plurality of sub-pixels are formed in the plurality of recesses. The sub-pixel includes a first electrode layer, which is formed in the recess, a light-emitting material layer, which is formed on the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer, which is formed on the light-emitting material layer. Thickness differences exist among a plurality of the light-emitting material layers, and upper surfaces of the plurality of light-emitting material layers are positioned on the same plane.
US10002898B2

An image sensor includes a first light detecting device configured to selectively sense or absorb first visible light, a second light detecting device configured to selectively sense or absorb second visible light having a longer wavelength region than the first visible light, and a third light detecting device on the first light detecting device and the second light detecting device. The first light detecting device has one of a maximum transmission wavelength and a maximum absorption wavelength less than about 440 nm, the second light detecting device has one of a maximum transmission wavelength and a maximum absorption wavelength greater than about 630 nm, and the third light detecting device is configured to selectively sense or absorb third visible light having a wavelength region between the first visible light and the second visible light.
US10002894B2

An imaging apparatus includes a plurality of pixels, a signal holding unit, first and second control electrodes. Each of the plurality of pixels includes a photoelectric conversion unit, and an amplification element to amplify signals based on signal charges generated by the photoelectric conversion unit, in which the plurality of pixels output signals for performing a phase contrast detection type of focal point detection. The signal holding unit is in an electrical pathway between an output node of the photoelectric conversion unit and an input node of the amplification element, in which signals for performing the phase contrast detection type of focal point detection are held. The first control electrode is configured to transfer a signal of the photoelectric conversion unit to the signal holding unit. The second control electrode is configured to transfer a signal for performing the phase difference detection type of focal point detection.
US10002890B2

A liquid crystal display according to an exemplary embodiment includes a first substrate, a gate line and a data line disposed on the first substrate, a first thin film transistor (“TFT”) and a second TFT connected to the gate line and the data line, a first subpixel electrode connected to the first TFT, a first resistor connected to the second TFT, and a second subpixel electrode connected to the first resistor.
US10002886B2

Disclosed is a semiconductor device having a first transistor and a second transistor over the first transistor. The first transistor includes a first semiconductor, and the second transistor includes an oxide semiconductor that is different from the first semiconductor. A gate of the first transistor is electrically connected to a source or drain electrode of the second transistor. The second transistor has a semiconductor layer including the oxide semiconductor over the source and drain electrodes and a gate electrode over the semiconductor layer with an insulating layer therebetween.
US10002879B2

A semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a plurality of first stacked structures and two second stacked structures disposed on the substrate. Each of the first stacked structures includes alternately stacked metal layers and oxide layers. Each of the second stacked structures includes alternately stacked silicon nitride layers and oxide layers. The first stacked structures are disposed between the two second stacked structures.
US10002877B2

A three-dimensional (3D) semiconductor memory device includes a CMOS circuit structure including a plurality of column blocks each comprising a plurality of page buffer circuits, and a lower wiring structure and a memory structure sequentially stacked over the CMOS circuit structure. The memory structure overlaps a first circuit region of the CMOS circuit structure and does not overlap a second circuit region of the CMOS circuit structure, and the plurality of column blocks are contained within the first circuit region of the CMOS circuit structure.
US10002874B2

A method of forming conductive material of a buried transistor gate line includes adhering a precursor comprising tungsten and chlorine to material within a substrate trench. The precursor is reduced with hydrogen to form elemental-form tungsten material over the material within the substrate trench from the precursor.
US10002872B2

The present invention discloses a three-dimensional vertical one-time-programmable memory (3D-OTPV). It comprises a plurality of vertical OTP strings formed side-by-side on a substrate circuit. Each OTP string comprises a plurality of vertically stacked OTP cells. Each OTP cell comprises an antifuse layer. The horizontal address lines and the vertical address lines comprise oppositely-doped semiconductor materials.
US10002869B2

The present disclosure provides semiconductor structures and fabrication methods thereof. An exemplary fabrication method includes providing a plurality of fins on a semiconductor substrate; forming an anti-diffusion layer, containing anti-diffusion ions, in the fins; forming an anti-punch through layer, containing anti-punch through ions, in the fins, a top surface of the anti-punch through layer being below a top surface of the anti-diffusion layer, and the anti-diffusion layer preventing the anti-punch through ions from diffusing toward tops of the fins; and performing a thermal annealing process.
US10002868B2

Semiconductor devices and methods are provided in which vertical fin resistor devices are integrally formed as part of a process flow for fabricating FinFET (Fin Field Effect Transistor) devices. For example, a semiconductor device includes a FinFET device and a vertical fin resistor device formed on a semiconductor substrate. The FinFET device includes a vertical semiconductor fin which includes a structural profile that is defined by dimensions of width W, height H, and length L. The vertical fin resistor device includes a vertical fin structure which is formed of a resistive material (e.g., polysilicon or amorphous silicon), and which has a structural profile that is defined by dimension of width W1, height H1, and length L1. The structural profiles of the vertical semiconductor fin of the FinFET device and the vertical fin structure of the vertical fin resistor device have at least one corresponding dimension that is substantially the same.
US10002867B2

A fin-type field effect transistor comprising a substrate, at least one gate stack and epitaxy material portions is described. The substrate has fins and insulators located between the fins, and the fins include channel portions and flank portions beside the channel portions. The at least one gate stack is disposed over the insulators and over the channel portions of the fins. The epitaxy material portions are disposed over the flank portions of the fins and at two opposite sides of the at least one gate stack. The epitaxy material portions disposed on the flank portions of the fins are separate from one another.
US10002862B2

A solid-state light source (SSLS) with an integrated short-circuit protection approach is described. A device can include a SSLS having an n-type semiconductor layer, a p-type semiconductor layer and a light generating structure formed there between. A field-effect transistor (FET) can be monolithically connected in series with the SSLS. The FET can have a saturation current that is greater than the normal operating current of the SSLS and less than a predetermined protection current threshold specified to protect the SSLS and the FET.
US10002861B2

An ESD protection structure formed within a semiconductor substrate of an integrated circuit device. The ESD protection structure comprises a thyristor structure being formed from a first P-doped section forming an anode of the thyristor structure, a first N-doped section forming a collector node of the thyristor structure, a second P-doped section, and a second N-doped section forming a cathode of the thyristor structure. A low-resistance coupling is provided between an upper surface region of the collector node of the thyristor structure and the anode of the thyristor structure.
US10002860B2

An integrated circuit includes at least one cell. The at least one cell includes a cell region defined by a cell boundary; a power line structure extending in a first direction parallel to and along the cell boundary and including a first power line extending in the first direction along the cell boundary, a plurality of metal islands spaced apart from one another over the first power line in the first direction, and a second power line extending in the first direction over the plurality of metal islands; and a signal line structure disposed in the cell region at the same level as the first power line and the plurality of metal islands. Separation distances between each of the plurality of metal islands and a part of the signal line structure at the same level as the plurality of metal islands are equal to or greater than a critical separation distance.
US10002854B2

A link device with a large density routing is attached to a package in order to provide a high-density interconnect pathway to interconnect semiconductor devices. In an embodiment the package is an integrated fan out package. The link device may be bonded on either side of the package, and the package may optionally comprise through package vias. The link device may also be an integrated passive device that includes resistors, inductor, and capacitor components.
US10002845B2

In a soldering method for Ag-containing lead-free solders to be soldered to an Ag-containing member, void generation is prevented and solder wettability is improved. The soldering method for Ag-containing lead-free solders of the present invention is a soldering method for Ag-containing lead-free solders includes a first step of bringing a lead-free solder having a composition that contains Ag that a relation between a concentration C (mass %) of Ag contained in an Sn—Ag-based lead-free solder before soldering of a mass M(g) and an elution amount B(g) of Ag contained in the Ag-containing member becomes 1.0 mass %≤(M×C+B)×100/(M+B)≤4.6 mass % and that the balance consists of Sn and unavoidable impurities into contact with the Ag-containing member, a second step of heating and melting the lead-free solder, and a third step of cooling the lead-free solder.
US10002839B2

An electronic structure is provided with a redistribution structure and the following elements. A first supporting structure has a first opening and is disposed on a first surface of the redistribution structure. A second supporting structure has a second opening and is disposed on a second surface of the redistribution structure opposite to the first surface. A first bonding protruding portions are disposed on the first surface of the redistribution structure and located in the first opening. A second bonding protruding portions are disposed on the second surface of the redistribution structure and located in the second opening. A first encapsulated material is filled between the first opening and the first bonding protruding portions. A second encapsulated material is filled between the second opening and the second bonding protruding portions. An electronic structure array is also provided.
US10002824B2

Incorporating at least one magnetic alignment structure on a microelectronic device and incorporating at least one alignment coil within a microelectronic substrate, wherein the alignment coil may be powered to form a magnetic field to attract the magnetic alignment structure, thereby aligning the microelectronic device to the microelectronic substrate. After alignment, the microelectronic device may be electrically attached to the substrate. Embodiments may include additionally incorporating an alignment detection coil within the microelectronic substrate, wherein the alignment detection coil may be powered to form a magnetic field to detect variations in the magnetic field generated by the alignment coil in order verify the alignment of the microelectronic device to the microelectronic substrate.
US10002821B1

The semiconductor chip package comprises first substrate comprising insulator layer, first metallic layer, and second metallic layer; first semiconductor chip disposed on first metallic layer of first substrate; first electrically conductive spacer layer disposed on first semiconductor chip; second substrate comprising insulator layer, first metallic layer, and second metallic layer, wherein second substrate is disposed on first spacer layer; leadframe comprising first lead and second lead, wherein each one of first and second leads comprises upper surface and lower surface, wherein upper surfaces are connected with second metallic layer of second substrate, and lower surfaces are connected with first metallic layer of first substrate; and encapsulant applied to first and second substrates, first semiconductor chip, first spacer layer, and leadframe.
US10002817B2

A power module includes: a ceramic substrate that includes a principal surface and a back surface, and is provided with a plurality of metal wirings on the principal surface; a semiconductor chip mounted on any metal wiring of the plurality of metal wirings; and a resin part disposed around each of the plurality of metal wirings. Further, side faces of the metal wirings each have: a first region in which a plating film is formed; a second region that is positioned above the first region and that is a non-plating region; and a third region that is positioned between the first region and the second region and in which metal particles are formed. The resin part is bonded to the metal particles, the plating film, and the principal surface of the ceramic substrate.
US10002809B2

A test device includes a diode junction layer having a first dopant conductivity region and a second dopant conductivity region formed within the diode junction layer on opposite sides of a diode junction. A first portion of vertical transistors is formed over the first dopant conductivity region as a device under test, and a second portion of vertical transistors is formed over the second dopant conductivity region. A common source/drain region is formed over the first and second portions of vertical transistors. Current through the first portion of vertical transistors permits measurement of a resistance at a probe contact connected to the common source/drain region.
US10002806B2

The subject application relates to metrology targets with filling elements that reduce inaccuracies and maintain contrast. The present invention provides a metrology target and a method to design the metrology target. The metrology target comprises specified filling elements introduced into identified continuous regions in a given target design, wherein parameters of the introduced filling elements are determined by a trade-off between a contrast requirement and an inaccuracy requirement which is associated via production with the identified continuous regions. The method includes the steps of identifying continuous regions in a target design, and introducing specified filling elements into the identified continuous regions, wherein parameters of the introduced filling elements are determined by a trade-off between a contrast requirement and an inaccuracy requirement which is associated via production with the identifying continuous regions. At least one of the identifying and the introducing can be carried out by at least one computer processor.
US10002801B2

The device manufacturing method includes a length measuring step (S5) of, on the basis of an observation target image of an SEM image taken from a direction having a predetermined angle from a direction perpendicular to a plane of a substrate, measuring the thickness of a target object, or the depth of etching, formed on the substrate. In addition, in the length measuring step, an etching angle made by a cross section of the etching and the direction perpendicular to the plane of the substrate is calculated from processing data of the target object, and the thickness of the target object or the depth of the etching is measured on the basis of the calculated etching angle.
US10002788B2

Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device include forming a gate pattern on a substrate, forming spacers to cover both sidewalls of the gate pattern, forming an interlayer insulating layer to cover the gate pattern and the spacers, and forming contact holes to penetrate the interlayer insulating layer and expose sidewalls of the spacers. The forming of the spacers includes forming a spacer layer to cover the gate pattern and injecting silicon ions into the spacer layer. The spacer layer is a nitride-based low-k insulating layer, whose dielectric constant is lower than that of silicon oxide.
US10002787B2

Methods and apparatuses for depositing an encapsulation layer over a staircase structure during fabrication of a 3D NAND structure to prevent degradation of an oxide-oxide interface and to prevent punchthrough of a wordline are provided. The encapsulation layer is a carbon-containing conformal film deposited over a staircase structure of alternating oxide and nitride layers prior to depositing oxide over the staircase structure.
US10002777B2

Provided is a substrate processing system and a substrate processing method. The substrate processing system includes a polishing part for performing a Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP) process on a substrate, a cleaning part for cleaning the substrate on which the polishing process is performed, and a substrate transferring part for transferring the substrate to the cleaning part before polishing the substrate in the polishing part. The substrate may be preparatorily cleaned in the cleaning part before the polishing process, and then enters the polishing part.
US10002773B2

A method for selectively etching trenches in a silicon oxide containing layer with an organic planarization layer is provided. Processing the silicon oxide layer comprises a plurality of process cycles, wherein each etch cycle comprises a deposition phase, comprising providing a flow of a deposition phase gas comprising a fluorocarbon or hydrofluorocarbon containing gas with a fluorine to carbon ratio, providing a constant RF power, which forms the deposition phase gas into a plasma, and stopping the deposition phase and an etch phase, comprising providing a flow of an etch phase gas comprising a fluorocarbon or hydrofluorocarbon containing gas with a fluorine to carbon ratio that is higher than the fluorine to carbon ratio of the deposition phase gas, providing a pulsed RF power, which forms the etch phase gas into a plasma, and stopping the etch phase.
US10002766B1

A method of fabricating high-k/metal gate semiconductor device by incorporating an enhanced annealing process is provided. The enhanced annealing process in accordance with the disclosure can be operated at relatively low temperature and high pressure and thus can improve the k value and repair the above-mentioned deficiencies of the HK layer. Under the enhanced annealing process in accordance with the disclosure, H+ can be diffused from the ammonia gas and to repair the broken bonds because of high pressure, while avoiding adversely impact the NiSi and implanted ions in the HK layer due to the low temperature. The enhanced annealing process in accordance with the disclosure can be performed between 300° C. to 500° C. at a pressure of 15-20 atm for 15 to 50 minutes in some embodiments.
US10002760B2

A method for producing silicon carbide substrates fit for epitaxial growth in a standard epitaxial chamber normally used for silicon wafers processing. Strict limitations are placed on any substrate that is to be processed in a chamber normally used for silicon substrates, so as to avoid contamination of the silicon wafers. To take full advantage of standard silicon processing equipment, the SiC substrates are of diameter of at least 150 mm. For proper growth of the SiC boule, the growth crucible is made to have interior volume that is six to twelve times the final growth volume of the boule. Also, the interior volume of the crucible is made to have height to width ratio of 0.8 to 4.0. Strict limits are placed on contamination, particles, and defects in each substrate.
US10002757B2

Implementations disclosed herein generally relate to methods of forming silicon oxide films. The methods can include performing silylation on the surface of the substrate having terminal hydroxyl groups. The hydroxyl groups on the surface of the substrate are then regenerated using a plasma and H2O soak in order to perform an additional silylation. Further methods include catalyzing the exposed surfaces using a Lewis acid, directionally inactivating the exposed first and second surfaces and deposition of a silicon containing layer on the sidewall surfaces. Multiple plasma treatments may be performed to deposit a layer having a desired thickness.
US10002749B2

An arc extinguishing method for extinguishing arcs in a plasma chamber of a plasma system, comprising providing a plasma operating power during a plasma operation to the plasma chamber for generating plasma in the plasma chamber and carrying out a plasma-processing process using the generated plasma, by generating an analog signal by a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and amplifying the generated analog signal on an amplifier path, monitoring, by an arc detection device, the plasma system for arcs, and in response to detecting an occurrence of an arc, controlling the DAC by the arc detection device such that the generated analog signal by the DAC is modified.
US10002746B1

Systems and methods for providing a multi regime plasma wafer processing are described. The systems and methods have three states. During a first one of the states, an etching operation is performed. In a second one of the states, a power level of a kilohertz radio frequency signal is greater than zero to increase directionality of ions that are incident on a bottom surface of a stack layer. In a third one of the states, there is a reduction in a loss of mask on top of the stack layer and deposition may be performed.
US10002722B2

A switching system for breaking a current, including a contact arrangement having a first and second terminals, a resonance circuit connectable across the contact arrangement, In the closed state the first switch enables current to flow through the resonance circuit in a first flow direction and into the contact arrangement in a direction opposite to a contact arrangement arc current flow direction. A second switch connected to the resonance circuit and to the second terminal. In the closed state the second switch enables current to flow through the resonance circuit in a second flow direction opposite to the first flow direction. A control system arranged to alternatingly set the first and second switches in the closed state and then in the open state upon a current breaking operation, until a current pulse, emanating from energy supplied by a contact arrangement arc current, flowing through the resonance circuit and into the contact arrangement reaches an amplitude which is equal to or greater than a magnitude of a contact arrangement arc current.
US10002709B2

A method of making a wireless charging device for an electronic device includes printing a decoration layer on a surface of a glass or glass-ceramic substrate using a non-conductive ink. A coil is printed on the decoration layer, and an electromagnetic interference absorber layer is applied over the printed coil.
US10002701B2

Method and system for predicting an oil temperature of a transformer for a desired load and/or predicting a load that a transformer can support for a desired time. A machine learning algorithm is developed using historical data of a transformer. After the algorithm is developed, historical data corresponding to the transformer are input into the algorithm to develop a profile of the transformer describing how the temperature of oil within the transformer is expected to change as a function of a desired load. Using the profile, the of temperature of the transformer is predicted for a desired load. In this way, a prediction is made as to whether and/or for how long a transformer may support a desired load before the oil temperature reaches a specified threshold and/or before the transformer fails due to the load.
US10002697B2

A superconducting magnet device includes a superconducting coil, a radiation shield, a refrigeration unit, a vacuum case, an electrode member, and a conductive member. The vacuum case includes a case body housing the superconducting coil and a surrounding cover that surrounds the refrigeration unit. The conductive member includes a contact portion having a sleeve-shaped outer circumferential face and thermally contactable with an inner face of the surrounding cover via an insulating material. The surrounding cover includes a heat radiating part including at least a surface of a portion of the surrounding cover overlapping the contact portion in a radial direction of the surrounding cover. Thermal conductivity of the heat radiating part is higher than thermal conductivity of stainless steel.
US10002693B2

The electrical resistance (10) includes a sealed housing (12) with a generally cylindrical shape defined along a longitudinal axis (X), a resistive element (16), extending along a spiral defined around the longitudinal axis (X), and a fluid guiding element (18), defining, with the sealed housing (12), a conduit for guiding a flow of fluid in contact with the resistive element (16). The guiding element (18) has a spiral shape defined around the longitudinal axis (X).
US10002691B1

An improved Ethernet cable with an undulating and folding jacket housing external spatial channels. The undulating housing provides for multiple connection configurations from a flat cable to rectangular block configurations. The cable has a plurality of internal electronic signal channels, each channel having a pair of conductors. Each channel is also further isolated by a multi-layer protective shield, the protective shield encasing the pair of conductors. This unique design meets the new requirements of CAT8 cables, and substantially enhances video and audio streaming and transmission speeds, while eliminating deleterious effects of prior cables.
US10002689B2

A Metal-Clad (MC) cable assembly includes a core having a plurality of power conductors cabled with a subassembly, each of the plurality of power conductors and the subassembly including an electrical conductor, a layer of insulation, and a jacket layer. The MC cable assembly further includes an assembly jacket layer disposed over the subassembly, and a metal sheath disposed over the core. In one approach, the subassembly is a cabled set of conductors (e.g., twisted pair) operating as class 2 or class 3 circuit conductors in accordance with Article 725 of the National Electrical Code®. In another approach, the MC cable assembly includes a protective layer disposed around the jacket layer of one or more of the plurality of power conductors and the subassembly. In yet another approach, a bonding/grounding conductor is cabled with the plurality of power conductors and the subassembly.
US10002679B2

A system and method for bulk encoding medical items in a tracking system in a healthcare facility comprises attaching to each of a plurality of identical medical items a blank RFID tag. When activated simultaneously, the serial numbers of all RFID tags on all the identical medical items are read and their serial numbers are associated with the pre-stored characteristics of the medical item in a data base. The RFID tags are blank in that they include no human-readable data concerning the medical article to which the RFID tag is attached. A data mining system and method are provided for mining the database.
US10002677B2

A test mode control circuit relating to a technology for controlling a vendor specific test mode is disclosed. The test mode control circuit includes a signal generation circuit configured to generate a plurality of set signals and a plurality of reset signals in response to a plurality of code signals and a predetermined mode register signal; and a plurality of serially-connected latch circuits configured to selectively operate in response to the plurality of set signals and the plurality of reset signals so as to control an entry signal of an output terminal.
US10002674B2

A method for operating a serial non-volatile semiconductor memory in which, for safely writing data into the semiconductor memory, a serial write sequence is applied to an input terminal. The sequence is formed at least with a sequence of command bits, a sequence of address bits and a sequence of data bytes. During the transmission of the bits of the write sequence, a clock signal is present at a clock input and a sufficiently high supply voltage is present at a supply voltage terminal. On occurrence of a supply voltage that is too low, the write sequence and/or the clock signal is subsequently transmitted incorrectly during the transmission of the write sequence and of the clock signal to the semiconductor memory. In the alternative, the write sequence is not transmitted at all.
US10002673B2

A detection method for detecting a programming operation of a flash memory includes issuing a program command of the programming operation to the flash memory, by a controller, issuing a first read status command to the flash memory, by the controller, before a page program time of the flash memory has been reached, and determining whether the programming operation is performed in the flash memory according to a first memory status corresponding to the first read status command provided by the flash memory.
US10002668B2

A memory device includes a memory cell array, a data pattern providing unit, and a write circuit. The memory cell array includes a plurality of memory regions. The data pattern providing unit is configured to provide a predefined data pattern. The write circuit is configured to, when a first write command and an address signal are received from an external device, write the predefined data pattern provided from the data pattern providing unit to a memory region corresponding to the address signal.
US10002664B2

The invention more particularly relates to a resistive memory cell comprising a first and a second metal electrodes and a solid electrolyte positioned between the first and the second metal electrodes, with the solid electrolyte comprising a commutation layer in contact with the first electrode and a dielectric layer, with said resistive memory cell being able to be electrically modified so as to switch from a first resistive state to a second resistive state (state LRS) wherein the resistance (RON) of the memory cell is at least ten times smaller than the resistance (ROFF) of the memory cell in the HRS state, in the LRS state the first electrode being so arranged as to supply metal ions intended to form at least a conductive filament through said commutation layer, with the cell being characterized in that, in the LRS state, the memory cell is conductive for a range of voltages between 0 Volts and VREST 2 .
US10002652B1

Provided herein may be a memory system and a method of operating the same. A semiconductor memory device may include a write protect pin mode setting unit configured to set, depending on a parameter value stored therein, a write protect pin of the semiconductor memory device as any one of an input pin and an output pin and a control logic configured to output, when the write protect pin serves as the output pin, internal state information of the semiconductor memory device to an external device.
US10002649B1

Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for providing a preliminary ready indication for non-volatile memory. A non-volatile memory element initiates a write operation for one or more storage cells of the non-volatile memory element. The non-volatile memory element determines whether a progress threshold is satisfied for the write operation. The non-volatile memory element provides a preliminary ready indication, indicating that the progress threshold is satisfied.
US10002642B2

The various implementations described herein include methods, devices, and systems for generating media items. In one aspect, a method is performed at a server system. The method includes: (1) receiving one or more audio files; (2) obtaining one or more audio characteristics for the audio files; (3) receiving a request to generate a media item using the audio files, the request including one or more criteria; and (4) in response to receiving the request, generating the media item, including: (a) identifying one or more visual media files based on the criteria and the audio characteristics; and (b) generating synchronization information; (5) storing the media item in the server system; and (6) enabling playback of the media item by sending a link for the stored media item to the client device.
US10002634B2

In a multilayer optical disc having information layers conforming to a plurality of different optical disc standards, because the type of each information layer is not recorded in the other information layers, in read and write operations by a compatible optical disc device conforming to a plurality of optical disc standards, every time the information layer being accessed changes, it has been necessary to read the type of the information layer and select a method of generating a tracking error signal adapted to the type of information layer, so access has taken time. In order to solve the above problem, in the optical multilayer disc according to the present invention, having information layers conforming to a plurality of different optical disc standards, in an area in one of the information layers, information about the other information layers is recorded. The time required to access the other information layers can be reduced by using this information to select a tracking error signal generating method.
US10002632B2

A perpendicular recording medium with enhanced magnetic stability. In accordance with some embodiments, a multi-layer recording structure is formed on a base substrate and adapted to magnetically store a magnetic bit sequence in domains substantially perpendicular to said layers. A thin magnetic stabilization layer is formed on the multi-layer recording substrate to magnetically stabilize an upper portion of the recording structure.
US10002631B1

An apparatus comprising a slider and a detector coupled to the slider. The slider is configured for writing data to and reading data from a magnetic recording medium. The slider comprises a heater configured to receive a modulated signal and cause oscillation in a spacing between the slider and the medium. At least one heat generating component of the slider is configured to receive a modulated signal. A contact sensor is situated on the slider to receive heat generated by the at least one heat generating component. The detector is configured to measure a response signal of the heated contact sensor as the slider approaches the medium. The detector is further configured to detect contact between the slider and the medium in response to the response signal reaching a predetermined threshold.
US10002625B1

A recording head has a first magnetic writer and a second magnetic writer offset from the first magnetic writer in a downtrack and crosstrack direction. The recording head has leads configured to deliver respective first and second write and/or laser currents to the first and second writers. The first and second write and/or laser currents enable the first and second writers to simultaneously write to adjacent tracks of a magnetic disk.
US10002624B1

According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a disk, a head configured to write data to the disk, and an integrated circuit configured to acquire a detection signal indicative of a first pattern of a first frequency of write data, change a first current of a second pattern of a write current corresponding to the first pattern on the basis of the detection signal, detect a third pattern of a second frequency which is greater than the first frequency from the write data, change a second current of a fourth pattern of the write current corresponding to the third pattern, and output the write current with the changed first current and the changed second current to the head.
US10002623B2

A speech-processing apparatus includes: a sound source localization unit that localizes a sound source based on an acquired speech signal; and a speech zone detection unit that performs speech zone detection based on localization information localized by the sound source localization unit.
US10002618B2

The subject disclosure is directed towards dynamically computing anti-aliasing filter coefficients for sample rate conversion in digital audio. In one aspect, for each input-to-output sampling rate ratio (pitch) obtained, anti-aliasing filter coefficients are interpolated based upon the pitch (e.g., using the fractional part of the ratio) from two filters (coefficient sets) selected based upon the pitch (e.g., using the integer part of the ratio). The interpolation provides for fine-grained cutoff frequencies, and by re-computation for each pitch, smooth anti-aliasing with dynamically changing ratios.
US10002616B2

An input signal includes a channel-based audio signal and an object-based audio signal, and an audio encoding device includes an audio scene analysis unit configured to determine an audio scene from the input signal and detect audio scene information; a channel-based encoder that encodes the channel-based audio signal output from the audio scene analysis unit; an object-based encoder that encodes the object-based audio signal output from the audio scene analysis unit; and an audio scene encoding unit configured to encode the audio scene information.
US10002607B2

Example apparatus and methods concern establishing context for a phone call. A computing device is controlled to display content and applications that are relevant for the call during the call. A party on the call is identified using data received from a phone used by the party. The relevant content and the relevant application are identified using actions (e.g., purchase to make, call to make) and intentions (e.g., family matter, business matter) identified in text provided in a text-based transcript of the call. The text-based transcript is provided in real time by a natural language processing (NLP) service during the call. The devices are controlled to selectively present the relevant content and the relevant application to make the call more automated and more productive. A to-do list is automatically generated based on the intentions, the actions, and on subject matter or content discussed or accessed during the call.
US10002605B2

A method and system for achieving emotional text to speech. The method includes: receiving text data; generating emotion tag for the text data by a rhythm piece; and achieving TTS to the text data corresponding to the emotion tag, where the emotion tags are expressed as a set of emotion vectors; where each emotion vector includes a plurality of emotion scores given based on a plurality of emotion categories. A system for the same includes: a text data receiving module; an emotion tag generating module; and a TTS module for achieving TTS, wherein the emotion tag is expressed as a set of emotion vectors; and wherein emotion vector includes a plurality of emotion scores given based on a plurality of emotion categories.
US10002604B2

A voice synthesizing apparatus includes a first receiver configured to receive first utterance control information generated by detecting a start of a manipulation on a manipulating member by a user, a first synthesizer configured to synthesize, in response to a reception of the first utterance control information, a first voice corresponding to a first phoneme in a phoneme sequence of a voice to be synthesized to output the first voice, a second receiver configured to receive second utterance control information generated by detecting a completion of the manipulation on the manipulating member or a manipulation on a different manipulating member, and a second synthesizer configured to synthesize, in response to a reception of the second utterance control information, a second voice including at least the first phoneme and a succeeding phoneme being subsequent to the first phoneme of the voice to be synthesized to output the second voice.
US10002600B1

An integrated transducer-processor unit for use with a stringed instrument having one or more strings. When the instrument is played, the unit produces electrical output signals for conversion into musical sounds. A transducer converts mechanical vibrations of each of the strings into corresponding electrical signals, and a processor processes the electrical signals to produce selected analog or digital output signals for conversion into musical sounds. The unit processor is integrated with the transducer into a pickup, for mounting on the instrument in proximity to the strings without modification of the instrument. In addition, a gesture pad-processor system provides an interface for a user to send control signals to a device to control at least one function of the device. A touch pad receives positional and pressure inputs entered by the user making a selected predefined manual gesture for conversion into a control signal by the system processor.
US10002596B2

A method is provided including separating a first file into a first plurality of instrument tracks and a second file into a second plurality of instrument tracks, wherein each instrument track of each of the first plurality and second plurality corresponds to a type of instrument; selecting a first instrument track from the first plurality of instrument tracks and a second instrument track from the second plurality of instrument tracks based at least on the type of instrument corresponding to the first instrument track and the second instrument track; fading out other instrument tracks from the first plurality of instrument tracks; performing a crossfade between the first instrument track and the second instrument track; and fading in other instrument tracks from the second plurality of instrument tracks.
US10002595B2

A wind instrument cavity resonator and optional flexible flute crown assembly capable of improved sound generation and amplification within a flute or piccolo body is presented. The crown presents a swiveling nut joint, and the resonator has one or more counterweights to assist in the sound and weight balancing of the musical instrument, creating an acoustically pleasing flute or similar sound generation device.
US10002594B2

An adjustable instrument neck stiffener includes end plugs at each end of a hollow composite tube, which is preferably D-shaped, along with an adjusting bolt at one end. A first tension strip connects to one of the end plugs and a sliding element. A second strip, which is preferably made of carbon fiber, is located near the flat surface of the hollow composite tube, stiffening that side of the hollow composite tube. Tightening the adjusting bolt moves the sliding element towards the adjusting bolt end. The tension strip is also tightened, thus bowing the hollow composite tube and the instrument neck downward. This puts the hollow composite tube into compression and counteracts the tension created by the strings of the musical instrument.
US10002580B2

In the case where a still image is displayed on a pixel portion having a pixel, for example, a driver circuit for controlling writing of an image signal having image data to the pixel portion stops by stopping supply of power supply voltage to the driver circuit, and writing of an image signal to the pixel portion is stopped. After the driver circuit stops, supply of power supply voltage to a panel controller for controlling the operation of the driver circuit and an image memory for storing the image data is stopped, and supply of power supply voltage to a CPU for collectively controlling the operation of the panel controller, the image memory, and a power supply controller for controlling supply of power supply voltage to a variety of circuits in a semiconductor display device is stopped.
US10002566B2

An organic light emitting display device includes pixel unit, a power supply, and a timing controller. The power supply supplies a driving voltage to the pixel unit. The timing controller divides the pixel unit into a plurality of regions, calculates color on-pixel ratio (C-OPR) values of the regions based on image data, and controls the power supply based on the C-OPR values of the regions.
US10002563B2

An electro-optical device includes a first storage capacitor that has a first electrode and a second electrode, and a second storage capacitor that has a third electrode and a fourth electrode, and a first pixel circuit. The first pixel circuit includes a first transistor having a first gate, a first drain, and a first source, an electro-optical element, a second transistor through which a first data line is electrically connected to the first gate during the second transistor is in an on-state, and a third transistor through which the first gate is electrically connected to the first drain or the first source. The second electrode and the third electrode are electrically connected to the first data line.
US10002562B2

Techniques for implementing aging compensation for a display are described. An example of an electronic device includes a display with a plurality of pixels, each pixel including one or more Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). The electronic device also includes a wear compensation unit. The wear compensation unit is configured to receive input frame data corresponding to content to be displayed, determine a wear compensation configuration that identifies which of the plurality of pixels are compensated pixels and which are non-compensated pixels, and generate output frame data by adjusting the input frame data associated with the compensated pixels based on a degree of aging of the LEDs of the compensated pixels.
US10002560B2

A gate drive on array unit, a gate drive on array circuit and a display device are disclosed. The gate drive on array unit including: a control module configured to output a clock signal under control of a gate driving signal of a previous stage of gate drive on array unit or a start input signal; an output module connected to the control module and configured to output a high voltage signal (VGH) as a gate driving signal of the present stage under control of the clock signal outputted from the control module, and output a low voltage signal under the control of the clock signal outputted from the control module; and a reset module connected to the output module, and configured to reset the gate driving signal of the present stage under the control of a gate driving signal of a next stage of gate drive on array unit.
US10002557B2

In one embodiment, a display device includes first and second substrates, a liquid crystal layer, a display area, a surrounding area, a light-shielding layer overlapping the surrounding area, a voltage supply line in the surrounding area and extending in a first direction, and first and second electrodes provided in the surrounding area and connected to the voltage supply line. The first and second electrodes are alternately arranged in either the first direction or a second direction crossing the first direction. Further, a first voltage supplied to the first electrode is different from a second voltage supplied to the second electrode.
US10002556B2

A device includes circuitry that determines a currently defined tone of a pixel, and that determines a voltage to be applied to the pixel to compensate for a change in tone of the pixel through elapsed time based on the currently defined tone of the pixel. The device then applies the voltage to the pixel.
US10002553B2

A device, system, and method for determining a location of micro digital signage devices includes generating and transmitting a unique identifier corresponding to each micro digital signage device. Each micro digital signage device is to display its corresponding unique identifier and capture an image of other micro digital signage devices located on an opposite side of an aisle. The captured images are to be stitched together to generate a composite image. The unique identifiers of the micro digital signage devices are to be identified and the location of each micro digital signage device is to be determined using a known location of one of the micro digital signage devices as a reference. Each micro digital signage device identified from the composite image is to clear its corresponding unique identifier from display.
US10002551B2

A bendable display device including a backplate and a circuit board card arranged opposite to the backplate is provided. Among four corner portions of the circuit board card, a first corner portion and a second corner portion are adjacent to each other and are respectively fixedly installed on the backplate. The backplate is provided with two sliding grooves respectively arranged corresponding to a third corner portion and a fourth corner portion of the circuit board card, a sliding block is arranged in each sliding groove, and a height of the sliding block is less than a depth of the sliding groove. The bendable display device further includes installing columns corresponding to the sliding grooves one to one, a first end of each installing column is connected with the sliding block in the sliding groove, and a second end of each installing column is connected with the circuit board card.
US10002547B2

Secret calculation including secret random permutation is performed at high speed. In unit permutation, random permutation devices p0, . . . , pk-1 perform permutation of additive secret sharing values «a»ρi of a plain text a with sub shares πρi of permutation data π. In resharing, the random permutation device p0 generates additive secret sharing values «a»ρi+1pk by using random numbers r1, . . . , rk-1 which are respectively shared with random permutation devices pj (j=1, . . . , k−1) so as to transmit the additive secret sharing values «a»ρi+1pk to the random permutation device pk and each of the random permutation devices pj generates additive secret sharing values «a»ρi+1pj by using random numbers rj.
US10002538B2

A clearance enforcement system for a vehicle includes a transceiver to communicate over a data link that communicatively couples the vehicle to a control center external to the vehicle and a management unit configured to enforce a vehicle clearance policy. The vehicle clearance policy specifies that a vehicle must receive, in response to a clearance request message, an affirmative response message from a control center external to the vehicle, before executing a movement associated with the affirmative response message. The management unit enforces the vehicle clearance policy through a computer implemented method. The computer implemented method operates to first automatically determine within the vehicle when the vehicle is initiating the movement without having received the affirmative response and automatically alerting an operator of the vehicle that is initiating the movement without having received the affirmative response message. The operator of the vehicle is typically alerted using at least one visual annunciator, audible annunciator, or tactile annunciator.
US10002536B2

The present disclosure relates to a pre-5th-generation (5G) or 5G communication system to be provided for supporting higher data rates beyond 4th-generation (4G) communication system such as a long term evolution (LTE). A method for providing a service in a first device in a vehicle to everything (V2X) communication system is provided. The method includes transmitting a first message related to the service; receiving, from a second device, a second message notifying that the second device enters a zone related to the service; and transmitting, to the second device, a third message indicating that the first device confirms that the second device enters the zone.
US10002528B2

A method for operating an electronic device is provided. The method includes converting received infrared into an electrical signal, amplifying the electrical signal and outputting an analog signal, converting the analog signal into digital data, determining whether the digital data is valid, and activating an application program in a freeze state to be in an unfreeze state.
US10002527B2

Disclosed in the present invention are a remote control mobile terminal, a remote control system and a remote control method. A voice recognition module and a remote control module are arranged in the remote control mobile terminal; and the method includes: completing pairing between the remote control module and a remote controlled object; receiving a voice control instruction inputted by a user, obtaining a corresponding remote control instruction according to the voice control instruction and sending the remote control instruction to the remote control module via the voice recognition module; and sending the remote control instruction to the remote controlled object via the remote control module to control the remote controlled object.
US10002521B2

A Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) surveillance system (7) is equipped with an adjustable alarm threshold that suppresses nuisance alarms if liquid level variations in FPSO crude oil and/or other liquid storage tanks (6) monitored by the system do not exceed estimated oscillating liquid level variations due to oscillating motions of the FPSO unit (1) during severe weather conditions.
US10002514B2

A machine tool has the function of monitoring the sealing performance of a control panel. The machine tool measures temperature and humidity inside the control panel, calculates a vapor amount from the measured results, and stores the vapor amount. A vapor amount change ratio is calculated based on a currently calculated vapor amount and a previously calculated and stored vapor amount. An alert is announced when the calculated vapor amount change ratio is greater than or equal to a specific value.
US10002506B2

A merchandise display security system for displaying and protecting an article of merchandise is provided. In one example, the system includes a sensor configured to be coupled to an article of merchandise and to communicate with the article of merchandise. The system also includes a tower configured to receive a signal from the sensor in response to a security event. The tower is further configured to generate a kill switch signal for determining whether to activate a kill switch on the article of merchandise.
US10002490B2

A wagering method is provided that allows players or gaming establishments to specify conditions which when satisfied, reconfigure the gaming device to change game play from a first game to a second game. The condition may depend upon the value of a parameter—generally related to game play—to determine if the condition is valid and triggers the reconfiguration. The second game may be selected from a game on the same gaming device, from a game on a different gaming device, or a game played by a specific player.
US10002472B2

Methods and apparatus for operating flight control systems of aircrafts are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a flight control system including a processor to: based on data from first and second sensors, determine first and second values; based on the first and second values, determine a location of a jam in the flight control system, the location of the jam being determined based on a summation of the first and second values.
US10002470B2

A system includes a processor configured to record vehicle inputs during travel over a predefined distance. The processor is also configured to record environmental variables during travel over the predefined distance. Further, the processor is configured to record vehicle state changes during travel over the predefined distance. The processor is additionally configured to compare the inputs, variables and state changes to predetermined values to determine if a correlation, indicating a predefined condition, exists. Also, the processor is configured to record the predefined condition as occurring over the predefined distance if the correlation indicates the predefined condition.
US10002466B2

A delivery server may generate two separate security codes following a transaction between a user and a vendor, as well as a hash of the combination of the codes. The server may provide the first code to the user and the second code to the vendor, and provide the hash of a combination of the codes to both the vendor and the user. The user's vehicle may receive mapping information for the vendor's location, and may use the mapping information to autonomously navigate to an exchange station at the vendor location. At the exchange station, the vendor and vehicle may exchange security codes, and both vehicle and vendor may create a hash of the combined first code and second code, and use this to authenticate each other (by comparing this hash with the hash received from the delivery server). The vendor may then provide the goods to the vehicle, and the vehicle may automatically receive them and return them to the user.
US10002459B2

An image processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a bitmap image in which each of contained pixels has an alpha value indicating opacity of this pixel, and a rendering unit configured to render the bitmap image. The rendering unit is configured to, when rendering the bitmap image, refrain from performing alpha blending on a pixel contained in the bitmap image that has a specific alpha value and perform the alpha blending on a pixel contained in the bitmap image that has a different alpha value from the specific alpha value.
US10002458B2

A method, system, and/or computer program product processes a data plot comprising a plurality of data points for inclusion of additional information content. A space of the data plot is divided into subspaces, where each subspace contains at least one data point of the data plot. An available area for each subspace is computed, and then a compressed information representation for each subspace is computed based on information about said at least one data point contained in said each subspace and a computed available area for said each subspace.
US10002455B2

An apparatus and method are described for performing efficient depth test operations. For example, an apparatus in accordance with one embodiment comprises: a depth cache to store a plurality of cache lines containing depth data to be used for graphics processing operations; depth test logic to determine a current depth test function associated with a read operation and to read a cache line from a depth cache while there are still outstanding writes to the cache line if the read operation and write operation are associated with the same depth test function, the depth test logic to perform a first depth test using the data read from the cache line, the first depth test to fail or pass pixels based on a predicted range of depth values.
US10002454B2

A computer system, method, and computer readable product are provided for conveying multiple representations of a concept to a user via augmented reality, with a mechanism to easily move between these multiple representations along multiple axes. In various embodiments, an augmented reality image is generated and displayed by a computing device. The augmented reality image may then be modified in response to user input along multiple axes, such as complexity, depth, or variety of a concept being conveyed with the augmented reality image.
US10002448B2

A system includes a first computing device that includes a memory configured to store instructions. The first computing device also includes a processor to execute the instructions to perform a method that includes receiving data representing a collection of line segments that represent a glyph. The method also includes, for each line segment, defining a cell that substantially encapsulates the line segment. At least one side of the cell is defined by bisecting an angle defined by the line segment and an adjacent line segment. The method also includes determining a value for a portion of the defined cell based upon the distance between the portion of the cell and the corresponding line segment.
US10002444B2

An exemplary system, method and computer-accessible medium for generating a magnetic resonance (MR) image(s) and a positron emission tomography (PET) image(s) of a tissue(s) can be provided, which can include, for example, receiving information related to a combination of MR data and PET data as a single data set, separating the information into at least two dimensions, at least one first of the dimensions corresponding to the MR data and at least one second of the dimensions corresponding to the PET data, and generating the MR image(s) and the PET image(s) based on the separated information.
US10002440B2

A method for measuring a depth of field is provided. An initial depth-of-field data is acquired through two optical lens modules and another depth-of-field data is obtained according to the phase detection pixel groups of the image captured by one of the optical lens modules. Consequently, even if objects in the scene are arranged along the same direction as the two optical lens modules, the error of the initial depth-of-field data can be compensated. Moreover, an image pickup device using the method is provided.
US10002436B2

The present disclosure relates to an image processing device, an image processing method, and a solid-state imaging device capable of detecting image information with high accuracy by using images with different shooting conditions. A difference detection unit detects difference information of a short exposure image of a current frame and a past frame shot in a short exposure time. The difference detection unit detects difference information of a long exposure image of a current frame and a past frame shot in a long exposure time. The combining unit combines the difference information of the short exposure image and the difference information of the long exposure image on the basis of the short exposure image or the long exposure image and generates a motion vector of the current frame on the basis of the combined difference information. The present disclosure may be applied to the image processing apparatus and the like, for example.
US10002430B1

Described is a training system for training a vision-based object detector. The system is configured to run an object detector on an image of a cleared scene to detect objects in the cleared scene. The object detector includes a support vector machine (SVM) or similar classifier with a feature model to generate an SVM score for object features and a spatial bias threshold to generate augmented object scores. The system designated detected objects in the cleared scene as false detections and, based on that, updates at least one of the feature model and spatial bias threshold to designate the false detections as background. The updated feature model or updated spatial bias threshold are then stored for use in object detection.
US10002419B2

A method for computing image-derived biomarkers includes receiving image data defining a three-dimensional image volume representative of an anatomical region of interest. Features characterizing local variations of intensity in the image data using an intensity model are identified. The features are used to perform one or more modeling computations directly on the image data to derive information related to a biomarker of interest.
US10002406B2

An electronic device, method, and computer readable medium for a consistent spherical photo and video orientation correction. The electronic device includes a memory and at least one processor. The at least one processor is operably connected to the memory. The at least one processor is configured to capture orientation information corresponding to a spherical frame. The at least one processor is also configured to reorient the spherical frame using the orientation information. The at least one processor is further configured to store the reoriented spherical frame.
US10002393B1

Methods and systems for supporting a testing environment associated with a website for purchasing insurance products. The testing environment supports a plurality of test scenarios for testing the website. A user of the testing environment can select one of the test scenarios and the methods and systems render the website in a context of the selected test scenario. The methods and systems enable the user to navigate throughout the selected test scenario to aid in testing website functionality. According to embodiments, the testing environment includes a progress indicator that displays a user's progress through the selected test scenario. Further, the user can select a scenario flow chart that indicates various data parameters associated with the selected test scenario.
US10002388B2

An electronic trading system (ETS) implements risk mitigation methods for orders and quotes associated with a market participant on the ETS. The methods determine a measure of risk associated with one or more trading positions. One of the methods globally counts the number of breaches of risk thresholds associated with a trading symbol and market participant across all matching engines on the ETS over a rolling time period, and if this global risk counter exceeds a maximum, disables all further trades by the market participant on the ETS. Another method limits the number of automatic re-enablements that a market participant can request in response to prior breaches of risk thresholds that resulted in disabling any further trading by the market participant on the ETS.
US10002387B2

The present invention is directed to apparatuses, methods, and computer program products for implementing a pre-contracted, staged, currency exchange system. Implementation includes receiving travel information from a user; processing the travel information, wherein processing the travel information comprises determining a negotiated currency exchange rate based on the received travel information; generating a contract based on processing the travel information, wherein the contract comprises terms for executing one or more transactions using the negotiated currency exchange rate, wherein the negotiated currency exchange rate is valid for at least one of a predetermined location, a predetermined number of transactions, or a predetermined period of time; and executing one or more transactions using the negotiated currency exchange rate in accordance with the contract terms.
US10002385B2

According to one embodiment, a method of managing trading is provided. A first bid for a first instrument is received from a first market maker at a first bid price. A first offer for the first instrument is received from a second market maker at a first offer price, the first offer price being lower than the first bid price. As a result of the first offer price being lower than the first bid price, the first bid price is automatically decreased to match the first offer price, and a first timer having a predetermined duration is started. If the first timer expires and both the first bid and the first offer exist at the first offer price when the first timer expires, a trade between the first bid and the first offer is automatically executed.
US10002381B2

Geospatial compatibility between consumers and providers of goods or services is identified. The system allows consumers to find service providers with service areas encompassing their location or merchants within a desired shopping area, and allow consumers to query about consumers within a specified area, for example to identify a potential customer base or consider regional advertising. A digital map interface allows users to enter one or more locations or areas of interest and later performs location or area additions, modifications or removals. The system provides the geospatially matched consumers and vendors with information on how to contact one another, but is kept simple by leaving actual contact between the matched parties to separate outside communication channels independent of the system. Processing requirements are reduced by pre-calculating an inner rectangle for complex polygon geographical areas so that simple point-rectangle calculations can confirm locations within the area as being within the polygon.
US10002374B2

Member profiles, for the participants of a social networking service and their relationship information with other participants and activity history data, are received. A plurality of groups is generated that include one or more participants. A set of parameters for a collaborative shopping event is received. At least one group is adjusted based upon the set of parameters. The participants of the at least one group are sent an invitation to join the collaborative shopping event. The collaborated shopping event is linked to a cyber shopping service. The at least one group is scored based upon participation of participants in the collaborative shopping event. The participants in the collaborative shopping event are modified based upon the score.
US10002370B2

The disclosure herein provides systems and methods for linking database entries of a network platform. The network platform provides a plurality of pages each dedicated to an item and including details of the item. A user-uploaded content can be linked to two or more of such pages or items provided on the network platform such that a navigable path is created among such pages or items. The linked pages or items may include an intermediary page or content that is linked to each of such pages or items.
US10002364B2

A method, system, and computer program product for generating forecasts and replenishment plans. Some embodiments commence upon receiving point-of-sale data, then receiving distribution-level order data in a second data format. The first point-of-sale data comprises an item identifier and a first date or first date range, and the distribution-level order data comprises the item identifier and a second date or second date range. The originators of the order data are determined using address identifiers (e.g., network location identifiers). The received data is combined wherein at least a portion of the point-of-sale data is combined with at least a portion of the distribution-level order data to generate a combined forecast for the item. Further processing includes receiving an inventory model parameter and combining at least a portion of the first point-of-sale consumption data with at least a portion of the distribution-level order data to generate a replenishment plan for the item.
US10002361B2

A server device may receive a series of at least two screen capture representations of a graphical user interface on a client device. A first active window for a first screen capture representation of the series and a second active window for a second screen capture representation of the series may be determined. The first screen capture representation may have been screen captured by the client device at a first time and the second screen capture representation may have been screen captured by the client device at a second time. A first application associated with the first active window and a second application associated with the second active window may be identified, at least one of which may be a pre-determined target application. Based on the identified applications, an activity log for the client device may be determined.
US10002334B1

A system and a method for identifying, ranking, and matching agents are disclosed herein. The system may include an analytical engine which may collect information from external and internal databases. The analytical engine may use the information collected from these databases, in addition to a success criteria, for determining one or more success factors or key attributes of successful agents. An algorithm within the analytical engine may compute probabilities, trends and variability analysis for determining the impact of the defined key attributes in the successful career developments for prospective or active agents. The analytical engine may identify prospective agents and match them to suitable general agents. A list of agents' leads, ranking reports, and ongoing assessments may be communicated or supplied to general agents through the use of agent computing devices operatively coupled with the analytical engine.
US10002313B2

A Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) includes an initial set of convolutional layers and max pooling units, in which any input is convoluted with the learned image filters and the output is a stack of the different filter responses. Max pooling produces a scaled version of the output. The process can be repeated several times, resulting in a stack of space invariant-scaled images. Since the operation is space invariant, the computations of these layers not need to be recomputed if interested just in certain regions of the image. A Region Of Interest (ROI) Pooling layer is used to select regions to be processed by the set of fully connected layers, which uses the response of the multiple convolutional layers of the network to determine the regions where the objects (of different scales) could be located. This object proposal method is implemented as a Region Of Interest (ROI) Selector.
US10002304B2

An image processing device is configured to perform: reading an image of an original while a light emitting portion emits light with a first lighting color to acquire first image data representing the image; storing the first image data in a memory; executing a recognition process for recognizing an ID photograph in the image represented by the first image data; in response to determining that the ID photograph is recognized, outputting the image represented by the first image data; in response to determining that the ID photograph is not recognized, switching a lighting color of the light emitting portion from the first lighting color to a second lighting color different from the first lighting color; and reading the image of the original while the light emitting portion emits light with the second lighting color to acquire second image data representing the image.
US10002300B2

Provided are an apparatus and method for monitoring driver's concentrativeness capable of monitoring whether a driver is concentratedly obtaining major information by tracing a driver's sight while a vehicle is running, in order to provide alarm to the driver when driver's concentrativeness is dropped at a time when the major information is changed while the vehicle is running.
US10002298B2

A method is described for the plausibility checking for wrong-way travel of a motor vehicle on a directional roadway of the road, at least one visual road feature being recorded and, with the aid of the visual road feature, it is determined whether the motor vehicle is located on a directional roadway. Furthermore, a control and recording device for the plausibility checking for wrong-way travel of a motor vehicle on a directional roadway of a road is provided, having a recording arrangement for recording at least one visual road feature and a determining arrangement for determining, with the aid of the visual road feature, whether the motor vehicle is located on a directional roadway.
US10002295B1

Systems and methods for analyzing image data depicting properties are disclosed According to certain aspects, an electronic device may analyze image data depicting a property to identify a set of attributes of the property. The electronic device may identify, based on the set of attributes, an architectural style of the property. Further, the electronic device may identify at least one additional property having the same architectural style. Data indicative of the at least one additional property may be presented to a user for viewing and assessment.
US10002294B2

An image monitoring system includes a recorder that records an image captured by a camera via a network. The system is controlled to display the present image captured by the camera or a past image recorded on the recorder. A moving object is detected from the image captured by the camera, the detector including a resolution converter for generating an image with a resolution lower than the resolution of the image captured by the camera. A moving object is detected from the image generated by the resolution converter and positional information on the detected moving object is output. The positional information of the detected moving object is merged with the image captured by the camera on the basis of the positional information.
US10002293B2

Image collection is provided, e.g., a system includes a gaze point detection device for detecting a location of a gaze point of a user with respect to the user, and an image collection device for focusing and collecting a first image according to the location of the gaze point with respect to the user. The gaze point detection device comprises a fundus image collection module for collecting a second image of a fundus of a user, an adjustable lens module for adjusting an imaging parameter of an optical path between the fundus image collection module and an eye and an image processing module for calculating the location of a gaze point of the user with respect to the user according to the imaging parameter. The system and method of the present application can increase the focusing accuracy and the focusing speed of an image collection apparatus.
US10002292B2

In an example embodiment, a web page is obtained using a web page address stored in a first record and is parsed to extract one or more images from the web page along with a second plurality of features for each of the one or more images from the web page. Information about each image of the web page and the extracted second plurality of features for the web page are input into a supervised machine learning classifier to calculate a logo confidence score for each image of the web page, the logo confidence score indicating the probability that the image is an organization logo. In response to a particular image in the web page having a logo confidence score transgressing a first threshold, the particular image is injected into an organization logo field of the first record.
US10002285B2

Apparatuses, systems, and techniques are disclosed for rapidly identifying potential candidates within a pool of enrolled fingerprint images for unconstrained fingerprint matching with an inquiry fingerprint. The techniques may include applying one or more window regions to both enrolled and inquiry fingerprint images and determining a minutiae score for each such window region based on the minutiae within that window region. One or more components of the minutiae score for window regions of the inquiry image may then be compared against similar components in the minutiae scores for window regions of the enrolled fingerprint images, and enrolled fingerprint images having window regions with minutiae scores sufficiently similar to the minutiae score of a window region of the inquiry fingerprint image may be selected for later unconstrained matching with the inquiry fingerprint image.
US10002282B2

An optical module includes a housing with a lighting mechanism, an aperture formed therein, and a window that frames a transparent surface adapted to contact a skin surface of a person, for example, a fingertip. The lighting mechanism provides light to illuminate the skin surface placed upon the transparent surface. A prism has a first side facing the lighting mechanism, a second side at the window, and a third side through which a dactylographic image exits the prism. One or more light reflecting surfaces are disposed within the housing to reflect the dactylographic image towards the housing aperture. The optical module is coupled to a mobile device having a camera, with the aperture of the housing aligning with a lens of the camera. The camera acquires the dactylographic image, and the mobile device adjusts this dactylographic image to produce a dactylographic image suitable for biometric matching.
US10002281B2

A fingerprint identification module including a cover plate, a fingerprint identification sensor, a first adhesive layer, and at least one light source is provided. The cover plate has an inner surface, an outer surface opposite to the inner surface, and a plurality of microstructures located at the inner surface. The fingerprint identification sensor is located under the microstructures and attached to the microstructures through the first adhesive layer, wherein the first adhesive layer is adhered between a portion of the microstructures and a portion of the fingerprint identification sensor, and an air gap is located between the other portion of the microstructures and the other portion of the fingerprint identification sensor. The at least one light source is located under the inner surface and adjacent to the fingerprint identification sensor.
US10002271B2

An automated checkout system for data reading, and related methods of use, the checkout system including a portal scanner and a conveyor for transporting items, the portal scanner housing a data reader with a view volume directed at a steerable mirror. In one example, the steerable mirror moves between various positions to augment the effective view volume of the data reader for capturing data from various surfaces of the item being transported on the conveyor. The portal scanner may include one or more mirrors arranged in an angular configuration to redirect the view volume of the data reader to capture data from the various surfaces of the item.
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