US09044834B2

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for recycling magnetic material to restore or improve the magnetic performance. One of the methods includes demagnetizing magnetic material from a waste magnet assembly by cyclic heating and cooling of the magnetic material, fragmenting adhesives attached to the magnetic material, cracking coating layers of the magnetic material, and subjecting the magnetic material to at least one of: a) a mechanical treatment or b) a chemical treatment, to remove the coating layers and prepare the magnetic material without impurities, fragmenting the demagnetized magnetic material to form a powder, and mixing the powder with a rare earth material R and an elemental additive A to produce a homogeneous powder, wherein the rare earth material R comprises at least one of: Nd or Pr, and the elemental additive A comprises at least one of: Nd, Pr, Dy, Co, Cu, and Fe.
US09044832B2

We disclose a method for securing an infrared transmissive polymer to integrated panels, deadfronts, or transition plates, thus providing a reinforced polymer window through which the thermographer can scan an energized unit without being directly exposed to contact with internal components or having to remove said panels, deadfronts, or transition plates. We also disclose a device for securing the polymer consisting of a retention frame with half shear retainers that keep the polymer locked in place.
US09044825B2

Welding repairs are often carried out on directionally solidified components that nevertheless do not possess the desired crystallographic surface alignment, which reduces mechanical strength. The method provided selects the direction of travel depending on the crystallographically preferred direction of the substrate such that no more misorientations occur. A laser beam may be used for remelting.
US09044818B2

A system for arc welding two sides of a joint simultaneously is disclosed. By customizing welding waveforms and the distance between two or more electrodes, weld currents can be designed to transfer current to and through one or more electrodes in addition to the current traditionally passed only to the common node.
US09044817B2

An electrode position control method according to the present invention includes a voltage detecting step of detecting voltages on a leading electrode and a trailing electrode that are brought into contact with a welding workpiece, a sensing step of detecting positional information of the welding workpiece from electrical changes in the voltages, a correction amount calculating step of calculating a correction amount for correcting for positional displacement of each of the leading electrode and the trailing electrode with respect to a weld line from the positional information, and a position correcting step of correcting the respective positions of the electrodes by adding or subtracting the correction amount.
US09044812B2

A jig and a method for modifying a casing in a turbine system are disclosed. The jig includes a body and a protrusion extending from the body. The protrusion is configured for engaging a hole defined in a spot face on the casing. The jig further includes at least one machining passage defined in the body, the machining passage provided for machining the casing therethrough, and at least one alignment feature configured on the body, the at least one alignment feature provided for aligning the jig with respect to the casing. The method includes engaging a jig with a hole defined in a spot face on the casing, aligning the jig with respect to the casing, and machining at least one installation hole into the casing through the spot face.
US09044811B2

A surface coated cutting tool with a high level of both wear resistance and defect resistance in balance is provided. The surface coated cutting tool of the present invention includes a base material, and a coat film formed on the base material. The coat film includes at least one titanium carbonitride layer. The titanium carbonitride layer has a maximum value for an orientational index TC (220) among texture coefficients TC (hkl). When an indentation hardness of a standard block for hardness is Hs and an indentation hardness of the titanium carbonitride layer is Ht, the average value of the relative hardness Ht/Hs for a plurality of times of measurement is greater than or equal to 3. The difference between the maximum value Htmax/Hs and minimum value Htmin/Hs of the relative hardness of the titanium carbonitride layer to the relative hardness Ht/Hs is less than or equal to 0.5.
US09044797B2

A method is for producing a circular cylindrical body (10) comprising a workable mass, having at least one helical internal cavity extending in the interior of the body. The body (10) is initially produced with a straight internal recess, for example by means of extrusion. Afterwards the body is cut to a defined length. The body (10) that has been cut to length is then subjected to a rolling process by means of a friction surface arrangement (23) while being supported over the entire length thereof on a support means (16). The rolling process takes place in multiple steps, wherein a rolling movement using a first axis of rotation (25) is performed in a first step, and a rolling movement using a second axis of rotation (26) that is different from the first axis of rotation is used in a second step. There is also an apparatus for performing the method.
US09044795B2

At least one exemplary system comprises a tubular mesh enclosure formed from a mesh material having a nominal opening size of less than 0.5 inches, the tubular mesh enclosure having an opposing pair of ends, at least one of the opposing pair of ends sealed; and a filling surrounded by the tubular mesh enclosure; the system defining a length and a generally non-circular longitudinal cross-section defining a major width, a ratio of the length to the major width greater than approximately 40.
US09044793B2

A method for cleaning a hot-wall type film formation apparatus having a batch processing system with industrially high mass productivity is provided. In the method, a carbon film deposited on an inner wall or the like of a reaction chamber of the apparatus is removed efficiently in a short time. To remove the carbon film deposited on the inner wall of the reaction chamber by a thermal CVD method, the reaction chamber is heated at a temperature higher than or equal to 700° C. and lower than or equal to 800° C., and oxygen is introduced into the reaction chamber.
US09044790B2

An air cannon has a pressure vessel, a discharge valve, and a discharge tube assembly. The discharge tube assembly comprises a fluid passageway and a blast guard valve. The discharge valve is capable of opening and closing and allows pressurized gas to be discharged from the pressure vessel into the fluid passageway of the discharge tube assembly only when open. The blast guard valve is capable of opening and closing and obstructs the fluid passageway of the discharge tube assembly when closed. The blast guard valve allows gas to pass through the fluid passageway when open. The discharge valve and the blast guard valve are operatively connected to each other in a manner such that the discharge valve can open only when the blast guard valve is open.
US09044789B2

The invention pertains to a method for removing ice layers and/or snow layers and/or dirt layers from the rotor blades of axial fans in cooling installations for refrigerating and/or freezing products. At least one cleaning substance jet is directed toward the rotor blades of an axial fan within certain time intervals in such a way that ice layers and/or snow layers and/or dirt layers are at least separated from the surfaces of the rotor blades and transported away, wherein the rotor blades rotate with nominal speed while cleaning jets act upon their surfaces.
US09044786B2

A system, method, and software are for moving inventory items to an unloading station in response to a fulfillment order. An input device is used to enter identification information about the inventory items. At a loading station, the inventory items are received and loaded into holders. The holders are then moved to storage area. A controller is configured for creating and storing a first association between the entered identification information and each of the holders in which each of the inventory items is placed. A selector and transporter are responsive to the fulfillment order and the first association, and are configured to select a holder which holds the inventory items corresponding to the fulfillment order, and configured to transport the holder from the storage area to the unloading station.
US09044777B2

The invention relates to a doctor blade for the surface treatment of fibrous nonwoven webs, including a main body and a coating arranged on the surface of the main body, wherein the coating covers at least the part of the surface of the main body on which the doctor blade is provided for contact with the fibrous nonwoven web, and wherein the porosity of the coating is less on the first surface adjoining the main body than on the surface arranged opposite thereof.
US09044769B2

A coating apparatus for coating an associated product includes a conveyor mechanism for advancing the associated product, and an indexing system configured to index the associated product as it is advanced by the conveyor mechanism. The indexing system includes a product support member coupled to the conveyor mechanism for supporting the associated product during movement through the coating apparatus. The product support member includes a rotatable spindle shaft and an indexing member rotationally interlocked with the rotatable spindle shaft. The indexing member is configured to engage a guide surface of an adjacent first guide member as the product support member is advanced by the conveyor mechanism past the guide member to change an orientation of the rotatable spindle shaft. A locking mechanism is also included for locking rotation of the rotatable spindle.
US09044764B2

A device for applying a fluid media onto a substrate as the substrate is moved past the device in an advancement direction includes a channel. A slot nozzle is arranged downstream of the channel in a flow direction of the fluid media. A nozzle body comprises dispensing nozzles. Each dispensing nozzle comprises a dispensing opening which leads into the channel. The dispensing openings are arranged on a line extending transverse to the advancement direction. Application modules are configured to intermittently dispense the fluid media onto the substrate via the dispensing nozzles. The application modules are arranged on the nozzle body in at least two rows offset from each other transverse to the advancement direction of the substrate. Adjacent rows of the at least two rows are inclined towards one another at an inclination angle. The at least two rows are arranged to incline along the line.
US09044757B2

A fluid flow control device controls flow of fluid in a capillary pathway device having a first capillary passage with an inlet and an outlet and a fluid application region for receiving a liquid sample for entry to the capillary passage via the inlet, with the fluid flow control device comprising first sealing means operable for releasably sealing the outlet of the first capillary passage.
US09044754B2

Instant invention is about a micro chip comprising plurality of layers of LTCC wherein a reaction chamber is formed in plurality of top layers to load samples. A heater embedded in at least one of the layers below the reaction chamber and a temperature sensor is embedded in at least one of the layers between the heater and the reaction chamber for analyzing the sample. The temperature sensor can be placed outside the chip to measure the chip temperature.
US09044749B2

A pipette with a rod-shaped casing, a seat, a displacement equipment, comprising a displacement chamber with a relocatable limit, a connection channel, a drive equipment for relocating the relocatable limit of the displacement chamber, coupled to the relocatable limit and having an axially relocatable lifting rod, an upper stop body, a lower stop body and a stop element on the circumference of the lifting rod for limiting the stroke of the lifting rod, an overstroke spring, a stationary screw element, and with a screw element that is relocatable in the casing, a toothing, running along a helical line with the same pitch as that of the thread of the relocatable screw element and having teeth on the upper edge of the relocatable screw element that are directed in the direction of the instantaneous axis of the relocatable screw element, a toothed driving wheel, and means for rotating the toothed driving wheel.
US09044748B2

A cartridge capable of storing a chemical solution includes a first container, a second container installed within the first container and configured to store the chemical solution, and an exhaust path configured to exhaust a gas generated by the chemical solution stored in the second container, wherein the exhaust path is disposed between the first container and the second container.
US09044747B2

An improved process for regenerating ion exchange resin, includes a regeneration step of displacing captured ions from the resin to regenerate its ion-capture functionality, followed by one or more fluid-employing post-regeneration steps such as a fluid displacement or rinse, a fluid transporting or mixing, and a rinse down to quality. To avoid problems of early leakage of weakly held ions such as boron, the post-chemical or postdisplacement steps use water that is essentially free of boron, or otherwise avoid localized contamination in the regenerated resin which is used in bottles or beds (30). A two-stage polish may be operated with modified lead/lag bottles. A detector (D) for an indicator condition (conductivity, silica breakthrough) between stages determines when to shift the lag bottle forward, and periodically both bottles are replaced.
US09044742B2

Shaped bodies with good strength properties are prepared from pyrogenic metal oxide(s) by suspending the metal oxide(s) in a liquid, milling to activate the metal oxide particles, forming an activated homogenous suspension, coagulating the suspension, and forming shaped bodies therefrom.
US09044741B2

Catalyst compositions comprising a phosphorous-promoted ZSM-5 component and a silica-containing binder, and methods for making and using same, are disclosed. More specifically, processes for making a catalyst for biomass conversion are provided. The process includes: treating a ZSM-5 zeolite with a phosphorous-containing compound to form a phosphorous-promoted ZSM-5 component; preparing a slurry comprising the phosphorous-promoted ZSM-5 component and a silica-containing binder; and shaping the slurry into shaped bodies. Such catalysts can be used for the thermocatalytic conversion of particulate biomass to liquid products such as bio-oil, resulting in higher bio-oil yields and lower coke than conventional catalysts.
US09044731B2

A radio frequency (RF) hydrocarbon resource upgrading device may include a first hydrocarbon resource upgrading path that may include a plurality of first RF power applicator stages coupled in series. Each first RF power stage is configured to apply RF power to upgrade a hydrocarbon resource passing therethrough. The RF hydrocarbon resource upgrading device may also include a second hydrocarbon resource upgrading path that may include at least one second RF power applicator stage coupled in parallel with at least one of the first RF power applicator stages. The second RF power applicator stage is configured to apply RF power to upgrade the hydrocarbon resource passing therethrough.
US09044721B2

In a fuel injection device and method for injecting hydrocarbon fuel into a fuel reformer, the temperature of the fuel injection device is regulated by simultaneously heating the fuel and cooling the fuel injection device.
US09044718B2

A mixing vessel includes a flexible container, elements for mixing its contents, aeration elements, a drain/lower bearing port having a rigid flange provided with a drain passage, attached in a tight manner to the lower portion of the container wall, supporting a lower bearing that is adjacent to the drain passage. The vessel includes an extended element for dispensing aeration gas and is spaced essentially radially from the drain/bearing port; at least one tubular element for dispensing aeration gas extends from the extended dispensing element, in the inside space, along the inside surface of the lower portion and the side portion of the wall of the container and extends on the outside of the container from the upper portion; at least one mixing element is spaced essentially from the lower portion of the container wall, from the lower bearing, and from at least one extended element for dispensing aeration gas.
US09044712B2

An elongated flow-through degassing apparatus includes an elongated gas permeable outer shell and one or more gas-permeable, liquid-impermeable elongated inner conveyance members extending within the outer shell and at least partially through a chamber defined within the outer shell. The apparatus also includes inlet and outlet junctions for securing the outer shell to the inner conveyance member. The outer shell exhibits a first permeance that is substantially greater than a second permeance of the inner conveyance member. The degassing apparatus may be sufficiently flexible so as to be readily manipulatable into desired configurations.
US09044711B2

The invention relates to osmotically driven membrane processes and systems and methods for recovering draw solutes in the osmotically driven membrane processes. Osmotically driven membrane processes involve the extraction of a solvent from a first solution to concentrate solute by using a second concentrated solution to draw the solvent from the first solution across a semi-permeable membrane. Draw solute recovery may be carried out by various means including with the use of a membrane device. The draw solute recovery may also include the use of multi-stage solute recovery using distillation columns and/or membranes, where the recovery may be assisted by a heat pump.
US09044709B2

A formulation and process for capturing CO2 use an absorption mixture containing water, biocatalysts and an absorption compound selected from dimethylmonoethanolamine (DMMEA), diethylmonoethanolamine (DEMEA), and dimethylglycine. The process may include contacting a CO2-containing gas with the absorption mixture to enable dissolution and transformation of CO2 into bicarbonate and hydrogen ions, thereby producing a CO2-depleted gas and an ion-rich solution, followed by subjecting the ion-rich solution to desorption.
US09044704B2

The present invention is a method of integrating oxygen production with blast furnace operation. A heated air stream is introduced to an ion transfer membrane separator, producing a permeate and a retentate. The permeate and the motive stream are introduced into an ejector jet pump producing an oxygen enriched stream. The oxygen enriched stream is introduced into blast furnace. In another embodiment of the present invention, the permeate and a steam motive stream are introduced into an ejector jet pump. Heated air inlet stream is introduced into a cascading series of ion transfer membrane separators, producing a series of permeate streams and a series of retentate streams wherein each retentate stream acts as the input stream for the subsequent ion transfer membrane separator. Thereby producing a series of oxygen enriched streams which are combined and introduced into blast furnace.
US09044692B2

An apparatus includes a set of atomizers, a housing and a separator. Each atomizer includes an inlet portion that receives an inlet flow of a solution and an outlet portion that produces an atomized flow of the solution. The housing defines a flow path. Each atomizer is disposed at least partially within the housing such that the outlet portion of each atomizer is in fluid communication with the flow path. The housing is configured such that a gas flowing within the flow path can be sequentially mixed with the atomized flow of the solution produced by the outlet portion of each atomizer to produce a mixture of the gas and the solution. The separator produces a first outlet flow including a portion of the gas and a vaporized portion of a solvent, and a second outlet flow including a liquid portion of the solvent and a solute.
US09044688B1

The legless, planar, rectangular platform may consist of a top that will be the primary play surface. In addition to the rectangular platform, additional members may be included. A front member may be attached to the primary platform and may run along the width of the invention. A second member, considered one side of the invention, may be attached in a like manner to the primary platform as the front member, as well as being attached at a 90 degree angle to the front member with slots for drawers. The four members when attached together may form a rectangular shaped structure to which the primary flat member is attached. Removable bins may also be included. Each bin may attach along the periphery of the primary flat platform for ease of access and secure storage.
US09044682B1

Some embodiments present systems and methods for electronic commerce within video game environments. Some embodiments perform displaying within a video game environment a representation of a merchant outlet, receiving input originating from a video game player indicating acceptance of one or more offers of items for sale, and, responsive at least in part to the input originating from the video game player indicating acceptance of one or more offers of items for sale, preparing an order for one or more item corresponding to one or more of the offers of items for sale to be physically delivered to the video game player. Within the video game environment, the merchant outlet presents one or more offers of items for sale. The offers of items for sale comprise one or more offers of items for sale having physical existence outside of the video game environment.
US09044679B2

A portable wireless communication device configured for attachment to a portable electronic video game device, facilitating voice or data communication, or both, between one or many users. The invention includes a two-way radio transceiver that is preferably powered by alkaline or rechargeable type batteries.
US09044675B2

In one embodiment described herein, an automated rating system for an electronic game includes a collector configured to collect game data pertaining to the electronic game and to collect implicit user data pertaining to one or more users, a rating processor configured to rate the game based on the collected game data and implicit user data, and a recommender configured to provide a recommendation as a function of the operation of the game rating.
US09044672B2

An example non-limiting game system includes a game apparatus to which a television is connected. There is provided with an input terminal device which functions as an input device of the game apparatus. The television is displayed with an information presenting screen, and an input screen in which a part of objects is omitted from the information presenting screen is displayed on an LCD of the input terminal device. A player inputs in the input screen a moving path for a player character such that an object to be acquired can be acquired and an object not to be acquired can be evaded. The player character moves according to the moving path that is input on the information presenting screen.
US09044669B2

An image generation system performs a game process of causing a game character to make a predetermined movement for a given object based on an operation input from an operation section including an acceleration sensor and causing the given object to move in an object space. The image generation system includes: an operation input detection section which detects whether or not a plurality of operation inputs including a first operation input and a second operation input for causing the game character to make a predetermined movement have been performed based on an output value from the acceleration sensor; a character movement control section which controls the game character to make a predetermined movement based on the first operation input; and an object movement control section which controls a movement state of the given object based on at least one of the first operation input and the second operation input.
US09044653B2

Iron-type golf club heads are disclosed having a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a top-line portion, a front portion, a rear portion, and a striking face. The iron-type golf club heads include a flexible boundary structure (“FBS”) that is provided at one or more locations on the club head. The flexible boundary structure may comprise, in several embodiments, a slot, a channel, a gap, a thinned or weakened region, or other structure that enhances the capability of an adjacent or related portion of the golf club head to flex or deflect and to thereby provide a desired improvement in the performance of the golf club head.
US09044649B2

A novel device for automatically supplying golf balls. A stopper, a golf ball lifting part, an inclined guide part and an inclined lifting part disposed inside a main body cooperate with each other to automatically lift a golf ball from a rear portion of the main body by placing the golf ball on a lifting tee so that a golfer can hit the ball using a driver. An iron shot hitting part is further provided at one side of the main body so that the golfer can practice driver shots and iron shots concurrently and conveniently at the same time. The lifting tee is inclined to the left in order to supply a ball seated on the inclined lifting part to the iron shot hitting part. The iron shot hitting part has a plurality of detection recesses with which a golfer or a beginner can correct his/her posture.
US09044641B2

A portable doorway recreation device for use on a doorway frame comprises an L-shaped frame. A first horizontal elongate bar is attached to a riser of the L-shaped frame and a second horizontal elongate bar is attached to a base of the L-shaped frame. A securing member is operatively associated with the second elongate bar, wherein with the first elongate bar sitting on a top of the doorway frame on a first wall side and the second elongate bar operatively associated with a second wall side, the securing member is configured to engage one of the first and second wall sides to prevent movement of the second elongate bar away from the second wall side.
US09044639B2

A support frame for an exercise apparatus includes a base, and a smoothly arched moving arm member slidably coupled to the base. The moving arm member defines a first end connected to a wheel pedal unit and an opposing second end connected to a saddle unit, such that a distance difference between the first and second ends in the vertical direction, as well as in the horizontal direction, changes subject to changing the relative position between the moving arm member and the base. Thus, by means of moving the moving arm member relative to the base, the distance difference between the first and second ends is relatively changed, causing change of the relative position between the wheel pedal unit and the saddle unit. This allows the user to select a normal upright sitting exercise mode or a recumbent sitting exercise mode.
US09044637B2

A belt for a treadmill includes a carrier belt and a tread surface arranged on the carrier belt. The tread surface has pockets which are separate from one another. The pockets are filled, or can be filled, with a filler material.
US09044621B2

Disclosed is an anhydrous lipstick comprising a combination of active ingredients comprising Portulaca pilosa extract, sunflower oil, jojoba esters, mango butter, and tocopherol and a dermatologically acceptable carrier comprising glyceryl behenate/eicosadioate.
US09044620B2

Described herein are implantable systems and devices, and methods for use therewith, that can be used to perform arrhythmia discrimination based on activation times. A plurality of different sensing vectors are used to obtain a plurality of IEGMs that collectively enable electrical activations to be detected in the left atrial (LA) chamber, the right atrial (RA) chamber, and at least one ventricular chamber of a patient's heart. For each of a plurality of cardiac cycles, there is a determination, based on the plurality of obtained IEGMs, of an LA activation time, an RA activation time, and a ventricular activation time. Arrhythmia discrimination is then performed based on the determined activation times.
US09044612B2

A device according to some embodiments may include a housing configured for location external to a body of a subject. The device may also include at least one processor associated with the housing and configured for electrical communication with a power source, and an antenna associated with the at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to communicate with an implant circuit located within the body of the subject, cause the implant circuit to receive power in a first power mode and in a second power mode, wherein a first level of power delivered in the first power mode is less than a second level of power delivered in the second power mode, and wherein during a therapy period, power delivery in the first mode occurs over a total time that is greater than about 50% of the therapy period.
US09044604B2

The present embodiments relate to a radiotherapy system including a radiotherapy module and at least one X-ray imaging module. The radiotherapy module and the X-ray imaging module may be moved independently of each other.
US09044599B2

The invention concerns a process for the deposition of an intended dose distribution in a cyclically moved target region moving cyclically (102) by means of multiple irradiations with a beam (105) approaching matrix points of a target matrix in at least two scannings, wherein in each of the scannings, matrix points are approached sequentially. It is characterized through the steps: establishing the maximal tolerance level for local deviation from the intended dose distribution, de-synchronizing the sequence of the irradiation and the cyclical motion of the target region (102), and partitioning the irradiation of the target region (102) in a sufficient number of scannings such that local deviations from the intended dose distribution correspond at most to the maximal tolerance level of deviation from the intended dose distribution. Furthermore, the invention also concerns an irradiation apparatus for executing a process of this type and a process for determining the control parameters for said irradiation apparatus.
US09044597B2

Techniques disclosed herein include systems and methods for treating spinal cord injury. Techniques include using a diode laser assembly, a power source, a fiber optic cable, and a fenestrated tip. The power source can be connected to the diode laser assembly, with a fiber optic cable connected to the diode laser assembly. The fenestrated tip is connected to the fiber optic cable to emit a plurality of laser light beams produced by the diode laser assembly at a location remote from the diode laser assembly. The apparatus can be used in a method for treating a spinal cord injury. The method is carried out by providing a source of laser light having a wavelength in the range of 500-1000 nm and a power in the range of 5 to 500 milliwatts. The laser light is transmitted through an optical wire to a position adjacent a spinal cord injury site, with at least a portion of the apparatus positioned within a human body. The spinal cord injury site is then irradiated with laser light from the optical wire.
US09044595B2

A system is provided for reducing lipid content of adipocytes in a body. The system includes an optical device configured to illuminate a region of the body at a selective peak wavelength and at a selective power density for a selective time period. The system also includes a controller connected to the optical device to determine the selective wavelength, the selective power density and the selective time period to stimulate lipolysis in the adipocytes. A system is also provided for reducing pain in the body. A method is also provided for reducing lipid content of adipocytes in the body.
US09044587B2

In various embodiments, the invention disclosed herein provides systems, devices and methods for providing electrical stimulation to a patient. An electrical mechanical interconnection is provided to facilitate user friendly systems and devices. Exemplary therapeutic electrical stimulation devices include a shoe connected mechanically and electrically to a conductor that provides signals for electrical stimulation.
US09044580B2

Systems, methods and kits relating to in-situ forming polymer foams for the treatment of aneurysms or fluid filled spaces are disclosed. The systems include an insertable medical device and an in-situ forming foam of lava like materials with a fast forming outer skin and a slower hardening interior that is formed from a one-, two- or multi-part formulation. When used to treat an aneurysm, the foam is placed into contact with at least a portion of an exterior surface of the medical device and/or the tissue surface of the aneurysm.
US09044575B2

A neuromodulation catheter includes an elongate shaft and a neuromodulation element. The shaft includes two or more first cut shapes and two or more second cut shapes along a helical path extending around a longitudinal axis of the shaft. The first cut shapes are configured to at least partially resist deformation in response to longitudinal compression and tension on the shaft and torsion on the shaft in a first circumferential direction. The second cut shapes are configured to at least partially resist deformation in response to longitudinal compression on the shaft and torsion on the shaft in both first and second opposite circumferential directions.
US09044573B2

Apparatus for use in dialyzing a patient comprising a hemodialysis catheter comprising an elongated body having a proximal and a distal end, wherein the distal end terminates in a substantially planar distal end surface; first and second lumens extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the lumens terminate on the distal end surface in first and second mouths, arranged in side-by-side configuration, and further wherein the lumens are separated by a septum; and first and second longitudinal slots formed in the distal end of the elongated body and communicating with the interiors of the lumens, the slots opening on the distal end surface; wherein the slots each have a length and a width, relative to the dimensions of the lumens and the rate of blood flow to be passed through the hemodialysis catheter, so as to minimize undesirable recirculation of dialyzed blood.
US09044571B2

A safety balloon catheter includes a stretch valve and a balloon catheter having a proximal catheter end, a balloon defining an interior to be inflated with an inflation fluid, an inflation lumen extending through the shaft to the interior and shaped to convey inflation fluid thereto and from, a second lumen parallel to the inflation lumen, and a balloon drainage port fluidically connecting the balloon interior to the second lumen. The hollow stretch valve is shaped to permit a fluid to pass therethrough and is positioned in the second lumen to at least partially slide therein such that, in a steady state, the stretch valve prevents the inflation fluid from passing through the drainage port and, in an over-inflated state, the distal sliding portion slides within the second lumen to permit the inflation fluid to pass through the drainage port and into the second lumen.
US09044565B2

An oral-nasal cannula comprising at least one nasal breath inlet for carbon dioxide (CO2) sampling; and at least one nasal breath inlet for flow measurement, wherein said at least one nasal breath inlet for flow measurement is separated from said at least one nasal breath inlet for CO2 sampling, such that said cannula is configured to facilitate CO2 sampling and flow measurement essentially without cross-interference.
US09044561B2

A compact continuous positive airway pressure apparatus and method provide a flatter profile and more compact thickness, including a larger lateral dimension in order to be accommodated in conventional luggage designed to stow laptop computers having a smaller aspect ratio of thickness to length or thickness to width. Air tubing may be coiled within a case or coiled as about a spool-like configuration in the base unit of the device.
US09044560B2

A system and method for delivering a flow of breathing gas to an airway of a patient that includes a gas flow generator and a patient circuit that communicates the flow of gas to an airway of a patient. A sensor measures a characteristic associated with the flow of gas, such as flow rate. A controller determines a first characteristic based on the measured characteristic and a target of the flow of gas to be delivered to the patient. The controller controls the delivery of gas to the patient by 1) providing a baseline positive pressure support amount to the patient and 2) providing a modified pressure support amount by reducing the baseline amount by a given amount if the first characteristic is above the target. The baseline pressure includes a pressure provided during inspiration that is higher than a pressure provided during expiration.
US09044556B2

An injector includes a support tube having one end surface to be brought into contact with skin, a movable tube advanceable in the support tube in the direction of the skin, an injection needle communicating with the movable tube, a plunger advanceable in the movable tube in the direction of the skin to introduce medicinal liquid filled in the movable tube to the injection needle, and a sealing material provided at the tip of the support tube and penetratable by the injection needle to penetrate the sealing material. In an initial state, the tip of the injection needle is sealed by the sealing material.
US09044553B2

A pharmaceutical delivery apparatus with an automatic syringe retraction following a manually controlled injection. The apparatus includes a housing (28), a syringe carriage (90), a medication-filled syringe (70) held within the carriage, the syringe needle tip being disposed within the housing in a first position and projecting from the housing beyond the housing proximal end for insertion into an injection site in a second position, a manually shiftable plunger (130), means on the carriage and the housing and the plunger for causing the carriage to advance from the first position to the second position and for injecting medicine from the syringe when the plunger is manually plunged proximally toward the housing, and means on the carriage and the plunger for causing the carriage to retract from the second position to a position at which the needle tip is disposed within the housing when the plunger shifts distally.
US09044548B2

An air shot or priming mechanism for an injection pen. The injection pen comprises a cartridge-holder and a housing. The cartridge-holder interacts with a nut-member capable of driving the piston rod forward when relatively rotated. The cartridge-holder is rotational coupled to the housing such that rotation of the cartridge-holder relatively to the housing causes the nut-member and the piston rod to rotate relatively, thus the relative angular rotation between the cartridge-holder and the housing determines the size of the air shot so performed.
US09044545B2

A fluid applicator is fed by a fluid delivery arrangement containing an energy storage such as a pressure vessel. The gas pressure acts on a container that has been prefilled with the ejection fluid. The fluid to be ejected is thus subject to constant pressure. With a valve, the user can initiate the ejection of the desired amount of fluid with constant intensity. The check valve may also be a regulating valve which can be used by the user to vary the intensity of the effect. The user need only release the system, e.g., by puncturing the pressure vessel, to then be able to directly inject the fluid in a defined or metered manner via the probe, i.e., the fluid applicator. It is also possible to configure the entire injection device as a single-use system and to prefill the fluid applicator up to its fluid exit opening.
US09044542B2

Devices and systems for injecting fluids, such as anesthetics, to or near nerve tissue or other targeted anatomical location are disclosed herein. A conduit is generally configured to place the fluid delivery module in fluid communication with a needle that is configured to be inserted into the patient's anatomy. One or more medicaments (e.g., anesthetics) and/or other materials contained within containers (e.g., vials) that are secured to the injection system can be selectively delivered into an anatomy through the needle. Nerve stimulation and/or imaging technologies (e.g., ultrasound) can be used to locate a targeted anatomical location. Aspiration can be used to confirm needle location. An overlay on the imaging display can include, in addition to real-time imaging data, data and other information relating to back pressure at or near the needle tip, volumes or other amounts of fluids delivered by and remaining within the system, stimulation level and/or the like.
US09044538B2

A power injector (40) includes a movable ram (74) operable to interface with and move a plunger (90a/b) of a syringe (86a/b). The power injector (40) may be operable to automatically determine a proper home position for a particular type of the syringe (86a/b) to be used in a fluid injection sequence. The power injector (40) may also include a ram homing logic (182) operable to automatically move the ram (74) to the home position after the injection sequence. Such automatic homing of the ram (74) may, for example, be initiated by an end of the injection sequence in preparation for another injection sequence, by opening of a faceplate (102a/b), by a user input, or by any combination thereof.
US09044532B2

A liquid streaming device and method of using same for treating a wound includes a body having a lower surface for application to skin region around the wound to be treated and to conform to the contour of the skin region, and an upper surface facing outwardly when the body is applied to the skin region; a recess formed in the lower surface of the body and encloses the wound when the body is applied to the skin region, and to define a chamber closed on one side by the skin region and the wound, and on the opposite side by the body; an inlet in the body on one side of the recess for introducing a treating liquid into an inlet side of the chamber; and an outlet in the body on another side of the recess for outletting the treating liquid from an outlet side of the chamber.
US09044527B2

Methods have been developed for incorporation of a peracid compound into or on wound application matrices, such as bandages or dressings, and other matrices which will favorably impact wound healing and help eliminate microbial infection. The peracid compound comprises a base compound that is metabolically pertinent to wound healing, the oxidized form of the base compound (a peracid), and an appropriate oxidizer, such as hydrogen peroxide. In addition, other excipients with wound healing potential, such as esters of the base compound, may be added to the peracid compound. The combination peracid-wound application matrices can be used to disinfect and heal various wound types with designed time release of the peracid compound.
US09044523B2

Methods and apparatuses are provided for reduction of pathogens in fluids containing blood products. Preferred methods include the steps of adding an effective, non-toxic amount of a photosensitizer such as riboflavin to the blood product and exposing the fluid to light having a peak wavelength.
US09044520B2

Embodiments of the invention provide a compound accumulating in an inflammatory site, a diagnostic agent containing the compound in labeled state and its precursor compound for labeling. Such a compound accumulating in inflammatory site may be represented by the following formula (1): Z—Y-Leu-Phe-(X)n-DLys(-(DLys)m-HalB)-(DLys)k-NH2  (1) wherein in the formula (1), Z represents a protective group for an amino group; Y represents Met or Nle; X represents a spacer consisting of one or more of amino acid and/or synthetic organic compounds; n represents 1 or 0; m represents 1 or 0; k represents 1 or 0; and HalB represents a substituted benzoic acid having a radioactive halogen in an aromatic ring.
US09044509B2

A process is provided for protecting a primate host from a self-replicating infection by an immunodeficiency retrovirus. Protection is achieved by administering to the primate host a combination of a pharmaceutically effective amount of a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor and a pharmaceutically effective amount of a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor prior to exposure to the immunodeficiency retrovirus. The administration is effective if provided in a single dose within 24 hours of the exposure. A regime of regular daily doses is also effective in providing protection against an immunodeficiency retrovirus becoming self-replicating after infecting a primate host. A process for controlling retrovirus transmission within a population includes the administration to a subpopulation at high risk for contracting an immunodeficiency retroviral infection the detailed combination prior to sexual exposure to a source of immunodeficiency retrovirus so as to preclude the immunodeficiency retrovirus from becoming self-replicating in a member of the subpopulation.
US09044505B2

The present invention describes multimeric multimodality probes. In particular, the present invention discloses (strept)avidin specific multimeric biotinidase resistant multimodality probes.
US09044500B2

An oral care composition is described for use in the treatment or alleviation of the symptoms of dry mouth comprising polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) or a derivative thereof, an anionic mucoadhesive polymer and an orally acceptable carrier or excipient.
US09044496B2

Heparan sulphate from bone marrow stroma is disclosed together with the use of heparan sulphate from bone marrow stroma in the differentiation and/or lineage commitment of stem cells.
US09044494B2

The present invention relates to antisense oligonucleotides that modulate the expression of and/or function of Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), in particular, by targeting natural antisense polynucleotides of Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). The invention also relates to the identification of these antisense oligonucleotides and their use in treating diseases and disorders associated with the expression of FGF21.
US09044487B2

A method and medicament for treating mixed lineage leukemia; translocated mixed lineage leukemia; translocated mixed lineage leukemia based acute myelogenous leukemia; translocated mixed lineage leukemia based acute lymphoid leukemia; a non-MLL based chronic myeloproliferative disorder, or non-MLL based acute lymphoid leukemia is provided.
US09044480B1

The present invention features methods of using Compound I to suppress HCV mutants, treat treatment-experienced HCV patients, and treat HCV patients having non-CC IL28B rs12979860 genotype.
US09044479B2

The embodiments described herein include methods and formulations for treating influenza, common cold and associated acute inflammation. The methods and formulations include, but are not limited to, methods and formulations for delivering effective concentrations of levocetirizine and montelukast to a patient in need. The methods and formulations can comprise conventional and/or modified-release elements, providing for drug delivery to the patient.
US09044476B2

The invention provides a method for promoting osteogenesis, increasing bone mass or enhancing the rate of bone growth, which comprises administering to a subject an effective amount of Uraria, a part thereof or an extract thereof. Also provided are a method for treating and/or preventing osteoporosis and a method for providing neuroprotection, comprising administering to a subject an effective amount of Uraria, a part thereof or an extract thereof.
US09044466B2

Oral compositions and methods of use thereof are provided herein. The oral compositions comprise a first component comprising at least one Eh-raising compound and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and a second component comprising at least one zinc compound, an anti-microbial agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
US09044465B2

Described herein are methods for effectively and accurately measuring a patient response upon administration of one or more drugs to the patient. The methods are more sensitive than current methodologies. Also described herein are compositions comprising an analgesic and a sufficient amount of an antihistamine to enhance the analgesic properties of the analgesic. With respect to these compositions, the methods described herein are useful for evaluating qualities of pain, definite improvement, and one or more bodily functions of a subject afflicted with pain. The compositions described herein are useful in improving the quality of pain in a subject or a bodily function of a subject afflicted with pain or definite improvement of a subject afflicted with pain.
US09044453B2

This invention provides for novel antiparasitic and pesticidal forms of moxidectin, including a long-acting polymeric implant. The resulting compounds may be used in veterinary compositions which are used in treating, controlling and preventing of endo- and ectoparasite infections in animals.
US09044447B2

The invention provides HSV antigens that are useful for the prevention and treatment of HSV infection, including epitopes confirmed to be recognized by T-cells derived from herpetic lesions. T-cells having specificity for antigens of the invention have demonstrated cytotoxic activity against cells loaded with virally-encoded peptide epitopes, and in many cases, against cells infected with HSV. The identification of immunogenic antigens responsible for T-cell specificity provides improved anti-viral therapeutic and prophylactic strategies. Compositions containing antigens or polynucleotides encoding antigens of the invention provide effectively targeted vaccines for prevention and treatment of HSV infection.
US09044445B2

The present invention relates, in general, to an immunogenic composition (e.g., a vaccine) and, in particular, to a polyvalent immunogenic composition, such as a polyvalent HIV vaccine containing nucleic acids encoding HIV-1 gag mosaic proteins, and to methods of using same. The invention further relates to methods that use a genetic algorithm to create sets of polyvalent antigens suitable for use, for example, in vaccination strategies.
US09044444B2

A method for improving skin appearance and/or reducing hair loss in a subject is provided. The method comprises administrating to the subject an effective amount of peripheral monocytes, wherein the peripheral monocytes are induced by granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF) or a combination of GCSF and an interleukin relative to GCSF.
US09044437B2

The present invention relates to a method for treating an individual having Alzheimer's Disease by using pharmacological chaperones to increase the activity of gangliosidase and/or sialidase enzymes involved in ganglioside catabolism.
US09044428B2

The present invention relates to peptide compounds that are capable of stimulating neuronal differentiation, neurite outgrowth and survival of neural cells, and enhancing synaptic plasticity, learning and memory, methods of treating diseases and conditions of nervous system by administration of compositions comprising said compounds. The compounds and compositions of the invention include peptide sequences that are derived from the sequence of human erythropoietin or proteins that are homologous of human erythropoietin.
US09044427B2

The present invention provides compositions and methods for promoting rapid healing and/or regeneration of damaged tissue resulting from a wound comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of (E)-4-carboxystyryl-4-chlorobenzylsulfone, or a functional derivative thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.
US09044425B2

A method for the prevention or treatment of an eye disease, which includes topically applying to a patient in need of the treatment an aqueous ophthalmic composition which includes N-acetylcarnosine, a N-acetylcarnosine derivative or a pharmacologically acceptable salt of N-acetylcarnosine, in combination with an amount of a cellulose compound or a pharmacologically acceptable salt which is effective to increase intraocular absorption of N-acetylcarnosine or L-carnosine or a derivative of L-carnosine, such as anserine or balenine, in the aqueous humor. A hydrophilic hydrogel contact lens and an ocular polymer insert for topical application of an ophthalmic composition to the eyes of a patient is also disclosed, with the lens or insert containing N-acetylcarnosine, a N-acetylcarnosine derivative or a pharmacologically acceptable salt of N-acetylcarnosine.
US09044423B2

The present invention provides beverages and pharmaceutical compositions containing a deuterated alcohol according to Formula 1, and provides methods for their manufacture and use. The compositions of the invention are expected to ameliorate some of the negative side effects associated with the consumption of alcohol, such as hangover and facial flushing.
US09044421B2

The invention provides method of treating cancers that express mucin 1 (MUC1) by the administration of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) inhibitors in combination with MUC1-directed cancer therapies. The PI3-K inhibition may advantageously be combined with peptides that inhibit MUC1 oligomerization, or further with other standard anticancer therapies such as chemo-, radio- and surgical therapies.
US09044419B2

Disclosed are compositions and methods for treating or preventing the formation of drusen in a patient in need thereof. The compositions include an effective amount of at least one polypeptide present in drusen, or an immunogenic fragment or variant thereof that induces an immune response against the polypeptide, together with a pharmaceutical carrier, excipient, or diluent. The compositions are suitable as vaccines for treating or preventing drusen and diseases associated with drusen.
US09044414B2

A composition for solvating one or more active agents in an aqueous solution which is suitable for dispensing as a compressed gas aerosol composition is disclosed. The composition includes at least one surfactant, at least one active agent, and a compressed gas propellant. The at least one surfactant is preferably present in an amount from about 0.1 wt. % to about 3 wt. %. The at least one active agent is preferably present in an amount from about 0.1 wt. % to about 2 wt. %. The compressed gas propellant is preferably present in an amount from about 0.1 wt. % to about 1 wt. %. The total surfactant weight to active agent weight ratio for the composition is preferably about 1:3 to 5:1. The composition uses a reduced amount of surfactant and active agent thereby allowing for a more efficient active agent loading and a reduced stickiness or tackiness on surfaces contacted during use.
US09044410B2

The present invention relates to a method for preparing by wet spinning a continuous filament based on hyaluronic acid in free acid form, notably soluble in water. The preparation method according to the invention comprises the following steps: a) preparing a spinnable aqueous solution of hyaluronic acid or of a hyaluronic acid salt, preferably a sodium hyaluronate solution; b) extruding said solution to an extrusion die; c) forming the filament by passing the extruded solution into a bath of acetic acid, concentrated to more than 80%, drawing and drying. The invention also relates to a filament based on hyaluronic acid in free acid form, said filament having swelling properties in water and physiological liquids and moreover being solubilizable in water under certain conditions.
US09044406B2

An aqueous composition for an enteric hard capsule, a method of preparing an enteric hard capsule, and an enteric hard capsule prepared using the method. The aqueous composition for an enteric hard capsule includes an enteric base material, a capsule forming aid, and a neutralizing agent. The method of preparing an enteric hard capsule includes: preparing an aqueous composition by dissolving an enteric base material, a capsule forming aid, and a neutralizing agent in water; preheating the aqueous composition to a temperature that is less than the gelation temperature for the aqueous composition; immersing a mold pin heated to a temperature that is greater than the gelation temperature for the aqueous composition into the aqueous composition; taking the mold pin out of the aqueous composition to obtain a film formed on the mold pin; and maintaining the film at a temperature that is equal to or greater than the gelation temperature for the aqueous composition for a predetermined period of time to fix the film on the mold pin and drying the film.
US09044402B2

The present disclosure relates to pharmaceutical compositions that are abuse resistant and may also provide controlled release. The present disclosure also relates to the use of pharmaceutical compositions in the treatment of pain.
US09044401B2

Provided is a composition for preventing or treating osteoporosis. The composition contains an ibandronic acid, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a hydrate thereof, and vitamin D. The composition has uniform medicinal effects by minimizing the differences in physical properties between ibandronic acid, or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or the hydrate thereof, and vitamin D.
US09044400B2

A cosmetic product includes at least: a first anhydrous cosmetic composition including at least coloring particles that are solid at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, the particles being formed from: at least one hydrophilic dyestuff in a content of greater than or equal to 60% by weight relative to their total weight, at least one effervescent system in a content of less than or equal to 20% by weight relative to their total weight, at least one hydrophilic binder, and at least one dispersant that is different from the hydrophilic binder; and a second composition comprising at least one aqueous phase.
US09044387B2

A vaginal lubricant comprising high molecular weight hyaluronic acid combined with low molecular weight hyaluronic acid and/or chitosan which has improved stability and which has applications in, for example, maintaining and/or promoting sperm motility.
US09044384B2

Polymeric compositions containing additives having properties of emission and/or absorption of radiation in the long infrared region, and articles shaped therefrom are produced, including yarns and textile articles such as fabrics or knits; such additives include organic additives or inorganic fillers which have a capacity for absorption/emission of radiation in the infrared region, in a wavelength range of from 2 μm to 20 μm, and also a polymeric substrate, with the proviso that the inorganic fillers may be selected from among oxides, sulfates, carbonates, phosphates and silicates, and such inorganic fillers having an average particle size of less than 2 μm.
US09044383B1

Embodiments of the disclosed technology are directed to methods and/or compositions for preparing a nail coating composition with forskolin to be delivered into the human body. The composition is formed of forskolin and nitrocellulose dissolved in a solvent. The solvent may be an organic solvent and may further comprise a resin, an adhesive polymer, a plasticizer, a coloring agent, and/or any other constituent known to be used in nail coating compositions. The composition is applied to the fingertips and/or fingernails of an individual such that the forskolin contained in the composition is absorbed via the nail plate into the body. The surface of the nail plate may be primed or otherwise manipulated to promote a higher absorption rate.
US09044382B2

According to the invention, gene products expressed in a tumor-associated manner and the nucleic acids coding therefor were identified. The invention relates to the therapy and diagnosis of diseases wherein said gene products expressed in a tumor-associated manner are aberrantly expressed. The invention also relates to proteins, polypeptides and peptides which are expressed in a tumor associated manner and to nucleic acids coding therefor.
US09044379B2

A customized nipple for a pacifier or baby bottle which is provided with a method for molding an exact non-toxic material replica of the mother's breast, nipple, and areola area from a mold so that when the replica is filled with a non-toxic gel-like substance and adhered to a backing, the pacifier so created has the firmness, color, rigidity, and texture of the mother's natural breast, nipple, and areola area. Further, the simple to use mold is sent to a core facility which stores the identifying information with the mold once a first pacifier is created therefrom. Moreover, the mother can re-order or re-make the pacifier as needed over time. The pacifier so provided is a safe and effective pacifying device which promotes good emotional, muscular, and bone structure development for the baby, and at the same time, provides the mother with confidence and independence.
US09044377B2

A pharmaceutical waste disposal assembly (10) for disposing of raw pharmaceutical waste comprises a first receiver body (19) and a first reaction agent (287). The first receiver body (19) receives the pharmaceutical waste. The first receiver body (19) includes a receiver bottom (283). The first reaction agent (287) is positioned within the first receiver body (19) and spaced apart from the receiver bottom (283). The pharmaceutical waste reacts with the first reaction agent (287) to change the pharmaceutical waste in one of a chemical and physical manner so that the pharmaceutical waste is unrecoverable. The first receiver body (19) can receive fluid pharmaceutical waste and/or solid pharmaceutical waste. The first reaction agent (287) may include one or more of a denaturant, an emetic and a tittering agent. For example, the first reaction agent (287) may include one or more of quinine, ipecac and denatonium benzoate.
US09044374B1

An assisted walking device assists a visually impaired person by providing audible directions to guide a user to a particular destination while also notifying the user of obstacles. The device includes an elongated shaft and a processor mounted in the shaft. A global positioning system (“GPS”) is electrically coupled to the processor wherein the GPS is configured to provide orientation and directional data to the processor. A database has a mapped terrain and is operationally coupled to the GPS wherein the database compares the mapped terrain to the data provided by the GPS. An input actuator is electrically coupled to the processor and the GPS and is actuated to selectively choose a destination point. A speaker is electrically coupled to the processor, the GPS, and the database wherein the speaker is configured to transmit as voice messages the data from the GPS and the corresponding data from the database.
US09044373B2

A core muscle exercising and resistance training device includes a weighted bar having opposed bar ends adapted to removably mount at least one weight or other force generating element. A pad element is removably and frictionally mounted on the bar, the pad element being constructed from a lightweight foam material having a density within a specific range. The pad has an outer surface with a radius of curvature substantially the same as a normal cervical curvature. In use, the outer pad surface is placed adjacent a user's cervical curve and the weighted bar, the additional isometric resistance generating elements and the pad element act in combination to apply a force upon the user's core cervical curve muscles for improving the user's cervical curve posture by gradually modifying the cervical curvature to conform with clinically desirable curvature.
US09044367B2

Patient support systems are generally disclosed. An example patient support system may be configured to provide a predictive bed-exit alarm and/or a patient weight. An example embodiment may include a support structure including independently inflatable supports, an inflatable mat beneath the inflatable supports, and pressure detectors associated with the inflatable supports and the inflatable mat. An alarm logic may be configured to initiate a predictive bed-exit alarm sequence upon determining that at least one of the pressures of the inflatable supports is at about its respective unloaded pressure. A patient weight logic may be configured to output a patient weight based at least partially upon a difference between an unloaded pressure and a loaded pressure of the inflatable mat.
US09044362B2

The present invention embraces a method and an apparatus for preventing, treating or improving the efficacy of a variety of conditions and treatments including breathing difficulties, pitting peripheral edema, post-surgical adhesions, efficacy of CPAP/BiPAP and/or the delivery of inhaled medications. The method include raising and lowering the individual's head and feet in a series of steps and performing the steps of raising and lowering the individual's head and feet to substantially match a breathing cycle. The apparatus includes a platform for supporting the individual's body, a capital support mechanism for supporting and moving the platform, a capital drive mechanism, a pedestal support mechanism for supporting and moving the platform, and a pedestal drive mechanism. The method and the apparatus in operation typically move one or more axes of rotation while simultaneously rotating a platform about the one or more axes.
US09044355B2

An absorbent article to absorb and contain human female bodily excretions from the genitalia for placement in the inner crotch portion of an undergarment of a human female wearer; and with a separate cosmetic human female crotch enhancer element which is positioned on garment faceable side and gives the simulated appearance of exaggerated contours and curves associated with the human female external genitalia with the simulated appearance of exaggerated pudendal cleft associated with the human female external genitalia and without or with the simulated pubic hair to provide the human female wearer with subtle understated sexual expression and subtle non-verbal communication.
US09044344B2

An insertion instrument for inserting an orthopedic implant into a bone and guiding an implant attachment element into the bone comprising: a body having a first end and a second end and a bore extending along a central axis; a fixed arm and a deflectable arm coupled to the body second end, the fixed arm spaced from the deflectable arm forming an attachment element receiving passageway therebetween extending along the central axis, the fixed arm having an implant engaging free end spaced a fixed distance from the central axis; and an actuator mounted on the first end of the body for moving the deflectable arm away from the fixed arm while allowing the attachment element to traverse the passageway.
US09044343B2

A system for replacing a portion of an articular surface including providing an implant site and installing an implant into the implant site. The implant site includes a first and a second excision site which at least partially intersect with one another. Each of the first and second excision sites are formed by providing a respective axis and excising a portion of the articular surface relative to the respective axes.
US09044340B2

The present invention relates to a kit comprising at least one base plate for adhesive attachment to the skin around at least one body opening. The kit further comprises at least one separate peripheral device for attachment to the base plate. The base plate comprises a backing layer, having a proximal side facing the user during use, where a skin friendly adhesive is disposed on said proximal side of the backing layer and wherein the base plate is an intact base plate thereby allowing a hole to be cut at a desired position before use. The separate peripheral device comprises a continuous adhesive ring for permanent adhesive attachment between the continuous adhesive ring of the peripheral device and the distal side of the backing layer of the base plate. This allows the user to provide a custom fit for irregular body openings.
US09044336B2

Spinal disk including a shell, first endplate, second endplate and core. The shell includes sidewalls, back wall, front wall, top wall and bottom wall defining a compartment. The first endplate includes a first base, first top and first attachment. The first base is retained in the compartment. The first top is disposed about a first opening in the top wall forming a top contact surface. The first attachment extends from the first top portion. The second endplate includes a second base, second top and second attachment. The second base is retained in the compartment. The second top is disposed about a second opening in the bottom wall forming a bottom contact surface. The second attachment extends from the second top portion. The core is disposed in the compartment between the first endplate and the second endplate.
US09044330B2

A method of implanting a shoulder prosthesis in a scapula of a patient includes the step of placing a guide over a primary glenoid component previously implanted within the scapula of the patient. The method further includes the steps of removing the primary glenoid component from the scapula and preparing the scapula for implantation of a secondary glenoid component, wherein the removing and preparing steps occur simultaneously.
US09044328B2

The invention relates to a medical implant consisting of a first implant part and a second implant part for the connection of which there is provided a connecting device, wherein at least the first implant part comprises a connecting element receptacle, in which at least one connecting element of the connecting device can be disposed. In order to provide an implant of this type which is easier to handle, it is proposed, in accordance with the invention, that a securing device be provided for the purposes of securing the at least one connecting element in the connecting element receptacle. Moreover, the invention relates to a knee joint endoprosthesis having at least one implant of this type.
US09044325B2

The elbow prosthesis includes an ulnar component that has a bearing end and a stem. The stem is attached to the bearing end and extends in a distal direction from it. The elbow prosthesis also has a humeral component that includes a holder end and a stem with the stem extending in a proximal direction from the holder end. The prosthesis further includes at least one bearing member that is connected to the holder end with the bearing end being attached within the holder end to allow for rotation and articulation against the at least one bearing member. The bearing end and holder end are attached to each other by a coupling mechanism that includes an opening positioned on the posterior aspect of the holder end and a mating surface on the bearing body. A method of using the elbow prosthesis and a total elbow prosthesis kit are also disclosed.
US09044317B2

Intraocular lens delivery devices and methods of use.
US09044316B2

Many modem implantable ophthalmic devices include electronic components, such as electro-active cells, that can leak harmful substances into the eye and/or surrounding tissue. In the implantable ophthalmic devices disclosed herein, electronic components are hermetically sealed to facilitate mechanically connecting components of an implantable ophthalmic device. Furthermore, the device includes at least one battery with a surface comprising electrical contact portions, a housing for the at least one battery, a first wafer bonded to the housing such that the housing and the first wafer form a hermetically sealed surface around the battery, and an electronic circuit electrically connected to the electrical contact portions of the battery.
US09044310B2

An orthotopic prosthesis (1) of artificial bladder includes a balloon (600), two hollow elements (300) for the forced fitting of ureters (6,6′) and a frustoconical element (602) for the connection of the urethra (8) to the prosthesis in the absence of stitches.
US09044309B2

An adjustable pelvic compression belt for the reducing the width of, and/or realigning, a user's hips that is particularly adapted for post-parturition use. The belt may include an inner belt to be wrapped around the user's hips and positioned below the iliac crest. The midpoint of an outer belt may be attached to the inner belt at or near the midpoint of the inner belt. The ends of the outer belt may be adjusted to cinch the inner belt around the hips of the user, thereby compressing the user's pelvic girdle. Thereafter, the outer belt may be incrementally adjusted to further compress the user's pelvic girdle resulting in a narrowing of the user's hips. The belt is preferably worn within two to three months post-parturition or during a period in which relaxin is being administered to the user, and has a strength and thickness that facilitates use under garments.
US09044305B2

The invention relates to medical devices, systems and methods for preventing the embolic material flowing about a junction of at least one branch blood vessel and another blood vessel from entering the other blood vessel. The device includes a self cleaning flexible filter and a frame. The external surface of the filter is configured to temporarily trap at least some of the embolic material flowing about the junction as a result of the blood inflow though the filter. The filter is also configured to expel the trapped embolic material into the other blood vessel.
US09044301B1

A system is provided including an elongate needle body and an aqueous humor drainage device. The drainage device includes an elongated flexible tube that is operatively coupled to a proximal end of the needle body. Methods for the implantation of the aqueous humor drainage device in the eye are provided. A system including an elongate needle body and drainage device is also provided for draining other body cavities.
US09044290B2

The joint of the present invention facilitates connection and disconnection of the motor unit to and from the power cords in the hose, and makes the connecting area between these two parts as compact as practicable. In the joint, the motor-unit-side connector is arranged projecting from the connecting-end opening of the motor casing 10, whereas the power-cord-side connector is arranged offset from the connecting-end opening of the end cap 20, so that the two connectors are connectable inside the end cap 20.
US09044276B2

A cervical fixation system and method for repairing odontoid fractures includes securing an anterior plate to caudal portion of C2 body below the odontoid neck. The anterior plate houses lag screw within a posterior shaft. A cannulated fixation device crosses the fracture site with fixation into the cephalad fragment. The lag screw can be pulled caudally into the plate with a compression screw to apply a compression force across the fracture site.
US09044272B2

The present teachings provide one or more surgical implements for repairing damaged tissue, such as in the case of a spinal fixation procedure. A bone anchor is provided. The anchor can include a bone fastener. The bone fastener can include a head and a second end adapted to engage an anatomy. The bone fastener can extend along a longitudinal axis. The anchor can also include a coupling arrangement coupled to the head of the bone fastener so that the bone fastener is rotatable about the longitudinal axis to define a first plane of motion. The anchor can further include a saddle, which can be coupled to the coupling arrangement. The saddle can be movable relative to at least one of the bone fastener and the coupling arrangement to define a second plane of motion.
US09044270B2

An apparatus and related method for controlling a load on a human hip joint during normal gait while preserving motion. The approach is intended to treat osteoarthritis of the hip without substantially resisting an angular displacement associated with full mobility of the pelvis and femur bones.
US09044267B2

Embodiments are described for creating and closing tissue access ports, such as transapical access ports, which involve placement of an introducer across the subject tissue structure, and deployment of a controllable port closure device assembly configured to remain in place with a ratcheting mechanism, and to hold the tissue surrounding the previous access port location closed against a sealing disc with proximal and distal strut assemblies, after the introducer has been removed.
US09044259B2

A dermatological skin treatment device is provided. The device comprises a handpiece and a cutting tool, wherein the tool is inserted through the conduit and percutaneously inserted into a tissue disposed within a recessed area of the handpiece. The device and method cut the fibrous structures under the skin that cause cellulite at an angle substantially parallel to the surface of the skin and replace these structures with a non-cellulite forming structure by deploying a highly fibrous mesh through a single needle hole to create a highly fibrous layer directly or through wound healing processes.
US09044252B2

An adjustable awl for forming a hole for the insertion of a screw or other device in a pedicle or other body part. The awl comprises an elongated housing having an open end, and an elongated awl member movably mounted in the housing and being extendable beyond the open end to vary the length of the awl. The awl comprises means for locking the awl member in a selected position relative to the housing. The awl member is provided with markings thereon to indicate its position relative to the housing.
US09044250B2

A system for removing bone growths and realigning bones includes a bone planer and an osteotomy guide. The bone planer includes a hollow sleeve that has an end embeddable within a bone. The bone planer also includes a rotary blade that is coupled to the hollow sleeve. The rotary blade is positioned within and rotatable relative to the hollow sleeve. The osteotomy guide includes a distal portion and a proximal portion. The distal and proximal portions are slidably coupled together. Each of the distal and proximal portions includes an upright that defines a cut guide surface. A space defined between the cut guide surfaces defines a cut path corresponding with a desired cut through the bone.
US09044244B2

Apparatus and method for detecting metal disturbance during a medical procedure includes a probe having an insertion tube, a joint, and a joint sensor for sensing a position of the insertion tube. The joint sensor comprises first and second subassemblies having coils. A processor is used for measuring force using the joint sensor, and having a pre-established baseline value stored therein. The processor detects changes in a position of the insertion tube by applying current to one coil and measures a signal output by a remainder of the other coils. The signal output by a remainder of the coils defines a pickup value, wherein the processor compares the pickup value to the pre-established baseline value and identifies presence of metal when the pickup value is outside of a range of the pre-established baseline value.
US09044238B2

A system for delivering electrosurgical energy is provided. The system includes an electrosurgical instrument comprising at least one electrode and an electrosurgical generator coupled to the electrosurgical instrument. The electrosurgical generator includes an output stage configured to generate electrosurgical energy; and a controller coupled to the output stage, the controller configured to control the output stage to output electrosurgical energy at a predetermined power level to generate an arc between the at least one electrode and tissue and to output electrosurgical energy at a predetermined current level once the arc is generated to sustain the arc.
US09044233B2

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to ablation catheter systems configured, for example, to ablate tissue adjacent an ostium of the pulmonary vein in a left atria of a heart. In one embodiment, an ablation catheter system includes a handle and a catheter coupled to the handle defining a lumen extending through a length of the catheter, the catheter including a distal end thereof. The ablation catheter system may also include an electrode coupled to the handle with lines extending through the lumen of the catheter, the electrode being configured to be constrained adjacent the distal end of the catheter and configured to be deployed from the distal end of the catheter to an expanded configuration.
US09044220B2

A medical device for the delivery of pelvic floor repair implants within a pelvic region of a body includes a handle, an elongated shaft member, and a head. A method of delivering a pelvic floor repair implant in a transvaginal implant procedure includes inserting and deploying at least a portion of the medical device into a pelvic region of a body.
US09044218B2

A surgical distractor comprising a base plate (2), an intermediate stage (6) telescopically coupled to the base plate (2) and a distraction plate (4) telescopically coupled to the intermediate stage (6). The intermediate stage (6) is arranged to rotate relative to at least one of the base plate (2) and the distraction plate (4) to cause telescopic movement between the intermediate plate (6) and at least one of the base plate (2) and the distraction plate (4) such that the distraction plate (4) moves towards or away from the base plate (2). Surgical instrument kits incorporating distractors and drive elements and a method of distracting two bones within a joint are also disclosed.
US09044215B2

The invention is directed to a system and device for separating and collecting a tissue specimen from a target site within a patient. The device includes a probe component with an elongated tubular section, a penetrating distal tip and a tissue receiving aperture in the distal end of the tubular section proximal to the distal tip, and a tissue cutting member which is slidably disposed within the probe member to cut a tissue specimen drawn into the interior of the device through the aperture by applying a vacuum to the inner lumen of the tissue cutting member. The device also has a driver component to which the probe component is releasably secured. The driver has a drive member for adjusting the orientation of the tubular section and thus the aperture therein and one or more drive members for moving the tissue cutting member within the tubular section to sever a tissue specimen from tissue extending into the interior of the tubular section through the aperture. The motion imparted to the tissue cutter is at least longitudinal and preferably is also oscillation and/or rotational to effectively separate a tissue specimen from tissue extending through the aperture in the tubular section.
US09044213B1

In an embodiment of the invention, a frictional tissue sampling device with a head designed to be rotated without rotating off the designated site can be used to obtain tissue biopsy samples. A frictional tissue sampling device with a head designed to be rotated without rotating off the designated site can be used to obtain an epithelial tissue biopsy sample from lesions. The device can be otherwise used to sample specific locations. In various embodiments, the head of the device is narrow and pointed with a hybrid pear shaped diamond facet. The facet contour can be concave, convex or flat. Abrasive material can be adhered to the facet contour.
US09044208B2

The invention relates to a surgical instrument, in particular a minimally invasive surgical instrument, with a working unit, and with a control unit which has two control elements that can be separated from each other for cleaning and/or disinfection.It is proposed that the surgical instrument has a connecting device, which is provided for connecting the working unit and the control unit to each other in such a way that they can be separated for cleaning and/or disinfection.
US09044205B2

A method of optimizing operation of a medical diagnostic table according to a patient's weight is provided. The method includes sensing a weight carried by the medical diagnostic table using weighing sensors mounted under the medical diagnostic table, and adjusting a moving speed of the medical diagnostic table according to the sensed weight. The moving speed is reduced when the sensed weight is greater than a predetermined value, and the moving speed is increased when the sensed weight is less than the predetermined value.
US09044193B2

A medical device having at least one electric drive for positioning at least one position-varying device segment is provided. At least one gear unit and an overload clutch are arranged along at least one mechanical drive chain between the at least one electric drive and the at least one position-varying device segment. Snap-in elements are arranged on a clutch segment of the overload clutch. The snap-in elements engage in snap-in receptacles of another clutch segment of the overload clutch. The snap-in elements and the associated snap-in receptacles are distributed irregularly.
US09044192B2

A system and method for assessing tissue health based on the viscoelastic properties of the tissue. Surface waves are induced in the tissue and their propagation characteristics are then measured. The tissue viscoelastic properties are then determined from the surface wave measurements using a surface model.
US09044171B2

Biometric monitoring devices, including various technologies that may be implemented in such devices, are discussed herein. Additionally, techniques, systems, and apparatuses are discussed herein for providing power-conserving techniques and systems for efficiently utilizing a GPS receiver are described. The positional fix frequency of the GPS receiver may, according to some implementations, be modified or adjusted between various levels according to data from one or more non-GPS sensors. Such non-GPS sensors may include, for example, ambient light intensity or spectrum sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, heart rate sensors, galvanic skin response sensors, infrared sensors, etc.
US09044167B2

An image processing device includes a first identification unit configured to identify the spatial configuration of a vessel in an object to be imaged, a second identification unit configured to identify information on a blood flow rate of the vessel based on an SLO moving image obtained by signal light that has a focus position deeper than at least a part of the area of the vessel, and an acquisition unit configured to acquire information on a blood flow of the vessel based on the identified area and the information on the blood flow rate.
US09044165B2

An optical tomographic imaging method of picking up a cross-sectional image of an object comprises scanning a predetermined region of the object with spots of a plurality of measurement lights in the same direction so as to irradiate different positions of the object with different spots, detecting interference signals formed by the plurality of return lights reflected or scattered by the object and a plurality of corresponding reference lights reflected by a reference mirror, and executing an arithmetic process on the detected interference signals based on a displacement amount between the different spot positions using interference signals corresponding to at least two of the spots out of the respective interference signals. The region to be scanned has a length smaller than the sum of diameters of the spots in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction.
US09044162B2

A marker delivery device includes an elongated delivery cannula which has a distal end section, an inner lumen and a discharge opening in the distal end section in communication with the inner lumen. At least one elongated fibrous marker body is slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the elongated delivery cannula. The at least one elongated fibrous marker body includes a plurality of bioabsorbable polymeric strands. The strands are compressed to a compressed configuration and bound together in the compressed configuration with a polymer binding agent prior to insertion into the elongated delivery cannula.
US09044161B2

An illuminated suction apparatus including a hand-held surgical device combining a high-performance non-fiber optic optical waveguide with suction. This device is useful in a wide array of surgical procedures including open and minimally invasive orthopedics.
US09044158B2

A method of imaging biological tissue enables imaging structure in the biological tissue with an antenna tuned to emit radio energy through at least a covering layer of the biological tissue without significant attenuation of the radio energy. The method includes contacting skin covering tissue with a radio frequency emitting antenna, and adjusting at least one of a radiator and a feed in the antenna with reference to at least one measured electrical or physical property of the skin. The adjustment of the radiator and feed enable a combination of the antenna and skin to emit radio energy at a predetermined magnitude and frequency into a portion of the tissue covered by the skin.
US09044148B2

A method for monitoring a heart of a patient, the includes receiving signals indicative of cardiac activity of the patient during a monitoring period; and processing the signals and providing monitoring results in response to a result of the processing; wherein the monitoring results comprise information indicative of: (a) the heart rate of the patient during the monitoring period; (b) at least one first time period in which the heart rate of the patient exceeds a first threshold; and (c) at least one second time period in which the heart rate of the patient exceeds both the first threshold and a second threshold.
US09044147B2

A medical device obtains an oscillometric measurement associated with a patient's non-invasive blood pressure reading. The device determines a stability measure for at least one pair of pulses included in the oscillometric measurement, compares the stability measure to a threshold, and excludes the pair of pulses from an evaluation of heart beat variation when the stability measure fails to meet the threshold.
US09044146B2

The present invention relates to an arm-fastening device for a pulse diagnosis, a pulse sensor, a pulse diagnosis apparatus comprising the device and sensor, and a method for manufacturing the pulse sensor. Embodiments of the present invention permit the pulse of a person to be examined to be correctly measured in the state in which the person to be examined is a comfortable one when the pulse of the person to be examined is being measured.
US09044141B2

Systems, devices, and methods are described for providing a monitor or treatment device configured to, for example, detect hemozoin, as well as to monitor or treat a malarial infection.
US09044140B2

An instrument for photodynamic therapy applies treatment light from a dye laser, white light, and ultraviolet fluorescence excitation light from an LED onto a lesion and surrounding areas in a time-multiplexed manner. The reflected white light is analyzed in a spectrometer to determine a correction for the dynamic optical spectral properties of the patient's tissue. Light emitted by fluorescence from the lesion and the surrounding areas is analyzed in another spectrometer, and the results are corrected in a computer, using the correction. An optical switch has been developed for the instrument, using a bistable solenoid and a sled.
US09044139B2

A flexible tube 10 is constituted of a flexible tube material 14 and a covering layer 15 of two-layers of constitution having an inner layer 17 which covers the entire peripheral surface of the flexible tube material 14 and an outer layer 18 which covers the entire peripheral surface of the inner layer 17. The covering layer 15 is two-layer molded to have the inner layer 17 and the outer layer 18, by supplying two kinds of resins into one molding die at the same time, with being overlapped each other. As resins for molding the inner layer 17 and the outer layer 18, a combination of the soft resin and the hard resin is selected to be in conditions that the difference at the 100% modulus value, which is an index of a hardness after molding, is equal to or more than 10 MPa, and that the difference of the melt viscosity in the molding temperature of 150° C. to 200° C., which is an index of the fluidity in the molten state, is equal to or less than 2500 PaS.
US09044132B2

A fabric steam towel for mounting onto a steam frame of a steam appliance is provided. The pocket includes two complimentary substantially planar layers of fabric joined at their peripheral edge with an open section for mounting onto the steam frame and allowing the open edges to butt against each other. The fabrics are constructed of an outer terry layer and inner material with an upper jersey layer, padding and a lower mesh layer with a 45 degree quilting pattern to improve performance. The fabric is sealed about the frame a first length of a fastener is secured to the inside face along the open edge of one layer with a complimentary length of fastener secured to the inside face of the second layer and extending beyond the edge to allow the open edges of each layer to abut each other and for the fasteners to engage and secure the fabric pocket about the edge of the frame.
US09044129B2

A surface treating appliance includes a surface treating head, a hose, and a main body including a fan unit for generating a flow of fluid, and a rotary changeover valve including a valve member which is selectively rotatable between a first position allowing fluid flow between the hose and the fan unit, and a second position allowing fluid flow between the surface treating head and the fan unit, the valve member comprising a hub having an internal surface shaped to receive a boss about which the valve member is selectively rotatable. To facilitate the breaking of seals by valve member and other parts of the appliance as the valve member moves away from one of its first and second positions, the external surface of the boss and the internal surface of the hub each has a profile generally in the form of a triangular prism, the profile of the external surface of the boss tapering towards the valve member. As a result, the valve member is forced to move along the longitudinal axis of the boss as it is rotated thereabout.
US09044127B2

The subject of the invention is to easily detect whether the dust collection amount is full.The present invention provide a charging-type electric vacuum cleaner comprising: a ventilator for suctioning air containing dust through a suction port; a motor for driving the ventilator; a dust collection section for filtering the suctioned air and capturing the dust; a storage battery; a switching element for connecting the storage battery to the motor; a current detecting section for detecting an electric current Ia flowing to the motor; a warning section for warning when a dust collection amount in a dust collection section is full; and a control section for operating the switching element to drive the motor, and for detecting a terminal voltage Vb of the storage battery and the electric current Ia to operate the warning section when Vb≧V1 and Ia≦I1 (V1 and I1 are preset values) are established.
US09044125B2

A surface treating appliance includes a first cyclonic separating unit including at least one first cyclone, and a second cyclonic separating unit located downstream from the first cyclonic separating unit and including a plurality of second cyclones arranged in parallel. The plurality of second cyclones is divided into at least a first set of second cyclones arranged about an axis, a second set of second cyclones arranged about the axis, and a third set of second cyclones, the first set of second cyclones extending about the second set of second cyclones, and the second set of second cyclones extending about the third set of second cyclones. Each second cyclone has a longitudinal axis, with the respective longitudinal axes of each of the first, second and third set of second cyclones being arranged at different angles to said axis.
US09044119B2

A coffee machine has a single serve function that utilizes a reservoir level sensing mechanism so that a single serve dose of water can be dispensed into the grounds regardless of the water level in the machine's reservoir.
US09044118B2

A brewing unit used in a beverage maker is adapted to make a beverage based on an interaction between a beverage extract and an extracting fluid, and includes a chamber that can receive and accommodate a quantity of beverage extract, a lid that is movable between an open and closed state for opening and closing the chamber, and an outlet for letting out fluid from the chamber. The outlet includes a first outlet passage and restrictor for restricting an outlet flow in the first outlet passage, and a second outlet passage. The brewing unit further includes a controller device for interacting with the lid so as to block the outlet flow to the second outlet passage when the lid is in the closed state and to allow a free outlet flow from the chamber to the second outlet passage when the lid is in the open state.
US09044115B1

A shower curtain enlarger apparatus that includes a flexible rod that is constructed and arranged for positioning between opposed side walls of a shower stall, and a pair of end pieces attached respectively to opposed ends of the flexible rod. The combined length of the flexible rod with the attached end pieces is constructed and arranged to have a length greater than the distance between the opposed side walls of the shower stall. The flexible rod is positioned between the opposed side walls by means of bending the flexible rod to fit between the opposed side walls and with the bending being directed away from the shower stall to enhance an inner use space in the shower stall. Other versions employ a hinge member or a wedge member.
US09044113B2

A container jacket is provided having a perimeter portion, the perimeter portion having a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, a plurality of eyelets formed adjacent the first lateral edge, and a second plurality of eyelets formed adjacent the second lateral edge, the perimeter portion forming an interior volume for receipt of a container therein in a deployed condition of the container jacket, and an interconnecting element. The interconnecting element extends to and between the first plurality of eyelets and the second plurality of eyelets, the interconnecting element being operable to maintain the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge within a predetermined spacing of one another.
US09044106B1

An illustrative embodiment of a storage and retrieval system may include a storage assembly supported by a plurality of frame members. The storage assembly may include a plurality of storage members that may be engaged with one another such that each storage member may selectively move along a predetermined path. The exterior of the storage and retrieval system may include a front exterior panel that may be configured with an access port therein for interacting with items positioned on the storage members. The exterior may also include a first and/or second display, scanner, and one or more door flaps to allow/prevent access to the interior of the storage and retrieval system through the access port.
US09044100B1

A bed frame includes a longitudinal supporting member, a joint arrangement, an upper tubular member having a receiving portion and an upper connecting hole, a lower tubular member having an inserting portion and a lower connecting hole, wherein the inserting portion of the lower tubular member is slidably inserted into the receiving portion of the upper tubular member at a position that the upper and lower connecting holes are coaxially aligned with each other. The joint arrangement includes a frame locker provided at an end of the longitudinal supporting member and an elongated fastener extended through the upper and lower connecting holes to securely fasten with the frame locker so as to securely lock up the upper tubular member, the lower tubular member, and the bed support together.
US09044098B2

An adjustable armrest for a chair is disclosed herein and comprises an assembly of a mounting plate, a mounting base, and two arms. The adjustable armrest's mounting plate is vertically positionable, such that when the mounting plate is depressed, the motion of the mounting plate is restrained relative to the mounting base. Additionally, when the mounting plate is raised vertically, the arms and the mounting plate can be repositioned.
US09044094B2

A chair chassis, comprising a chassis pedestal, a left and a right connecting rod for back, a seat supporting frame, an adjusting handle, the adjusting handle comprises an adjusting screw rod. On the adjusting screw rod exists a locating block for mounting handle and, the first pulling line and the second pulling line are wrapped around it, the two pulling lines are respectively used to lock or unlock the tilting angle of the back and to lock or unlock the position of the supporting frame; the adjusting handle also comprises a block for the pulling line, which is connected with the third pulling line, and the block for the pulling line is connected with the adjusting screw rod and can relatively slide on it. The invention is multi-functioned with the action of only one adjusting handle, and the structure of the invention is compact, and it is convenient to operate.
US09044093B1

A height-adjustable handrest has constituent components describe below. A middle bar element is inserted into a handrest external bar and has an internal space for containing a spring and an inner bar element. The handrest external bar is enclosed by a support unit with an upper end pivotally coupled to a press element. The press element has one end abutting against the inner bar element and has the other end protruding under an upward thrust from the spring. A pin passing through slots formed at the handrest external bar to penetrate oblong holes disposed at the inner bar element and the middle bar element, respectively. When pressed, the press element drives the inner bar element to move downward, thereby moving the pin upward along the inclined oblong hole of the inner bar element, compressing the spring downward, and moving the pin into a longitudinal channel of the handrest external bar.
US09044090B2

A bracket or support member (119.771) including a body (119.770), at least one arm or hook extending away from the body that can be inserted through an aperture (104.704) in a support (104.700), the at least one arm or hook (119.722) including an end portion (119.720) which is adapted to be received into a recess (104.702) on a rear surface of the support (104.700). A support system (FIG. 124) is also disclosed which utilizes the bracket or support member (119.771) in combination with an apertured panel (124.700).
US09044083B2

A toothbrush with a handle having a base and a head and defining a cavity positioned between the base and the head. The toothbrush also includes a plurality of bristles attached to the head of the handle, a green light configured to flash for a first period of time, a yellow light configured to flash for a second period of time, and a red light configured to flash for a third period of time. The toothbrush also includes a switch coupled to the handle for activating the green light, and a circuit for automatically activating the yellow light after expiration of the first period of time and for automatically activating the red light after expiration of the second period of time.
US09044078B2

A cosmetic material application container which can stably and easily draw a cosmetic material line, and is structured to discharge a cosmetic material in a filling region from a pen point portion formed by a soft material. A pen point portion shape is three-dimensionally formed by structuring a flat column body by a flat base end shape and a leading end shape provided closer to a leading end side than the base end shape, setting such an arcuate curve as to incline while heading for a base end side from one intersecting point between an outer edge of the leading end shape and a long axis (L2) and bulge to the leading end side, on a plane including a long axis (L1) and the long axis (L2), and cutting the flat column body by a cut surface passing through the curve.
US09044073B2

A reversible carrying bag that includes fabric panels positioned in overlying relation to one another and stitched along opposing side edges. Flaps formed along the opposing top and bottom edges form passages through which carrying straps may extend. The carrying bag may also include fasteners affixed to the edges of the panels for attaching to a handle.
US09044070B2

A zipper device for repairing and extending the life of a standard zipper used on boat tops, covers and enclosures, or the tops, covers and enclosures on other equipment that use a zipper for fastening and snapping together their openings. The use of the zipper device of the present invention also widens a standard zipper to provide slack to tops, covers and enclosures on boats and other equipment.
US09044067B2

A shoe is provided having a sole that provides excellent shock absorption without reducing support and stability or such a shoe that is generally light in weight. The shoe may have a sole for supporting a foot of a wearer, and a shoe upper adjacent the sole. The sole may include an upper force-distribution plate portion, a lower force-distribution plate portion spaced below the upper plate portion, a lateral shell connecting the upper and lower force-distribution plate portions, and at least one resilient shock-absorber element in contact with and between both the upper and lower plate portions.
US09044066B2

An article of footwear is disclosed that includes an upper that defines an interior void, a sole structure secured to the upper, and a foot-supporting insert that is positionable within a lower area of the void and removable from the void. A system having a protrusion and an indentation may be utilized to, for example, secure the insert within the void. As an example, a protrusion may extend outward from a surface of the void, and the insert may define an indentation in a corresponding location and with a corresponding shape. When the insert is positioned within the void, the protrusion will extend into the indentation. The locations, shapes, numbers and overall configuration of the protrusion and indentation may vary significantly.
US09044061B2

A footwear assembly with integral footbed suspension system is disclosed. A shoe comprises a sole, a blade extending away from the sole, an Energy Return System (ERS) connected to the blade, an upper, and a cradle coupled to the upper and coupled to the ERS via a plurality of ties, wherein the ERS is intermediate the cradle and the blade. The ERS is configured to resiliently deform under pressure from the foot while the foot is substantially suspended via the cradle relative to the sole. A plurality of sensors are configured to detect relative movement between components of the shoe and to transmit data to a chip positioned in the shoe. The data can be used for gait and performance analysis.
US09044052B2

The invention generally relates to a unitary garment comprising a top bodice element having an elastic waistband, secured to a bottom trouser element having an elastic waistband. The two separate waistbands extend around the lower periphery of the top bodice element, and the other waistband extending around the upper periphery of the bottom element. The waistbands are aligned, contiguously front to back with respect to each other and are secured to each other in their contiguous state by any suitable means. The top bodice element contains means in the front or the back of the garment to allow the wearer an open through which to don the garment and it has excess fabric material neck to waist to provide a blouson effect.
US09044046B2

A combined citrus press and zester. The citrus press is of a known type, and includes an upper handle and a lower handle joined at a forward pivot point. The lower handle includes a cup sized to receive a halved citrus fruit, such as a lemon or lime. The upper handle includes a male die which mates with said cup to compress and thus juice the halved fruit. To save material and weight, the male die is formed as relatively constant thickness, which results in a depression on the opposite, outer side of the upper handle. The citrus zester includes a body with a grating blade received or formed therein. The inner side of the body has a collar extending therefrom and surrounding the blade. This collar is sized to be received within the depression formed in the upper handle of the citrus press. The collar may be sized and formed such that the zester may be selectively mounted to the press.
US09044041B2

Systems and methods provide sugar alcohol to heat stressed ruminants to improve performance. During periods of high temperature or humidity, heat stressed ruminants may exhibit decreased dry matter intake, and in response, an effective amount of sugar alcohol such as sorbitol may be provided in the ruminant diet to cause performance to increase, which may include increased milk yield, improved feed efficiency or both compared to heat stressed dairy cattle without sugar alcohol in the diet.
US09044038B2

The present invention provides a technique for improving the sweetness of stevia extract. A composition having an excellent sweetness quality can be obtained by combining rebaudioside A, which is a main sweetness component of stevia extract, with mogroside V, which is a main sweetness component of siraitia grosvenorii extract, at a weight ratio of 95:5 to 60:40. By using the mixture described above as a sweetener, favorable sweetness can be imparted to various products, such as foods, medicines or quasi drugs.
US09044037B2

The present disclosure provides apparatuses and methods for non-contact printing on comestible products. The apparatus includes an extruder for extruding a slab of an edible substrate and a non-contact printing device for printing an edible ink on the slab. The apparatus provides versatility as the printing device may be placed anywhere along the apparatus. The printing device may be positioned along the apparatus as desired to operate in cooperation with other components of the apparatus.
US09044032B2

Conveyor for moving and positioning objects along a conveyor path, the conveyor including: a conveyor rail extending through a predefined conveying path; at least one carriage having a rotatable article support; and a turning block associated with the rotatable article support, to allow rotatable movement of the article support relative to the at least one carriage, wherein the conveyor further includes an aligning station for rotating the article support into a predetermined position, wherein the turning block has first disk with a first perimeter contour and a second disk with a second perimeter contour, and wherein the alignment station has means for engaging the second disk for rotatingly aligning the article support into the predetermined position.
US09044024B2

There is provided an oven having an oven door assembly connected to a housing. The housing surrounds an oven interior and has an opening into the oven interior. The door assembly has an oven access door that covers the opening in the housing in a closed position. The oven access door moves in a first direction from a closed position to an open position uncovering the opening into the oven interior. The oven has a depth in the closed position. The oven access door moves in the first direction from the closed position to the open position within substantially the same depth of the oven in the closed position.
US09044019B2

Compositions and methods for modulating flowering, sugar metabolism and stress response in plants are provided.
US09044008B2

A paraffinic spray oil and a method of using the spray oil for controlling turfgrass pests is disclosed. The spray oil comprises paraffinic oil and a quick break emulsifier, which is formulated as an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion for use. The paraffinic oil and emulsifier are present in a weight ratio ranging from about 95:5 to about 99.95:0.05, and preferably from about 98.5:1.5 to about 99.9:0.1. When applied to turfgrass, the O/W emulsion quickly releases the oil phase upon application to the turfgrass to contact pests thereon. When provided at sufficient paraffinic oil dosages, generally at least about 0.5 gal oil/acre and preferably in the range of about 0.5 gal/acre to about 60 gal/acre, the spray oil is effective in controlling a variety of turfgrass pests, particularly insect and fungal pests, with little or no phytotoxic effects. Further, use of the spray oil as indicated for controlling turfgrass pests also enhances the growth of turfgrass.
US09044006B1

A game decoy component includes a support member, an anchor, a bearing member, a carrier member, and a flexible member. The support member includes distal and proximal ends. The anchor is connected to the proximal end of the support member. The bearing member is positioned at the distal end of the support member. The carrier member is slidably supported on the support member and configured for attachment to a portion of a game decoy. The flexible member has a first end connected to the carrier member and an opposing second end positioned remote from the carrier member. The flexible member is supported on the bearing member. Applying tension in the flexible member moves the carrier member along the support member to move the portion of the game decoy relative to the support member.
US09044001B2

The presently disclosed subject matter provides an apparatus for trapping insects for purposes of monitoring insect load and in some cases studying the captured insects, and methods for using the same. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to an apparatus for trapping insects once they emerge from the soil, such as corn rootworm beetles and related insects, and methods for assembling and using the same. The apparatus comprises a frame having an open bottom and a removable top panel having at least one plant slot configured to receive a plant and a capture chamber opening configured to receive a capture chamber; a flexible sealing structure configured to seal the plant slot on the top panel; and a securing mechanism configured to secure the flexible sealing structure such that a seal is created about the plant to prevent the egress of the insects about the plant.
US09044000B1

A spinning device for covering and maintaining the front face of a bait fish resulting in greater utility, ease of use and bait durability. The device comprises a cup having a planar face and cylindrical wall adapted to extend rearward along the sides of the bait fish when the inside surface mates a “plug-cut” bait fish frontal face. The device has compound angled surfaces, a planar surface between multiple apertures enabling secure spin options and stability due to deep cup depth seating as well as enlarged flange apertures capable of accepting a standard toothpick. A trio of spaced apart apertures are formed in the device's frontal face allowing for a fishing leader terminating in one or more hooks extending through the device into the bait fish's body. The rotational spin rate of the device is determined by which of the three apertures the leader passes.
US09043998B2

An improved portable aquarium filter structure has a box body, wherein its inside has a submersible pump externally connected to an air pipe. Air enters the submersible pump through the air pipe to mix with water flow pumped by the submersible pump so as to produce bubbles. Accordingly, water flow can be treated with bubble removing and purification. A bubble collection box is disposed on the box body to collect filth that is treated with bubble removing, wherein an opening is disposed on the bubble collection box. A converged taper section is disposed at the opening wall of the opening extended toward the box body therein. The filth is decomposed to produce carbon dioxide and acid gas by a protein decomposition unit disposed in the bubble collection box to attract mosquitoes entering the Trap through the tapered opening so as to achieve a goal of catching mosquitoes.
US09043994B2

The present invention relates to vectors, compositions and methods for conditional, Cre-lox regulated, RNA interference. The vectors allow for spatial and temporal control of miRNA expression in vivo.
US09043992B2

This document describes a method and system for object localization. In accordance with the method an object (1) is illuminated by at least one first type of signal, and response of the signal is detected. In accordance with the invention the object (1) equipped with a transponder (2, 3) backscattering the first type of signal, the transponder (2, 3) is illuminated also by a second type of signal affecting to the backscattering frequency of the transponder (2, 3), and the backscattered signal from the transponder (2, 3) is detected in order to localize the object.
US09043981B1

A novel sorghum variety designated PHOKOVVKE and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a plant that comprise crossing sorghum variety PHOKOVVKE with another plant. Methods for producing a plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHOKOVVKE through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the sorghum seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid sorghum seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the sorghum variety PHOKOVVKE or a locus conversion of PHOKOVVKE with another sorghum variety.
US09043972B1

A novel maize variety designated PHVBS and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHVBS with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHVBS through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHVBS or a locus conversion of PHVBS with another maize variety.
US09043967B2

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1037446. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1037446. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1037446 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1037446 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US09043965B1

Disclosed is the seed of a novel soybean variety, designated 20885R2Y, a sample of which is deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-121078. Also disclosed are plants, or parts thereof, grown from the seed of the variety, plants having the morphological and physiological characteristics of the 20885R2Y variety, and methods of using the plant or parts thereof in a soybean breeding program.
US09043956B2

A method for operating an agricultural working machine that is configured with working assemblies, a control/regulating unit having a display unit and at least one interface for communication in order to control and/or regulate the working assemblies. In the method, an emotional state of an operator is recognized during an interaction with the working machine via the at least one interface and the operating mode of the working machine is adapted to the emotional state of the operator.
US09043951B2

A system for creating an agricultural tramline, comprising an agricultural planter, an application executing on a computer terminal, one or more seeding units mounted on the planter, a location sensor, and a planter control system, whereby an operator can use the application to create a file specifying the location of a desired agricultural tramline on a plot of land, which is downloaded from the computer terminal to the planter control system, and where the planter control system uses the location of the desired agricultural tramline and location information from the location sensor to enable and disable the plurality of seeding units, such that the area of land corresponding to the desired agricultural tramline is not planted with seed.
US09049803B2

The present invention attempts to reduce the thermal resistance with the use of heat-transfer devices (e.g., vapor chambers) placed directly on the heat-generating components in IT equipment and the integration of a cold plate within the cabinet. In some embodiments, the present invention is a thermal management system comprising a cabinet-side thermal management system and a server-side thermal management system using moveable thermal components.
US09049795B2

Provided is a rolled copper or copper-alloy foil having a roughened surface, the rolled copper or copper-alloy foil subjected to roughening treatment with copper fine grains wherein a copper base plating layer is provided between the copper roughened layer and the rolled copper or copper-alloy foil. An object of the present invention is to provide a roughened rolled copper-alloy foil having fewer craters, the presence of which is a serious disadvantage unique to a rolled copper-alloy foil having a roughened surface. In particular, provided is a rolled copper or copper-alloy foil in which the development of craters caused by inclusions present in or near a surface of the base material can be controlled.
US09049794B2

A wiring substrate includes an insulation layer including a thermosetting resin and a reinforcement member having plural first fiber bundles and plural second fiber bundles woven together, the second fiber bundles being intersected with the first fiber bundles, and a pair of differential wirings arranged alongside each other on the insulation layer. The first fiber bundles and the second fiber bundles have a curved portion relative to a plan direction of the insulation layer in a region on which the pair of differential wirings is arranged.
US09049792B2

A protection cover and a portable apparatus including the same are provided. The protection cover includes a front cover, a rear cover, and a coupling member. The front cover is mountable on the portable apparatus and covers a screen of the portable apparatus. The coupling member is formed of a flexible material such that the front cover is pivotable between and open and a closed position. The rear cover is mounted on the backside of the portable apparatus to serve as a rear case of the portable apparatus. The coupling member is integrally coupled with the front cover and separably coupled with the rear cover. According to the above structure, the protection cover can minimize the total volume and dimensions of the portable apparatus after it is mounted.
US09049791B2

A method of attaching a chip to the substrate with an outer layer consisting of via pillars embedded in a dielectric such as solder mask, with ends of the via pillars flush with said dielectric, the method consisting of optionally removing an organic varnish, positioning a chip having legs terminated with solder bumps in contact with exposed ends of the via pillars, and applying heat to melt the solder bumps and to wet the ends of the vias with solder.
US09049779B2

An electrical component includes a substrate having a circuit area and a sacrificial area. A lift-off layer is deposited on the substrate in the sacrificial area. A seed layer is deposited on the substrate in the circuit area and on the lift-off layer in the sacrificial area. A plating layer is electrodeposited on the seed layer. The plating layer forms a circuit in the circuit area. The plating layer forms plating electrodes in the sacrificial area. The lift-off layer is removable from the substrate. The seed layer and the plating layer on the lift-off layer are removed with the lift-off layer when the lift-off layer is removed from the substrate, leaving the circuit on the substrate. The lift-off layer may be dissolved after the plating layer is formed, where the plating layer deposited on the lift-off layer is removed as the lift-off layer is dissolved.
US09049771B2

Disclosed is a charge-transporting material comprising a heteropoly acid compound such as phosphomolybdic acid as a charge-transporting substance. Also disclosed is a charge-transporting varnish comprising the charge-transporting material and an organic solvent, wherein the charge-transporting substance is dissolved in the organic solvent. It becomes possible to provide a charge-transporting material which comprises a substance having high solubility in an organic solvent, charge-transporting properties, and an ability to oxidize hole transport materials, and a charge-transporting varnish comprising the charge-transporting material.
US09049760B2

A PFC LED driver having a flicker control mechanism, including: a bridge rectifier, used to generate a full-wave-rectified line input voltage according to an AC power; a single stage PFC constant average current converter, coupled with the bridge rectifier and used for forcing an input current to track the full-wave-rectified line input voltage and regulating an average value of an output current at a first preset value; and a current ripple reducing unit, in series with an LED module to form a load for the output current to flow through, wherein the current ripple reducing unit has a negative feedback control mechanism for forcing a peak of the output current approach an average value of the output current.
US09049756B2

Multiple control modules (14, 16, 18) provide various power control functions including occupancy sensing, ambient light level sensing, manual touch switch (push button) preset stations, light dimming and power control relay switching. The control modules (14, 16, 18) are interconnected in a conventional four-wire local area network for executing different power control functions in response to remote wireless commands as well as preset manual switch commands at the wall box level. The local area network (12) supplies DC operating power and communicates programming command and control module status information signals to all network control modules (14, 16, 18). One or more control modules (14, 16, 18) include an infrared signal sensor, a laser signal sensor, a signal decoder, a data microcontroller, a parameter lookup table and multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs). The LED diodes are used individually or in combination, in one or more colors and blink rate, to indicate the programming mode, or provide sensor feedback, or indicate device status, according to information contained in a command signal transmitted by a remote programming unit (58).
US09049750B2

A honeycomb structure body is comprised of a honeycomb body, a pair of electrodes, a pair of electrode terminals and one or more slit sections. The honeycomb body is comprised of a cell formation section and an outer skin section. The outer skin section has a cylindrical shape and covers the cell formation section. The electrodes are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the outer skin section so that the electrodes face with to each other in a radial direction of the honeycomb structure body. Each electrode terminal is formed in an electrode terminal formation section on the corresponding electrode. One or more the slit sections are formed in at least one of an electrode terminal formation section and a circumferential outside section of the electrode terminal formation section.
US09049746B2

Devices and methods are disclosed for concurrently managing multimode communications devices. In various embodiments, a wireless communication device comprises a first radio configured to use a first Radio Access Technology (RAT) and a second radio configured to use a second RAT. Processing logic in the wireless device is configured to monitor and manage the state machines of said first and second radios. The processing logic is further configured to place the first radio in an active operational mode and to place the second radio in a reduced functionality operational mode. Control messages for the second radio are then received and processed via the first radio while the second radio is in the reduced functionality operative mode.
US09049744B2

There is a method including receiving information from a relay node associated with a first node. The information includes an indication of at least one second node. The method also includes determining parameter information of the at least one second node on the basis of the indication.
US09049743B1

A method and apparatus in which multiple Internet Protocol (IP) based wireless data transmissions are simultaneously provided between a wireless device and a server, including providing multiple antennas, multiple T/R units, multiple processors and multiple I/O ports on the wireless device. The method includes receiving multiple IP data packets on the I/O ports at substantially the same time, and sending multiple data packets from the wireless device to the server, whereby the transmission rate between the wireless device and the server is increased.
US09049734B2

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, an apparatus, and a system for resource immediate assignment, which includes: constructing an immediate assignment message according to channel request messages of at least two terminals, where the immediate assignment message assigns a channel resource for the at least two terminals according to the channel request messages of the at least two terminals; and sending the immediate assignment message out. By implementing the embodiments of the present invention, in a case that a valid byte of an immediate assignment message is unchanged, one immediate assignment message can assign a packet resource for at least two terminals, thereby satisfying an access requirement of more terminals.
US09049732B2

A terminal (10) includes elements for transmitting data towards a station (20) in the form of radio signals, the radio signals being transmitted using a frequency resource (MC) shared between a plurality of terminals (10), characterized in that the terminal is configured to emit radio signals, the instantaneous frequency spectrum of which has a bandwidth (TOB) that is significantly lower than a frequency drift of a frequency synthesis unit of the terminal. Also disclosed are a method for using a frequency resource, a method for manufacturing terminals (10) and a telecommunication system (1).
US09049730B2

Systems and methods providing uplink coordinated multi-point (CoMP) communication are shown. A second cell may identify at least one first UE communicating with a first cell and capable of causing high uplink interference to the second cell. The second cell may estimate uplink interference from the at least one first UE at the second cell. The second cell may estimate uplink interference on specific resources. For example, the second cell may determine resources assigned to the at least one first UE for data transmission to the first cell (e.g., using pre-scheduling information provided by the first cell) and estimate uplink interference from the at least one first UE on the resources assigned to the at least one first UE. The second cell may schedule at least one second UE for uplink data transmission to the second cell based on the estimated uplink interference from the at least one first UE.
US09049717B2

A system, method, and computer readable medium for terminating a call in a network system are provided. A femtocell system receives a notification to terminate a call that includes a user equipment serviced by the femtocell system. The femtocell system conveys a clear command to a base transceiver station of the femtocell system, transmits a release message to the user equipment, receives a clear completion message, and deletes a connection allocated for the call.
US09049715B2

Disclosed is a method for a femtocell to reduce interference with an overlapping macrocell. The femtocell determines soft-frequency-reuse (“SFR”) information of the macrocell. From that information, the femtocell determines which frequency sub-channels are assigned by the macrocell for its cell-center users and which frequency sub-channels are assigned for cell-edge users. (Cell-edge users are given a higher transmission power profile in order to overcome potential interference with neighboring macrocells.) Then, the femtocell selects from the cell-center user frequency sub-channels for transmission to the femtocell's users. By transmitting on the cell-center user frequency sub-channels, the femtocell reduces interference with the overlapping macrocell. The femtocell continues to update its knowledge of the macrocell's SFR information and re-assigns frequency sub-channels as the SFR changes. If the macrocell detects that one of its cell-center users is “close enough” to the femtocell, then the macrocell re-assigns the cell-center user as a cell-edge user to overcome interference.
US09049698B2

An enhanced connection recovery upon lost RRC connection due to radio link failure (RLF) or handover failure (HOF) is proposed. A UE first establishes an RRC connection in a source cell in a mobile communication network. Later on, the UE detects a failure event and starts an RRC reestablishment procedure in a target cell to restore the RRC connection. In a first novel aspect, a fast RLF process is applied to reduce the outage time in the serving cell. In a second novel aspect, an enhanced cell selection mechanism based on cell prioritization information is applied to reduce the outage time in the target cell. In one embodiment, multi-RAT registration is used to steer cell selection.
US09049690B2

A communication system includes a call control server that receives a call request containing preference information of the outgoing call side, calls the incoming call side and transmits call request reception information containing information indicating that the call request has been received and the preference information to a message transmission server in order to convey the received call request to the incoming call side. The message transmission server receives the call request reception information transmitted from the call control server and transmits an activation message for activating communication with the outgoing call side containing the preference information contained in the call request reception information, based on the received call request reception information, to the incoming call side.
US09049689B2

A radio communication network (1) comprises at least a radio base station (10) serving an active cell (15) and a radio base station (20, 30, 40) having a passive cell (25, 35, 45) and does not transmit any cell-defining information for the passive cell (25, 35, 45). User equipment (100) receives random access enabling information applicable to the passive cell (25, 35, 45) from the radio base station (10) serving the active cell (15). The user equipment (100) uses this information for compiling and transmitting a random access to the radio base station (20, 30, 40) of the passive cell (25, 35, 45). Upon reception of the random access, the radio base station (20, 30, 40) activates its passive cell (25, 35, 45) and starts transmission of cell-defining information for the now activated cell (25, 35, 45) to assist user equipment (10) in finding the cell (25, 35, 45) for radio communication service.
US09049687B2

A method for a base station to provide a multicast and/or broadcast service (MBS) in a communication system. The method includes: transmitting system information on a system control information block (SCIB); transmitting MBS control information that is changed with relatively high frequency on a secondary multicast/broadcast control information block (S-MCIB); and transmitting MBS content data based on the MBS control information.
US09049685B2

Methods and apparatuses for capillary network device registration implemented in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) are disclosed. Registration or bootstrap messages may be received by a capillary network device where the WTRU acts as a gateway for communication between the capillary device and a network such as a 3GPP network. A capillary network device identifier (CNDID) is sent to the capillary device. A packet data protocol (PDP) context or PDN connection may be established with the network and the CNDID may be sent to a machine type communications (MTC) server. The WTRU may create the registration message, establish a connection with the network, and forward the registration message to the MTC server. Methods and apparatuses implemented in a network are also disclosed for identifying, addressing, and triggering the capillary devices from the MTC server. The trigger message may include fields for group communication, reducing signaling, and enabling charging.
US09049683B2

A method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for registration of a mobile communication device include receiving a tracking area update request from the mobile communication device. Determining if the mobile communication device is categorized as moving or stationary. Categorizing the mobile communication list as one of moving or stationary based on the tracking area update request. Transmitting a tracking area list and a timer value to the mobile communications device based on the categorizing of the mobile communication device and the tracking area update request. The tracking area list and timer value can also be based on other factors.
US09049679B2

Disclosed herein are a location measurement method and apparatus. The apparatus includes a first grading unit, a first presumed line calculation unit, a second grading unit, a second presumed lined calculating unit, a presumed location calculation unit, and a final location calculation unit. The first grading unit determines the grade of a first RSSI. The first presumed line calculation unit calculates the range of the object from a first node based on the grade of the first RSSI. The second grading unit determines the grade of a second RSSI. The second presumed line calculating unit calculates the range of the object from a second node based on the grade of the second RSSI. The presumed location calculation unit calculates two presumed locations. The final location calculation unit determines one of the two presumed locations to be the final location of the object.
US09049674B2

A wireless communication system and a method for detecting downlink receiving power in the system are disclosed. N cells in the system respectively transmit data to at least one receiving terminal via N resource blocks using the same time-frequency resources; multiple channel state information reference signals (CSI-RSs) of a corresponding cell are set in each resource block, and orthogonality is maintained among the CSI-RSs of all the cells, wherein N is an integer greater than 1. Said method includes: an additional demodulation reference signal (DM-RS) used for indicating a receiving power is set in a puncture position in the resource block of the first cell which corresponds to a CSI-RS set in a resource block of another cell; and the receiving power of said first cell is detected according to said additional DM-RS. By using said method, the receiving power of a single cell in N cells can be detected, and the system overhead is not increased.
US09049668B2

A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus obtains at least one of a pathloss measurement to a base station or a maximum tolerable interference to the base station, determines a maximum transmission power for an access link to a user equipment (UE) based on the at least one of the pathloss measurement or the maximum tolerable interference to the base station, and communicates on the access link to the UE at a transmission power less than the determined maximum transmission power.
US09049663B2

In a particular embodiment, an apparatus includes a first sensor that has an active mode and a dormant mode. When operating in the active mode, the first sensor has a first power consumption level. The apparatus further includes a second sensor that has a second power consumption level that is less than the first power consumption level (i.e., the power consumption level of the first sensor). The second sensor is deactivated when the first sensor is operating in the active mode. The apparatus includes logic to activate the second sensor when the first sensor transitions from the active mode to the dormant mode.
US09049661B2

Certain aspects of the present disclosure may help reduce power consumption by allowing a UE to remain in a low power state by not attempting to decode ACK/NACK transmissions after receiving a positive acknowledgement (ACK).
US09049659B2

A method and apparatus minimize current consumption related to accessing a local network in a multi-mode mobile terminal. Current location information of the multi-mode mobile terminal is checked through a first communication module. A second communication module for a local network is turned-on when the current location information of the multi-mode mobile terminal corresponds to stored location information. And the second communication module is turned-off when a connection to the local network is interrupted and the current location information of the multi-mode mobile terminal does not correspond to the stored location information.
US09049653B2

In one embodiment of the invention, a method for wireless communication includes receiving a packet destined to a destination node at a first egress router. The destination node is supported by a second egress router. A destination address of the packet is the first egress router. The received packet is redirected to the second egress router.
US09049652B2

Aspects of a method and system for controlling access and utilization of femtocells via a network based service are provided. In this regard, a femtocell management entity communicatively coupled to a network and operable to manage one or more femtocells may be accessed via an end-user communication device. In this manner, the femtocell(s) may be managed via the end-user device such as one of the cellular enabled communication devices. The femtocell management entity may enable establishing one or more SLAs between the femtocell(s) and the cellular enabled communication device(s). The SLA(s) may enable the cellular enabled communication device(s) to establish one or more cellular communication channels with the femtocell(s). The SLA(s) may determine when the cellular communication channels may be established. The SLA(s) may determine how a femtocell owner/operator may be compensated for providing cellular service. The femtocell(s) may be accessed utilizing Internet Protocol.
US09049638B2

A method of operation of a mobile communication system includes: receiving a base carrier frequency signal from a cell tower location; generating a power spectral density from the base carrier frequency signal; measuring a Rician K factor from the power spectral density; estimating a line-of-sight Doppler frequency based on the base carrier frequency signal; determining the cell tower location based on the Rician K factor; and activating a handover decision handler based on the cell tower location.
US09049622B1

Methods and corresponding systems are provided for limiting mobile station operation when multiple mobile stations are moving together in a group. Such group movement includes but is not limited to movement in a vehicle. According to disclosed methods, a determination is made that multiple mobile stations are moving substantially together, and in response to the determination, operation of one or more of the mobile stations is limited.
US09049606B2

A self-diagnosis circuit is coupled to a signal transmission path between a high-frequency signal input part and an output part and is configured to diagnose a high-frequency circuit using a signal that propagates along the signal transmission path. The self-diagnosis circuit includes a detector configured to detect the high-frequency signal propagating along the signal transmission path from the output part toward the input part; and a diagnosis unit that diagnoses for an abnormality in the follower stage of the high-frequency circuit disposed between a coupling part of the self-diagnosis circuit with respect to the signal transmission path and the output part, in accordance with the detection result of the detector.
US09049599B2

An information processing apparatus capable of effectively preventing an unauthorized access in a manner cooperatively associated with a predetermined security setting of a wireless communication. An information processing apparatus is capable of wireless communication with an external apparatus, receives a job request therefrom, and executes job processing according to the job request. A CPU sets a management setting for managing users who use the information processing apparatus. The CPU receives the job request from the external apparatus via a wireless LAN interface. The CPU determines, when the job request is received, whether or not the wireless communication has been set to a predetermined security setting, and performs control, when it is determined that the wireless communication has not been set to the predetermined security setting, so as to refuse to accept the job request, unless the management setting has been set.
US09049598B2

Methods, devices, and systems are disclosed for altering a mobile electronic device's screen timeout based on a strength of ambient wireless signals. A ringtone can be altered in addition to the password timeout time. Signals may be recognized or unknown and the time out can be adjusted based on the determined risk associated with the signals.
US09049592B2

Key derivation procedures and key hierarchies compatible with the mesh link establishment protocol for use in a mesh network. A single cryptographic primitive may be utilized, which is a key derivation function, denoted as kdfK, where K is a cached pairwise master key. The result of the function kdfK may be used to derive the keys used to secure both link establishment and the data subsequently exchanged over the link.
US09049590B1

In a communication system, a control server determines a first quota for a rating group to grant communication usage on a per-user basis and indicates the first quota to a network element. The network element grants communication usage to the users in the rating group based on the first quota. A user communication device receives a user input indicating a user priority and transfers the user priority to the network element. The network element transfers the user priority to the control server. The control server processes the user priority to determine a second quota for the rating group. The network element receives the second quota and grants subsequent communication usage to the users in the rating group based on the second quota.
US09049586B2

When a call is placed within a femtocell area of coverage, the location of the femtocell is used as the location of the mobile device. The location of the femtocell is stored in the network, and if the call is placed through the femtocell, the location of the femtocell is used to determine the location of the mobile device.
US09049583B2

A mobile device identifies whether potentially distracting applications are running on the mobile device as well as the activity of the user, via at least one sensor on the mobile device. If it is determined that at least one potentially distracting application is running and the user is engaged in an activity that may become dangerous due to use of the at least one potentially distracting application, a warning is provided on a user output of the mobile device when the mobile device is within a predetermined time and/or distance of an identified hazard.
US09049572B2

A mobile device periodically polls a network server via a communications network to obtain new communications addressed to a client account according to a polling schedule. The mobile device receives an indication of a threshold change of one or more of ambient light, temperature, or proximity of an object to the mobile device via an optical sensor of the mobile device, or an indication of motion of the mobile device via a motion sensor of the mobile device. The polling schedule is advanced responsive to the indication of the threshold change of ambient light, temperature, or proximity, or the indication of motion. The mobile device outputs a notification that new communications have been received by the mobile device from the network server.
US09049564B2

A vehicle may include a vehicle broadcasting system for providing occupant interaction between one or more vehicle occupants. The on-board device may receive communications from occupants in the vehicle or from a different vehicle within a predetermined communication range. Vehicle occupants may send communications to the on-board device through a communication device, e.g., a cell phone, or through a user interface in the vehicle. The vehicle broadcasting system may implement any number of interaction functionalities, such as supporting a conversation between vehicle occupants, interactive video, game, quiz, karaoke, or other occupant interactions.
US09049560B2

Examples disclosed herein may relate to transmitting almanac information associated with a subset of wireless transmitters to a mobile station. The subset of wireless transmitters may be determined, at least in part, by determining expected contributions of one or more wireless transmitters to a future navigation operation for the mobile station.
US09049542B1

A system, method and computer readable medium for targeting messages delivered by wireless communication comprising determining at least one target space within at least one wireless communications network, determining a notification list comprising at least one recipient in said at least one target space, determining at least one notification message, and transmitting said at least one notification message through said at least one wireless communications network to at least one recipient on said notification list.
US09049538B2

A mobile communication device configured for Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications is provided. In the mobile communication device, a wireless module performs wireless transmissions and receptions to and from a service network, and a controller module receives a message with a Slot Cycle Index (SCI) only for the M2M communications from the service network via the wireless module and instructs the wireless module to monitor a paging channel according to the SCI only for the M2M communications.
US09049537B2

Pairing among computing devices is achieved without any of the device entering discoverable mode. An inquiring device obtains a list of MAC addresses and transmits connection requests using the MAC addresses. Any device within reception distance that has the same MAC address would respond to the request. Upon receiving the response, the two devices would pair up. A beacon may be used to store MAC addresses and related data. Computing devices may send inquiries to the beacon and receive in return MAC addresses corresponding to the inquiry. The devices may then transmit pairing requests using these MAC addresses.
US09049536B2

A method and apparatus for efficiently allocating resources to a terminal in a random access system are provided. A method for transmitting an abnormal power down report from a Machine to Machine (M2M) device in a wireless communication system may include transmitting the abnormal power down report to a base station using uplink resources that have already been allocated to the M2M device and starting a first timer for confirmation of the transmitted abnormal power down report.
US09049534B2

An audio system for a vehicle includes a directional loudspeaker that is mounted to a vehicle seat. The directional loudspeaker radiates a first channel audio signal so that the direction toward an intended location of a first ear position of an occupant of the vehicle seat is a high radiation direction and radiates a second channel audio signal so that the direction toward an intended location of a second ear position of the occupant of the vehicle seat is a high radiation direction. A forward mounted loudspeaker radiates at least one of the first channel audio signal and the second channel audio signal. Signal processing circuitry modifies (e.g., delays) the first channel audio signal to at least one of the directional loudspeaker and the forward mounted loudspeaker to cause one of those speakers to dominate spatial perception.
US09049533B2

A method is provided for optimizing acoustic localization at one or more listening positions in a listening environment such as, but not limited to, a vehicle passenger compartment. The method includes generating a sound field with a group of loudspeakers assigned to at least one of the listening positions, the group of loudspeakers including first and second loudspeakers, where each loudspeaker is connected to a respective audio channel; calculating filter coefficients for a phase equalization filter; configuring a phase response for the phase equalization filter such that binaural phase difference (Δφmn) at the at least one of the listening positions or a mean binaural phase difference (mΔφmn) averaged over the listening positions is reduced in a predefined frequency range; and filtering the audio channel connected to the second loudspeaker with the phase equalization filter.
US09049529B2

A field ready, unsupervised-use ready, method and apparatus for audio fitting a hearing aid is described in a hand held configuration having paired comparisons (hearing selections) stored in and derivable from a memory therein. The paired comparisons are presented one at a time to a user and a preferred selection for each paired comparison is made by a select indicator after the user toggles back and forth between the selections for as many times necessary in determining their preferences. A genetic algorithm converges all the preferences upon a single solution. Crossover and mutation genetic algorithm operators operate on a linear range of indexes representative of parametric values of the pairs. A fully integrated hearing aid having all the above described features incorporated therein is also presented.
US09049521B2

A magnetic circuit includes a magnet, a first plate, and a yoke, and has a magnetic gap. The first plate and the yoke are joined to the magnet. The magnet includes first and second magnet parts. The second magnet part has a lower magnetic property than that of the first magnet part. Such a first magnet part is disposed in a vicinity of the magnetic gap. On the other hand, the second magnet part is disposed farther from the magnetic gap than the first magnet part. The first and second magnet parts are connected in parallel to each other. With this configuration, the second magnet part makes a small contribution to the magnetic flux density in the magnetic gap. Therefore, the magnetic property of the second magnet part may be low, and an inexpensive magnet can be used as the second magnet part.
US09049511B2

A diaphragm is disclosed in the present disclosure. The diaphragm includes a middle layer, a first and a second adhesive layer attached on two side surfaces of the middle layer respectively, and a first layer adhered to the middle layer by the first adhesive layer and a second layer adhered to the middle layer by the second adhesive layer. The first adhesive layer is made of acrylic adhesive and the second adhesive layer is made of silica gel. A speaker using the diaphragm described above is also disclosed. The diaphragm can be used in a relatively wide temperature range and has a strong adaptability to the environment.
US09049510B2

The method for checking loudspeakers comprises the steps of emitting a pulse over an electrical connection with the loudspeaker; measuring the electrical resistance over the connection; determining the state of the loudspeaker according to the measured resistance; and triggering a corrective action depending on the determined state of the loudspeaker. The claimed method further comprises the steps of associating a plurality of amplification systems to different subsets of the plurality of loudspeakers; assigning different signals to be emitted by different loudspeakers for each of a plurality of control signals; and storing parameters representing the signals to be emitted in each amplification system. When a control signal common to the different amplification systems is received, the amplification systems cause the loudspeakers to emit the different signals and the corrective action comprises memorizing the parameters representing the status of the loudspeaker.
US09049506B2

A micro-speaker includes a yoke, a magnet assembly attached to the yoke, a voice coil, and a diaphragm connected with the voice coil. The yoke defines a bottom wall, and a number of sidewalls extending upwards from the bottom wall. The magnet assembly includes a main magnet positioned on the bottom wall, and a number of secondary magnets positioned on tops of the sidewalls.
US09049501B2

An electrical apparatus to sense current through a load includes a first input terminal having a first input voltage relative to a reference, a second input terminal having a second input voltage relative to the reference, a first load terminal of the load having a first load voltage relative to the reference, a second load terminal of the load having a second load voltage relative to the reference, a first current sensing element connected between the first input terminal and the first load terminal and a second current sensing element connected between the second input terminal and the second load terminal. A first sense voltage is determined by a relationship between the first input voltage and the second load voltage and a second sense voltage is determined by a relationship between the second input voltage and the first load voltage.
US09049499B2

A communication network device and corresponding patch field system are disclosed. The device includes a port module, ports, and an appliqué attached to a face of the port module. The appliqué includes a printed circuit board (PCB) with conductive pads. A patch cord connects the device with an intelligent patch panel. The patch cord contains at least one system wire. The patch panel is adapted to measure a resistance associated with each port via the system wire. An open circuit indicates that no patch cord is attached to the port, a resistance within a first range indicates that the patch cord is attached only to the port of the intelligent patch panel, and a resistance within a second range less than the first range indicates that the patch cord connects the intelligent patch panel and the device.
US09049496B2

A server machine and a first device (e.g., a television) are configured to access a stream of media (e.g., a broadcast channel) from a media source (e.g., a broadcaster). The server machine generates a representation (e.g., a fingerprint) of the stream of media and stores the representation. The first device plays the stream of media (e.g., for a user) and generates an analog signal based on the stream of media. A second device (e.g., a mobile device of the user) is configured to receive the analog signal and generate a representation of the analog signal. The second device provides the representation of the analog signal to the server machine, which may compare the representation of the stream of media to the representation of the analog signal. Based on the comparison, the server machine may provide an identifier of the media source to the second device.
US09049494B2

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for performing an action during playback based on a media manifest file. A system, such as a media player, configured to practice the method receives a media manifest, extracts, from the media manifest, a list of media chunks and at least one tag associated with the list of media chunks. The list of media chunks can describe two or more separate media assets. Then the system parses the at least one tag to identify an action to perform during playback and a playback position to perform the action. The system retrieves, for playback, at least one media chunk associated with the playback position from the list of media chunks, and, during playback of the at least one media chunk and at the playback position, performs the action. Modifying the media playback control can include temporarily disabling a media playback control.
US09049488B2

Methods to present video and purchasing function content embedded in the video in a single user interface. The user interface may be configured to allow the user watching the video to take an action with respect to the video content, which may include items for purchase, and to allow the user to both watch the video content, and select the item for purchase in one transaction step. In other embodiments, the video content is segmented such that a user is provided the ability to select one or more objects in the video. In other embodiments, the user interface provides a dynamic message such as a “call to action” to a user. The call to action may be timed with the video and/or with the user viewing selections in order to urge a user to take a pre-determined action such as purchase a product, make a donation, and the like.
US09049484B2

A remote storage digital video recorder (RS-DVR) system receives a media content file that is stored in a storage architecture of the RS-DVR system. The same stored media content file is assigned to multiple subscribers such that each of the multiple subscribers shares a common identifier that references a single common physical copy of the same stored media content file in the storage architecture of the RS-DVR system.
US09049477B2

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to monitor for media content from a first source that is distributable where the media content is adjusted for distribution to a plurality of communication devices that are associated with a user and a portion of the plurality of communication devices use different communication protocols from another portion of the plurality of communication devices, obtain content metadata from the media content, receive a request for information associated with the media content from a first communication device of the plurality of communication devices of the user, compile the information from the content metadata based at least in part on a user profile associated with the user, and transmit the information to the first communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09049472B2

A media player can identify one or more elements of a media presentation and select an element of the media presentation for generating output. The elements may be identified in a playlist or elsewhere. For example, the playlist may specify a composition of a plurality of visual, audio, or other elements for generating output or other behavior in parallel and/or in series over the course of the media presentation. The media player can comprise a playback component configured to utilize at least one selectively-enabled functional component of the media player to generate output based on evaluating the trait(s) exposed by the selected element. Traits may be determined based on analyzing media types or other data regarding the elements of the presentation.
US09049471B2

A personal video recorder is provided for displaying a targeted advertisement on a display in conjunction with displaying of a broadcast stream on the display. A viewer profile of a viewer of the display is defined based on signals received by a controller indicating usage of a viewer control interface by the viewer, for example based on viewer reactions to a broadcast stream or to an advertisement. A targeted advertisement is selected from stored advertisements based on the viewer profile of the viewer of the display. The targeted advertisement is displayed on the display. The viewer profile is updated based on subsequent signals received by the controller indicating usage of the viewer control interface. The signals indicate viewer reactions, for example, a viewer reaction to a broadcast stream or a viewer reaction to an advertisement or a viewer purchase.
US09049464B2

An apparatus, system, and method utilizing multi-description coding (MDC) for multimedia content with a plurality of forms of diversity. A source scene can be fragmented into one or more region of interest (ROI) portions and non-ROI portions, based on motion or any other metric of interest. One or more of these portions can further be fragmented by sub-sampling the respective portions to generate a plurality of lower-resolution versions, e.g., with alternating groups of pixels in respective versions. Still further, one or more of these portions can be further fragmented by image frames, e.g., with alternating frames in respective fragments. At least one ROI portion and lower-resolution versions may then be encoded into a plurality of descriptions and transmitted. Utilizing various combinations of ROI diversity, resolution diversity, and frame rate diversity can improve channel utilization and robustness for streaming multimedia content.
US09049450B2

A method of encoding a video based on a bit depth increment, the method including: determining a scaling method so that a dynamic range, which is based on a bit depth of a restored image decreased by de-scaling that is performed to decrease the bit depth increment, is identical to a dynamic range based on a bit depth of an input image, and generating an internal image having the bit depth increment by applying the scaling method to pixel values of the input image; and determining and encoding coding units having a tree structure, for each maximum coding unit of the internal image having the bit depth increment.
US09049449B2

A method of encoding scalable video data having multiple layers where each layer in the multiple layers is associated with at least one other layer includes identifying one or more layers using a first identifier where the first identifier indicates decoding dependency, and identifying reference pictures within the identified one or more layers using a second identifier. The coding of the second identifier for pictures in a first layer is independent of pictures in a second enhancement layer. As such, for all pictures with a certain value of DependencyID, the syntax element frame_num is coded independently of other pictures with different values of DependencyID. Within all pictures with a pre-determined value of DependencyID, a default frame_num coding method is used.
US09049442B2

A technique is provided that can record moving images while not resulting in calculation load increase and maintaining a certain degree of image quality even when encoding corresponding to a 4:4:4 format. Provisional encoding is performed, by obtaining motion vectors in accordance with a plurality of mutually different search ranges of image data of one color component, on a preset number of frame images at an initial stage at a time when an encoding start instruction is given. Moreover, the search range having the smallest error vector among each of the search ranges is determined as a search range for a motion vector, for each color component in main encoding processing carried out following provisional encoding.
US09049434B2

A 3D imaging device determines during imaging whether the captured images will be viewed three-dimensionally without causing fatigue while simulating actual human perception. In a 3D imaging device, a warning unit provides a warning to a photographer indicating that the captured images of the scene to be imaged will not be perceived as a 3D video having an appropriate 3D effect when a control unit determines that the captured images will not be perceived as such an appropriate 3D video. The 3D imaging device is prevented from obtaining an inappropriate 3D image (3D video).
US09049425B2

A method is provided for a three-dimensional (3D) image processing system including a stereoscopic display device. The method includes providing a stereoscopic image and obtaining a parallax range of the stereoscopic image and a parallax range supported by the stereoscopic display device. The method also includes determining a parallax operation to adjust the parallax range of the stereoscopic image based on the relationship between the parallax range of the stereoscopic image and the parallax range supported by the stereoscopic display device. Further, the method includes determining an offset value and an offset direction of a horizontal coordinate of each pixel of the stereoscopic image, and shifting the horizontal coordinate of each pixel of the stereoscopic image by the offset value and in the offset direction.
US09049423B2

The techniques of this disclosure are directed to the feedback-based stereoscopic display of three-dimensional images, such as may be used for video telephony (VT) and human-machine interface (HMI) application. According to one example, a region of interest (ROI) of stereoscopically captured images may be automatically determined based on determining disparity for at least one pixel of the captured images are described herein. According to another example, a zero disparity plane (ZDP) for the presentation of a 3D representation of stereoscopically captured images may be determined based on an identified ROI. According to this example, the ROI may be automatically identified, or identified based on receipt of user input identifying the ROI.
US09049422B2

Providing for operation of high-speed optical sensor equipment at full data path speeds in conjunction with testing equipment operating at a lower speed is described herein. By way of example, a data stream output from optical sensor equipment to testing equipment can be throttled at a serial interface between such equipment. Throttling can involve subdividing a set of pixel data and outputting a subset of the pixel data in a given readout frame. Consecutive outputs of respective subsets of pixel data are initiated with an offset from the previous readout frame. Accordingly, the optical sensor equipment can be operated at full speeds, simulating realistic operational conditions, while slower testing equipment can be utilized to perform data analytics, heuristics, and other quality tests on various portions of the optical sensor equipment.
US09049421B2

An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method of using pattern vectors for image coding and decoding. The method comprises converting a block of image data into a set of transform coefficients, quantizing the transform coefficients such that a number of the coefficients become zero, constructing a single entity or bit vector indicating which coefficients are non-zero, coding the single entity or bit vector as an integer using an adaptive, semi-adaptive or non-adaptive arithmetic coder, coding the values of the coefficients in any fixed order, using an adaptive, semi-adaptive or non-adaptive arithmetic coder, or some other coder, and coding all coefficients except the zero coefficients. The system and method of decoding data relate to the corresponding hardware and process steps performed by the decoder when decoding a bitstream coded as described herein.
US09049416B2

A system and method for constructing a scene clip, and a non-statutory record medium thereof are provided. The system includes media supply equipment, a metadata server, a scene server, and an end device. The media supply equipment is used for providing media data. The metadata server is used for providing scene time information corresponding to playback scenes of the media data. A first end device acquires the media data and the scene time information, and extracts, according to capture time information input when playing the media data, at least one piece of target scene time from each piece of the scene time information. The scene server acquires the media data and the target scene time, and according to an alignment result of the target scene time and each piece of the scene time information, extracts local scene clips from the media data to form a piece of media division data.
US09049412B2

The disclosed embodiments relate to a system and method for projecting video onto a screen. A video unit (10) may comprise a plurality of light emitting diodes (40a, 40b, and 40c) disposed in an annular formation (41) and configured to produce light (44), a reflector configured to reflect the produced light from at least one of the plurality of light emitting diodes (40a, 40b, and 40c), and a plurality of optical components disposed in an annular formation, wherein each of the optical components corresponds to one of the light emitting diodes (40a, 40b, and 40c), wherein each of the optical components is configured to focus the produced light at the reflector.
US09049401B2

An apparatus and a method for providing a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) service using a digital TeleVision (TV) and an external device are provided. It is determined whether a received broadcast channel supports a Multi Mode Service (MMS), and if so, one of subchannels included in the broadcast channel is set to a main channel. The digital TV reproduces a broadcast signal via the main channel, and broadcast signals of subchannels excluding the main channel are transmitted to at least one external device in communication with the digital TV.
US09049393B2

Provided is a solid state imaging device including: a pixel portion where pixel sharing units are disposed in an array shape and where another one pixel transistor group excluding transfer transistors is shared by a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions; transfer wiring lines which are connected to the transfer gate electrodes of the transfer transistors of the pixel sharing unit and which are disposed to extend in a horizontal direction and to be in parallel in a vertical direction as seen from the top plane; and parallel wiring lines which are disposed to be adjacent to the necessary transfer wiring lines in the pixel sharing unit and which are disposed to be in parallel to the transfer wiring lines as seen from the top plane, wherein voltages which are used to suppress potential change of the transfer gate electrodes are supplied to the parallel wiring lines.
US09049391B2

A camera array, an imaging device and/or a method for capturing image that employ a plurality of imagers fabricated on a substrate is provided. Each imager includes a plurality of pixels. The plurality of imagers include a first imager having a first imaging characteristics and a second imager having a second imaging characteristics. The images generated by the plurality of imagers are processed to obtain an enhanced image compared to images captured by the imagers. Each imager may be associated with an optical element fabricated using a wafer level optics (WLO) technology.
US09049383B2

Provided are a method and an apparatus for displaying a photo on a screen having any shape. The method includes: extracting photographing information about a photo having a first shape; adjusting the photo for display with a shape optimized for a screen having a second shape, based on the extracted photographing information; and displaying the adjusted photo on the screen.
US09049382B2

There is a provided an image processing apparatus comprising an image generation unit to generate a processed image using an image group having a plurality of images captured from multiple view points, a first image recognition unit to recognize a particular object from the processed image, a second image recognition unit to recognize respective objects which appear in the image group, a determination unit to compare the results by the first and second image recognition units and to determine an object of interest and an object of noninterest, and an attribute generation unit to generate attribute information including the result of determination by the determination unit, in the processed image.
US09049374B2

An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor that exposes a subject image by reading lines sequentially to generate an image; a detector that detects an angular velocity of a shake of the imaging apparatus; a controller that: (i) determines the detected angular velocity as an angular velocity for correction when the detected angular velocity is equal to or less than a predetermined angular velocity and, determines the predetermined angular velocity as the angular velocity for correction when the detected angular velocity is larger than the predetermined angular velocity; and (ii) corrects to reduce an influence of a shake to the image generated by the image sensor by image processing based on the determined angular velocity for correction.
US09049373B2

A method captures images of objects using an image capturing apparatus. The method obtains x-coordinate values, y-coordinate values, and z-coordinate values of the accelerations of a camera device sensed by a gravity sensor in a default time interval, calculates three-dimensional coordinate differences according to the obtained x-coordinate, y-coordinate, and z-coordinate values, and determines whether the three-dimensional coordinate differences are less than corresponding predefined thresholds. If at least one coordinate difference is not less than a corresponding predefined threshold, the method delays a period of time to obtain the x-coordinate, y-coordinate, and the z-coordinate values in a next default time interval. If all the three-dimensional coordinate differences are less than the corresponding predefined thresholds, the method controls the camera device to capture images of the subject object.
US09049363B2

Embodiments of the invention provide a digital photographing apparatus including a user interface provider for providing a user interface including: a display region for displaying a live-view image or a reproduced image; a first region for providing at least one pre-set menu; and a second region for providing at least one user set menu set by a user.
US09049361B2

Light emission control makes it possible to determine an appropriate main light emission amount even when an optical accessory that changes color characteristics of transmitted light is attached forward of a light emission section of an illumination device. A strobe capable of having a color filter attached thereto, which changes color characteristics of transmitted light. The strobe includes a strobe microcomputer that acquires information on characteristics of the color filter attached forward of the light emission section, and transmits the acquired information on the characteristics to an image pickup apparatus on which the strobe is mounted.
US09049355B2

An embodiment of the invention discloses a face-slimming method applied to a series of images captured by an electronic device. The process begins to receive a current image from the series of captured images and detects at least one face landmark corresponding to a face region of the current image. The face landmark of the current image is compared with a reference landmark and a distortion mask is adjusted accordingly. And then, a size of the face region within the current image is then adjusted according to the distortion mask, where the distortion mask corresponds to positions of the face landmark.
US09049354B2

A system and method suitable for collecting local television signals includes a local collection facility having a plurality of primary receiver circuit modules with a first receiver circuit module and a back-up receiver module. The local collection facility includes the first receiver circuit module receiving and demodulating the first channel signal and forming a first IP signal. The first receiver has a first multicast group. The back-up receiver circuit module receives and demodulates the first channel signal and forming a second signal. The back-up receiver has a second multicast group. A remote facility is spaced apart from the local collection facility and communicates with the local collection facility through an IP backhaul. A primary decoder within the remote facility is communication with the IP backhaul and forms a decoded signal from the first IP signal. The primary decoder belongs to the first multi-cast group. A primary encoder within the remote facility communicates with the primary decoder and forms a first encoded signal from the decoded signal. A multiplexer multiplexes the first encoded signal into a multiplexed signal. A monitoring system includes commanding the primary decoder to join the second multicast group and discontinue the first multicast group. The primary decoder forms the decoded signal from the second IP signal.
US09049350B2

An imaging apparatus connected to another imaging apparatus and a reception apparatus via a network. A reception section receives a transmission request requesting transmission of first video data photographed by the imaging apparatus to the reception apparatus, from the reception apparatus. A determination section determines, based on processing load on the imaging apparatus, a distribution capacity of the imaging apparatus, or conditions of the network, whether or not the imaging apparatus is to execute transmission processing for transmitting the first video data to the reception apparatus. An acquisition section acquires, in a case where the determination section has determined that the imaging apparatus is not to execute the transmission processing, a transmission destination to which a request for acquiring second video data photographed by said another imaging apparatus is to be transmitted.
US09049347B2

A method and mobile unit facilitate installation of a surveillance camera for monitoring an object of interest in a scene. The surveillance camera acquires a zoomed out image of the scene. The zoomed out image is displayed in a display wherein the zoomed out image has a zoomed out center point. An indicator overlaid on the displayed zoomed out image is displayed in the display, wherein the indicator and the zoomed out center point are displaced in relation to each other by a deviation. The indicator indicates the position of a zoomed in center point of a zoomed in image of the scene. The surveillance camera is directed so that the position of the object of interest and the indicator coincide so that the object of interest is included in a zoomed in image of the scene.
US09049342B2

In a case in which through an Internet, a first exchange system to which a multi-functional telephone of a conference organizer who organizes a conference is connected and a second exchange system to which are connected multi-functional telephones used by conference participants who participate in the conference straddling different bases are connected, when the multi-functional telephones of the plurality of conference participants who participate in the conference are connected to the same exchange system as the second exchange system, in a video conference mixing device in the second exchange system, conference communication information (video image information+audio information) from the multi-functional telephones is previously mixed to be edited into one conference communication information, and the one conference communication information is transmitted to the video conference mixing device in the first exchange system of the conference organizer side.
US09049341B2

A method and apparatus for video resource management in a video conference is provided in embodiments of this invention. comprises: partitioning a display interface into a first display area, a second display area, a third display area; graphically representing a plurality of conference rooms participating in a video conference and presenting the plurality of graphical conference rooms participating in the video conference in the first display area; presenting a first graphical conference room comprising a first video resource, the first conference room being selected presented in the first display area; presenting the second graphical conference room in the third display area, the second conference rooms presented in the second display area. The embodiments of this invention may graphically represent video resources corresponding to screens or terminal video collecting apparatus in each conference room of a video conference, so that users can perceive situations in each conference room visually.
US09049337B2

A mobile communication terminal for providing a Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) service interworking with video telephony and a method thereof are provided. The mobile communication system includes a first mobile communication terminal for generating RFID service information by using RFID tag information and for transmitting the generated information to a second mobile communication terminal, and the second mobile communication terminal for parsing the RFID service information received from the first mobile communication terminal and for outputting the parsed RFID service information.
US09049336B2

An auto-detect method for detecting a single-frame image format is provided. A single-frame image is divided into a plurality of macro-blocks. Each of the macro-blocks is divided into a plurality of sub-blocks. A meta-block is allocated in each of the sub-blocks. A pixel luminance sum characteristic value for each of the meta-blocks is calculated. A first confidence between a left half and a right half of the single-frame image is calculated according to the pixel luminance sum characteristic values. A second confidence between an upper half and a lower hap of the single-frame image is calculated according to the pixel luminance sum characteristic values. A format of the single-frame image is determined according to the pixel luminance sum characteristic values, and the first and second confidences of the single-frame image.
US09049334B1

A method for chroma denoising a digital image created in a digital camera includes decomposing the digital image into a plurality of spatial frequency bands. A separate modified color correction matrix is calculated from a color correction matrix associated with the camera for each of the plurality of spatial frequency bands. Each modified color correction matrix is applied to data in its corresponding spatial frequency band to produce color-corrected data in the plurality of spatial frequency bands. The color-corrected data in plurality of spatial frequency bands is combined to produce an output image.
US09049331B2

An electronic device has, as operation modes, a first mode and a second mode reduced in power consumption from the first mode. The electronic device includes a main unit an operation of which is suppressed in the second mode; and a sub-unit. The sub-unit includes a communicating unit that performs communication via a communication line; and an operation mode controller that changes the operation modes from the second mode to the first mode when the communication with a predefined prescribed device is requested during the second mode and changes the operation modes from the first mode to the second mode at a timing corresponding to termination of the communication.
US09049326B2

A multifunction device including an image recording unit and a scanner unit is provided. The scanner unit includes an image readable plane. The image recording unit includes a first tray, a conveyer path to convey the recording sheet in a first orientation, and a second tray, which is formed along an edge of an opening formed on the front face, and in which the recording sheet having been conveyed in the conveyer path is disposed. The recording sheet in a maximum conveyable size for the conveyer path is disposed to occupy a discharge area in the second tray. A downstream end of the discharge area along a second orientation is in a displaced and downstream position with respect to a downstream end of an image readable area of the image readable plane along the second orientation for a first distance.
US09049324B2

A data processing device for incorporating one or more scanned data files generated by an image scanning device for storage into a file in a specified format (e.g. an Excel file) equipped with a plurality of display areas (e.g. spreadsheets), which is capable of receiving user's designation of one of the display areas to which each of the scanned data files is allocated to (S101), and modifying configuration data (e.g. part files) of the file so that each of the scanned data files is allocated to one of the display areas according to the user's designation (S112).
US09049323B2

A data processing apparatus includes a position detecting portion capable of detecting a position designated by a user, and a control portion which includes a content displaying portion to display a display area of content and a gesture event determining portion to determine a gesture event. The content displaying portion includes a display image generating portion, and a display control portion to display the display image. The display image generating portion includes a state storing portion to store state information for specifying the display area at a time point of start of a gesture period, and a prioritized displaying portion operable, when a first gesture event changing the display area and a second gesture event not changing the display area are determined during the gesture period, to generate a display image for displaying the display area specified by the state information, on the basis of the second gesture event.
US09049322B2

In response to detecting a wireless communication apparatus, an information processing apparatus acquires from the wireless communication apparatus setting information for causing a function corresponding to a display screen to be executed, and executes the function based on the acquired setting information.
US09049320B2

An image processing apparatus includes following components. A blank-area identifying unit identifies a blank area having a size exceeding a predetermined size, from a non-specifying-mark image portion of a recording area image of a recording area that includes individual images and a specifying mark specifying an area containing images among the individual images. A concealing unit conceals a divided area specified by the specifying-mark image, among divided areas obtained by dividing a non-blank area by a gap having a width equal to or larger than a threshold in a specific direction, among gaps between the individual images arranged in the specific direction in the non-blank area. The non-blank area is an area of the non-specifying-mark image portion of the recording area image other than the blank area identified by the blank-area identifying unit.
US09049317B2

A camera system includes a plurality of first cameras and a second camera. Each of the plurality of first cameras has a first receiving section that receives a control signal, a first image pickup section that photographs a first image based on the control signal, and a first transmitting section that transmits the first image and terminal information based on the control signal. The second camera has a second image pickup section that photographs a second image, a second transmitting section that transmits the control signal, a second receiving section that receives the first image and the terminal information, a camera selecting section that selects the first camera that satisfies a predetermined condition as control target camera based on the terminal information, and a storing section that stores the second image.
US09049313B2

An image forming apparatus includes: a receiving unit configured to receive reflection light emitted by a light emitting unit, and output a detection signal corresponding to an amount of received reflection light; a detection unit configured to output, as an output signal, a signal corresponding to a difference between a value that corresponds to an amount of reflection light from a first position at which a detection image having one or more lines in a direction different from a movement direction is formed and a value that corresponds to an amount of reflection light from a second position different from the first position; and a control unit configured to control an image formation condition related to density of an image to be formed, based on a peak value of the output signal.
US09049307B2

A system, method process and apparatus is presented for interfacing digital and audio communications in a security system, comprising, a control panel having one or more first radio receiver/transceivers and one or more remote alarm sensors coupled to the control panel and the control panel receiving one or more digital reports from each one or more remote alarm sensors, a wireless interface device having one or more second radio receiver/transceivers for receiving the digital reports from the control panel unit and for establishing two-way voice communication between the control panel and the wireless interface unit, one or more telephone units coupled to the wireless interface device for communicating with the wireless interface unit and at least one POTS and/or IP network modem device coupled to the wireless interface device, an IP network, wherein, the wireless interface device includes a communication processing unit for transmitting one or more digital reports to a monitoring service via the POTS and/or IP network and for establishing two-way voice communication between the control panel and the monitoring service via a voice channel connection.
US09049296B2

Embodiments of the present invention generally provide techniques and apparatus that may be used to distribute services in a telephone system. Utilizing these techniques, functions conventionally centralized and requiring a separate server may be distributed to end units, for example, as instances of such applications running on network telephones. Examples of such functions include, but are not limited to, auto attendant functions, distributed voice mail functions, and operator functions.
US09049294B1

Systems and methods enable configuring and using speed dialing. A first user interface is displayed to a user, the first user interface providing a name field configured to display and/or receive a contact name and a phone address field configured to display and/or receive a phone address associated with the contact name. A speed dial field configured to receive and/or display a speed dial identifier associated with the phone address is provided. When the user later enters speed dial identifier via a telephone, the phone address is called.
US09049287B2

A private branch exchange (PBX) server determines a caller identification (ID) of a voice call received from a first phone system attempting to reach a second phone system. The PBX server transmits a request to a remote phone number resolving server for categorizing the caller ID. In response to a response received from the remote phone number resolving server indicating one or more categories associated with the caller ID, the PBX server processes the voice call based on the one or more categories.
US09049283B1

A case, having a storage compartment, for an electronic device includes a soft protective case that protects the electronic device installed therein; a hard protective frame, configured to removably mount over the soft protective case wherein the hard protective frame comprises grooves; and a cover which has rails adapted to mate with and slidably mounted on the grooves so that the cover slides along the grooves to open and close the storage compartment.
US09049276B2

An approach is provided for analyzing a hybrid telephony network. A plurality of nodes within a network is polled for configuration information, wherein the nodes are configured to establish packetized voice sessions. The configuration information is correlated. A view of the nodes and associated circuits is presented to a user for configuring one or more of the nodes based on the correlation.
US09049272B2

One conferencing system allows conference participants to share all or a portion of the display seen on their computer screens. The conferees may be at sites removed from each other, or may view a recorded presentation or archived conference at different times. Conference participants are either “presenters” who can modify the display or “attendees” who cannot modify the display. A pointer icon, which can be labeled to identify the conferee, is displayed on the shared image area. Each conferee can modify the position of his or her own pointer, even when not presenting, so that every participant can see what each conferee is pointing to, should a conferee choose to point to an element of the display. These and other features apply to other data streams shared in the conference or in meetings where there is no shared-image data stream.
US09049270B2

A device is positioned upstream of a modulator in a digital service stream broadcasting chain, and is adapted to receive a plurality of transport streams and to transmit a transport stream to a modulator, each transport stream encapsulating a digital service stream adapted to be broadcast by the modulator, the digital service streams representing the same digital service. The device is also adapted to: digital service streams from the received transport streams; detect errors in the streams; align the extracted streams; select a stream from the aligned streams, according to any errors detected; encapsulate the selected stream, in order to form the stream to be transmitted to the modulator.
US09049261B2

A computing device is described that receives an indication of a notification, and determines a priority level associated with the notification. The computing device determines, based at least in part on the priority level, content of the notification. Responsive to receiving an indication of a gesture detected at an input device, the computing device outputs, for display, a notification center graphical user interface that includes a graphical indication of the notification including the content of the notification.
US09049247B2

A proxy server receives from a client device a request for a network resource that is hosted at an origin server for a domain. The request is received at the proxy server as a result of a DNS request for the domain resolving to the proxy server. The origin server is one of multiple origin servers that belong to different domains that resolve to the proxy server and are owned by different entities. The proxy server transmits the request to the origin server. Responsive to determining that the origin server is offline, the proxy server determines whether the requested resource is available in cache. If it is in cache, the proxy server retrieves the requested resource from the cache and transmits the requested resource to the client device.
US09049239B2

Embodiments of a wireless device and method for transmitting a packet comprising one or more orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) transmission symbols are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the wireless device may be configured to map data to active tones and map zeroes to nulled tones of a set of OFDM tones to generate an OFDM symbol comprising both the active and the nulled tones. The number of active and nulled tones may be based on a nulling factor. The OFDM symbol may be down-clocked to generate an OFDM transmission symbol for transmission over a reduced transmission bandwidth. Accordingly, low power may be used for very low data rate transmissions, which may be suitable for sensor devices.
US09049238B2

A system for creating an anonymous social gathering of 3 or more persons. The system has a server digital device and a client digital device both operatively connected to a distributed network and thus to each other. The client device is configured to display an electronic mapping received from the server digital device through the distributed network and the electronic mapping displays at least one selectable geolocation indicator. Each geolocation indicator represents an indicated location of a gathering of at least two anonymous portable digital devices. The electronic mapping is configured to display indicator identification information on the user device for the momentarily selected indicator.
US09049225B2

Identifying valid wireless access points based on clock skews. A computing device receives plurality of frames, each including a corresponding timestamp, from a wireless access point. The computing device calculates transmit and receive offsets based on transmit and receive times of the plurality of frames, and also calculates differences between the transmit and receive offsets. The computing device also calculates a clock skew of a clock at the wireless access point based on a slope of the differences. The client computing device determines whether the wireless access point is an authorized wireless access point or an unauthorized wireless access point based on comparing the calculated clock skew with one or more known baseline clock skews of one or more authorized wireless access points.
US09049210B2

A method of establishing a communications session for communication of data with respect to at least two user devices in a data communications network. A client-server connection request is received from at least one of the at least two user devices. Call party details of a telephone call are received. The telephone call involves at least a first telephony user device and a second telephony user device. The call party details include a first identity associated with the first telephony user device and a second identity associated with the second telephony user device. At least one of the first and second identities comprises a telephone dialing number. A separate communications session is established on the basis of the first and second identities received in the call party details.
US09049200B2

A method in an example embodiment includes creating a first search key from variable data of a message received in a network environment, creating a second search key from constant data of the message, identifying a first database entry in a first database based on the first search key, and identifying a second database entry in a second database based on the second search key. The method can also include performing an action associated with the first database entry when a correlation is identified between the first and second database entries. In specific embodiments, the variable data are modified and the constant data are not modified. The first search key can be created prior or subsequent to forwarding the message. In further embodiments, the correlation is identified when an offset of the first database entry is the same as an offset of the second database entry.
US09049199B2

Node, computer software and method for selecting a resource that is available at multiple caches connected in a communication network. The method includes receiving from a user a request for the resource; identifying one or more caches of the multiple caches that store the resource; determining a total cost associated with a path between the user and each cache of the one or more caches storing the resource, the total cost including a static cost [Cf] that reflects a topology of the communication network and a dynamic cost [Δ] which is indicative of changing conditions of the communication network; and selecting one cache from the one or more caches that store the resource based on a lowest total cost of the one cache.
US09049196B1

Methods for processing streaming data records are provided that include facilities for defining and naming multiple input and output data streams using relational processing definitions and abstractions similar to those found in relational database management systems (RDBMS) and embodied as a set of communicating stream processing nodes. The result is a Distributed Data Stream Management System (DDSMS) which is also a kind of Relational Data Stream Management System (RDSMS). The former comprises a set of Relational Data Stream Management System (RDSMS) nodes, whereas the latter might contain only a single RDSMS node.
US09049192B2

A biometric authentication method for a computer system, the computer system comprising: a computer; and an authentication server, the biometric authentication method including steps of: extracting a first feature from the captured biometric information; generating a template polynomial for enrollment; extracting a second feature from the captured biometric information; generating a template polynomial for authentication; generating a correlation function for calculating a correlation between the template polynomial for authentication and the enrolled template polynomial; calculating a correlation value between the template polynomial for authentication and the enrolled template polynomial by using the generated correlation function, and determining based on the calculated correlation value whether or not the biometric information at the time of authentication coincides with the biometric information enrolled.
US09049191B2

Provided is a biometric authentication system capable of preventing spoofing attacks even if leakage of key information and a registration conversion template occurs. A communication terminal device (300) calculates secret key information k′ which is exclusive OR of key information k of the registration biological information and masked value c′ which is randomly selected from a predetermined error correction code group, and calculates verified information c′″ which is exclusive OR of sent information c″ and value c′. A biometric authentication device (500) calculates exclusive OR of authentication biological information, information k′, and registration conversion template w, as information c″, wherein the template w is exclusive OR of information x, information k, and authentication parameter c randomly selected from the code group; and performs biometric authentication on the basis of a degree of matching between information c′″ corresponding to information c″, and the parameter c.
US09049185B1

Methods and apparatus are provided for authenticated hierarchical set operations. A third party server processes a query q (possibly from a client) on outsourced data sets S1, . . . , Sn on behalf of a source of the data. The query q comprises a hierarchical set operation. Authenticated Set Operation techniques for flat set operations can be iteratively applied for hierarchical set operations. In addition, bilinear accumulators are extended to provide an extractable accumulation scheme comprising a primary bilinear accumulator and a secondary bilinear accumulator. In addition, a query q is parsed as a tree and for each tree node, a Union/Intersection argument is provided that is related to one or more accumulation values associated with the corresponding tree node. The client receives an answer to the query and a verification proof comprising, for example, subset witnesses, completeness witnesses, and/or accumulation values, but not necessarily intermediate results associated with the internal tree nodes of the query q.
US09049183B2

The present invention discloses an Ethernet base, a network system, and a data forwarding method. The Ethernet base receives service data which is in a USB format and sent by a 3G router, and after converting the service data in the USB format into service data in an Ethernet format, sends the service data in the Ethernet format to a fixed network router. The Ethernet base further performs software configuration on its USB unit, so as to enable the USB unit to fulfill a hardware time sequence function of a USB host device. According to embodiments of the present invention, network traffic of the 3G router can be switched to the fixed network router without modifying basic architecture of the 3G router; and a USB interface of the Ethernet base supports charging the 3G router simultaneously in a process of data transmission.
US09049175B2

Described herein are various principles for operating transfer protocols using adaptive flow control techniques. In accordance with some of these principles, a client may adaptively negotiate with a server regarding a window size to use when communicating datagrams using a connectionless content unit transfer protocol like the Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP). In some implementations, a client may inform a server whether to increase or decrease a window size. In these implementations, the client may increase the window size upon determining that a previous window size has led to successful transfer of content without any loss of datagrams and the client may decrease the window size upon detecting a loss of a datagram. Because of the limited resources available in some environments in which these techniques may be used, in some implementations a window size may be increased by small amounts but may be decreased drastically upon detecting a loss.
US09049174B2

A method for maintaining a session between a smart thin client and a smart thin client server is provided. The smart thin client server permits a user to create, manage, and deploy enterprise applications via the smart thin client but lacks the ability to save state information. The method includes detecting a log-off event for the session between the smart thin client and the smart thin client server; and saving, by the smart thin client server in a database accessible by the smart thin client server, state information for the session, in a record containing a user identification corresponding to a user of the smart thin client.
US09049172B2

A method and an apparatus for providing security in an intranet network are disclosed. For example, the method receives a packet at a customer edge router, and applies an inbound access control list by the customer edge router to the packet if the packet is destined to a server in a protected server group, wherein said protected server group identifies one or more servers within the intranet network to be protected. The method applies an outbound access control list by the customer edge router to the packet if the packet is from a server in the protected server group.
US09049170B2

A system and method performed by a computing device connected to a network and having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors. At least one packet is received over a network. The packet is analyzed to detect predetermined content. The predetermined content is selected if it is determined that the packet contains the predetermined content. Future transmission of any packet containing the predetermined content is prevented in response to selection of the predetermined content.
US09049164B2

Exemplary embodiments provide methods and systems for dynamically changing a message retrieval scheme during runtime in a client/server electronic messaging system in which the server executes a message retrieval component and incoming messages received from the client is stored in a message queue. Aspects of the exemplary embodiment include accessing messaging business rules from a memory by a message retrieval component at runtime, wherein the messaging business rules define a primary retrieval scheme and a secondary retrieval scheme, and wherein a value provided for each of the primary retrieval scheme and the secondary retrieval scheme are selected from a combination of different message retrieval types including: First In First Out (FIFO), Last In First Out (LIFO), and random. The message retrieval component subdivides the message queue into sub-queues based on at least one of a message quantity limit and a message received time limit specified in the business rules. Each of the sub-queues is then accessed using the value of the secondary retrieval scheme; and messages from each of the sub-queues are retrieved using the value of the primary retrieval scheme.
US09049155B2

A method includes receiving, at a first wireless device from a second wireless device, a signal (SIG) unit including a length field and an aggregation field. The length field is interpreted as a number of symbols in response to determining that the aggregation field has a first value. The length field is interpreted as a number of bytes in response to determining that the aggregation field has a second value.
US09049152B2

Methods, systems, and techniques for assigning hotkeys to legacy tasks as part of modernizing such tasks are provided. A user can assign a hotkey to an individual task so that the user can have instant access to a legacy or a non-legacy task without needing to navigate to “sub-” tasks of the legacy task. Hotkey access may be used with role-based modernization of legacy tasks to provide navigation to and from legacy tasks without starting and stopping sessions. Example embodiments provide a Role-Based Modernization System (“RBMS”), which uses these enhanced modernization techniques to provide role-based modernization of menu-based legacy applications.
US09049137B1

The invention is directed to optimizing load balancing for equal cost multiple path (ECMP) network routing by improving the load balancing of network data traffic across multiple equal cost next hop egress network links that have the same next hop routing cost. At least one of the various embodiments may enable improve load balancing of egress network links by programming network routing tables and conducting diagnostic processes and testing to determine if a programmed network routing table optimally load balances the outgoing the network data traffic among the equal cost next hop egress network links. If an embodiment determines that a programmed network routing table is load balancing less effectively than desired, it may re-program the network routing table(s).
US09049135B2

A network spares audit, optimization, and maintenance system and method, including: an application running on a processor of one of (1) a network management system of a network and (2) a logistics management tool external to the network and in communication with the network management system of the network, the application including: a mapping algorithm executed by the application and operable for mapping network elements of one or more networks to spares depots; and a probabilistic risk analysis algorithm executed by the application and operable for utilizing statistical analysis to determine how many and what types of spares are stocked at each spares depot based on inputted conditions; wherein operation and output of the application is dynamically updated based on network configuration information automatically received from the network management system of the network.
US09049134B2

Network condition prediction and multimedia streaming consumption prediction are provided. The prediction may be based on a device's prior location, behavior, and statistics thereof. By gathering location data from users anonymously and securely, a virtual location network with millions of nodes are provided. Each virtual location, at a given time, is stored with associated network metrics gathered from various devices in a database. The database may comprise a probabilistic model and a behavioral model tracking device metrics.
US09049133B2

In one embodiment, one or more point-to-point (P2P) services are established between attachment circuits on provider edge (PE) devices in a computer network, and each of the one or more P2P services (e.g., Virtual Private Wire Service, VPWS) are associated with an Ethernet virtual private network (E-VPN) Ethernet Auto-Discovery (A-D) route, where links between the PE devices and customer edge (CE) devices are configured as Ethernet interfaces with Ethernet tagging. As such, the Ethernet A-D route may then be exchanged for each P2P service attachment circuit, and forwarding can be performed on the one or more P2P services without performing a media access control (MAC) address lookup and without performing MAC learning.
US09049131B2

The load balancing method includes: receiving identify information of the nodes to construct a network topology diagram and receiving support rates of connection ports through a controller; monitoring average data rates of the connection ports through the controller; when the average data rate of one of the connection ports is in excess of a congestion criteria, searching a packet flow with the highest data rate among packet flows passing through the connection port of which the average data rate is in excess of the congestion criteria through the controller; and performing a shortest path first algorithm according to the packet flow with the highest data rate and the network topology diagram, wherein the computed connection ports do not include the connection port of which the average data rate is in excess of the congestion criteria; and a new transmitting path is acquired.
US09049126B2

Responsive to transactional middleware for a particular domain processing a particular transaction instance at a processing point specified in transaction telemetry standards as a tracking point along a flow of the particular transaction, a facility of the middleware accesses correlation data for the particular transaction instance in the particular domain and extracts application level context information about the particular transaction instance from the particular domain, wherein the transaction telemetry standards specify a same set of standards for application by each separate transactional middleware instance of a composite application. At least one facility of the transactional middleware creates a tracking event comprising the correlation data and the application level context information formatted into an event structure defined by the transaction tracking standards. At least one facility of the transactional middleware surfaces the tracking event in compliance with the transaction telemetry standards.
US09049117B1

A method is provided for collecting and processing information of a target who is a user of a communication network. The method includes obtaining a first identifier of the target, accessing, based on a handle of the first identifier, a first public webpage associated with the target in a first Internet site identified based on a domain of the first identifier, extracting content of the first public webpage for including in target data of the target, obtaining a third identifier of the target, intercepting a document associated with the target from a private portion of communication network traffic identified based on a domain of the third identifier, extracting content of the document for including in the target data, determining a second identifier by searching the target data, associating the second identifier with the target based on a pre-determined criterion, and collecting information of the target based on the second identifier.
US09049099B2

An application node advertises service(s), using a label distribution protocol, that it offers to other network nodes and a corresponding label to use to identify these services(s). For example, a Targeted Label Distribution Protocol (tLDP) session may be established between a packet switching device and the application node providing these services to communicate the advertisement. Packets are encapsulated and sent from a service node (e.g., packet switching device) with the corresponding label to have one or more advertised services applied to the packet by an application node (e.g., a packet switching device and/or computing platform such as a Cisco ASR 1000).
US09049093B2

Input data is encoded using a look-up table and then transmitted over a transmission medium as a series of pulses. The look-up table includes data elements. The length of each pulse is calibrated to correspond to one of the data elements in the look-up table. Upon receipt at another end of the transmission medium, the data is decoded using a look-up table. This decoding includes measuring the length of each received pulse to match the measured length to a corresponding one of data elements in the look-up table.
US09049091B2

A system for determining a time delay between an in-phase signal component and a quadrature-phase signal component includes an in-phase signal start time determination module coupled to an in-phase delay module, the in-phase signal start time determination module and the in-phase delay module configured to receive an in-phase signal component of a received signal. The in-phase signal start time determination module is configured to receive a reference signal. The system also includes a quadrature-phase signal start time determination module coupled to a quadrature-phase delay module, the quadrature-phase signal start time determination module and the quadrature-phase delay module configured to receive a quadrature-phase signal component of a received signal. The quadrature-phase signal start time determination module is configured to receive a reference signal, wherein the in-phase delay module is configured to develop an in-phase delay signal and the quadrature-phase delay module is configured to develop a quadrature-phase delay signal.
US09049090B2

A method for determining timing synchronization for demodulating a signal by a receiver, comprises the steps of: generating a channel response for the signal; transforming the signal into the time domain using an inverse fast fourier transform (“IFFT”); determining a signal power for the transformed signal as a function of the generated channel response; and calculating the timing synchronization by the receiver as a function of the determined signal power.
US09049087B2

A communication device includes: a reception element for receiving a radio signal modulated in a first modulation scheme or a second modulation scheme; a first demodulation element for demodulating the received radio signal in a first demodulation scheme corresponding to the first modulation scheme; a second demodulation element for demodulating the received radio signal in a second demodulation scheme corresponding to the second modulation scheme; and a modulation scheme detection section for detecting a modulation scheme of the received radio signal. The received radio signal includes modulation scheme determination information. The modulation scheme detection section detects the modulation scheme of the received radio signal based on a result of demodulation of the modulation scheme determination information performed by the first demodulation element and a result of demodulation of the modulation scheme determination information performed by the second demodulation element.
US09049080B2

The present invention relates to an injection-locked RF receiver having trifilar transformer splitter. The injection-locked RF receiver includes a trifilar transformer splitter, an injection-locked oscillator and a phase detector. The trifilar transformer splitter includes a primary winding, a secondary winding and a tertiary winding. RF input signal is input to the primary winding. The secondary winding outputs a first differential signal to the injection-locked oscillator. The tertiary winding outputs a second differential signal to the phase detector. Using the trifilar transformer splitter of the invention, the frequency-shift keying demodulation with high sensitivity is achieved, and the number of amplifier can be reduced so as to lower the power consumption of the injection-locked RF receiver and reduce the complexity of the involved system.
US09049079B2

A method, device, system, and program able to automatically optimize configuration values in software constituting an integrated system. The integrated system introduction support device collects from a configuration management database (CMDB) software configuration values related to other integrated systems sharing interactive aspects with the software constituting the target integrated system, and generates a regression model of configuration values having a high correlation among the collected software configuration values. When configuration values in a predetermined software program constituting the integrated system have been specified by the user, the integrated system introduction support device applies the specified configuration values to the regression model, and calculates an optimum value for the other software programs constituting the integrated system.
US09049077B2

A host controller generates and sends a request for first status information to a host. The host controller receives first status information from the host along with a unique identifier that is associated with the first status information. After a time period, the host controller generates and sends a new request for second status information to the host, the new request including the unique identifier. When second status information and the first status information are associated with the same unique identifier, the host controller receives a response from the host indicating that the second status information is the same as the first status information.
US09049060B2

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a co-channel dual polarized microwave device and a method. Frame synchronization is performed on a first receive signal processed by cross polarization interference cancellation and phase noise immunization is performed on the first receive signal processed by frame synchronization. Frame synchronization is performed on a second receive signal not processed by cross polarization interference cancellation and phase noise immunization is performed on the second receive signal processed by frame synchronization. The first receive signal processed by phase noise immunization and the second receive signal processed by phase noise immunization are selectively received according to a frame synchronization state signal and a signal quality signal. Delay alignment is performed on a selectively received signal according to the frame synchronization state signal to implement lossless switching in a selective receiving process.
US09049056B2

A communication terminal may include a processing unit that includes information identifying another communication terminal as path information in data when the data is directly transmitted from its own communication terminal to the other communication terminal, and a transmitting unit that directly transmits the data in which the path information is included by the processing unit to the other communication terminal.
US09049049B2

A routing method and an in-vehicle gateway device having a plurality of interfaces for communication, automatic setting of routing function is enabled to perform, in consideration of characteristics of data which a connecting network handles. A network is classified to an information-system, a control-system and a safety-system, based on characteristics thereof, and which one of the systems includes a network connecting to the in-vehicle gateway device, is judged from equipments connecting to the network, or traffic of the network. Still more processing in data exchange among different classifications is set in advance.
US09049041B2

Connecting USB devices with USB hosts over a network supporting distributed initiations of USB connections over the network, including the following steps: Connecting non-collocated USB hosts with respective non-collocated USB host adaptors (USBHs), according to USB specification timings. Connecting non-collocated USB devices with respective non-collocated USB device adaptors (USBDs). Enabling the USBDs and the USBHs to communicate over the network and to discover the presence and capabilities of one another. Initiating, by the USBDs or the USBHs, via the network control plane, USB-over-network-data-plane connections between the USB devices and the USB hosts. And operating at least two of the USB-over-network-data-plane connections essentially simultaneously and without any common network node.
US09049038B2

This invention relates to a method of associating or re-associating devices in a control network including control zones to respective zone controllers (ZCs) controlling the control zones. In a first step, an associating or re-associating timer (ZC_REASSC_TIMER) window is initialized at the (ZCs) defining the time during which said associating or re-associating of the devices takes place. In a second step, during the (ZC_REASSC_TIMER) window zone specific information (ZN_SPEC) message sage is transmitted, the (ZN_SPEC) message including information about the devices expected to be in the zones controlled by the (ZCs). In a third step, it is compared whether the zone specific information contained in the (ZN_SPEC) received by the devices includes device specific information that match with local device specific information associated to the devices. In case the comparing results in that a pre-defined matching criteria is fulfilled an association or re-association request message (RA_REQ) is sent from the devices to the zone controllers (ZCs) where the pre-defined matching criteria was met. The (RA_REQ) message including device description parameters and indicates a request from the devices to join the control zones controlled by said (ZCs). Finally, it is determined whether the association or re-association of the respective devices is to be confirmed by means of comparing, by the respective (ZCs) receiving the (RA_REQ) message, the device description parameters included in the (RA_REQ) message match with zone specific information included in the (ZN_SPEC).
US09049036B2

A computer system analyzing apparatus includes an acquiring unit which acquires information indicating at least use states of a plurality of computer resources, and a detecting unit which detects whether each of the use states of the computer resources which are indicated by the information corresponds to a state determined as an unreasonable state in advance.
US09049028B2

A power supplying system is configured so that a power supply server for supplying power and a client for receiving power are connected through a bus line on which an information signal representing information and power exist superimposed on one another, and the information signal is exchanged between the power supply server and the client. To the bus line of the power supplying system, a monitoring apparatus to monitor at least one of the information signal and power information related to power is connected. The monitoring apparatus includes a receiving portion to detect an information signal existing on the bus line, and a display control portion to display at least one of the information signal and the power information exchanged between the power supply server and the client.
US09049023B2

Functional encryption (FE) ciphertext is transformed into partially-decrypted (PD) ciphertext. The PD ciphertext has a shorter bit length than the FE ciphertext, or the decryption time of the PD ciphertext is less than the decryption time of the FE ciphertext. The FE ciphertext can be an attribute-based encryption ciphertext. The transformation can be performed with a transformation key generated by an authority with a master key or by a user with a decryption key. The transformation can also be performed, without a transformation key, based on unencrypted components of the FE ciphertext and on auxiliary information associated with the unencrypted components of the FE ciphertext. The PD ciphertext can require less transmission time across a network than the FE ciphertext. The PD ciphertext can require less time to decrypt than the FE ciphertext, particularly when the computational resources performing the decryption are limited.
US09049021B2

A method and apparatus are proposed for cryptographic computations implemented in an electronic component. The method includes determining the cofactor of an elliptic curve E defined over a finite field Fq with q elements, the elliptic curve comprising a base point P having an order equal to n. The step of determining includes determining a value of floor((q+2ceil(b/2)+1+1)/n) when n>6√q, where the function ceil corresponds to the ceiling function, floor corresponds to the floor function, and b corresponds to the size q in number of bits of q.
US09049018B2

A method of processing data for a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) operation in a wireless communication system. The method includes receiving a timing alignment command (TAC) and one or more uplink grants from a network; and generating a data unit. The one or more uplink grants are used for transmitting the generated data unit to the network. The method further includes starting a time alignment timer (TAT) upon receiving the TAC. The TAT is used to control how long a User Equipment (UE) is considered to have an uplink time that is aligned. The method further includes when the TAT expires, clearing the one or more uplink grants.
US09049016B2

A method for use in a wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU) for two-stage reordering of received protocol data units (PDUs). The method comprising receiving PDUs from Node-Bs, wherein each of the received PDUs has a transmission sequence number (TSN), reordering the received PDUs from Node-Bs using the TSN in a MAC layer in different reordering queues, delivering the received PDUs from reordering queues to one logical channel in the RLC layer, reordering the received PDUs in the RLC layer based on a sequence number (SN), starting a timer when at least a RLC PDU is missing based on SN of the RLC PDU, and transmitting a status report indicating a missing RLC PDU based on SN of the RLC PDU if the timer expires, wherein transmission of the status report is delayed if a RLC PDU is missing based on SN of the RLC PDU and the timer is running.
US09049006B2

Embodiments of the systems, devices, and methods described herein generally facilitate the secure transmittal of security parameters. In accordance with at least one embodiment, a representation of first data comprising a password is generated at the first computing device as an audio signal. The audio signal is transmitted from the first computing device to the second computing device. The password is determined from the audio signal at the second computing device. A key exchange is performed between the first computing device and the second computing device wherein a key is derived at each of the first and second computing devices. In at least one embodiment, one or more security parameters (e.g. one or more public keys) are exchanged between the first and second computing devices, and techniques for securing the exchange of security parameters or authenticating exchanged security parameters are generally disclosed herein.
US09049005B2

A memory controller controlling a nonvolatile memory is provided. The memory controller includes an encryption key feeder configured to feed a cipher key according to a logical address transferred from a host; and an encryption engine configured to perform an encryption operation on data transferred from the host or a decryption operation on data transferred from the nonvolatile memory device, using the cipher key provided from the encryption key feeder.
US09048996B2

A method for de-mapping on a Long Term Evolution (LTE) downlink control channel is provide, which includes that: a resource element group table and a first parameter are acquired from the configuration parameters, and the resource element group table is analyzed according to the first parameter to acquire a mapping address of Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) data; a second parameter is acquired from the configuration parameters, and de-cyclic-shift processing is performed on the mapping address of the PDCCH data according to the second parameter to acquire a de-cyclic-shift address; and a third parameter is acquired from the configuration parameters, and de-interleaving processing is performed on the de-cyclic-shift address according to the third parameter to acquire a de-mapping address. Accordingly, a device for de-mapping on an LTE downlink control channel is also provided.
US09048995B2

An approach is provided for low latency radio frequency wave transmission. A long haul transport network receives a first signal representing latency sensitive data, receives a second signal representing latency insensitive data, and combines the first signal and the second signal to output a combined radio frequency signal, wherein the latency sensitive data of the combined radio frequency signal are at a first level of error coding, and the latency insensitive data of the combined radio frequency signal are at a second level of error coding.
US09048982B2

Distributed inter-cell interference coordination in a communications system can include: at one other femtocell system, sending channel quality information of a subordinate device communicating with the other femtocell system to the first femtocell system; receiving the channel quality information of the at least one other femtocell system at the first femtocell system; estimating an influence of a use of a resource on the communications system at the first femtocell system according to the channel quality information received by one or more of the at least one other femtocell system; and determining at the first femtocell system whether to use the resource.
US09048972B2

Provided are a wireless communication apparatus and a reference signal generating method, wherein inter-cell interference is reduced inside and outside a CoMP set. A CoMP mode setting unit (101) sets whether the terminal (100) thereof is a CoMP terminal or a Non-CoMP terminal. When the terminal (100) is set as a Non-CoMP terminal, the hopping pattern calculating unit (104) calculates a ZC sequence number to be used as the transmission timing, from among all the ZC sequence numbers that can be used within the system. When the terminal (100) is set as a CoMP terminal, the hopping pattern calculating unit (104) calculates a ZC sequence number to be used as the transmission timing, by hopping the ZC sequence numbers to be used within the CoMP set. A ZC sequence generating unit (105) generates a ZC sequence to be used as an SRS, using the calculated ZC sequence number.
US09048970B1

A method in a mobile communication terminal includes receiving signals from a serving cell and from one or more interfering cells. Respective channel responses are estimated in the terminal for the signals received from the interfering cells. A level of interference, caused by the signals of the interfering cells to a signal received from the serving cell, is derived from the channel responses. A Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) is calculated for the signal received from the serving cell based on the level of interference caused by the signals of the interfering cells. Feedback information is produced based on the SNR and transmitted from the terminal.
US09048967B2

A method of network communications includes determining an access identifier (AID) for an egress signal through a network interface of a network element, an Optical Transport Network (OTN) multiplexing structure identifier (MSI) associated with the egress signal through the network interface, another AID associated with a defined ingress signal through the network interface, another OTN MSI associated with the defined ingress signal through the network interface, and associating the egress signal and the defined ingress signal based on the AIDs and OTN MSIs. The first OTN MSI is not equal to the second OTN MSI.
US09048961B2

An audio signal processing apparatus performs audio signal process composed of a plurality of channels each having parameters used in the audio signal process. The audio signal processing apparatus has a plurality of channel strips, each being assigned with a channel and being provided with controls for adjusting values of the parameters of the assigned channel, and has a plurality of storing sections having different priorities relative to each other, each storing section being capable of storing a setting indicative of a channel set to a channel strip for assignment thereto. A changing section changes a setting stored in a storing section. A clearing section clears a setting stored in a storing section. An assigning section is activated when a setting stored in one of the plurality of the storing sections is changed by the changing section or cleared by the clearing section, then refers to all of the storing sections that currently store the settings for a channel strip, and assigns a channel to the channel strip according to the setting stored in a storing section having the highest priority among the storing sections referred to by the assigning section.
US09048947B2

A fiber optic communication system includes a first fiber optic device configured to transmit a fiber optic signal. A second fiber optic device is in fiber optic communication with and configured to receive the fiber optic signal from the first fiber optic device. The second fiber optic device includes an adjustment circuit configured to automatically adjust the fiber optic signal if the fiber optic signal is transmitted outside of a predetermined signal strength range.
US09048943B2

A method is provided for communicating signals at a low power level in an electromagnetic interference (EMI) environment. A first device transmits a modulated signal having a first carrier frequency, including the encoded information via a hardwire transmission medium. In one aspect, the power level of the modulated signal can be adjusted to minimize power consumption or reduce the generation of EMI. The modulated signal may be in one of the following formats: frequency modulation (FM) or phase modulation (PM) to name a few examples. A second device including a logarithmic detector amplifier (LDA) demodulator circuit receives the signal, which may be mixed with EMI. The LDA demodulator circuit amplifies the modulated signal, without amplifying the EMI, to supply a demodulated baseband signal, which may be an n-ary digital signal, or an audio signal. A low-power, noise insensitive communication channel is also provided.
US09048938B2

A method for receiving chirp signals at a receiver device according to a protocol in which each chirp signal has a gradient known to the receiver device, the method comprising: receiving a chirp signal having a first gradient g; generating a reference chirp signal having a second gradient g′, wherein the second gradient g′ differs from the first gradient g by a fixed value v; multiplying the reference chirp signal and the received chirp signal so as to form a mixed chirp signal; and detecting the received chirp signal by correlating the mixed chirp signal with a fixed gradient correlating chirp signal.
US09048935B2

A system including a transmitter and a receiver that are loosely synchronized, the transmitter encodes signal waveforms having a start time, a width and a height that are determined based on a range of possible relative drifts of a receiver clock with respect to a transmitter clock and the receiver decodes the waveforms based on a sequence of tests, chosen to account for any uncertainty that may arise due to the lack of tight synchronization.
US09048932B2

A method and apparatus reduces the likelihood of packet loss when an OFDMA transceiver and synchronous frame-based transceiver are operating on the same device. More specifically, a method protects reception of Bluetooth signals (such as reception of slave device signals) from co-existence interference caused by co-located OFDMA transceiver transmissions. The method receives a transmission-enable (TXE) signal indicating that the OFDMA transceiver is transmitting, determines an estimated transmission-enable (TXE′) signal indicating when the OFDMA transceiver is expected to be transmitting in the future, and sends the TXE′ signal to the Bluetooth transmitter to shut down Bluetooth transmissions when a transmission is expected to be sent from the OFDMA transceiver.
US09048925B2

A method and a device for processing data has data transmitted from a first network component to at least one second network component via at least two lines. According to the novel method the data to be conveyed via the at least two lines is distributed within at least one frame.
US09048921B2

One exemplary receiver for a wireless communication system includes signal processing components arranged to generate a receiver output according to a radio frequency (RF) signal. The signal processing components include amplifiers having a class-AB biased amplifier included therein. The signal processing components are disposed in a chip, and the class-AB biased amplifier is an amplifier which processes a signal corresponding to the RF signal before any other amplifier included in the chip. The class-AB biased amplifier has a first amplifier block, a bias circuit and a second amplifier block. The first amplifier block is arranged to receive an input at the input port and generating a first output. The bias circuit is arranged to bias the first amplifier block for a class-AB operation. The second amplifier block is arranged to generate an output at the output port according to the first output.
US09048910B2

This invention is codebook sub-sampling of the reporting of RI, CQI, W1 and W2. If CSI mode 1 is selected RI and W1 are jointly encoded using codebook sub-sampling in report 1. If CSI mode 2 is selected W1 and W2 are jointly encoded using codebook sub-sampling in report 2.
US09048909B2

Disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention is a method for transmitting channel state information and device thereof. By applying the technical schemes of the embodiment of the present invention, in a LTE-A system using PUCCH reporting mode 1-1, in a situation where PMI feedback for 8 antenna ports is needed to be reported in a sub-frame and PUCCH capacity is limited, therefore codebook compression is required, a corresponding relationship definition of the pre-coding matrix indicator information or the pre-coding matrix indicator information pair and the codebook index or the codebook index pair after codebook compression is provided, thus realizing the feedback and receiving of channel state information between a base station and terminal equipment.
US09048897B2

A cooperative multi-user multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) system coordinates spatially distributed network transceiver nodes for communicating with wireless client devices. A MIMO processor pre-codes data for transmission from the network transceiver nodes, wherein the pre-coding comprises subspace coding derived from channel measurements between the network transceiver nodes and the wireless client devices. A network controller coordinates the network transceiver nodes to transmit simultaneous non-interfering channels within a common frequency to the wireless client devices such that each client device receives a subspace-coded transmission from each of the network transceiver nodes. The client devices and/or the network transceiver nodes may be selected based on channel state information and/or measured channel quality.
US09048895B2

Multi-user null data packet (MU-NDP) sounding within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. Within communication systems including multiple wireless communication devices (e.g., one or more APs, STAs, etc.), channel sounding of the selected communication links between the various wireless communication devices is performed. A MU-NDP announcement frame is transmitted to and received by various wireless communication devices indicating which of those wireless communication devices (e.g., one, some, or all) are being sounded. Then, respective NDP sounding frames are transmitted via the communication links corresponding to those wireless communication devices (e.g., one, some, or all) are being sounded, and sounding feedback signals are subsequently sent back to the original transmitting wireless communication device. In some instances, after transmission of the MU-NDP announcement frame, a clear to send (CTS) is sent from at least one of the wireless communication devices thereby precipitating the transmission of the NDP sounding frames.
US09048889B1

The present disclosure provides physical coding sublayer architectures that enable high-speed serial interfaces capable of operating at data rates ranging from 400 gigabits per second (Gbps) to 1 terabit per second (Tbps). A first embodiment relates to an architecture that provides an aggregated physical coding sublayer (PCS) that provides multiple virtual lanes. A second embodiment relates to an architecture that has a channel-based PCS and provides an aggregation layer above the PCS channels. A third embodiment relates to an architecture that, like the second embodiment, has a channel-based PCS and provides an aggregation layer above the PCS channels. However, each channel-based PCS in the third embodiment provides multiple virtual lanes. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.
US09048884B2

A wireless local area network magnetic communications system comprising a plurality of portable interdependent satellite magnetic transceivers each connected to a respective computer module enclosed in a chassis, wherein a base system containing a magnetic transceiver communicates with the satellite transceivers having associated antennas for transmitting and receiving magnetic signals via a wireless network protocol.
US09048881B2

The present invention provides a method of time-synchronized data transmission in induction type power supply system, comprising timers and programs installed in a supplying-end module and a receiving-end module to predict the time for generating the trigger signal at the receiving-end end and perform steps for detecting signals to avoid omission. Under the condition of high power transmission, power output on the supplying-end coil is pre-reduced prior to the time expected for receiving trigger data, making the main carrier wave amplitude decrease in a short time period. In every process of data transmission, timers are mutually calibrated and synchronized again to transmit power without detecting and receiving in the period when no data are expected to be transmitted, thus preventing interference of power load noise and enabling the induction type power supply system to transmit data code stably.
US09048869B2

An encoder and decoder using LDPC-CC which avoid lowering the transmission efficiency of information while not deteriorating error correction performance, even at termination; and an encoding method of the same. A termination sequence length determining unit determines the sequence length of a termination sequence transmitted added to the end of an information sequence, according to the information length (information size) and encoding rate of the information sequence. A parity calculation unit carries out LDPC-CC coding on the information sequence and the known-information sequence necessary for generating a termination sequence of the determined termination sequence length, and calculates a parity sequence.
US09048863B2

A slope compensation module provides slope compensation of a switched-mode power supply using current mode control. This slope compensation function may be provided by a digital slope compensation generator and a pulse density modulated digital-to-analog converter (PDM DAC) having a selectable response mode low pass filter.
US09048860B1

An apparatus relating generally to an analog-to-digital converter (“ADC”) is disclosed. In such an apparatus, the ADC is configured for successive approximations. The ADC includes a digital-to-analog converter (“DAC”), a comparator, and a control block. The DAC is coupled to receive a reference input signal and coupled to provide an analog output signal. The analog output signal is capacitively coupled to an analog input node through a capacitor. The capacitor is coupled between the DAC and the comparator to provide capacitive coupling therebetween. The comparator is coupled to the analog input node. The comparator is further coupled to provide a comparator output signal to the control block. The control block is configured for successive approximations to provide a digital output signal to a digital output node. The DAC is coupled to the digital output node to receive the digital output signal as a feedback input signal.
US09048856B2

Apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed such as those that operate to encode data bits transmitted on a plurality of channels according to at least one of multiple Data Bus Inversion (DBI) algorithms. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US09048846B2

A device includes a digital-to-time converter and an interpolator having a data input and a data output coupled to the digital-to-time converter. The interpolator may be configured to receive a converter control signal at the data input and to provide an interpolated converter control signal at the data output. An interpolation rate of the interpolator may depend on the converter control signal.
US09048844B2

A method and a system are described for controlling and stabilizing in time, as temperature changes, the frequency of a signal generated by a controllable oscillator (3), the method includes the steps of: measuring the frequency of the signal generated by the controllable oscillator (3) by using a first signal, whose duration is proportional to the length of a delay line (5) includes at least a first (7) and a second (9) delay line portions arranged in series and having a first (L1) and a second (L2) lengths, respectively; applying a frequency correction to the signal generated by the controllable oscillator (3) if the difference in frequency between the signal and the desired frequency value exceeds a predetermined threshold; providing the first portion of the delay line (5) by coupling a conductive material to a first dielectric material having a first negative gradient of its dielectric constant as a function of temperature; providing the second portion (9) of the delay line (5) by coupling or another conductive material to a second dielectric material having a second negative gradient of its dielectric constant as a function of temperature, the absolute value of the second gradient being greater than that of the first gradient; selecting the second length (L2) of the second delay line portion (9) in a manner such that the relation L2=(L1·ΔR1)/abs(ΔR2) is true, wherein ΔR1 and ΔR2 represent, respectively, a first and a second delay variations introduced by the first (7) and the second (9) line portions, and wherein said first delay variation (ΔR1) is smaller, for each Kelvin degree, than the thermal expansion coefficient of or another conductive material.
US09048836B2

Embodiments of radio frequency (RF) switching circuitry are disclosed that include (at least) a first switch and a body switching network operably associated with the first switch. The first switch has a first control contact, a first switch contact and a first body contact. The body switching network includes a first switchable path and a second switchable path. The first switchable path is connected between the first body contact and the first control contact of the first switch. Additionally, the second switchable path is connected between the first body contact and the first switch contact. Accordingly, the first body contact is can be appropriately biased by the switchable paths without requiring a resistor network and thus there is less loading. This maintains the Q factor of the RF switching circuitry.
US09048831B2

A system for regulating semiconductor devices may include a current regulator configured to regulate one or more currents provided to an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT). The current regulator may regulate the currents by generating a current profile based at least in part on a collector voltage value associated with the IGBT, a rate of collector voltage change value associated with the IGBT, or any combination thereof. The current profile may include one or more current values to be provided to a gate of the IGBT such that the current values are configured to limit the rate of collector voltage change to a first value. The current regulator may then send the one or more current values to a current source configured to supply the gate of the IGBT with one or more currents that correspond to the one or more current values.
US09048817B2

An apparatus for active feed forward electromagnetic interference (EMI) filtering, including, a noise detection and current reconstruction circuit that receives EMI noise occurring at a noise source, and noise voltage compensation circuit operatively coupled to the noise detection and current reconstruction circuits. The active feed forward circuit generates a noise voltage compensation signal based on the EMI noise reconstructed by the noise detection circuit.
US09048810B2

A piezoelectric vibration element includes a piezoelectric substrate including a thin vibration region and a thick section integrated along three sides excluding one side of the vibration region, excitation electrodes respectively arranged on the front and rear surfaces of the vibration region, and lead electrodes. The thick section includes a first thick section and a second thick section arranged to be opposed to each other across the vibration region and a third thick section connected between proximal ends of the first and second thick sections. The second thick section includes an inclined section connected to the one side of the vibration region, a second thick section main body connected to the other side of the inclined section, and at least one slit for stress relaxation.
US09048808B2

A semiconductor package includes a package substrate; an integrated circuit chip formed on one surface of the package substrate; and a sealed quartz oscillator formed on at least one of an inside, one surface, and the other surface of the package substrate, wherein the sealed quartz oscillator includes a substrate, a quartz blank formed on one surface of the substrate, and a sealing cap covering at least one surface of the quartz blank and including metal.
US09048801B2

Apparatus and methods for buffer linearization are provided. In certain implementations, an amplifier includes a buffer circuit and a gain circuit. The buffer circuit includes a buffer transistor pair used to buffer a differential input signal to generate a differential buffered signal. Additionally, the gain circuit includes a gain transistor pair configured to amplify the buffered differential signal to generate an amplified differential signal. The buffer circuit can include a linearization transistor pair configured to decrease the buffer circuit's output impedance and to provide feedback that reduces changes in the voltage of the differential buffered signal in response to displacement currents associated with the CJC or CGD capacitances of the gain transistor pair.
US09048797B2

A remote radio head unit (RRU) system is disclosed. The present invention is based on the method of adaptive digital predistortion to linearize a power amplifier inside the RRU. The power amplifier characteristics such as variation of linearity and asymmetric distortion of the amplifier output signal are monitored by a wideband feedback path and controlled by the adaptation algorithm in a digital module. Therefore, embodiments of the present invention can compensate for the nonlinearities as well as memory effects of the power amplifier systems and also improve performance, in terms of power added efficiency, adjacent channel leakage ratio and peak-to-average power ratio. The present disclosure enables a power amplifier system to be field reconfigurable and support multi-modulation schemes (modulation agnostic), multi-carriers, multi-frequency bands and multi-channels. Consequentially, the remote radio head system is particularly suitable for wireless transmission systems, such as base-stations, repeaters, and indoor signal coverage systems.
US09048796B2

A transmission signal power control apparatus includes a power amplifier model unit which generates a learning digital signal by multiplying part of a predistortion signal by model coefficients which tentatively represent the input-output characteristics of a power amplifier, and an adaptive low-pass filter which generates a pseudo feedback signal by attenuating the high frequency components of the learning digital signal by multiplying the learning digital signal by weighting coefficients. Then, the power amplifier model unit updates the model coefficients such that the error between the feedback signal whose the high frequency components are attenuated by the low-pass filter and which is digitized, and the pseudo feedback signal is minimized, and the adaptive low-pass filter updates the weighting coefficients such that the error is minimized.
US09048791B2

A pulse width modulation (PWM) amplifier includes a first amplifier stage, a second amplifier stage, and a gain module. The first amplifier stage is configured to amplify an analog input signal in the analog and digital domains using a first pulse width modulation (PWM) generator, to provide a first stage output for coupling to a load. The gain module is configured to amplify a quantization error of the first PWM generator by a predetermined gain. The second amplifier stage is configured to spectrally shape and attenuate the amplified quantization error of the first PWM generator using a second PWM generator, to provide a second stage output for coupling to the load.
US09048788B2

In a semiconductor device, power consumption is reduced. Further, a standby circuit is formed of a few elements, and thus increase in the circuit area of the semiconductor device is prevented. The standby circuit provided in the semiconductor device is formed of only one transistor and voltage supplied to the transistor is switched, whereby output current of the semiconductor device is controlled. As a result, the output current of the semiconductor device in a standby state can be substantially zero, so that the power consumption can be reduced. By using an oxide semiconductor for a semiconductor layer of a transistor, leakage current can be suppressed as low as possible.
US09048784B2

A system and method for data communication over a cellular communications network that allows the transmission of digital data over a voice channel using a vocoder that monitors parameters of a Levinson Durbin recursion and then uses full rate CELP if the monitored prediction error falls to below a predetermined threshold within a pre-selected number of iterations of the recursion. The system and method encode digital data to be transmitted using a continuous signal modulation technique at a selected bit rate and one or more frequencies that are selected such that the resulting modulated carrier signal is processed by the vocoder using full rate CELP as a result of the monitored prediction error.
US09048769B2

The motor driving circuit includes a first converting circuit that outputs an analog voltage proportional to a rotational speed of a motor, a differential voltage calculating circuit that calculates a differential voltage between the analog voltage and a rotation instruction voltage that prescribes the rotational speed of the motor and outputs a differential voltage signal including information on the differential voltage, a duty controlling circuit that outputs, based on the differential voltage signal, a duty controlling signal including information on a control duty that controls a duty of a PWM signal so as to bring the differential voltage between the rotation instruction voltage and the analog voltage close to zero, and a motor driving waveform controlling circuit that generates the PWM signal in response to a signal based on the duty controlling signal and that outputs the PWM signal.
US09048766B2

Controlling a synchronous electric machine includes determining a rotor field current of a wound rotor of the synchronous electric machine and determining a time-rate change in field flux linkage. A rotor field voltage is determined based upon the time-rate change in the field flux linkage, and a rotor field resistance is determined based upon the rotor field voltage and the rotor field current. A rotor temperature is determined based upon the rotor field resistance. Operation of the synchronous electric machine is controlled responsive to a torque command and the rotor temperature.
US09048763B2

The invention relates to a control circuit (3) for an electric motor, in particular for driving a windshield wiper, including a control means (16) comprising an output for controlling the electric motor, the control means being capable of varying the angle of the motor between a given minimum value and maximum value. In particular, the control means (16) comprises an input for receiving a speed set point and is capable of controlling the angular speed of the motor according to the speed set point, the control circuit likewise including a set point means (14) comprising an input for receiving values of the angle of the motor and an output for providing a speed set point to the control means, the set point means (14) being capable of determining the speed set point from a continuous function of the motor angle. The invention likewise relates to a driving mechanism (2) for producing an alternating rotary motion comprising a circuit (3) such as described previously and an electric drive motor (4), as well as to a windshield wiper device (I) including at least one driving mechanism (2) such as described previously and an windshield wiper arm (5) driven by the driving mechanism.
US09048749B2

A power supply, a power control method and a display apparatus having the same, for controlling a standby mode, are provided. The power supply of an electronic apparatus includes: a rectifier configured to rectify a current of alternating current (AC) power input as input power, into a direct current (DC); a power factor correction (PFC) circuit configured to correct a power factor of a DC voltage converted by the rectifier; a switching circuit configured to convert the DC voltage output by the PFC circuit into a predetermined operating voltage and a standby voltage and supply the operating voltage and the standby voltage to the electronic apparatus; and an output controller configured to control the PFC circuit and the switching circuit to convert the DC voltage into the predetermined operating voltage and standby voltage by the switching circuit and supply the operating voltage and the standby voltage to the electronic apparatus.
US09048748B2

Systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed for broadband AC to DC conversion. In one aspect, a power conversion apparatus for providing direct current (DC) based at least in part on an alternating current is provided. The power conversion apparatus includes a first rectifier circuit configured to rectify the alternating current to a first direct current. The power conversion apparatus further includes an averaging circuit configured to average the first direct current received from the first rectifier circuit and to provide a second direct current. The power conversion apparatus further includes a second rectifier circuit configured to rectify the alternating current to a third direct current. The direct current is derived from the second direct current and the third direct current.
US09048747B2

A startup circuit delivers regulated startup current to a control IC in a switched-mode power supply (SMPS) system, and automatically disconnects the startup current when the SMPS Control IC starts switching the transformer or inductor used as the energy storage element in the SMPS system. Disconnection of the startup current may be triggered by detecting a time-varying voltage waveform on an accessible node in the SMPS system, or by detecting an increased current consumption by the SMPS Control IC, without requiring any ground reference to the SMPS Control IC, nor without requiring any logic signals generated by the SMPS Control IC. This provides for rapid and predictable startup of an SMPS Control IC and reduced power loss once the SMPS Control IC is operational, and is independent of the operating voltages of the SMPS control IC, and independent of the particular control scheme and switch topology of the SMPS system.
US09048744B2

A method and apparatus for controlling resonant converter power production. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining accumulated charge processed by a resonant converter; dynamically determining a level of the accumulated charge that generates a predetermined output power; and controlling a switching cycle of the resonant converter based on the level of the accumulated charge.
US09048743B2

An adapter for electrical power that includes a rectifier coupled to a transformer with a primary coil and a secondary coil. The secondary coil includes a first end tap, a second end tap, and a center tap. A first switch is coupled between the first end tap and a primary side ground. A second switch is coupled between the second end tap and the primary side ground. A controller is coupled to the first switch and to the second switch so that during one or more intervals, the first switch and the second switch are alternately open and closed a predetermined number of times, wherein the initial switch closed each interval alternates between the first switch and the second switch, and after the predetermined number of times, both the first switch and the second switch are opened for a predetermined time period.
US09048742B2

System and method for regulating a power conversion system. For example, a system controller includes a signal generator and one or more power-consumption components. The signal generator is configured to receive a feedback signal related to an output signal of the power conversion system, a current sensing signal and an input voltage, and to generate a control signal based on at least information associated with the feedback signal, the current sensing signal and the input voltage. The power-consumption components are configured to receive the control signal. The signal generator is further configured to determine whether the feedback signal is smaller than a feedback threshold for a first predetermined period of time, the current sensing signal is smaller than a current sensing threshold for a second predetermined period of time, and the input voltage is smaller than a first threshold for a third predetermined period of time in magnitude.
US09048741B2

A primary side resonant circuit is formed by a primary side resonant inductor and a primary side resonant capacitor, and secondary side resonant circuits are formed by secondary side resonant inductors and secondary side resonant capacitors. Equivalent mutual inductances and equivalent mutual capacitances are formed through electromagnetic field resonant coupling between a primary winding and secondary windings, and a multi-resonant circuit including an LC resonant circuit formed in each of the primary side and the secondary side is formed. Electric power is transmitted from the primary side circuit to the secondary side circuit, and resonant energy that is not transmitted from the primary winding and, of energy which the secondary winding has received, resonant energy that is not supplied to an output are each retained in the multi-resonant circuit.
US09048723B2

An active feedback control integrated circuit applied to an alternating current/direct current converter includes a feedback pin, an operation unit, a control unit, and a controlled-current generation unit. The feedback pin is used for receiving a feedback current of an output feedback unit of the alternating current/direct current converter. The operation unit is used for generating an operation signal according to the feedback current. The control unit is coupled to the operation unit for generating a current control signal. The controlled-current generation unit is coupled to the control unit for generating a controlled current to the feedback pin according to the current control signal.
US09048722B2

The present application discloses a current equalizing busbar for a converter comprising: a direct current busbar connected to a DC terminal of the converter and positive terminals and negative terminals of respective power modules; and an alternate current busbar connected to AC terminals of the respective power modules and a load; wherein, when the converter operates, a sum of an inductance caused by the DC busbar between the DC terminal and a positive terminal or a negative terminal of a power module and an inductance caused by the AC busbar between the load and an AC terminal of the power module is equal to a sum of an inductance caused by the DC busbar between the DC terminal and positive terminals or negative terminals of other power modules and an inductance caused by the AC busbar between the load and AC terminals of said other power modules.
US09048716B2

In a motor, a magnetic sensor is provided on the lower surface of a substrate disposed above a magnetic sensor. On an upper surface of the substrate, a plate-shaped magnetic member is disposed at a position axially overlapping the magnetic sensor. The substrate and the magnetic member are fixed to each other at a plurality of fixing positions by axial tightening. On the upper surface of the magnetic member, a rib extending to connect the vicinity of one fixing position and the vicinity of another fixing position is provided. Flexure of the magnetic member is significantly reduced and prevented by this rib. For this reason, the direction of the magnetic flux of a magnet is concentrated on the magnetic sensor side. As a result, detection accuracy of the magnetic sensor is significantly improved.
US09048715B2

The rotor of the present invention is capable of improving magnetic characteristics, general versatility and ease of assembly. The rotor comprises: a rotor shaft; a ring-shaped rotor magnet being disposed coaxially with the rotor shaft; and a non-magnetic cover covering an outer circumference of the rotor magnet. The rotor magnet and the cover are integral-molded with molding resin in a state where an outer circumference of the cover is exposed and both end parts and an inner circumference of the rotor magnet are covered with the molding resin.
US09048706B1

An apparatus uses mechanical means to allow low volume, intermittent air or water or other energy sources to provide electrical power through a power train connected to an electrical generator.
US09048705B2

Provided is a wind power generating apparatus including a generating tower that has a wall surface in which a plurality of through-holes for inflow of wind are formed, wind inlet walls that protrude outwardly from the respective through-holes so as to guide the inflow of wind, a generating blade that rotates by means of the wind introduced into the generating tower, a generator that generates electricity in conjunction with the rotation of the generating blade, a wind inlet port formed through the respective through-holes formed in the wall surface of the generating tower, and a wind contact member, which is connected to an end of the generating blade, which has a triangular pyramid shape with an open front surface so as to extend the area pressurized by the wind introduced through the wind inlet port, and which has a flow channel dividing member arranged across the open front surface.
US09048698B2

A hoist with a regenerative resistor contains the following in a casing: a load-raising/lowering motor driven by an inverter control device and provided with a forced-cooling means; and a mechanism part containing a reduction mechanism part and a load sheave that uses power from the reduction mechanism part to take up and let out a chain. The load-raising/lowering motor, mechanism part, inverter control device, and regenerative resistor are distributed inside the casing to achieve a balance of weight about the center of gravity of the load applied when raising or lowering. Also, the inverter control device and the regenerative resistor are affixed to the casing, in close contact therewith, in parts of the casing separated from each other with the mechanism part therebetween.
US09048675B2

A charging circuit for a capacitor includes a current mirror module including a first branch circuit, a second branch circuit and a third branch circuit for supplying a plurality of output currents respectively, a switching module coupled to the first branch circuit and the second branch circuit for determining a conducting condition of the switching module according to the plurality of output currents from the first branch circuit and the second branch circuit, and an active loading circuit coupled to the third branch circuit and the switching module for adjusting a current passing through the active loading circuit according to the conducting condition of the switching module. The capacitor has one end coupled to the first branch circuit and the switching module to process a charging operation according to the output current of the first branch circuit.
US09048670B2

System and method are provided for transferring electrical energy among multiple electrical energy storage devices via a differential power bus and a capacitive load switched-mode power supply. The switched-mode power supply transfers the electrical energy between the load capacitor and the differential power bus to which the electrical energy storage devices (e.g., rechargeable batteries and/or capacitors connected in parallel or series or combinations of both) are electrically connected via bus switches. As a result, electrical energy is efficiently transferred and distributed among the electrical energy storage devices.
US09048669B2

Provided are a charge equalization apparatus and method for a battery string connected in series, and more particularly, are a charge equalization apparatus and method that efficiently perform charge equalization while reducing entire complexity and volume and lowering production costs through a configuration that an individual battery included in a battery string shares a single voltage sensing module and a single charge equalizing module; a switch block of a two-stage structure forms a current path for measuring voltage of individual batteries included in the battery string, and at the same time, forms a charging or discharging path of a low-charged or over-charged battery among the battery strings; and a switch device having low withstand voltage is used.
US09048664B2

An apparatus and article of manufacture for estimating loss rates of links in a smart grid include identifying end-to-end passage rates from a source to each of multiple receiver and/or load meters in a smart grid, and estimating a loss in at least one link of the grid by identifying the sparsest solution of link loss rates that matches the end-to-end passage rates. Also, a system includes a memory, a processor coupled thereto, and software modules executing on the processor, including a monitoring module for monitoring power flow of receiver and/or load meters in a smart grid, a measurement collector module for collecting measurements to compute end-to-end passage rates from a source to each receiver and/or load meter, and a processing module for estimating a loss in a link of the grid by identifying the sparsest solution of link loss rates matching the end-to-end passage rates.
US09048660B2

A short-circuit detecting apparatus and method of a heating system for a high voltage battery that includes a plurality of heaters, a short-circuited detection resistor, an A/D converter, and a Battery Management System (BMS). The plurality of heaters are connected to a high voltage battery to heat the high voltage battery. The short-circuit detection resistor is connected between the heaters to detect whether the heaters are short-circuited. The A/D converter is configured to sense a voltage applied across the short-circuit detection resistor. The BMS is configured to calculate a final operation value using the voltage applied across the short-circuit detection resistor and compare the final operation value with the value of battery pack voltage to detect whether the heaters are short-circuited.
US09048659B2

An energy storage subsystem includes a metal casing and an electrical storage system mechanically fastened within the metal casing and including at least one super-capacitor module having a plurality of super-capacitors linked together in series. The subsystem includes at least one electrical protection device configured to open an electrical circuit to link electrical ground to either the metal casing or the super-capacitor module.
US09048658B2

A method of suppressing propagation of leakage current in an array of switching devices. The method includes providing a dielectric breakdown element integrally and serially connected to a switching element within each of the switching device. A read voltage (for example) is applied to a selected cell. The propagation of leakage current is suppressed by each of the dielectric breakdown element in unselected cells in the array. The read voltage is sufficient to cause breakdown in the selected cells but insufficient to cause breakdown in the serially connected, unselected cells in a specific embodiment. Methods to fabricate of such devices and to program, to erase and to read the device are provided.
US09048657B2

A control circuit for an electric power circuit switch includes: a sampling/hold circuit section configured to sample a period of a detection signal of a current of an electric power system and provide a sampled signal; a discrete Fourier transforming (abbreviated as DFT) circuit section perform DFT on the one-period sampled signal to provide a magnitude and a phase of a frequency component of the current of the electric power system; a differentiator configured to differentiate the detection signal to provide a rate of change of the current over time; and a controller to determine whether to perform trip controlling according to the magnitude of the frequency component of the current from the DFT circuit section or the rate of change from the differentiator on the basis of the rate of change of the current and the reference rate of change.
US09048644B1

An electrical box assembly including an electrical box with an integral siding block and a collapsible cover assembly. The collapsible cover assembly includes a frame member and a while-in-use cover plate. The cover assembly includes cord openings that enable closing of the cover plate while electrical cords are connected to electrical outlets within the electrical box. When desired, the cover assembly may be collapsed upon the electrical box to lower the profile of the electrical box assembly in order to limit the distance the assembly extends from the wall.
US09048629B2

A semiconductor device is provided that has a VCSEL and a protection diode integrated therein and that has an additional intrinsic layer. The inclusion of the additional intrinsic layer increases the width of the depletion region of the protection diode, which reduces the amount of capacitance that is introduced by the protection diode. Reducing the amount of capacitance that is introduced by the protection diode allows the VCSEL to operate at higher speeds.
US09048620B2

A bi-section type GaN-based semiconductor laser device that has a configuration and a structure in which damage is less likely to be caused in a region in a saturable absorption region that faces a first light emission region is provided. The semiconductor laser device includes a first light emission region, a second light emission region, a saturable absorption region sandwiched by the foregoing light emission regions, a first electrode, and a second electrode. Laser light is emitted from an end face on a second light emission region side thereof. The second electrode is configured of a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. 1
US09048612B2

A laser light source module that does not emit laser light when taken out of a device or that does not emit laser light when the device is modified by removing a portion of the device is installed and used in a case and is provided with: a laser unit that includes a memory unit that stores a password and that operates when an input password that is entered matches a password stored in the memory unit; a password-setting mechanism that generates different data according to the state of the case; and a password-generating circuit that generates an input password that matches the password stored in the memory unit by means of data generated by means of the password-setting mechanism when the case is in a normal state.
US09048611B2

The present application discloses a wavelength conversion device. The wavelength conversion device includes a light source for generating excitation light, a laser medium for generating fundamental light from the excitation light, a resonator mirror for forming a resonator for the fundamental light in cooperation with the laser medium, and a wavelength convertor for converting wavelength from the fundamental light into harmonic light. The wavelength convertor includes a first end surface inclined by an angle θ from a surface orthogonal to an optical axis of the resonator and a second end surface parallel to the first end surface.
US09048610B2

The invention relates to an external cavity tunable laser with 25 GHz frequency interval. The laser comprise a laser cavity end mirror directly plated on a laser gain medium, and the laser gain medium, an intracavity collimating lens, an active optical phase modulator, a tunable acousto-optic filter and an intracavity total reflection mirror all arranged inside a laser cavity sequentially. The laser further comprises: an active polarization rotator arranged on the opposite side of the tunable acousto-optic filter from the intracavity total reflection mirror, a polarization beam splitter arranged behind the active polarization rotator, a first etalon, a first total reflection mirror, a second etalon, a second total reflection mirror, a drive source for the tunable acousto-optic filter, a pumping source for the laser gain medium, a drive source for the active optical phase modulator, a drive source for the active polarization rotator and a laser drive control circuit. The invention is compact with high performance, low cost for volume production and installation, achieves high spectral density, narrow spectral bandwidth and stable tunable laser output within a wide spectrum range.
US09048608B2

One aspect relates to an electrical bushing for use in a housing of an implantable medical device. The electrical bushing includes at least one electrically insulating base body and at least one electrical conducting element. The conducting element is set-up to establish, through the base body, at least one electrically conductive connection between an internal space of the housing and an external space. The conducting element is hermetically sealed with respect to the base body. The at least one conducting element includes at least one cermet. The cermet has a metal fraction in a range from 30% by volume to 60% by volume.
US09048599B2

A gripping member for a coaxial cable connector is disclosed. The gripping member has a front end and a rear end opposite the front end, and an outer surface and an inner surface defining a longitudinal hole extending between the front end and the rear end. A first portion of the gripping member terminates at the front end. A second portion of the gripping member terminates at the rear end and includes at least one notch which extends from the inner surface of second portion to a certain depth from inner surface. The gripping member is configured to be forced under a body of a coaxial cable connector when driven axially forward by a shell of a coaxial cable connector to secure a coaxial cable to the connector.
US09048597B2

Printed circuit substrates may be formed from rigid printed circuit material or flexible sheets of polymer. Printed circuit substrates may have conductive traces. Integrated circuits, touch sensor electrode structure, sensors, and other components may be mounted to the conductive traces. Connectors such as board-to-board connectors may be used to couple printed circuit substrates together. To hold the connectors together and to provide electromagnetic shielding, printed circuits and connectors may be surrounded by printed circuit connector securing structures. The printed circuit connector securing structures may have one or more strips of conductive fabric tape wrapped around the connectors. Metal stiffening members may be attached to opposing ends of the strip of conductive tape to facilitate removal of the tape for rework or repair. An additional strip of tape may be used to help secure the wrapped conductive tape. The additional strip may have a tab to facilitate removal.
US09048595B2

A retaining clip that provides a method for securing electrical connections between a male and female electrical connectors is disclosed. Current locking mechanisms are on both the electrical plug and the connector. These locking mechanisms often break when disconnecting the plug. Some embodiments of the present invention eliminate the need for the locking mechanisms. Furthermore, in cases where the mechanisms have been broken, some embodiments provide a method for reusing the electrical plug and/or the connector.
US09048588B2

A connecting apparatus for transmitting high-voltage current in a motor vehicle has a first connection element (4), a second connection element (6), a shielding housing (12) and fasteners (8, 10). The first connection element (4) has a housing (20) having a first insulating housing (21), a first contact (18) connected electrically to an internal conductor (16) of a cable (14), and a shielding arrangement (28) connected to a shield (30) of the cable (14). The shielding arrangement (28) is connected to the shielding housing (12) by a shielding part (32). The second connection element (6) has a second housing (41) having a second insulating housing part (42) with a second contact element (46) connected to a current line element. A weak-current contact arrangement creates a control circuit, and has a ring contact (52) and two spring contacts (60, 62).
US09048586B2

An earth connection for electrically and mechanically connecting a plurality of earth wires to a structure, in particular to an aircraft structure, comprising an angled element which element is formed in one piece and is made of electrically conductive material, which comprises a first and a second fastening portion. The first fastening portion is fastened to the structure and the second fastening portion comprises a plurality of electrical connections for connecting the earth wires. The electrical connections comprise socket contact elements which are formed so as to receive pin contact elements of the earth wires.
US09048585B2

An electrical connector assembly (600) comprising a shielding housing (20) and a socket (40), and a buckle (60) assembled to the shielding housing. The shielding housing has a horizontal passage (22) and an entrance (220) backwardly communicating the passage and forwardly opening for receiving a plug (80). The socket is used for mating with a front end of a plug inserted therein. The buckle has a front latch (62) movable between an open position where a plug inside the shielding housing is permitted to be pulled out and a closed position where the front latch blocks the entrance of the shielding housing so that a plug inside the shielding housing is blocked from being pulled out.
US09048583B2

An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing, a plurality of electrical signal contacts carried by the dielectric housing, and a ground plate carried by the dielectric housing. The electrical signal contacts are arranged along a first plane, wherein the signal contacts define signal pairs such that a respective gap is disposed between adjacent signal pairs. The signal contacts further define respective mating and mounting ends. The ground plate includes a ground plate body oriented in a second plane that is substantially parallel to the first plane and offset from the first plane. The ground plate body defines first and second opposed surfaces. The ground plate includes at least one rib that defines first and second opposed surfaces, wherein the first surface of the rib projects from the first surface of the ground plate body in a direction toward the gap, and the second surface is recessed into the second surface of the ground plate body. The ground plate further includes a plurality of mating ends and mounting ends extending from the ground plate body and disposed in the first plane so as to be aligned with the respective mating ends and mounting ends of the electrical signal contacts.
US09048579B2

A lever (4) mounted on a cover (3) is held at a standby position and, in that state, the cover (3) is fitted to a housing (1) in a connecting direction to a position where the cover (3) is not aligned with the housing (1). At this position, gear teeth of the lever (4) and rack teeth of sliders (2) do not interfere with each other and are not engaged. If the cover (3) is subsequently moved in a direction perpendicular to the connecting direction via a guiding action of the engagement of guide receiving portions (9) of the connector housing (1) and U-shaped guide portions (15) formed on the cover (3), the cover (3) is smoothly mounted at a proper mounting position. At this time, since the guide portions (15) vertically sandwich the guide receiving portions (9), upward detachment of the cover (3) is prevented.
US09048576B2

An electrical connector assembly comprises a primary connector housing, a mating connector housing, a primary lock, and a secondary lock. The primary lock is defined by both the primary connector housing and the mating connector housing. The secondary lock is supported by the mating connector housing and is arranged and configured for interacting with the primary lock so as to prevent the primary lock, when positioned in a locked position, from disengaging. The primary lock comprises a lock arm extending from the primary connector housing and a lock lever extending from the mating connector housing.
US09048573B2

An interconnect system (30, 100) includes a transceiver module assembly (105) that is mountable in an industrial receptacle (28, 103). The receptacle mates to an industrial optical connector (34) to form an environmentally sealed connection. The receptacle has an interior passageway (143, 162) and mating means (124) for attaching the module assembly. The module assembly includes a spring-loaded module cage (50) for receiving active devices (48), such as SFP transceivers. The spring-loaded module cage can adjust its position within the receptacle to accommodate different type of modules from various vendors. When attached to the platform, the module assembly is positioned so that the cage's open end is accessible through the receptacle's passageway. Users have the option of plugging/unplugging the transceiver module either through the passageway or by removing the module assembly from the receptacle.
US09048570B2

A USB socket having a receptacle that comprises first electrical connectors for receiving a USB plug having second electrical connectors that are configured for mating with the first electrical connectors further comprises at least an ejector. The ejector is electrically connected to a control unit for receiving a control signal. The ejector further having a pusher for pushing an inserted USB plug in the direction out of the receptacle to a position where the first electrical connectors are disconnected from the second electrical connectors. The pusher may be configured for activation of a push action as a consequence of receiving the control signal from the control unit.
US09048568B2

An easy-pull network connector includes a male connector body providing a resilient clip lockable to a mating female network connector, a protective jacket surrounding the male connector body, a bracket located at one end of the male connector body remote from the resilient clip, a pivotable hook pivotally mounted at the bracket and hooked on the resilient clip and biasable to release or press the resilient clip when the protective jacket is moved forwards or backwards relative to the male connector body. Thus, when the user pulls the protective jacket backward to press the resilient clip, the easy-pull network connector is disengaged from the mating female network connector.
US09048566B2

A cable assembly includes a connector, a cover enclosing the connector, a strain relief located on the rear end of the cover, a spring, and a cable. The cover includes a blocking. The strain relief is fixed by the blocking. The strain relief defines a through hole and a receiving cavity communicated with the through hole. The through hole has an inner diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the receiving cavity. A shoulder is formed between the through hole and the receiving cavity. The spring is received in the cavity, and has one end restricted by the shoulder and an opposite end restricted by the blocking. The cable is connected to the connector and runs through the spring and the through hole.
US09048555B2

A wire connector includes a connection box having two closed end walls spaced in a longitudinal direction. The connect box includes a compartment having first and second end walls spaced in a height direction. At least one partitioning wall extends from the second end wall toward but spaced from the first end wall, defining a gap. The at least one partitioning wall divides the compartment into a plurality of channels spaced in a width direction. The channels are respectively aligned with and in communication with through-holes in at least one of the closed end walls. Each channel has a first end at the first end wall and a second end at the second end wall. The first ends of the channels and the gap together define a flat receiving groove in which a conductive plate is received. An elastic pressing plate is received in each channel.
US09048554B2

An electrical connector for use with a circuit board including an insulating housing used to be fixed to a circuit board, a plurality of signal contacts arranged on the insulating housing along a longitudinal direction of the same, at least one ground contact provided in an arrangement of the signal contacts on the insulating housing, and a conductive shell member provided for covering partially a portion of the insulating housing and to be connected with a grounding portion of the circuit board, wherein the conductive shell member has a ground connecting reed-like portion formed thereon so as to correspond to the ground contact and both of the ground connecting reed-like portion of the conductive shell member and the ground contact are connected by means of soldering with the grounding portion of the circuit board.
US09048552B2

A connector (100) for making an electrical connection between two plates (110, 120) that are mechanically secured to one another, the connector comprising a first socket (50) for fixing to a first plate (110), a second socket (60) for fixing to a second plate (120), and a connector pin (150), the first and second sockets both comprising an aperture (55, 65) for receiving the connector pin (150), wherein the connector further comprises a first spring (161) for contacting between the connector pin and the first socket, and a second spring (162) for contacting between the connector pin and the second socket.
US09048538B2

A wireless communication device includes a housing and an antenna assembly. The antenna assembly includes a base board, a feed member electronically connecting with the base board to carry an electrical current, and a radio member including a first radio portion, the first radio portion defining a first slot. The radiator couples with the feed member, inducing an electrical current in the first radio portion. The radio member is electronically connected to the base board through the metal housing, enabling the induced electrical current to flow through the first radio portion, the metal housing, and the base board to form a current loop. The induced electrical current flows through the first slot to excite a first resonance mode, enabling the antenna assembly to receive/transmit a first wireless signal.
US09048537B2

An electronic device may have a conductive housing with an antenna window. A display cover layer may be mounted on the front face of the device. Antenna and proximity sensor structures may include a dielectric support structure with a notch. The antenna window may have a protruding portion that extends into the notch between the display cover layer and the antenna and proximity sensor structures. The antenna and proximity sensor structures may have an antenna feed that is coupled to a first conductive layer by a high pass circuit and capacitive proximity sensor circuitry that is coupled to the first conductive layer and a parallel second conductive layer by a low pass circuit. The first conductive layer may be formed from a metal coating on the support structure. The second conductive layer may be formed from patterned metal traces in a flexible printed circuit.
US09048535B1

A multi-frequency, noise optimized active antenna capable of transmit and receive operation consisting of one or several actively tuned antennas optimized over incremental bandwidths and capable of tuning over a large total bandwidth. One or several switches are integrated and provide the capability of operation of an active antenna for both transmit and receive functions. One or multiple impedance transformers are connected to the antennas at an optimal location, with the transformers acting to reduce the impedance for optimal coupling to a transceiver/receiver. Active components can be incorporated into the antenna structures to provide yet additional extension of the bandwidth along with increased optimization of antenna performance over the frequency range of the antenna. The radiating elements can be co-located with a ferrite material and/or active components coupled to the element to tune across a wide frequency range.
US09048528B1

Antenna structures of electronic devices and methods of operating the electronic devices with the antenna structures are described. One antenna structure includes a ground plane, a radio frequency (RF) feed, a first antenna element coupled to the RF feed, a second antenna element coupled to the RF feed and a third antenna element coupled to the ground plane at a grounding point. The third antenna element is at least partially disposed between the first and second antenna elements to form a first coupling between the first antenna element and the third antenna element, a second coupling between the second antenna element and the third antenna element and a third coupling between the second antenna element and the third antenna element.
US09048523B2

The RF MEMS crosspoint switch comprising a first transmission line and a second transmission line that crosses the first transmission line; the first transmission line comprises two spaced-apart transmission line portions, and a switch element that permanently electrically connects the two spaced-apart transmission line portions; the second transmission line crosses the first transmission line between the two spaced-apart transmission line portions; the RF MEMS crosspoint switch further comprises actuation means for actuating the switch element at least between a first position, in which the switch element is electrically connecting the two spaced-apart transmission line portions of the first transmission line and the first and second transmission lines are electrically disconnected, and a second position, in which the switch element is electrically connecting the two spaced-apart transmission line portions of the first transmission line and is also electrically connecting the two transmission lines together.
US09048522B2

A waveguide/planar line transducer of the present invention includes a waveguide that transmits electromagnetic waves through an opening portion, and a multiplayer substrate that includes a plurality of conductive layers. The multilayer substrate includes: a first conductive layer that is in close contact with the opening portion of the waveguide, and includes a first coupling hole provided at a position overlapping the opening portion of the waveguide when viewed in a plate thickness direction of the multilayer substrate; a strip electrode that is electromagnetically coupled to the first conductive layer, arranged on an opposite side to the first conductive layer in the plate thickness direction, and extending in one of a planar direction of the multilayer substrate; and a second conductive layer that is arranged between the first conductive layer and the strip conductor in the plate thickness direction, and includes a second coupling hole having a protuberance facing at least one of directions in which the strip electrode extends.
US09048518B2

A transmission line RF applicator apparatus and method for coupling RF power to a plasma in a plasma chamber. The apparatus comprises an inner conductor and one or two outer conductors. The main portion of each of the one or two outer conductors includes a plurality of apertures that extend between an inner surface and an outer surface of the outer conductor.
US09048512B2

The present invention relates to a nanosized electrochemical dispersion comprising essentially modified silica sol and at least one additive; also a process of preparing nanosized electrochemical dispersion, wherein the process comprises step of loading at least one additive to metalate modified silica sol to obtain the dispersion; in addition a rechargeable alkaline storage zinc battery comprising nanosized electrochemical dispersion consisting of essentially modified silica sol and at least one additive; further a method of manufacturing a rechargeable alkaline storage zinc battery, wherein the method comprises steps of adding a nanosized electrochemical dispersion consisting essentially modified silica sol and at least one additive into a conventional alkaline storage zinc battery to obtain a rechargeable alkaline storage zinc battery; and further a process to prevent dissolution of zinc in a battery, wherein the process comprises addition of nanosized aqueous electrochemical dispersion comprising essentially modified silica sol and at least one additive to the battery, and preventing the dissolution of zinc electrode in the battery.
US09048499B2

[Object]The invention provides catalysts that are not corroded in acidic electrolytes or at high potential and have excellent durability and high oxygen reducing ability.[Solution]A catalyst of the invention includes a metal oxycarbonitride that contains titanium and at least one metal (hereinafter, also referred to as “metal M” or simply “M”) selected from silver, calcium, strontium, yttrium, ruthenium, lanthanum, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium and lutetium.
US09048497B2

The described invention provides self-forming compositions as positive electrode materials. The described invention further provides electrode compositions related to an electrochemical energy storage cell comprising a metal, a glass former and lithium fluoride.
US09048494B2

An electrolytic manganese dioxide improved for tool wear reduction, methods for preparing the improved electrolytic manganese dioxide and for preparing a positive-electrode precursor, and a primary battery are provided. One method includes displacement-washing neutralized electrolytic manganese dioxide with a solution including a corrosion inhibitor configured to be at a first predetermined concentration. The method further includes drying the washed electrolytic manganese dioxide to collect improved electrolytic manganese dioxide including the corrosion inhibitor configured to be at a second predetermined concentration within the improved electrolytic manganese dioxide to minimize corrosion of a metal material in contact with the improved electrolytic manganese dioxide. The corrosion inhibitor includes one of a benzoate salt, a phosphate salt, a carbonate salt, a metaborate salt, a tetraborate salt, a metaperiodate salt, and a meta-aluminate salt.
US09048493B2

A cathode active material, a cathode including the cathode active material, and a lithium battery including the cathode. The cathode active material includes a lithium composite oxide and a lithium titanium oxide, wherein the lithium titanium oxide includes titanium having an average oxidation number of 4-y (0
US09048488B2

Active material for a negative electrode of a rechargeable zinc alkaline electrochemical cell is made with zinc metal particles coated with tin and/or lead. The zinc particles may be coated by adding lead and tin salts to a slurry containing zinc particles, a thickening agent and water. The remaining zinc electrode constituents such as zinc oxide (ZnO), bismuth oxide (Bi2O3), a dispersing agent, and a binding agent such as Teflon are then added. The resulting slurry/paste has a stable viscosity and is easy to work with during manufacture of the zinc electrode. Further, the zinc electrode is much less prone to gassing when cobalt is present in the electrolyte. Cells manufactured from electrodes produced in accordance with this invention exhibit much less hydrogen gassing, by as much as 60-80%, than conventional cells. The cycle life and shelf life of the cells is also enhanced, as the zinc conductive matrix remains intact and shelf discharge is reduced.
US09048486B2

A negative active material including: a composite including a matrix comprising silicon oxide, silicon carbide, and carbon and silicon particles dispersed in the matrix; and a carbon coating film formed on a surface of the composite, wherein an intensity ratio of a SiC peak to a Si peak in an X-ray diffraction spectrum is 1 or more, a method of preparing the negative active material, a negative electrode including the negative active material, and a lithium battery including the electrode.
US09048485B2

A lithium-ion secondary battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode containing an active material, and an electrolytic solution, in which the active material includes a core portion capable of occluding and releasing lithium ions, and a covering portion arranged on at least part of a surface of the core portion, in which the covering portion contains, as constituent elements, Si, O, and at least one element M1 selected from Li, C, Mg, Al, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ge, Zr, Mo, Ag, Sn, Ba, W, Ta, Na, and K, and the atomic ratio y (O/Si) of O to Si is 0.5≦y≦1.8.
US09048478B2

Proton-conducting polymer electrolyte membrane based on a polyazole salt of an inorganic or organic acid which is doped with an acid as electrolyte, wherein the polyazole salt of the organic or inorganic acid has a lower solubility in the acid used as electrolyte than the polyazole salt of the acid used as electrolyte, a process for producing the inventive proton-conducting polymer electrolyte membrane, a membrane-electrode assembly comprising at least two electrochemically active electrodes which are separated by a polymer electrolyte membrane, wherein the polymer electrolyte membrane is a proton-conducting polymer electrolyte membrane according to the invention, and a fuel cell comprising at least one membrane-electrode assembly according to the invention.
US09048476B2

The invention relates to a cover part (1) for a rechargeable battery, with the cover part (1) being produced from plastic and having at least one sleeve-like connecting socket (2) for making electrical contact with the rechargeable battery, with a lower section (26) of the connecting socket (2) being embedded in the plastic material of the cover part (1), wherein a plurality of sliding elements (3), which are in the form of strips and are separated from one another over the internal circumference of the connecting socket (2), are arranged on the inside of the connecting socket (2).
US09048472B2

A shut-down procedure for an electricity delivery system comprising a fuel cell, the cell being fed with pure oxygen as oxidant and delivering an electrical voltage to an electrical power line. The electricity delivery system comprises a fuel gas circuit on the anode side, and a pure oxygen circuit on the cathode side. The shut-down procedure comprises the steps of an initial step during which the oxygen gas feed is interrupted, and an electrical consumption phase during which a hold current is drawn from the fuel cell until the pressure in the oxygen circuit reaches the water vapor pressure.
US09048470B2

A fuel directing reaction device for a passive fuel cell comprises: a substrate, which has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side; a fuel reservoir, which is disposed on the first side of the substrate; a fuel introducing microfluidic channel portion, which is disposed on the first side of the substrate and connected with the fuel reservoir; a first rib array portion, which is disposed on the first side of the substrate, and connected with the fuel introducing microfluidic channel portion; a second rib array portion, which is disposed on the first side of the substrate, and connected with the first rib array; and a plurality of reaction holes, each of which is disposed on the open side of the V-shaped portion of the second ribs and extends through the substrate to connect the first side and the second side of the substrate.
US09048468B2

A membrane humidifier assembly for a membrane humidifier for a fuel cell system and a method for making the same is disclosed, the method comprising the steps of providing a material for forming a diffusion medium; forming a plurality of channels in the material with one of a channel-forming roller, a means for etching the material, and a press for forming the diffusion medium; and providing a pair of membranes, wherein the diffusion medium is disposed between the pair of membranes.
US09048463B2

A pouch-cell battery arrangement has a shrink sleeve covering (50), that surrounds the pouch (22) at least in places in an interlocking manner.
US09048460B2

A deposition apparatus is capable of checking, in real time, the thickness or uniformity of a thin layer which is formed. The deposition apparatus includes a moving unit to which a substrate is detachably fixed. A conveyer unit conveys the moving unit in a first direction or in an opposite direction to the first direction. A deposition unit includes at least one deposition assembly for depositing a deposition material on the substrate. A discharge data acquisition unit acquires data associated with the amount of the deposition material discharged per unit time from the at least one deposition assembly. A transmission unit transmits the data acquired by the discharge data acquisition unit.
US09048458B2

A method of fabricating a pixel structure for an organic light-emitting display (OLED) is disclosed. A substrate having at least a sub-pixel region is provided. An auxiliary electrode layer and an insulating layer are formed on the substrate in the sub-pixel region, wherein the insulating layer has an opening to expose the auxiliary electrode layer. A lower electrode layer, an organic light emission layer, and an upper electrode layer are formed on the substrate, wherein the organic light emission layer fills the opening in the insulating layer. Another opening is formed in the upper electrode layer and the organic light emission layer directly on the opening in the insulating layer by performing a laser process, such that the upper electrode layer and the auxiliary electrode layer are welded together through the opening in the upper electrode layer and the organic light emission layer.
US09048457B2

An organic EL display device including a substrate, a transparent electrode, a luminescent layer, and a metal electrode layer in this order from a light emission side, a circularly polarizing plate disposed on the light emission side of the substrate, the circularly polarizing plate including a polarizing film and phase difference films that stacked on each other. The phase difference film includes a resin composition (A) containing polystyrene-based polymer having a syndiotactic structure and polyarylene ether, a ratio of the polystyrene-based polymer having the syndiotactic structure with respect to the polyarylene ether in the resin composition (A) is 65:35 to 55:45, being a weight ratio of (the polystyrene-based polymer having the syndiotactic structure) with respect to (the polyarylene ether), the phase difference film satisfies a relation Re450
US09048456B2

An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) having first, second and third sub-pixels of different colors includes: a substrate; first and second electrodes; an organic emission layer (OEL) between the electrodes including a first OEL in the first sub-pixel, a second OEL in the second sub-pixel, and a common third OEL in the first, second and third sub-pixels; a hole transport layer (HTL) between the first electrode and OEL; a hole injection layer (HIL) between the first electrode and HTL; an intermediate layer between the HTL and HIL; a first optical thickness auxiliary layer (OTAL) between the first OEL and third OEL in the first sub-pixel and including a first hole transporting compound and a cyano group-containing compound; and a second OTAL including a second hole transporting compound between the third OEL and HTL in the first sub-pixel, and between the second OEL and HTL in the second sub-pixel.
US09048455B2

An encapsulation member is disclosed. The encapsulation member includes at least two organic material layers, at least two inorganic material layers and a light absorption layer pattern. The inorganic material layers and the organic material layers are stacked alternately. The light absorption layer pattern is disposed between one of the organic material layers and one of the inorganic material layers which immediately neighbor each other. The light absorption layer pattern includes a plurality of wires which extend in a first direction, and are arranged substantially parallel to each other.
US09048447B2

An organic light emitting display device with improved lifespan is disclosed. The organic light emitting display device includes first and second electrodes facing each other on a substrate, at least two light emitting units formed between the first and second electrodes, an N-type charge generation layer and a P-type charge generation layer sequentially stacked between the light emitting units, and at least one auxiliary charge generation layer formed between at least any one of the P-type charge generation layer and the N-type charge generation layer and an emitting layer of the light emitting unit disposed on an upper or lower portion of the at least any one thereof and generating electrons and holes supplied to the emitting layer of the light emitting unit.
US09048438B2

A tetraazaperopyrene compound of formula (I): wherein: R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 at each occurrence, independently are selected from H, Cl and Br, with the proviso that at least one of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 is Cl or Br, R9, R10, at each occurrence, independently are selected from H, a C1-30 alkyl group, a C1-30 haloalkyl group, a C6-14 aryl group, a heteroaryl group having 5 to 14 ring atoms, and a C7-20 arylalkyl group, wherein aryl, heteroaryl and arylalkyl can be optionally substituted with one or more halogen, C1-4 haloalkyl, —CN, —NO2, —CHO, —COOH, —CONH2, —CO(C1-14 alkyl), —COO(C1-14 alkyl), —CONHC(C1-14 alkyl) and —CON(C1-14 alkyl)2 groups.
US09048433B2

The invention relates to novel polymers containing one or more thieno[3,2-b]thiophene-2,5-dione and/or furo[3,2-b]furan-2,5-dionerepeating units or their thioketone derivatives, monomers and methods for their preparation, their use as semiconductors in organic electronic (OE) devices, especially in organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices, and to OE and OPV devices comprising these polymers.
US09048429B2

The present invention provides a method for enhancing optoelectronic properties of polymers that contain conjugated moieties in their molecular structures (hereby denoted as “conjugated polymers”), to be used in lighting, photovoltaics, other various optoelectronic devices and applications. The method of the present invention includes preparing a conjugated polymer layer or multiple conjugated polymer layers and imprinting the conjugated polymer layer or layers through the application of a mold or multiple molds.
US09048424B2

The method of manufacturing a semiconductor device selectively forms a resist film on the multilayer gate film and the gate side wall insulating film extending on the semiconductor substrate. An upper part of the gate side wall insulating film and the hard mask film selectively are removed by etching using the resist film as a mask so as to expose a surface of the metal film. the metal film and the barrier metal film adjoining the metal film are removed, by wet etching. After the removal of the resist film, embedding a space formed by removal of the metal film and the barrier metal film and depositing a pre-metal dielectric to a level higher than an upper surface of the remaining hard mask film. A top part of the pre-metal dielectric is planarized by CMP using the remaining hard mask film as a stopper.
US09048423B2

A memory storage device including a lower electrode formed to be separate for each of a plurality of memory cells; a memory storage layer formed on the lower electrode and capable of recording information according to a change in resistance; and an upper electrode formed on the memory storage layer. The memory storage device includes a first layer formed of metal or metal silicide and a second layer formed on the first layer and formed of a metal nitride, the lower electrode is formed by lamination of the first layer and the second layer and formed such that only the first layer is in contact with a lower layer and only the second layer is in contact with the memory storage layer, which is an upper layer. The memory storage layer and the upper electrode are formed in common to plural memory cells.
US09048421B2

Variable resistance memory devices and methods of forming the same are disclosed. The devices may include an additional barrier layer that is a portion of a variable resistance layer and that is formed before forming a horizontal electrode layer. Due to the presence of the additional barrier layer, it may be possible to cure loss or damage of the variable resistance layer.
US09048419B2

An arrangement that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy employs a base member and a cantilever member coupled thereto. The cantilever member has two piezoelectric layers with an air space therebetween. A proof mass is coupled to the cantilever member distal from the base member. The first and second piezoelectric layers are formed of lead zirconate titanate (PZT), and the output voltage of the cantilever member is proportional to the height of the air gap. A piezoresistive accelerometer that is useful for measuring mechanical vibration has a suspension beam and a piezoresistive layer be separated from the suspension beam. A method of monitoring an acoustic vibration utilizes a piezoresistive element having an air-spaced cantilever formed of a piezoelectric material in the vicinity of the system to be monitored and obtains an alternating voltage form the air-spaced cantilever of the piezoresistive element.
US09048414B2

A method of processing a nonvolatile memory device includes forming a first electrode, depositing a layer of sol-gel solution on the first electrode, hydrolyzing the layer of sol-gel solution to form a layer of variable electric resistance material, and forming a second electrode on the layer of variable electric resistance material.
US09048412B2

A magnetic memory device may include a first vertical magnetic layer, a non-magnetic layer on the first vertical magnetic layer, and a first junction magnetic layer on the non-magnetic layer, with the non-magnetic layer being between the first vertical magnetic layer and the first junction magnetic layer. A tunnel barrier may be on the first junction magnetic layer, with the first junction magnetic layer being between the non-magnetic layer and the tunnel barrier. A second junction magnetic layer may be on the tunnel barrier with the tunnel barrier being between the first and second junction magnetic layers, and a second vertical magnetic layer may be on the second junction magnetic layer with the second junction magnetic layer being between the tunnel barrier and the second vertical magnetic layer.
US09048411B2

A magnetic element is disclosed that has a composite free layer with a FM1/moment diluting/FM2 configuration wherein FM1 and FM2 are magnetic layers made of one or more of Co, Fe, Ni, and B and the moment diluting layer is used to reduce the perpendicular demagnetizing field. As a result, lower resistance x area product and higher thermal stability are realized when perpendicular surface anisotropy dominates shape anisotropy to give a magnetization perpendicular to the planes of the FM1, FM2 layers. The moment diluting layer may be a non-magnetic metal like Ta or a CoFe alloy with a doped non-magnetic metal. A perpendicular Hk enhancing layer interfaces with the FM2 layer and may be an oxide to increase the perpendicular anisotropy field in the FM2 layer. A method for forming the magnetic element is also provided.
US09048406B2

A curable silicone composition comprises: (A) an organopolysiloxane represented by an average unit formula; (B) an organopolysiloxane having 10 or less silicon atoms, wherein 30 to 60 mole % of all silicon atom-bonded organic groups are alkenyl groups having from 2 to 6 carbons; (C) an organopolysiloxane represented by a general formula; (D) an organopolysiloxane having at least 2 silicon atom-bonded hydrogen atoms in a molecule, wherein the content of phenyl groups in all silicon atom-bonded organic groups in this component is at least 20 mole %; (E) an organopolysiloxane having at least 2 silicon atom-bonded hydrogen atoms in a molecule, wherein the content of phenyl groups in all silicon atom-bonded organic groups in this component is less than 20 mole %; (F) a hydrosilylation reaction catalyst; (G) a white pigment; and (H) an inorganic filler other than a white pigment, has excellent formability for forming a cured product that has little discoloration and lowering of mechanical strength by heat and light, has high light reflectance, has excellent dimensional stability, and is capable of good attachment by a sealing agent used for an optical semiconductor device.
US09048397B2

A method of disposing a phosphor material on an LED such that the LED emits white light and adjusting the quantity of phosphor material such that the white light meets a color target. A formulated procedure is used to determine the adjustment required, and includes a correlation between a change in position of a color of an LED on a CIE diagram and a known quantity of phosphor material added to the LED.
US09048394B2

An exemplary light emitting diode (LED) package includes a substrate, a first electrode and a second electrode embedded in the substrate and spaced from each other, and an LED die mounted on a top surface of the substrate. The substrate also includes a bottom surface. Top ends of the first and second electrodes are exposed at the top surface of the substrate, and bottom ends of the first and second electrodes are exposed at the bottom surface of the substrate. An oxidation-resistant metal coating layer is formed on a top face of each of the first and second electrodes. The LED die is electrically connected to the first and second electrodes via the two oxidation-resistant metal coating layers.
US09048384B2

A steam generation apparatus 1 including a high-temperature pipe 10 disposed extending horizontally and through which a high-temperature fluid passes; low-temperature pipes 20 disposed on both sides of the high-temperature pipe 10 in a horizontal direction and through which a low-temperature fluid having a temperature lower than that of the high-temperature fluid passes; and a thermoelectric module 30 interposed between the high-temperature pipe 10 and each of the low-temperature pipes 20 for generating electrical power using a temperature difference between the high-temperature pipe 10 and the low-temperature pipes 20, the low-temperature pipes 20 being configured such that the supplied low-temperature fluid in a liquid form is turned into steam due to heat exchange with the high-temperature fluid and is discharged from an upper portion of the low-temperature pipes 20.
US09048365B2

A light-emitting diode device includes a base substrate including a plurality of quantum well layers, a first electrode on one side of the plurality of quantum well layers, and a second electrode on an opposite side of the plurality of quantum well layers. The device includes a tensile-stressing layer formed on the base substrate and having a thickness and chemical composition configured to generate a first tensile stress in the base substrate, the first compressive stress selected to cause the base substrate to have a predetermined band-gap.
US09048359B2

A solar cell module includes a plurality of solar cells arranged next to one another in a first direction orthogonal to a second direction. The solar cells each include a lower conductive layer, an upper conductive layer, and a power generating layer. Adjacent solar cells include edge portions overlapped and electrically connected with each other. Each of the solar cells further includes end processed regions at both ends thereof and a main power generating region in a middle portion thereof. The end processed regions prevent a short-circuit between the upper conductive layer and the lower conductive layer. The main power generating region performs photoelectric conversion. The edge portion of one of the adjacent solar cells overlaps from above with the edge portion of the other one of the adjacent solar cells within a range of the main power generating region of the other one of the adjacent solar cells.
US09048357B2

A semi-conducting structure, configured to receive an electromagnetic radiation and to transform the electromagnetic radiation into an electric signal, including: a first zone and a second zone of a same conductivity type and of same elements; a barrier zone, provided between the first and second zones, for acting as a barrier to majority carriers of the first and second zones on a barrier thickness, the barrier zone having its lowest bandgap energy defining a barrier proportion; and a first interface zone configured to interface the first zone and the barrier zone on a first interface thickness, the first interface zone including a composition of elements which is varied from a proportion corresponding to that of the first material to the barrier proportion, the first interface thickness being at least equal to half the barrier thickness.
US09048356B2

A photoelectric conversion device includes a first cell including a photoelectric conversion layer, a second cell over the first cell including a photoelectric conversion layer formed of a material having a wider band gap than that of the first cell, first and second electrodes under a surface of the first cell which is opposite to the second cell, and a third electrode over a surface of the second cell which is opposite to the first cell. The first and second cells each include a p-n or p-i-n junction, the first and second cells are in contact with each other and a p-n junction is formed in a contact portion therebetween, the first cell is electrically connected to the first and second electrodes to form a back contact structure, and the second cell is electrically connected to the third electrode.
US09048350B2

A sealed body in which sealing is uniformly performed is provided. A light-emitting module in which sealing is uniformly performed is provided. A method of manufacturing the sealed body in which sealing is uniformly performed is provided. The sealed body comprises a first substrate alternately provided with a high-reflectivity region with respect to the energy ray and a low-reflectivity region with respect to the energy ray so as to overlap with a sealant surrounding a sealed object, and a second substrate capable of transmitting the energy ray. The sealed object is sealed between the first substrate and the second substrate by heating the sealant with irradiation with the energy ray through the second substrate.
US09048328B2

A semiconductor device includes, a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of memory cells being provided on the semiconductor substrate in a memory cell region. Each of the plurality of memory cells having a first gate electrode disposed on the semiconductor substrate with a first gate insulating film, and the first gate electrode having a first charge storage layer, a first inter-electrode insulating film and a first control gate electrode film, and a cavity is interposed between an upper surface of the charge storage layer and the inter-electrode insulating film.
US09048315B2

A semiconductor device includes a pillar-shaped silicon layer and a first-conductivity-type diffusion layer in an upper portion of the pillar-shaped silicon layer. A sidewall having a laminated structure including an insulating film and polysilicon resides on an upper sidewall of the pillar-shaped silicon layer. A top of the polysilicon of the sidewall is electrically connected to a top of the first-conductivity-type diffusion layer and has the same conductivity as the diffusion layer.
US09048308B2

A rectifier building block has four electrodes: source, drain, gate and probe. The main current flows between the source and drain electrodes. The gate voltage controls the conductivity of a narrow channel under a MOS gate and can switch the RBB between OFF and ON states. Used in pairs, the RBB can be configured as a three terminal half-bridge rectifier which exhibits better than ideal diode performance, similar to synchronous rectifiers but without the need for control circuits. N-type and P-type pairs can be configured as a full bridge rectifier. Other combinations are possible to create a variety of devices.
US09048281B2

A semiconductor device satisfies the condition Db≦(⅓)×Da, in which Da represents a distance between a top surface of a cathode segment and an end of an embedded gate segment facing an anode segment, and Db represents a distance between a highest-impurity concentration portion in the embedded gate segment and an end of the cathode segment facing the anode segment.
US09048280B2

A vertical heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) includes doped polysilicon having a doping of a first conductivity type as a wide-gap-emitter with an energy bandgap of about 1.12 eV and doped single crystalline Ge having a doping of the second conductivity type as the base having the energy bandgap of about 0.66 eV. Doped single crystalline Ge having of doping of the first conductivity type is employed as the collector. Because the base and the collector include the same semiconductor material, i.e., Ge, having the same lattice constant, there is no lattice mismatch issue between the collector and the base. Further, because the emitter is polycrystalline and the base is single crystalline, there is no lattice mismatch issue between the base and the emitter.
US09048276B2

An apparatus and method are provided for selecting materials for forming an electrostatic clamp. The electrostatic clamp has a backing plate having a first coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein the backing plate provides structural support and rigidity to the electrostatic clamp. The electrostatic clamp further has a clamping plate having a clamping surface associated with contact with a workpiece, wherein the clamping plate has a second coefficient of thermal expansion associated therewith. The clamping plate is bonded, attached or grown to the backing plate, wherein minimal deflection of the clamping plate is evident across a predetermined temperature range. The first coefficient of thermal expansion and second coefficient of thermal expansion, for example, are substantially similar, and vary by no greater than a factor of three.
US09048275B2

In a transport system, a positioning hole is provided in an undersurface of a container. A positioning protrusion corresponding to the positioning hole of the container is provided on a first load port of a manufacturing device. When a transport vehicle places the container onto the first load port, the placement position of the container is established by having the positioning protrusion of the first load port fit into the positioning hole. A second load port different from the first load port of the manufacturing device is provided on a storage device. A positioning protrusion is not provided on the second load port. A slip prevention member is provided on an upper surface of the second load port.
US09048272B2

The disclosure relates to trays for the handling and shipping of computer chips, or similar microelectronic devices. The tray include a series of channels, each extending along a width of the tray. The channels include such devices as pins and clips for securing a thermoformed tape. The thermoformed tape includes pockets for storing the various computer chips, or similar microelectronic devices.
US09048271B2

Disclosed is a modular semiconductor substrate processing system (1), including a plurality of independently operable substrate processing units (100). Each unit (100) comprises a reactor module (104) and a substrate transfer module (102). Within the system (1), the substrate transfer modules (102) of the different units (100) are serially interconnected such that substrates (116) may be exchanged between them. Exchange of substrates (116) between neighboring processing units (100) is facilitated by a shared substrate hand-off station (130) that is associated with each pair of neighboring processing units. The actual transfer of substrates is performed by a substrate handling robot (122), which may preferably be of the SCARA-type.
US09048269B2

Disclosed is a liquid treatment apparatus for processing a lower surface of the substrate. The apparatus includes a first nozzle disposed below a lower surface of the substrate retained by the substrate retaining unit to eject a treatment liquid towards the lower surface of the substrate, the first nozzle having a plurality of first ejection ports, which are arrayed from a position opposing a central portion of the substrate retained by the substrate retaining unit to a position opposing a peripheral portion of the substrate retained by the substrate retaining unit. An ejecting direction of the treatment liquid ejected from the first ejection port is inclined towards a rotation direction of the substrate rotated by the rotational driving unit.
US09048248B2

Some embodiments herein relate to a transmitter. The transmitter includes an integrated circuit (IC) package including a first antenna configured to radiate a first electromagnetic signal therefrom. A printed circuit board (PCB) substrate includes a waveguide configured to receive the first electromagnetic signal and to generate a waveguide signal based thereon. A second antenna can be electrically coupled to the waveguide and can radiate a second electromagnetic signal that corresponds to the waveguide signal. Other devices and methods are also disclosed.
US09048239B2

A semiconductor device comprising a plurality of semiconductor chips and a plurality of through-line groups is disclosed. Each of the through-line groups consists of a unique number of through-lines. The numbers associated with the through-line groups are mutually coprime to each other. When one of the through-lines is selected for the each through-line group, one of the semiconductor chip is designated by a combination of the selected through-lines of the plurality of the through-line groups.
US09048234B2

A microelectronic assembly includes first and second stacked microelectronic elements, each having spaced apart traces extending along a front face and beyond at least a first edge thereof. An insulating region can contact the edges of each microelectronic element and at least portions of the traces of each microelectronic element extending beyond the respective first edges. The insulating region can define first and second side surfaces adjacent the first and second edges of the microelectronic elements. A plurality of spaced apart openings can extend along a side surface of the microelectronic assembly. Electrical conductors connected with respective traces can have portions disposed in respective openings and extending along the respective openings. The electrical conductors may extend to pads or solder balls overlying a face of one of the microelectronic elements.
US09048233B2

A package system includes an integrated circuit disposed over an interposer. The interposer includes a first interconnect structure. A first substrate is disposed over the first interconnect structure. The first substrate includes at least one first through silicon via (TSV) structure therein. A molding compound material is disposed over the first interconnect structure and around the first substrate. The integrated circuit is electrically coupled with the at least one first TSV structure.
US09048229B2

A printed wiring board includes a core substrate, an electronic component accommodated in the substrate, a first buildup layer laminated on first surface of the substrate and including the outermost interlayer resin insulation layer and the outermost conductive layer formed on the outermost interlayer resin insulation layer of the first buildup layer, and a second buildup layer laminated on second surface of the substrate and including the outermost interlayer resin insulation layer and the outermost conductive layer formed on the outermost interlayer resin insulation layer of the second buildup layer. The outermost interlayer resin insulation layer of the first buildup layer has thermal expansion coefficient which is set lower than thermal expansion coefficient of the outermost interlayer resin insulation layer of the second buildup layer.
US09048228B2

A system and method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: a leadframe having a side solderable lead with a half-etched lead portion and a lead top side; a mold body directly on the leadframe and the side solderable lead, the lead top side of the side solderable lead exposed from the mold body; a mold groove in the mold body and in a portion of the side solderable lead for exposing a lead protrusion of the side solderable lead on an upper perimeter side of the mold body; and the half-etched lead portion exposed from a lower perimeter side of the mold body.
US09048227B2

A semiconductor device includes a metal substrate, semiconductor elements, wires, a control terminal, a main electrode terminal, a control substrate, a cover, a sealing resin, a case, and an insulator. The metal substrate includes a metal plate, an insulating layer formed on the top surface of the metal plate, and electrode patterns provided on the insulating layer. The semiconductor elements are secured to different ones of the electrode patterns by solder. The sealing resin seals the components within the case, such as the semiconductor elements. The insulator covers a portion of the surface of the insulating layer and at least a portion of the edge of each electrode pattern.
US09048224B2

According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: first and second stacked bodies, first and second semiconductor pillars, a connection portion, a memory film, and a partitioning insulating layer. The stacked bodes include electrode films stacked along a first axis and an inter-electrode insulating film provided between the electrode films. Through-holes are provided in the stacked bodies. The semiconductor pillars are filled into the through-holes. The connection portion electrically connects the semiconductor pillars. The memory film is provided between the semiconductor pillars and the electrode films. The partitioning insulating layer partitions the first and second electrode films. A side surface of the first through-hole on the partitioning insulating layer side and a side surface of the second through-hole on the partitioning insulating layer side have a portion parallel to a plane orthogonal to a second axis from the first stacked body to the second stacked body.
US09048214B2

In one embodiment, a structure for a semiconductor device has trench shield electrodes formed above and below a gate electrode. The structure can be configured to function as a bidirectional power field effect transistor.
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