US09272611B2
A sealing strand for adhesively bonding to a vehicle body, in particular to a body flange protruding from a vehicle body, uses a device for attaching the sealing strand to the vehicle body, in particular to the body flange, prior to the adhesive bonding. In particular, the device for attaching the sealing strand in a starting position is used for the adhesive bonding with the aid of an application device which exerts contact pressure.
US09272610B2
A roll-up tarp apparatus for attachment to an open top truck trailer having a truck box, having end caps at each end that partially cover the top opening. Preferred embodiments include at least one magnet on at least one of the end caps; even more preferably, a plurality of magnets along each end of the end caps, which are configured to releasably secure the flexible tarp to the end cap when the flexible tarp is in the secured position. Preferably, the flexible tarp is wound around an elongated roll bar that is secured to at least one arm that connects the elongated roll bar to the truck box and selectively activates movement of the elongated roll bar to move the flexible tarp from an open position to a secured position. Various embodiments include biasing members to bias the arm(s).
US09272594B2
An aft suspension system for a pickup truck comprises four corner assemblies, where one corner assembly is located at a suspension position corresponding to each of the wheel corners for the vehicle. An air supply unit includes a reservoir, a compressor, and an ECU is fluidly connected to the corner assemblies. The air supply unit is capable of independently adjusting the corner assemblies from one another. The air suspension system is operable to place the corner assemblies in a unloading position or a trailer, which corresponds to two of the corner assemblies in raised positions and the other of the two corner assemblies located in lowered positions to create a maximum height differential between the front and rear corner assemblies.
US09272592B1
A tow hook connection system which may be universally and efficiently secured to a vehicle in a manner which reduces the risk of damaging the vehicle. The tow hook connection system generally includes a spread bar, a first connector, a second connector, and a tow member. The first and second connectors are adapted to be secured to a vehicle. The spread bar is secured between the first and second connectors, such as by fasteners and/or nuts. A tow member having a tow loop may be fixedly or removably secured to the spread bar. By connecting an object to the tow loop, the force of towing may be spread between the first and second connectors by the spread bar to reduce the risk of damage to the vehicle while towing.
US09272586B2
A valve stem-based air maintenance tire assembly and method of operation is provided employing a tire mounted air pumping system, The assembly includes a rim-mounted pressure regulator positioned within a tire cavity opposite an inward end of a tire valve stem to selectively open and close pressurized air flow from a valve stem internal passageway into the tire cavity. An elongate valve stem shaft is mounted within the valve stem air passageway and reciprocally moves axially to close off and open the valve stem air passageway to create or close a pressurized air path into the tire cavity as needed.
US09272582B2
A pneumatic tire has bead cores provided in bead portions. The bead cores include a first bead wire, and a second bead wire having an elongation α, where α(%)=ΔL/L×100, L is a length of each of the bead wires under no load, and ΔL is an elongation amount obtained when a unit load is applied. The elongation α of the second bead wire is greater than an elongation of the first bead wire. The number of the second bead wire provided in an innermost side portion in a tire radial direction is at least one.
US09272575B2
The knuckle-hub assembly includes a knuckle and a wheel bearing attached by a retainer. Both the knuckle and the retainer have recesses and the retainer is arranged in both recesses upon assembly. The retainer is generally ring-shaped and has a axial direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction. Near one end surface in the axial direction and the retainer has a union portion connected to one or more flange portions. The one or more flange portions may be a single flange portion angled relative to the axial direction. The one or more flange portions may include a first flange portion and a second flange portion that are angled relative to each other.
US09272565B2
An integral tab system for a 2-D or 3-D tab for a folder, and a method of making same is disclosed. The integral 2-D (flat) tab (20) is provided in the hanging folder itself without the need for additional tabs being affixed. The 3-D tab version (120) is created by an extension which is folded onto itself so that one edge surface is at an angle relative to the panels of the file folder allowing it to be read from the side. These tabs may also be supplied in a detachable form.
US09272560B2
Provided is a thermal transfer sheet capable of repressing residue that accumulates before insertion of a heating element of the thermal head. In the thermal transfer sheet, a heat-resistant lubricating layer is formed on a surface of the substrate, wherein the heat-resistant lubricating layer includes one or more of layers which include a back face layer, the back face layer is arranged at a position farthest from the substrate, at least one layer which composes the heat-resistant lubricating layer includes a binder resin and organic minute particles which each has a polygonal shape, and a portion of surfaces of the organic minute particles protrude from a surface of the back layer.
US09272559B2
In accordance with one embodiment, a color erasing apparatus capable of erasing the color of an image formed with a color erasable material on a sheet comprises a color erasing section configured to erase the color of an image formed on the sheet; a control panel configured to set a reading area of the sheet; and a reading section configured to read the image of the area set on the sheet and determine the state of the image erased by the color erasing section.
US09272557B2
Provided is an image forming method, including: applying a treatment liquid to a recording medium; and applying a recording ink to the recording medium. The treatment liquid is free from a colorant, and contains an organic acid salt or a cationic resin or both thereof, a water-soluble organic solvent, and water. The water-soluble organic solvent contains one or more selected from sodium poly-γ-glutamate, N-acyl fatty acid-sodium L-glutamate, sodium N-lauroyl-L-aspartate, and a compound represented by General Formula 1 below. The recording ink contains a colorant, a water-soluble organic solvent, a surfactant, a carboxyl group-containing resin, and water. where in General Formula 1 above, Ac represents an acetyl group, and R1 and R2 each represent a fatty acid residue having 8 to 14 carbon atoms.
US09272552B2
An untethered, arbitrary-surface printing device includes a housing, a print head, positioning means, locomotive means, and sensors configured to perform multi-pass high-precision printing (i.e. at least 300 dots per inch) on nearly any surface texture.
US09272551B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting head unit which has liquid ejecting heads that eject liquid; an in-head roller which abuts against a landing surface of an ejecting medium; and a frame which pivotally supports the in-head roller. The liquid ejecting head unit is provided to be able to ascend and descend with respect to the frame. In the liquid ejecting head unit, at least two head rows, each of which includes the liquid ejecting heads and a void aligned in a reference direction intersecting a transporting direction of the ejecting medium, are arranged in the transporting direction. The in-head roller is disposed at a position where at least a part of the in-head roller faces the void, in a direction which is orthogonal to the landing surface.
US09272549B2
A recording apparatus includes a medium support section that has a supply section supplying a continuous-shaped recording medium, a medium path through which the recording medium supplied on the supply section passes, and a transportation mechanism that transports the recording medium; and a recording section that performs recording on the recording medium passing through the medium path. A hole that is formed in a side wall having a light shielding property and capable of visually recognizing the inside of the medium path on the upstream side from the transportation mechanism in a transportation direction through the inside of the medium support section is provided in the medium support section.
US09272543B2
A printing device that prints on media held in a tray includes a first roller section including a first conveyance roller; a second roller section including a second conveyance roller and a pinch roller; and a printing section provided between the first and the second roller sections. Printing is performed on the top surface of the media in the printing section while the tray is being conveyed by the first and the second roller sections. The tray is such that friction surfaces having a coefficient of friction that is higher than that of the other portions of the tray are formed in portions that come in contact with the first conveyance roller when the tray is taken in by the first roller section and the tip end of the tray advances to a gripping section between the second conveyance roller and the pinch roller.
US09272538B2
The present invention relates improved device is provided for holding down textile the material on the platen of the digital printer. The inventive device includes a textile gripping material formed to define a border band on the periphery of the platen. The border material has a structure that engages/grips the textile and hold the textile in place. In operation, the textile is laid onto the platen surface and the edges are pulled taut to align the textile and remove wrinkles and the textile is next pressed onto the border material to be engaged by the border material. The border material grips and holds the textile in position, to provide a smooth textile surface on which the ink jets are applied. After the printing operation, the textile is lifted off of the border material and removed from the platen.
US09272535B2
This is disclosed a printer comprising a feeder, a printing head, a take-up body, and a print control portion. The feeder feeds a recording medium. The printing head forms desired print in a predetermined print area of the recording medium fed by the feeder. The take-up body sequentially takes up the recording medium on an outer circumference part with a tip end region of the recording medium positioned on downstream side in a transport direction than the print area connected to the outer circumference part and produces a roll-shaped printed matter. The print control portion controls the printing head so as to form a print part for preheating the printing head in a position that serves as a border between the tip end region and the print area of the recording medium.
US09272530B2
A droplet discharging method includes: forming a plurality of dots on a first region of a medium, on a second region which is positioned in a −Y direction from the first region, and on a third region which is positioned in the −Y direction from the second region. The dots are formed on the first region by using a first head, the dots are formed on the second region by using the first head and a second head so that a second head use ratio is increased from a value less than a first set value to a value greater than a second set value greater than the first set value in the −Y direction, and the dots are formed on the third region by using the first head and the second head to cause the second head use ratio to be constant.
US09272523B2
An inkjet printer includes a printhead having first and second ports; an ink container for supplying ink to the printhead, the ink container having a supply port and a return port; a first ink conduit interconnecting the supply port and the first port; a second ink conduit interconnecting the return port and the second port; an ink valve positioned in the first ink conduit; a first pump positioned in the second conduit; and a second pump positioned in a valve bypass conduit. The first and second pumps are employed during pressurized priming of the printhead so as to optimize a pressure gradient along a length of the printhead.
US09272522B1
A printing apparatus includes a main tank for containing ink; a sub tank for containing ink supplied from the main tank and containing ink to be supplied to a print head; a detection unit configured to detect an ink amount in the sub tank; and a filling unit configured to perform ink filling operation that fills the sub tank with ink from the main tank by driving a driving unit, in a case where the detection unit detects the ink amount in the sub tank that is less than a first predetermined amount, wherein in a case where the ink amount in the main tank is less than a second predetermined amount, the filling unit drives the driving unit at smaller drive amount than that in a case where the ink amount in the main tank is greater than the second predetermined amount.
US09272515B2
A liquid ejecting head includes a passage-forming substrate provided with a pressure-generating chamber communicating with a nozzle orifice for ejecting a liquid and includes a piezoelectric element including a diaphragm disposed on the passage-forming substrate, a first electrode disposed on the diaphragm, a piezoelectric layer disposed on the first electrode, and second electrode disposed on the piezoelectric layer. The diaphragm includes a metal oxide layer of a metal oxide formed by a gas-phase method and a zirconium oxide layer of zirconium oxide formed by a liquid-phase method.
US09272510B2
There is provided a printing apparatus which performs printing by an ink jet method, including: an ink jet head which ejects ink droplets; and a driving signal output portion which outputs a driving signal that causes the ink droplets to be ejected from the ink jet head. The ink jet head includes: a nozzle which ejects the ink droplets; an ink chamber which stores ink to be ejected from the nozzle; and a piezoelectric element which causes the ink droplets to be ejected from the nozzle. The piezoelectric element causes all of the ink in the ink chamber to be ejected from the nozzle by being displaced corresponding to the driving signal.
US09272508B2
An element substrate capable of suppressing occurrence of electromagnetic noise upon driving printing elements on an element substrate with long wiring lengths, preventing an operation error, and printing a high-quality image is provided. In the element substrate, plural element substrates each including printing elements are arrayed in an arrayed direction of the printing elements. Each element substrate including a wiring for supplying a driving power to drive the printing elements, and a ground wiring from the printing elements is configured as follows. Each element substrate includes a delay circuit for delaying a heat enable signal to drive the printing elements and supplying it to each printing element, and a switchover circuit for switching over, in accordance with a control signal, a delay sequence when supplying the heat enable signal to each printing element.
US09272497B2
A glass-flake loaded organic sealant system is useful for sealing active layers such as those in electronic devices and solar cells.
US09272492B2
A method for increasing the scratch hardness of a body, which has at least in some regions a surface (4a) consisting of an extrudated or co-extrudated plastic (4), wherein an organic, fluoro-organic or silico-organic compound (18) that increases the scratch hardness is applied to the surface (4a) of the extrudated or co-extrudated plastic (4), wherein the organic, fluoro-organic or silico-organic compound (11a, 18) is applied to the surface (4a) of the extrudated or co-extrudated plastic (4) by means of a sheet-like transfer medium (6, 11), on which the organic, fluoro-organic or silico-organic compound (11a, 18) is disposed.
US09272480B2
Methods of manufacturing a valve bag are disclosed. First and second webs of valve material, such as heat sealable plastic film, are combined to create a combined web of valve material, and a sealing process is applied thereto to define valve portions. The combined web of valve material includes a plurality of valve strip portions, each including a valve portion. Then first and second bag sections, which may be on a first and second side respectively of a web of folded bag material, or on a first web and second web of bag material respectively, are dispensed with the combined web of valve material positioned in between, and brought together to form a combined web of valve bag material. A sealing process is applied to the combined web of valve bag material, forming a valve bag section. The bag section is then separated from the remainder of the combined web of valve bag material to form an individual valve bag.
US09272477B2
A pressing tool in which, according to work content, an exchange tool is held so as to be capable of being exchanged by attachment/detachment by a locking bolt penetrating through a mounting portion provided to the tool main body, and the exchange tool is actuated by a pressing member. The outer periphery of the shank of the locking bolt is provided with: an annular groove for locking, arranged on the bolt-head side so as to be partially discontinuous; a release groove extending from the discontinuous part of the annular groove toward the tip of the bolt along the shank at an incline so as to gradually get shallower; and a retaining annular groove formed on the shank further toward the tip of the bolt than the release groove, the bolt-head side inner wall of the retaining annular groove being formed as a tapered incline. The mounting part is provided with a locking pin that fits into the locking annular groove, the release groove, and the retaining groove and that is capable of moving between the grooves. The locking bolt is provided with a release coil spring for urging the bolt toward the bolt head.
US09272476B2
A method of automatically de-molding a tread from a mold is provided utilizing an automatic de-molding apparatus. The automatic de-molding device utilizes at least one anchoring member that is inserted into the mold and automatically secures the tread to the de-molding apparatus wherein the mold is mechanically removed from the mold.
US09272460B2
A method of producing a polarizing film having a high polarizing function. Provided is a method of producing a polarizing film, including the steps of: at least dyeing and stretching a first polyvinyl alcohol of two or more band-like polyvinyl alcohol films in the course of a traveling path while traveling the first polyvinyl alcohol film in a longitudinal direction, and bonding a tail end of the first polyvinyl alcohol resin film to a leading end of a second polyvinyl alcohol resin film to at least dye and stretch the first and second polyvinyl alcohol resin films continuously, wherein the first and second polyvinyl alcohol resin films are arranged with the tail end of the first polyvinyl alcohol resin film and the leading end of the second polyvinyl alcohol resin film being layered, and an interface portion thereof is laser welded to perform the bonding.
US09272450B2
To provide an insert molding method for a connector which enables terminals to be inserted easily into insertion destination places for the terminals. An insert-molding method for insert molding a connector 1 equipped with a plurality of terminals 10 integrated with a housing 40 and aligned in two rows, includes setting the plurality of terminals 10 in a housing mold 80 to uniform warping directions D of the terminals 10 so that the warping directions D are respectively directed toward outer sides of the rows of the terminals 10.
US09272448B2
A cellulosic resin film which is wide and, despite this, is extremely reduced in breakage during a stretching step; a process for producing the film; and an antireflection film, a polarizer, and a liquid-crystal display each comprising or employing the film. The process for cellulosic resin film production comprises casting a liquid cellulosic resin on a support to form a web, peeling the web from the support, subsequently drying the web in a first edge gripping step (105) while gripping both edges, temporarily eliminating the edge gripping, and then stretching both edges in the width direction in a second edge gripping step (109). The process is characterized in that the first edge gripping step is followed by a heat treatment step in which both edge parts of the web relieved from the edge gripping are heated with heating rolls (107 and 108).
US09272445B2
A rubber vulcanizer includes: a pair of heat plates disposed to be opposed to each other in a prescribed direction and to be apart from each other in the prescribed direction; and one or more dies for rubber molding stacked on each other in the prescribed direction between the heat plates. The rubber vulcanizer is able to realize either a state in which the dies of which the number is N are stacked on each other in the prescribed direction between the heat plates, or a state in which the dies of which the number is (N+1) are stacked on each other in the prescribed direction between the heat plates, where N is a natural number that satisfies at least a condition that 1≦N≦M, and M is a certain positive integer.
US09272443B2
The invention relates, in particular, to a ceramic-powder and/or metal-powder press tool, comprising at least one base body (21), a plurality of at least two punches (22-25) which, in a press position, are arranged to be insertable from one side into a die cavity (3) of a die (2) filled with ceramic and/or metal powder (P), a plurality of at least two punch carriers (26-29) each for the attachment of one of the punches, wherein at least part of the die carriers (28; 29) is couplable to at least two adjustment drives (39-42) and wherein the punch carriers are arranged to be adjustable relative to each other and relative to the base body, and positive-stop devices (48°, 49, 50) arranged to divert at least part of a pressing force (Fp) from the punches via the base body in a press end position, wherein at least one of the punch carriers is coupled to or mounted on at least two coupling rods (30-33) and each of the coupling rods is couplable to or mountable on its own such adjustment drive. Electromotive adjustment drives are particularly preferred.
US09272434B2
A cutting apparatus including a plurality of types of holding members holding a workpiece and a plurality of types of cutting members cutting the workpiece held by the holding member. Each holding member includes a sheet of base, a holding portion disposed on a surface of the base and having a holding capacity suitable for a type of the workpiece to be held, and a holding member indicator capable of distinguishing the types of holding members. Each cutting member includes a cutter having a blade configured to cut the workpiece and having a cutting capacity suitable for a type of the workpiece to be cut, a support portion supporting the cutter, and a cutter indicator provided on the plurality of types of cutting members and capable of distinguishing the types of cutting members, the cutter indicator being similar in configuration as the holding member indicator of corresponding holding member.
US09272421B2
A visually controlled end effector is disclosed. The end effector comprises two or more operational members capable of picking up one or more randomly placed items. A crank is capable of actuation by a robot to orient a first one of said two or more operational members to pick up a first one of said one or more randomly placed items. The crank is further capable of actuation by the robot to orient a second one of said two or more operational members to pick up a second one of said one or more randomly placed items. The crank is further capable of orienting the first and second ones of the said two or more operational members for placement of the first and second ones of said randomly placed items into a desired oriented condition. A time savings of three robot transfers is thus made over prior art systems that transferred each individual product one by one.
US09272415B2
A robot device includes a robot and a controller. The robot includes a base, an arm body, and a plurality of actuators. The arm body comprises a multi joint structure composed of a plurality of arm elements. The plurality of actuators is configured to drive the plurality of arm elements. The controller is configured to control operations of the plurality of actuators. Each of the plurality of arm elements includes a frame member and an elastic outer skin. The frame member is configured to constitute a support structure at least for gravity. The elastic outer skin is constituted by an elastic body and arranged so as to form a surface outer skin of the arm element while covering the frame member.
US09272412B2
A workpiece transfer device includes a base, a rotating portion rotatably mounted on the base, and a transfer mechanism mounted on the rotating portion. The transfer mechanism includes a rotational housing, at least one bearing table, and a driving device. The bearing table is received in the rotational housing. The bearing table is configured to support a workpiece. The driving device is operable to drive the bearing table to slide in the rotational housing.
US09272408B2
A hand-held machine tool is provided. The hand-held machine tool includes a striking element that is accelerated along a working axis, and a guide for the striking element. A cushioning damper limits a motion of the striking element along the working axis and has an elastic damping ring. The damping ring has grooves running on at least one face side radial to the working axis.
US09272406B2
A staple cartridge, or fastener cartridge, for a surgical stapler, or fastening instrument, wherein the staple cartridge includes a distally-located cutting blade arranged to cut a distal end portion of a layer, such as a tissue thickness compensator and/or a buttress material, for example, attached to the staple cartridge. The distally-located cutting blade can extend out of a distal cavity of the staple cartridge. The distally-located cutting blade can move in a direction that is perpendicular to a staple deck of the staple cartridge. The distally-located cutting blade can also move in any suitable direction relative to the staple deck.
US09272405B2
A staple refill includes a refill body accommodating sheet-type connected staples. The refill body includes a bottom wall, a right wall provided on a right side of the bottom wall, and a left wall provided on a left side of the bottom wall. A pressing member is provided in the refill body in a movable manner to press the sheet-type connected staples. The refill body is formed with an opening such that the sheet-type connected staples inside the refill body are visible through the opening, and the pressing member includes a protruding portion configured to enter the opening.
US09272399B2
An electrical wrench includes a motor, a transmission mechanism, a ratchet assembly and a controlling member coupled to each other. The transmission mechanism is configured to provide idle travels. The ratchet assembly receives the rotating torque output by the transmission mechanism and drives the ratchet therein in a single direction. The controlling member is connected with the motor and controls the motor to rotate in the opposite direction when detecting the motor is stalled. The electrical wrench thus provides impacting action by electrical control and simplifies the mechanical structure of the tool, which not only reduces the manufacturing cost, but also prolongs the working life of the tool.
US09272397B2
A transportable screwing tool configured to mount and/or dismount screws into and/or out of a work piece includes an electric motor operable by electrical energy and a switching element configured to activate and/or deactivate the electric motor. The screwing tool further includes a drive train arranged inside a housing of the screwing tool. The drive train is mounted pivotably about an axis of rotation arranged essentially perpendicularly to the drive train. A method for activating and/or deactivating the electric motor includes moving at least one element of the switching element for the purpose of activating the electric motor out of a position of nonuse into a position of use when the drive train is moved in rotation about the axis of rotation.
US09272396B2
In general, the invention is a wrench made of a heavy and rust-resistant steel, which is 7-gauge in a preferred embodiment, as well as zinc coated in a primary embodiment, formed to one of the water filter sizes, including but not limited to: SW1, SW2, SW3, SW5-a, 144880 BW-BC, C-shaped (open end) Universal style, S3072, HT-HTF, OW1, OW2, OW6. The handle is at least 1.5 times the head diameter for easy use and the head is fitted with the various water filter sizes. A plastic or rubber cover is used on the handle for grip and for installing directions.
US09272395B2
A multiple-in-one socket includes a socket body having a first gradational cavity recessed in a first end of the socket body, and a second gradational cavity recessed in a second end of the socket body opposite to the first gradational cavity; each gradational cavity including a plurality of polygonal holes gradationally contracted in sizes inwardly from an outermost hole towards an innermost hole; whereby a plurality of polygonal holes having plurality of hole sizes may be conveniently chosen for fastening a bolt or nut by correspondingly matching the bolt (or nut) size with the polygonal-hole size.
US09272393B2
A foamed rigid bottom sanding block includes a sanding block formed of polyfoam material having a bottom portion with an integrally formed rigid member made of a material to lend weight as well as rigidity to said bottom portion, said rigid member nearly spanning a length and a width of said bottom portion and which encased within said polyfoam material, an upper portion of said sanding block having a handle which protrudes from said bottom portion and is made of said polyfoam material. A method and sanding block formed by the method are included.
US09272392B2
Embodiments relate to polycrystalline diamond compacts (“PDCs”) and methods of manufacturing such PDCs in which an at least partially leached polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) table is infiltrated with a low viscosity cobalt-based alloy infiltrant. In an embodiment, a method includes forming a PCD table in the presence of a metal-solvent catalyst in a first high-pressure/high-temperature (“HPHT”) process. The method includes at least partially leaching the PCD table to remove at least a portion of the metal-solvent catalyst therefrom to form an at least partially leached PCD table. The method includes subjecting the at least partially leached PCD table and a substrate to a second HPHT process effective to at least partially infiltrate the at least partially leached PCD table with a cobalt-based alloy infiltrant having a composition at or near a eutectic composition of the cobalt-based alloy infiltrant.
US09272389B2
A polishing apparatus capable of monitoring an accurate progress of polishing is disclosed. The polishing apparatus includes: a polishing table for supporting a polishing pad; a table motor configured to rotate the polishing table; a top ring configured to press a substrate against the polishing pad to polish the substrate; a dresser configured to dress the polishing pad while oscillating on the polishing pad during polishing of the substrate; a filtering device configured to remove a vibration component, having a frequency corresponding to an oscillation period of the dresser, from an output current signal of the table motor; and a polishing monitoring device configured to monitor a progress of polishing of the substrate based on the output current signal from which the vibration component has been removed.
US09272384B2
The invention relates to a device and method for using same for sanding a predetermined impression into a workpiece. The device has a pattern belt positioned inside the area formed by a sanding belt. A pad is positioned inside the area formed by the pattern belt. A raised pattern is formed on the outer surface of the pattern belt. In use, the pad is selectively controlled to contact the pattern belt, thereby urging the raised pattern of the pattern belt to contact the sanding belt. The portion of the sanding belt contacted by the pattern belt is urged toward the workpiece so that the predetermined impression is sanded into the workpiece.
US09272379B2
A mounting device and method for mounting a component is disclosed. The mounting device includes a component carrier and an adapter. The adapter is insertable into a guide of the component carrier. The method uses the mounting device to mount a component on the mounting device.
US09272376B2
Superelastic and/or shape memory nickel-titanium alloys having an increased fatigue life that is superior to known nickel-titanium alloys are disclosed. The nickel-titanium alloys have a minimum fatigue life that may be at least about 10 million strain cycles at a strain greater than about 0.75%. The minimum fatigue life may be due, at least in part, to the nickel-titanium alloy having at least one of an oxygen concentration of less than about 200 ppm, a carbon concentration of less than about 200 ppm, the absence of oxide-based and/or carbide-based inclusions having a size greater than about 5 microns (μm), the presence of an R-phase, or combinations of the foregoing. Articles manufactured from such fatigue-resistant nickel-titanium alloys can be more durable because they are more resistant to repetitive strain and crack propagation.
US09272359B2
A plasma system for treating a workpiece is disclosed. The plasma system includes: a plasma device including an electrode formed from a metal alloy and a dielectric layer covering the electrode, the dielectric layer including a distal portion extending distally past a distal end of the electrode by a predetermined distance; a liquid source configured to supply a liquid to a workpiece; an ionizable media source coupled to the plasma device and configured to supply ionizable media thereto; and a power source coupled to the electrode and configured to ignite the ionizable media at the plasma device to form a plasma effluent in the presence of the liquid, whereby the plasma effluent reacts with the liquid to form at least one reactive species that interacts with the workpiece.
US09272355B2
Welding systems including a hydraulically driven welding power supply adapted to utilize hydraulic primary power to generate a first welding output for a first welding operation and a second welding output for a second welding operation are provided. Such welding systems may include control circuitry coupled to the hydraulically driven welding power supply and adapted to enable the hydraulically driven welding power supply to provide the first welding output and the second welding output at the same time to enable a first welding operator and a second welding operator to perform the first welding operation and the second welding operation, respectively, at the same time.
US09272352B1
A solar cell module comprises a solar cell soldered to a mounting element, such as a ceramic substrate. The solder bond can comprise a void. A method of reducing a solder void comprises reflowing the solder using a vacuum source and a heat source in a sealed chamber. The chamber is formed, at least in part, by a cowling into which the solar cell module is mounted. A system for reducing voids in a solder bond comprises a heat source and a vacuum source coupled to the sealed chamber into which a solar cell module is placed. The system can optionally include a control system that automates the execution of methods of reducing solder voids. The system can further include a pressure source to aid in reducing the solder void and reflowing the solder after the void is reduced.
US09272348B2
In a part having a surface, a bolt hole is provided extending into the part from the surface. Threads in the hole have crests with a fishmouth shape at the crests defined by a central concave portion and raised corner portions at ends of the concave portion. At least one start thread preceding the threads with the fishmouth shape crests is provided having a substantially flat crest without the fishmouth shape. A tap for manufacturing the threaded bolt hole has a first thread section and a second thread section. The second thread section has a plurality of threads for creating at least one improved start thread in the hole to be threaded, minor diameters at valleys between the threads of the second thread section being greater than minor diameters at valleys between threads of the first thread section or major diameters at crests of the threads of the second thread section being greater than major diameters at crests of the first thread section.
US09272335B2
A quadrangular indexable drill insert includes a substantially flat top and bottom surfaces, a side surface adjoining the top and bottom surfaces, four identical cutting edges of the side surface intersecting the top surface, a through hole extending between the top and bottom surfaces, and a chamfer provided at the bottom edge of the drill insert. Each cutting edge includes a first part edge; a second part edge extending from the first part edge; a third part edge extending away from the central axis, the second and third part edges being joined together by a transition part edge having a concave curved portion and a convex curved portion; and a curved nose portion of predetermined radius disposed at a corner of the insert adjoining the first part edge of one cutting edge with the third part edge of a succeeding cutting edge of the four identical cutting edges.
US09272334B2
Methods of synthesizing platinum-nickel-alloy nanoparticles and supported catalysts comprising the nanoparticles are provided. The methods may comprise forming a reaction mixture in a reaction vessel; heating the reaction mixture sealed in the reaction vessel to a reaction temperature; maintaining the temperature of the reaction vessel for a period of time; cooling the reaction vessel; and removing platinum-alloy nanoparticles from the reaction vessel. The reaction mixture may comprise a platinum precursor, a nickel precursor, a formamide reducing solvent, and optionally a cobalt precursor. In some embodiments the reaction temperature is at or below the boiling point of the formamide reducing solvent, such as from about 120° C. to about 150° C., for example. The platinum-alloy nanoparticles provide favorable electrocatalytic activity when supported on a catalyst support material.
US09272332B2
A method of near net shaping a rare earth permanent magnet and a permanent magnet. The method includes introducing a magnetic material powder into a die, closing the die and shock compacting the powder in the die and sintering the compacted magnet powder to form the rare earth permanent magnet part. In one form, the magnetic material being subjected to compaction is a mixture made up of two or more different magnetic material powder precursors. Additional materials may be added to the mixture. One such additional material may be a lubricant to reduce the likelihood of cracking, while another may be a coating to provide oxidation protection of the mixture. Evacuation or inert environments may also be used either prior to or in conjunction with the sintering or related high-temperature part of the process.
US09272304B1
An edger for a paint roller, comprising: a roller frame; a roller cover, having lateral edges, the lateral edges being outside a painting width of the paint roller and being configured to glide against a surface without marring the surface; a displaceable mount, configured to have a first position in which a roller cover is fully engaged over the paint roller and a second position in which the roller cover is disengaged from the paint roller; and at least one auxiliary brush, located on at least one lateral edge of the roller cover, configured to provide painting coverage adjacent to an edge of the roller. A paintbrush edger comprising a linked pair of selectively deployed shields, separated by a wicking space, having tips which glide in a corner, protecting a from contact with paint, while withdrawing paint which seeps into the corner into the wicking space.
US09272302B2
A moveable dispenser assembly including is shown. The dispenser includes a reservoir having bonding adhesive therein including particles and a liquid carrier. The dispenser is moved to provide agitation to the dispenser for mixing the bonding adhesive into a homogeneous mixture of particles and the liquid carrier. An opening at an end of said dispenser dispenses the bonding adhesive onto a bonding location on the workpiece without removing the dispenser from the die attach apparatus. A one controller for sends a control signal that triggers moving of said moveable dispenser assembly for mixing said bonding adhesive before dispensing said volume of bonding adhesive onto said surface of said workpiece. The controller includes logic to control of movements such as oscillations to keep the bonding adhesive well mixed based on a comparing a parameter to be in a predetermined limit or range.
US09272298B2
The invention relates to a device (1) for coating workpieces, comprising a belt conveyor (2) drivable in rotation for transporting workpieces (13) to be coated, at least one paint spraying robot (6) and at least one surface spraying machine (8), wherein the paint spraying robot (6) is set up to coat side surfaces (14) and/or top surfaces (15) of the workpiece (13) and the surface spraying machine (8) is set up to coat the top surfaces (15) and/or side surfaces (14) of the workpiece (13).
US09272290B2
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus (100) for the enrichment of magnetic particles (1) in a sample fluid. The sample fluid is provided in a sample cartridge (2) between a first pole (111) and a second pole (112) of an actuator magnet (110). A minimal magnetic flux as well as a minimal magnetic gradient are then established inside the sample fluid, wherein their values depend on the particular magnetic particles (1) and the sample fluid under consideration. In a preferred embodiment, the first pole (111) has a single tip (T).
US09272289B2
An industrially highly useful CNT separation method is provided whereby metallic CNTs and semiconducting CNTs can be efficiently separated and purified in large quantities in a short time period from CNTs containing these carbon nanotubes, using inexpensive equipment and in simple steps, and whereby metallic CNTs and semiconducting CNTs can be separated at low cost. The CNT separation method includes adding a CNT dispersion to a powder-charged separation vessel to selectively adsorb the semiconducting CNTs to the powder, and eluting the semiconducting CNTs adsorbed to the powder after collecting the metallic CNTs.
US09272288B2
A biomass conditioning system and method, the system comprising a chamber and an airflow loop, the chamber comprising a lower part adapted to receive biomass and comprising grinding elements, cutting elements and an air input, an airflow from the air input and rotation of the elements creating an uplifting; and an upper part comprising an inner chamber generally centered within an outer chamber, the outer chamber comprising a first outlet and the inner chamber comprising a second outlet; and a flange selectively connecting the lower part with the inner chamber and the lower part with the outer chamber; and the airflow loop comprising a source of input air in the lower part, a first exhaust connected to the first outlet and evacuating air and biomass particles from the inner chamber, and a second exhaust connected to the second outlet and evacuating mist and air from the outer chamber; in which the flange diverts, from the uplifting vortex and under action of a vacuum created between the air input and the second outlet, a water particle flow to the first outlet of the outer chamber and a biomass particles flow towards the inner chamber; light biomass particles being propelled up the inner chamber the second outlet.
US09272285B2
The emulsification grinder includes a feeder module, a grinding wheel assembly and a driver module. The grinding wheel assembly separately connects the feeder module and driver module and includes an upper grinding wheel, a lower grinding wheel and a turntable. The upper grinding wheel is radially formed with knives. The lower grinding wheel corresponds to the upper grinding wheel at an interval and has a receiving room and knives. The turntable is received in the receiving room.
US09272283B2
The present invention relates to improvement to a bucket-type jaw crusher used for treatment of slag and other waste. In a bucket-type jaw crusher provided with a bucket (1) attached to an arm of a construction machine, a fixed jaw (5) fixed in the bucket, and a moving jaw (6) opposed to the fixed jaw (5) and pivotally supported on the top by an eccentric shaft (7) and supported on the bottom by a toggle mechanism and crushing slag and other materials to be crushed by reciprocating swing of the moving jaw (6), a motor (9) for rotating the eccentric shaft (7) forward and reverse is provided in the bucket and crushing control means is provided which automatically rotates the eccentric shaft (7) in reverse by the motor (9) and then, rotates the shaft forward when crushing the material to be crushed.
US09272279B2
The embodiments disclosed herein are directed to an apparatus useful in conducting detection of compounds on blotting membranes. The device is comprised of several layers including a porous support layer below the blotting membrane(s), a flow distributor above the blotting membrane(s) and optionally a well on the flow distributor to contain the liquid to the desired area and to allow for lower starting volumes of such liquid. Preferably, the flow distributor is a non-binding or low binding hydrophilic porous membrane such as a 0.22 micron membrane and the support layer is a grid or sintered porous material. The distributor and support are held together to form an envelope around the membrane(s). The use of a hinge, clips and other such devices is preferred in doing so.
US09272278B2
A cartridge is configured for insertion and centrifugation in a centrifuge. The cartridge includes a first drum which has a first chamber, and a displacement device which is designed to rotate the first drum about a center axis thereof to selectively and conductively connect the first chamber to a second or a third chamber. In another embodiment, the cartridge includes a first drum which has a first chamber and a second chamber, and a displacement device which is designed to rotate the first drum about the center axis thereof to selectively and conductively connect the first chamber to a third chamber or the second chamber to the third chamber. The displacement device has an actuator which directly or indirectly moves the first drum about the center axis.
US09272277B2
A multiple layer cytometric test card includes a waste channel to receive biological waste from an area of the test card utilized for testing biological samples, a first waste storage compartment in a waste layer of the card having a top and a bottom in relation to an operating vertical orientation of the test card, and a capillary positioned along a vertical length of the first waste storage compartment, the capillary being open to the waste compartment along the vertical length of the waste compartment, wherein the waste channel is coupled to the capillary channel proximate the top of the waste storage compartment.
US09272276B2
A system and method for efficiently treating metal catalyst resident in a reactor vessel comprises a sulfiding module, a sulfur source, an ammonia source, and/or a coking source, a hydrogen sulfide detection module, a hydrogen gas detection module, a pH detection module, an ammonia gas detection module and a remote computer all arranged and configured to communicate wirelessly and to allow remote control and monitoring of the modules and process so that catalyst may be sulfided, passivated and/or soft-coked in situ.
US09272266B2
A supported palladium-gold catalyst is produced under mild conditions using a commonly available base, such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or sodium carbonate (Na2CO3). In this method, support materials and a base solution are mixed together and the temperature of the mixture is increased to a temperature above room temperature. Then, palladium salt and gold salt are added to the mixture while maintaining the pH of the mixture to be greater than 7.0 and keeping the mixture at a temperature above room temperature. This is followed by cooling the mixture while adding acetic acid to maintain the pH of the mixture to be within a desired pH range, filtering out the supported palladium-gold particles, washing with a pH buffer solution and calcining.
US09272263B2
A device for roasting spent activated carbon, waste sludges, or other organic wastes, includes a downdraft bed furnace, a first adsorber fluidly coupled to the furnace including a closed tank of adsorber process solution, a venturi scrubber and a cyclone separator coupled to the tank such that gases are sucked through the venturi and the cyclone separator, liquid effluents from the scrubber and separator falling by gravity into the tank, a second adsorber fluidly coupled to the first adsorber including a closed tank of adsorber liquid, a venturi scrubber and a cyclone separator coupled to the tank such that gases are sucked through the venturi and the cyclone separator, liquid effluents from the scrubber and separator falling by gravity into the tank, the second adsorber configured to remove impurities not removed in the first adsorber; and an exhaust blower fluidly coupled to the second adsorber unit and configured to pull air into the furnace and through the first and second adsorbers.
US09272258B2
A process for preparing alkenylhalosilanes by reacting alkenyl halide in the gas phase in a reactor comprising a reaction tube (1) equipped with an inlet (2) at one end of the tube and with an outlet (3) at the other end of the tube, and having a gas inlet device (4) having a plurality of gas feed points (5) that are spaced apart in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the reaction tube (1) and open into the reaction tube (1). The process permits the preparation of alkenylhalosilanes in high yield and with high selectivity. The formation of soot is distinctly lower compared to conventional reactors.
US09272250B2
The present disclosure describes an automated blend in-cup apparatus and the related method of operation. The disclosure relates generally to the field of mixing consumable material. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a mixer that is automatically operable to lower a mixing blade into a cup or vessel that contains material to be blended/mixed. A shield is automatically lowered to at least partially isolate the cup. The apparatus further comprises a well with an inlet manifold and a drain and a fixed but removable cup-receiving holder. The shield can include a magnetic portion that is detected by a first sensor on the apparatus. A safety interlock prevents the actuation of the mixing blade in the event that the magnetic portion is not proximate to the first sensor. Overall, the apparatus is effective, fast, easy to operate, safe, and clean.
US09272245B2
Provided is a filtration method for the step of removing viruses in a process of producing a protein preparation during which an intermediate protein preparation with a high protein concentration flows at high pressure to a virus removal filter. The filtration method employs a virus removal filter which has a close fitting nozzle of which the inlet at least has a pressure resistance of 600 kPa or more, and an effective area of the virus removal membrane of at least 0.0001 m2 and no more than 0.03 m2. An intermediate protein preparation with the protein concentration raised to at least 20 mg/ml and no more than 100 mg/ml by means of a purification process flows down to said virus removal filter under conditions in which the inlet pressure of the intermediate protein preparation is at least 150 kPa and no more than 600 kPa, the average protein filtration speed is at least 1.0 kg/m2/hr, and the filtration time is at least 1 hour and no more than 5 hours, to give an intermediate protein preparation filtrate with a viral removal rate (LRV) of ≧3.
US09272234B2
An acoustic standing wave is utilized to separate components from a multi-component fluid, such as oil from an oil-water mixture, in a fluid flow scheme with an acoustophoresis device. For example, the flow scheme and device allows for trapping of the oil as the oil coalesces, agglomerates, and becomes more buoyant than the water.
US09272227B2
A flying toy spacecraft having one or more low pressure channels acting as the primary lift mechanism. Each of the low pressure channels has a bottom member, two sidewalls, and an optional top member. The interior of the channel can be fitted with an airfoil or a trailing reflexed edge. In embodiments having two or more low pressure channels, the channels are spaced apart, thereby forming an inverted channel that stabilizes the flying toy spacecraft against undesired yawing motions.
US09272222B2
A method for providing a game in which a plurality of missions is presented to a user device each time a certain period has elapsed from a server having a storage unit for storing user information relating to a plurality of users, includes the steps of generating a plurality of different missions for each of the plurality of users based on the user information stored in the storage unit, presenting a list of the generated missions for each of the users on the user device, and presenting an operational element for updating a mission included in the presented list to another mission regardless of the elapse of the period in accordance with the progress of presented missions.
US09272204B2
A calculation engine of an apparatus in an example is employable for interactive simulation gaming to create an active learning environment on credit risk management for a learner. The calculation engine simulates one or more retail lending portfolios in a retail bank over a selectable period of time in the active learning environment for the learner. The calculation engine allows and/or requests the learner to decide, select, and/or choose one or more parameters for a strategy for credit policy and/or loan approval. The calculation engine employs the one or more parameters from the learner to calculate a financial outcome of the one or more retail lending portfolios in the retail bank over the selectable period of time that reflects the strategy for credit policy and/or loan approval by the learner in a corresponding run of the active learning environment on credit risk management for the learner.
US09272201B2
A sports novelty to help football fans increase their enjoyment of watching televised professional football games. The football fan officiating system is a hollow football containing football penalty flags and game instructions comprising football rules and regulations allow users to view a football game and use the penalty flags to call a penalty on one or more players during play of the game.
US09272200B2
An improved court perimeter boundary for volleyball or other sports comprises at least one indicator that indicates a hypotenuse distance to be used in squaring the court delimited by the boundary. Optionally, the perimeter boundary may be separated, facilitating the setup of the court and the winding of the boundary for storage. A method of setting up a volleyball court is also described.
US09272198B2
A nestable training stand is provided. The stand includes a central frame member having upper and lower portions; and a base operatively coupled to the lower portion. The base comprises a U-shaped or V-shaped base member having first and second end portions; and a support member connected to and extending upwardly from the first and second end portions to the central frame member. One or more upper and/or lower weight support pins are coupled to the support member and central frame, respectively, and extend outward for holding weights to prevent the stand from moving. The central frame support may include a bend between a first point where it couples to the U-shaped or V-shaped base member and a second point where it couples to support member to shift the center of gravity of the stand backwards.
US09272196B2
The present invention relates to home plates for ball fields, such as softball and baseball fields. Embodiments of the invention provide a double-sided home plate. Double-sided home plates according to embodiments can comprise a support base with two opposing recesses each shaped to receive a home plate insert, with a home plate insert fixed in each recess. Also provided is an improved home plate comprising two identical sides so when one side is worn due to use all that is required is to invert the home plate to expose a new surface.
US09272194B2
A golf club includes a shaft and a club head. The club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a heel, a toe, a back, a crown, a sole, and a hosel region located at the intersection of the ball striking face, the heel and the crown. The sole includes a channel extending from the hosel region toward the toe. An insert is received within the channel. The club head further includes means for detachably securing the insert to the channel. A second insert configured for being received within the channel may be provided.
US09272191B2
A hard baseball ball is configured including a core layer, an intermediate layer, and the cover layer. The intermediate layer is formed on a spherical body by winding yarn having radio wave transmissivity, which allows radio waves to pass through, in a spherical shape around the core layer. The cover layer covers the intermediate layer, and is formed from a material with radio wave transmissivity. The hard baseball ball also includes the reflecting portion. The reflecting portion is formed on a spherical surface whose center is the center of the spherical body, and has radio wave reflectability. The reflecting portion is configured using yarn from which the intermediate layer is formed. At least a portion of the yarn from which the intermediate layer is formed is given radio wave reflectability, and the reflecting portion is configured from the portion of the yarn that has been given radio wave reflectability.
US09272189B2
A thermoplastic multi-layer golf ball has a core center having a diameter from about 5 mm to about 18 mm, including a first thermoplastic material having a first flexural modulus of up to about 15,000 psi, and having a specific gravity of at least about 1.5 g/cm3; a core layer outward from the core center that has a thickness of at least about 10 mm and includes a second thermoplastic material having a second flexural modulus of up to about 32,000 psi; and a cover including a third thermoplastic material having a third flexural modulus of up to about 5,000 psi. The second flexural modulus is greater than the first flexural modulus, the first flexural modulus is greater than the third flexural modulus, and the specific gravity of the core center is greater than the specific gravity of the core layer and greater than the specific gravity of the cover.
US09272188B2
The present disclosure is directed to a golf ball and a method for manufacturing a golf ball including a bladder core. In at least one embodiment, the bladder core includes an ethyl vinyl alcohol copolymer layer combined with multiple layers of thermoplastic polyurethane or other material to prevent leakage. In addition, it is contemplated that the bladder core may include a one-way valve for adjusting the pressure of a fluid within the bladder core to produce different performance characteristics.
US09272186B2
The invention comprises a method and/or an apparatus using a computer configured exercise system equipped with an electric motor to provide physical resistance to user motion in conjunction with means for sharing exercise system related data and/or user performance data with a secondary user, such as a medical professional, a physical therapist, a trainer, a computer generated competitor, and/or a human competitor. For example, the exercise system is used with a remote trainer to enhance exercise performance, with a remote medical professional for rehabilitation, and/or with a competitor in a competition, such as in a power/weightlifting competition or in a video game. The exercise system is optionally configured with an intelligent software assistant and knowledge navigator functioning as a personal assistant application.
US09272182B2
An exercise device providing a fore and aft horizontal component of striding motion that is dynamically user-defined, while providing a vertical component of the motion that is maintained on a predetermined vertically reciprocating path in some embodiments. The exercise device guides the user's foot in a pseudo-elliptical stride path, while providing a dynamically variable stride length that allows the user to move with a natural stride length. The exercise device allows tall and short users to extend or curtail the stride length to match their natural stride lengths. The length of the reciprocating path is dynamically adjusted during the exercise operation without equipment adjustments by changes in the length of the stride input by the user at a pair of foot engagement pads disposed on laterally spaced apart foot support members.
US09272177B2
The present invention is directed to a device for abdominal exercise in a seated position using a seat. The device comprises a first elastic band, a second elastic band, a pair of couplings, and a harness. The elastic bands are of a configured length and resistance and have a first end extending to a distal second end. The coupling is secured at the first end of the elastic bands and operable to secure the device to the seat. The harness has a first and second end and presents a partial perimeter. The second end of the first elastic band is joined to the first end of the harness, the second end of the second elastic band is joined to the second end of the harness, whereby the continuously joined first elastic band, harness, and second elastic band present a partial perimeter for user engagement.
US09272169B2
A fire barrier system for use in aircraft, ship or offshore drilling platform comprises a flexible graphite sheet. Methods of providing fire barrier protection in an aircraft, ship or offshore drilling platform comprise installing the described fire barrier system in the aircraft, ship or offshore drilling platform. Additionally, the fire barrier system when installed in the aircraft, ship or offshore drilling platform is described.
US09272161B2
Radiosurgery systems are described that are configured to deliver a therapeutic dose of radiation to a target structure in a patient. In some embodiments, inflammatory ocular disorders are treated, and in some embodiments, other disorders or tissues of a body are treated with the dose of radiation. In some embodiments, target tissues are placed in a global coordinate system based on ocular imaging. In some embodiments, a fiducial marker is used to identify the location of the target tissues.
US09272156B2
An external controller/charger system for an implantable medical device is disclosed, in which the external controller/charger system provides automatic switching between telemetry and charging without any manual intervention by the patient. The external controller/charger system includes an external controller which houses a telemetry coil and an external charging coil coupled to the external controller. Normally, a charging session is carried out using the external charging coil, and a telemetry session is carried out using the telemetry coil. However, when a patient requests to carry out telemetry during a charging session, the external charging coil is used instead of the internal telemetry coil.
US09272149B2
A device includes a hemodynamic sensor measuring blood flow in the left chambers of a myocardium, at least one motion sensor measuring a displacement of the walls of the left ventricle of the myocardium, a first analysis module determining a time of closure of the aortic valve based on a signal of the hemodynamic sensor, a second analysis module determining a time of peak contraction of the left ventricle based on a signal from the motion sensors, and a third analysis module determining a time between the moment of peak contraction of the left ventricle and the moment of closure of the aortic valve. If the peak of contraction of the left ventricle is after the instant of closure of the aortic valve, the device adjusts the inter-ventricular delay and/or the atrioventricular delay to minimize or cancel the time disparity.
US09272146B2
A device includes a lead configured to for use in applying an atrioventricular delay (“AVD”), an acceleration sensor adapted to output an endocardial acceleration signal, and circuitry configured to receive and process said endocardial acceleration signal to provide ventricular pacing by varying, in a controlled manner, the AVD in a range having a plurality of AVD values. The circuitry derives from said endocardial acceleration signal a value of a parameter representative of an component of the endocardial acceleration signal corresponding to the first endocardial acceleration peak associated with an isovolumetric ventricular contraction (“EAX component”), and evaluates a degree of variation of said parameter values as a function of said plurality of AVD values to detect atrial and ventricular events.
US09272145B2
Systems, methods and devices for paired training include timing controls so that training and neural stimulation can be provided simultaneously. Paired trainings may include therapies, rehabilitation and performance enhancement training. Stimulations of nerves such as the vagus nerve that affect subcortical regions such as the nucleus basalis, locus coeruleus or amygdala induce plasticity in the brain, enhancing the effects of a variety of therapies, such as those used to treat tinnitus, stroke, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.
US09272144B2
An implantable stimulation system comprises a stimulator for generating electrical stimulation and a conductive stimulation lead having a proximal end electrically coupled to the stimulator, wherein at least a first component of the impedance looking into the stimulator is substantially matched to the impedance of the stimulation lead. At least one distal stimulation electrode is positioned proximate the distal end of the stimulation lead.
US09272142B2
The present application discloses systems and methods for displaying and operating a user interface having one or more channel group controllers corresponding to one or more groups of hearing prosthesis channels. The hearing prosthesis may be configured to generate a plurality of signals via a plurality of channels based on a channel profile. The channel profile may define at least one intensity level for each channel. In operation, the user interface may be configured to instruct the hearing prosthesis to change the channel profile of the plurality of channels in response to receiving an input via one of the channel group controllers. The user interface may be used to fit a hearing prosthesis to a recipient. In one embodiment, an initial channel profile may be automatically determined, and the prosthesis channel profile may be adjusted by changing a representative intensity level corresponding to the channel profile.
US09272133B1
A mouthpiece for providing non-invasive neuromodulation to a patient, the mouthpiece including an elongated housing having an anterior region and a posterior region, the elongated housing having a non-planar exterior top surface and internal structural members disposed within the housing, the internal structural members elastically responding to biting forces generated by the patient, a spacer attached to the top surface of the housing for limiting contact between a patient's upper teeth and the exterior top surface of the elongated housing, and a printed circuit board mounted to a bottom portion of the elongated housing, the printed circuit board having a plurality of electrodes for delivering subcutaneous local electrical stimulation to the patient's tongue.
US09272131B2
An electrode assembly includes a first surface to be placed adjacent a person's skin and a second surface including a plurality of reservoirs of conductive gel. The plurality of reservoirs of conductive gel are disposed on sections of the electrode assembly that are at least partially physically separated and may move at least partially independently of one another to conform to contours of a body of a patient. The electrode assembly is configured to dispense an amount of the electrically conductive gel onto the first surface in response to an activation signal and to provide for a defibrillating shock to be applied to the patient through the amount of the electrically conductive gel.
US09272127B2
Connector for a fluid transport line of a medical device, comprising: a first body having a first access port for a fluid, a second access port for a fluid, and a first fluid path extending in the first body and directly connecting, for fluid transport, the first access port and second access port, at least a second body, mountable to the first body, having at least a third access port for a fluid, the second body being movable with respect to the first body at least between: a main operating position in which the first fluid path is interrupted and in which a second fluid path is defined and enabled, for fluid transport, from the first access port to the third access port, and an auxiliary operating position in which the first fluid path is enabled and in which the second fluid path is interrupted. The second body has at least a fourth access port for a fluid and in the main operating position a third fluid path is defined and enabled, for fluid transport, from the second access port to the fourth access port, the third fluid path being interrupted in the auxiliary operating position.
US09272121B2
True lumen reentry devices and methods useable for redirecting a guidewire from a subintimal tract within a wall of a blood vessel into the true lumen of the blood vessel. A reentry catheter device comprises a main catheter shaft having at least one guidewire outlet aperture with at least one side tube located on a distal portion of the main catheter shaft. The side tube(s) is/are tracked over initially inserted guidewire(s) to advance a distal portion of the reentry catheter device into the subintimal tract with a guidewire.
US09272114B2
A flexible hose is adapted to maintain its inner wall temperature above the dew point of air transported between a CPAP machine's humidifier and mask, preventing condensation. An electrically energizable heating element forms a helical reinforcement member. The hose's first end has a standard CPAP soft end cuff. The second end comprises a special end fitting including: a support ring, electrical jack, and a specially shaped over-molded plastic cuff. The support ring has a ring portion threadably secured onto the helical reinforcing member, and a receptacle extending therefrom. A coaxial electrical jack is received within the receptacle, with the energizable heating element of the helix being wired to the prongs of the jack. A soft plastic cuff is molded over much of the ring portion and receptacle, to provide further integrity of the end fitting, while the remaining portion of the cuff conforms to the standard CPAP end cuff configuration.
US09272110B2
A replaceable nasal interface system including a molded air tube having a generally D-shaped cross section, and including first and second lumens. The system further includes a base member operatively connected to and in fluid communication with the molded air tube; and a nasal interface operatively connected to the base member.
US09272109B2
Various embodiments of a respiratory interface device, such as a mask, that includes a substantially rigid frame member and a cushion device wherein the frame member and cushion device are coupled together using a clip assembly wherein the clip assembly includes a plurality of tabs and a plurality of detents. The detents and tabs engage with one another to removably couple the cushion device to the frame member.
US09272100B2
A shielded pen needle assembly is provided in which the hub extends distally beyond an outer sleeve of the assembly.
US09272096B2
A drive assembly for a drug delivery device is disclosed. The drive assembly is connectable with a cartridge holder and comprises a housing, a piston rod, the piston rod being movable in a distal direction for drug delivery, and a guide nut, the guide nut being rotatable relative to the housing around an axis of the assembly and provided for guiding the piston rod. A locking means is provided which is enabled to take an engaged state in which the locking means is engaged with the guide nut in order to prevent rotation of the guide nut and to take a disengaged state in which the locking means is disengaged from the guide nut in order to allow rotation of the guide nut. Moreover, a coupling means is provided, the coupling means being rotatable relative to the housing around the axis of the assembly for interaction with the locking means in order to change between the engaged state and the disengaged state of the locking means.
US09272089B2
A differential pressure based flow sensor assembly and method of using the same to determine the rate of fluid flow in a fluid system. The sensor assembly comprises a disposable portion and a reusable portion. A flow restricting element is positioned along a fluid flow passage between an inlet and an outlet. The disposable portion further has an upstream fluid pressure membrane and a downstream fluid pressure membrane. The reusable portion has an upstream fluid pressure sensor and a downstream fluid pressure sensor. The upstream fluid pressure sensor senses the upstream fluid pressure at a location within the fluid flow passage between the inlet and the flow restricting element. The downstream fluid pressure sensor senses the downstream fluid pressure at a location within the fluid flow passage between the flow restricting element and the outlet. The process utilizes output of the sensors to calculate the flow rate of the fluid.
US09272087B2
The systems, methods and articles described herein are directed to at least one pressure sensor along a downstream fluid line which senses fluid pressure and assists an occlusion detection feature in determining the presence of occlusions in the downstream fluid line. In addition, the system can dynamically adapt the occlusion detection feature based on a delivery of fluid, such as a bolus, in order to prevent the system from creating a false alarm regarding an occlusion of the downstream fluid line.
US09272086B2
Fluid management systems and methods of operating fluid management systems which may provide one or more functions associated with suction, irrigation, distention, deficit monitoring, infusion, fluid warming, and the like. Some example embodiments may include infra-red lamps arranged to heat fluid flowing through a disposable cartridge. Some example embodiments may provide a three-dimensional fluid path through the cartridge and/or multi-stage heating capabilities. Some example fluid management systems may be selectable between pressure control and flow control modes.
US09272084B2
An ear medication delivery device for delivering a treatment liquid and retaining the treatment liquid within an ear canal of a patient including a unitary, one piece earplug formed of a soft resilient material including an ear canal engaging portion and an external portion and defining a single internal passage therethrough. The external portion includes a major disk and an annular medication applicator receiving portion in fluid communication with the internal passage. The ear canal engaging portion includes at least two minor disks of progressively different size extending outwardly in a generally radial direction. The ear canal engaging portion defines a molded resilient valve unitary with the earplug that is shiftable from a closed position to an open position in either direction under a preselected fluid pressure and that resiliently returns to the closed position below the preselected fluid pressure.
US09272058B1
A device that eliminates contaminants before they can be transmitted throughout a structure. The device may include a platform housing a disinfection source for selectively emitting UV-C light. The platform has a top. The top has two areas that pass the UV-C light with the remaining area of the top unable to pass the UV-C light. The two areas of the top are capable of supporting a person standing on the areas with a foot respectively on each area. The disinfection source is configured to emit the UV-C light when a person stands on the two areas, but not when there is no person standing on the two areas. The disinfection source may be removable from the platform for use in disinfecting objects.
US09272055B2
The present disclosure provides functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) comprising a functional group that binds to β-amyloid deposits and/or neurofibrillary tangles. The present disclosure provides compositions comprising the functionalized MNPs, and methods of using the functionalized MNPs in imaging β-amyloid deposits and neurofibrillary tangles.
US09272054B2
The present invention is directed to the use of an irreversible ligand of a serine protease selected from the group consisting of leukocyte elastase, thrombin, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasmin for the molecular imaging of said serine protease and the diagnosis of pathophysiological conditions associated with said serine protease activity.
US09272051B2
Provided herein are bitter taste receptor ligands, related agents, combinations, compositions, methods and systems for modulating release of a metabolic hormone in vitro or in vivo from cells of the GI tract of an individual.
US09272040B2
Pharmaceutical compositions for the effective oral delivery of a parathyroid hormone, PTH, as well as methods for administration of the compositions are provided. Additionally, methods for stimulating new bone formation and treating and/or preventing osteoporosis are also provided.
US09272034B2
Techniques are disclosed for prevention or treatment of physiological shock by administering a specific therapeutic agent, which is able to use smaller volumes of reagent to achieve complete inhibition, than other previously described techniques.
US09272033B2
The invention provides compositions for preventing or treating kidney disease comprising vitamin E, vitamin C, and a carotenoid and methods for preventing and treating kidney disease comprising administering such compositions to an animal susceptible to or suffering from kidney disease. In a preferred embodiment, the composition is admixed with one or more food ingredients to produce a food composition useful for preventing or treating kidney disease.
US09272029B2
The present invention concerns methods and compositions for forming complexes of interferon-λ with an antibody or antigen-binding antibody fragment. In preferred embodiments, the interferon-λ and the antibody or fragment are fusion proteins, each comprising a dimerization and docking domain (DDD) moiety from human protein kinase A or an anchor domain (AD) moiety from an A-kinase anchoring protein (AKAP). In more preferred embodiments, the interferon-antibody complex is more efficacious for treatment of cancer, asthma, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis or viral infection than interferon-λ alone, antibody alone, or the combination of unconjugated interferon-λ and antibody.
US09272026B2
An HLA-A*1101-restricted WT1 peptide, specifically, a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence consisting of 9 contiguous amino acids from a WT1 protein, wherein the peptide has an ability to bind to an HLA-A*1101 molecule, and has an ability to induce a CTL is described. A peptide dimer having an ability to bind to an HLA-A*1101 molecule and having an ability to induce a CTL, in which two peptide monomers each comprising an amino acid sequence consisting of 9 contiguous amino acids from a WT1 protein and comprising at least one cysteine residue are bound to each other through a disulfide bond is also described. Furthermore, a polynucleotide encoding the peptide, a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment and/or prevention of a cancer comprising the same and the like are provided.
US09272025B2
Mutant LIGHT expressed in a tumor environment elicited high levels of chemokines and adhesion molecules, accompanied by massive infiltration of naïve T lymphocytes. Methods and compositions to elicit immune responses against tumors including tumor volume reduction and eradication of metastasis using mutant LIGHT are disclosed.
US09272022B2
The invention provides methods for treating or decreasing the likelihood of developing a stress-granule related disorder and/or cancer by administering one or more poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, one or more PARP activators, one or more poly-ADP-ribose glycosylase (PARG) activators, and/or one or more poly-ADP-ribose glycohydrolase ARH3 activators. The invention also provides corresponding methods of decreasing stress granule formation and/or proliferation in a cell or a population of cells. The invention further provides methods of increasing the number of stress granules and proliferation in a cell or a population of cells by administering one or more PARP activators, one or more PARP inhibitors, one or more PARG inhibitors, and/or one or more ARH3 inhibitors. The invention also provides methods for screening for agents for treating or decreasing the likelihood of developing a stress granule-related disorder or cancer, and methods for determining the propensity for developing a stress granule-related disorder or cancer, as well as compositions and kits containing one or more PARP inhibitors, one or more PARP activators, one or more PARG activators, and one or more ARH3 activators.
US09272018B2
The present invention provides a therapeutic agent for acute liver failure containing a hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), particularly an agent for treating fulminant hepatitis or late onset hepatic failure or suppression of progression of acute liver failure without hepatic coma to fulminant hepatitis or late onset hepatic failure. The present invention also provides a method for evaluating the efficacy of HGF including measuring the amount of α-fetoprotein (liver regeneration biomarker) and/or soluble Fas (anti-apoptotic biomarker) in a sample obtained from a liver injury patient administered with HGF.
US09272008B2
The present invention pertains to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a recombinant measles virus encoding a suicide gene for use in the treatment of malignant cells with primary or secondary resistances against an oncolytic measles virus without suicide gene activity. Further, the present invention pertains to a recombinant measles virus based on measles vaccine strain Schwarz encoding a suicide gene, which comprises a fusion of a cytosine deaminase, particularly yeast cytosine deaminase, and a uracil phosphoribosyltransferase, particularly yeast uracil phosphoribosyltransferase, to a method and a kit for preparing the recombinant measles virus as claimed herein.
US09271999B2
Methods are presented for attenuating myelosuppressive side effects of treatment regimens, promoting thrombopoiesis and neutrophil production, and increasing efficacy of treatment regimens, by administering PF4-interacting heparinoids.
US09271998B2
Provided are methods for treating a NAD comprising administering to a patient suffering from a NAD a composition comprising an eIF5A inhibitor compound in an amount effective to prevent intracellular hypusination of eIF5A, whereby gene expression of NMD-susceptible mRNA is increased.
US09271984B2
The present invention relates to triazine derivatives of formula (I) for their use in the treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus, and to compositions comprising said triazine derivatives.
US09271982B2
An animal feed supplement comprising a synergistic combination of ractopamine and caffeine and a method of increasing feed efficiency of a pig using the animal feed supplement is described.
US09271980B2
The present invention is concerned with deuterium-enriched pyrimidine compounds of formula I, their derivatives and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and methods of use thereof, The compounds of formula I are useful for the prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, neuroendrcrine neoplasia including metastasis and fibrosis fibrotic processes associated with neuroendocrine cell dysregulation for example Crohn's disease, pulmonary arterial hypertension, pulmonary hypertension associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), right ventricular hypertrophy, pulmonary vascular remodeling, asthma, cystic fibrosis, hypertension, ischemic stroke, angina pectoris, congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, arterial fibrillation, gastrointestinal disorders, anxiety, depression, stress disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorders, demyelinating diseases, acute or chronic cerebrovascular damage, cerebral infarction, subarachanoid hemorrhage, and cerebral edema, neuropathological diseases and cardiovascular system regulation.
US09271979B2
The present invention is concerned with deuterium-enriched pyrimidine compounds of formula 1, their derivatives and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and methods of use thereof for the prevention and treatment of neuroendocrine neoplasia including metastasis and fibrosis, fibrotic processes associated with neuroendocrine cell dysregulation for example Crohn's disease, pulmonary arterial hypertension, pulmonary hypertension associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), right ventricular hypertrophy, pulmonary vascular remodeling, asthma, cystic fibrosis, hypertension, ischemic stroke, angina pectoris, congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, arterial fibrillation, neurodenerative diseases, gastrointestinal disorders , stress disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, demyelinating diseases, cereberal vascular disorders, bronchoconstriction, vasodilation, smooth muscle contraction, brain disorders, vascular disorders, neuropathological diseases and cardiovascular system regulation.
US09271977B2
There are provided inter alia compounds of formula (I) and (II) and their use in therapy, particularly for the treatment of viral infection.
US09271968B2
Crystalline polymorphous forms of the rifaximin (INN) antibiotic named rifaximin δ and rifaximin ε useful in the production of medicinal preparations containing rifaximin for oral and topical use and obtained by means of a crystallization process carried out by hot-dissolving the raw rifaximin in ethyl alcohol and by causing the crystallization of the product by addition of water at a determinate temperature and for a determinate period of time, followed by a drying carried out under controlled conditions until reaching a settled water content in the end product, are the object of the invention.
US09271967B2
The present invention relates to novel triazolo[4,3-a]pyridine derivatives of Formula (I) wherein all radicals are as defined in the claims. The compounds according to the invention are positive allosteric modulators of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 2 (“mGluR2”), which are useful for the treatment or prevention of neurological and psychiatric disorders associated with glutamate dysfunction and diseases in which the mGluR2 subtype of metabotropic receptors is involved. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, to processes to prepare such compounds and compositions, and to the use of such compounds for the prevention or treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders and diseases in which mGluR2 is involved.
US09271961B2
The invention includes compositions comprising selective AKR1C3 inhibitors. The invention also includes compositions comprising bifunctional AKR1C3 inhibitors and selective androgen receptor modulators. The invention further includes methods of treatment using the compositions of the invention.
US09271955B2
A nutritional or dietary supplement composition that strengthens and promotes a general eye health benefit for aging adults, including retinal health through the prevention, stabilization, reversal and/or treatment of visual acuity loss by reducing the risk of developing late stage or advanced age-related macular degeneration in persons with early age-related macular degeneration. The nutritional or dietary supplement composition may likewise reduce the risk of vision loss associated with the development of cataracts.
US09271952B2
Activated fatty acids, pharmaceutical composition compositions including activated fatty acids, methods for using activated fatty acids to treat nephropathy, and methods for preparing activated fatty acids are provided herein.
US09271949B2
The invention relates to compositions and formulations comprising isolated acidic fraction of mastic gum and uses thereof for treating impaired neurological functions as well as wound and tissue repair.
US09271944B2
Provided is a water-based patch that contains ketoprofen as an active ingredient, provides high transdermal absorbability of the ketoprofen, and has high safety and high storage stability. The water-based patch contains the ketoprofen, an amine, and polyethylene glycol. In the water-based patch, the added amount of the ketoprofen in a paste is 0.1 to 5% by weight, the added amount of the amine in the paste is 0.5 to 10% by weight, and the added amount of the polyethylene glycol in the paste is 5 to 30% by weight. Particularly, in the water-based patch, diisopropanolamine is used as the amine.
US09271939B2
The present invention provides stabilized prolonged release pharmaceutical compositions comprising atypical antipsychotic drug like paliperidone or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof without incorporating surfactant and/or water penetration enhancer. Such compositions are preferably in the form of a matrix wherein one or more release controlling agents are present in and/or on the matrix. Further, such compositions comprise one or more release controlling agent and exhibits desired in vitro release of drug with or without lag period. The invention also provides a process for the preparation of such compositions.
US09271935B2
The present invention encompasses a carotenoid composition, a process for producing a carotenoid composition, and methods of use thereof.
US09271922B2
A depilatory cream composition comprising •a depilatory active; and, •a conditioning complex; wherein the conditioning complex comprises: •one or more of: a glycol carboxylate, a dialkyl ether of formula R1—O—R2 wherein R1 and R2, independently of one another, represent linear or branched alkyl and/or alkenyl groups having from 6 to 28 carbon atoms; and, an aliphatic alkyl mono-alcohol having at least 12 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain; •a silicone or an optionally branched alkane containing at least 12 carbon atoms; •an ethoxylated fatty alcohol and/or ethoxylated fatty ester with an HLB value of 13 or above; and, •a conditioning agent •water.
US09271921B2
Cosmetic compositions are provided, which are capable of having a tightening and/or curling effect on a human integument when applied thereto. Cosmetic compositions according to the invention typically include a cosmetically acceptable vehicle and a pH-dependent film-forming polymer of either a poly(methacrylic acid-co-methyl methacrylate) or a poly(methacrylic acid-co-ethyl acrylate). The tightening and/or curling effect of these cosmetic compositions is prolonged and substantially resistant to environmental stresses such as increased heat or humidity.
US09271904B2
Oral delivery systems including at least one encapsulated active are provided. The oral delivery systems include at least one active component; and a polymer matrix at least partially encapsulating the at least one active component. In some embodiments, the polymer matrix has a tensile strength of at least about 6,500 psi and/or includes at least one polymer having a water absorption of about 0.01% to about 50% by weight. The at least one active component may be an oral care active, which may be encapsulated alone or in combination with other actives, such as a taste masking active.
US09271897B2
Method and systems for manufacturing a tablet comprising an electronic device are disclosed. In one method, a powdered material is provided into a die cavity of a tablet press and an electronic device is dispensed from a tape-and-reel carrier tape operatively coupled to the tablet press into the die cavity. The powdered material and the electronic device are compressing to form a tablet. A system comprises a tablet press comprising a die cavity for receiving a powdered material and an electronic device therein, an upper punch, and a lower punch. The upper and lower punches are operative to form the powdered material and the electronic device into a tablet. A tape-and-reel carrier tape is operatively coupled to the tablet press, where the carrier tape is configured for holding the electronic device. A transfer mechanism is used to transfer the electronic device from the tape carrier to the die cavity.
US09271895B2
A method of treating urinary incontinence, uncontrolled urination, and frequent urination in a human in need thereof is provided. The method includes placement of at least two calibrated, differential disturbances or protuberances under the human's feet.
US09271893B2
Example ambulation aid apparatus and associated methods of manufacture are disclosed and described herein. An example ambulation aid apparatus includes an ambulation aid body formed as a integral part, the integral part formed in monocoque construction to provide support for mobility of a user through the integral part, the integral part providing a plurality of grippable areas to facilitate user movement and support through the integral part. Another example ambulation aid apparatus includes a primary panel formed in monocoque construction to provide support for and assist in mobility of a user through the skin of the monocoque primary panel, the primary panel formed to interrelate with one or more subassemblies to provide an integrated monocoque part to assist in providing support for and improved mobility of the user through the integrated monocoque part. Example methods of manufacture are also disclosed and described.
US09271889B2
A lifting system is provided for lifting a person who is incapacitated, where the lifting system includes a torso enclosure that may encase a substantial portion of the person's torso without requiring the person to slip one or both of their arms through the enclosure, and orthogonally-aligned structural straps positioned on the enclosure to stabilize and strengthen the enclosure during use, where portions of the straps are detached between two respective junction points to permit grasping of such straps by others when attempting to lift the incapacitated person.
US09271876B2
Provided is a film dressing that includes a thin plastic film coated with an adhesive, and a carrier layer applied on the plastic film on a side opposite to the adhesive coating. The adhesive coating has a softness of 10-22 mm and a weight per unit area of 50 g/m2 or more.
US09271875B2
The inventive disclosure contained herein is generally directed to a class of medical bandages that in many embodiments are effective in the treatment of various types of tissue burns, whether be burns due to thermal burns, sun exposure, or rashes. Such products can include a plurality of specialized bandages and wraps that incorporate an extremely thin layer of thermally conductive metal (often aluminum) at the base of a substrate adapted to be in direct contact with a burn wound, while manufacturing the top side of the aluminum substrate to have a heat-dissipation-enhancing topography to help cool burns faster by enhancing thermal-convection properties. The bandage can also feature a thermochromic indicator for users to realize the thermal-cooling status of a burn to which a bandage has been applied.
US09271867B2
A vitrectomy apparatus is provided, including a pressure source, a cut valve connected to the pressure source, the cut valve configured to be turned on and off to provide pressure to selectively extend and retract a vitrectomy cutting device, a sensor configured to sense pressure provided from the cut valve, and a controller configured to control operation of the cut valve based on pressure sensed by the sensor. The controller is configured to monitor an amount of dwell time the vitrectomy cutting device remains open and monitor aspiration rate, and control a rate of material processed by the vitrectomy cutting device based on amount of dwell time and aspiration rate.
US09271864B2
A non-invasive apparatus for rehabilitating a joint, limb, and muscles of a patient recovering from surgery on the joint, includes a continuous passive motion device having at least one support member for supporting the limb, at least one hinge coupled to the at least one support member, and at least one actuator for providing reciprocating motion of the at least one support member about the at least one hinge, a plurality of electrodes transmitting at least four modalities chosen from a group consisting of functional electrical stimulation (FES), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), temperature therapy stimulation, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylactic stimulation, venous blood flow monitoring, and pain monitoring, and a control unit controlling the at least one actuator and the plurality of electrodes according to a coordinated sequence of the reciprocating motion and transmission of the at least four modalities.
US09271863B2
A body waste collecting device includes a collecting pouch and an adhesive wafer for attachment to the body. The adhesive wafer has a backing layer, at least one intermediate layer of adhesive, a skin facing layer of adhesive, and a film layer. The intermediate layer of adhesive and the skin facing layer of adhesive include liquid impermeable, moisture permeable soft adhesives, and the film layer is positioned between the skin facing layer of adhesive and the intermediate layer of adhesive.
US09271862B2
An arm stabilizer includes a stabilizer bar and one or more modular attachments that can be detachably secured to the stabilizer bar. A wrist support attachment can be secured to the distal end of the stabilizer bar. A reducer attachment can be secured to the stabilizer bar between the wrist support attachment and the proximal end of the stabilizer bar. The reducer attachment can be moved along the length of the stabilizer bar at various angular orientations. In some embodiments stabilizer bar is pivotable about a base to allow the stabilizer bar with attachments to be pivoted away from the patient and repositioned at various points in space during use.
US09271844B2
A spinal implant comprises a first member including a wall that defines a first cavity and a second member including a wall defining a second cavity. At least one first expandable bone graft is disposable within the second cavity. The second member is axially translatable relative to the first member between a first configuration and a second, expanded configuration such that at least a portion of the at least one first graft is disposed within the first cavity and the first cavity includes a substantially void portion. At least one second bone graft has a selective configuration and dimension for disposal within the substantially void portion. Systems and methods are disclosed.
US09271841B2
A ball joint prosthesis can include a shell, having an outer articular surface of a first material and an open distal end, configured to receive a sealing receptacle. A volume of a second material, within the shell, can be more compressible than the first material. The ball joint prosthesis can have an effective compressibility that is intermediate between a compressibility of the first material and a compressibility of the second material.
US09271839B2
An orthopaedic prosthesis for use in a hip replacement surgery includes an implantable stem component. The implantable stem component includes a core and a shell extending over the core. The shell includes a polymeric material and is configured to receive a femoral head component. Metal foam may extend over a portion of the shell.
US09271836B2
A separate nub component between the plate and an intervertebral fusion cage, wherein the nub is attached to the plate. The nub lessens the undesired pivotal movement of the plate. It is believed that when the nub fits snugly between the endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies, it acts as a stop against the undesired pivotal movement of the plate.
US09271831B2
A stentless support structure capable of being at least partly assembled in situ. The support structure comprises a braided tube that is very flexible and, when elongated, becomes very long and very small in diameter, thereby being capable of placement within a small diameter catheter. The support structure is preferably constructed of one or more thin strands of a super-elastic or shape memory material such as Nitinol. When released from the catheter, the support structure folds itself into a longitudinally compact configuration. The support structure thus gains significant strength as the number of folds increase. This radial strength obviates the need for a support stent. The support structure may include attachment points for a prosthetic valve.
US09271828B2
Corneal implant retaining devices and their methods of use. The retaining devices can be a cap adapted to be disposed over a portion of a corneal implant insertion device.
US09271824B2
The present invention relates to the regeneration, reconstruction, repair, augmentation or replacement of organs or tissue structures using scaffolds and autologous cells that are not derived from such organs or tissues.
US09271817B2
Tissue augmentation devices, as well as methods of manufacturing and using the same, are disclosed. In certain embodiments, a tissue augmentation device comprises an elongate tissue penetrating member and an amount of remodelable material, wherein at least a portion of the elongate member is cannulated, and at least a portion of the amount of material is received within at least a portion of the cannulated portion of the elongate member. The elongate tissue penetrating member may provide at least one deformation that is configured to constrict portions of the amount of remodelable material received within the elongate member. In alternate embodiments, a flexible covering over an implantable biomaterial provides protection and allows an easier delivery of the biomaterial to a tissue tract.
US09271813B2
A digital painting process provides computer-controlled finishing of dental articles. The process can selectively apply different materials over portions of a dental article in one or more layers to achieve a multi-chromatic finish having a variety of colors, finishes, and surface properties that closely match the appearance and function of human dentition.
US09271812B2
A modified dental implant fixture designed to preserve lingual bone by having the coronal aspect of the implant being compatible with bony anatomy that is higher on the lingual side of the implant surgical site. The implant may be of either the single stage or the two stage design. By modifying the shape of the top of the implant fixture to mimic healing/healed bony anatomy, bone is preserved and bone growth is possibly encourage.
US09271809B2
Embodiments are provided for tracking teeth movement correction. One method embodiment includes using a set of positioning appliances shaped to move teeth through a number of successive stages of arrangements of an expected teeth arrangement model where each stage corresponds to a particular positioning appliance, mapping a current teeth position based upon positions of a number of physical markers attached to a number of physical teeth, comparing the positions of the number of physical markers with a corresponding number of virtual markers positioned on a number of virtual teeth of a stage in the expected teeth arrangement model, determining whether midcourse correction is needed.
US09271808B2
The present invention provides methods for moving a tooth to a desired position within a patient's mouth using orthodontics including perforating tissue in the oral cavity sufficient to induce an inflammatory response. The perforations may be made in any area of the maxilla or mandible, and any number of perforations may be made that are preferably 0.5 to 1.5 mm diameter, and preferably 1 to 3 mm deep. The invention also provides a device that may be used in conjunction with slow-speed rotary instruments or with manual drivers for providing the perforations. The device has a drill that makes the perforations and a stop that prevents the drill from penetrating the jaw bone beyond a predetermined depth. The invention also provides a kit that supplies the professional with the necessary components in a sealed container to carry out the osteoperforations. The kit may include hand held and rotatory perforating devices, anesthetic, and a soft tissue punch.
US09271805B2
A device for marking a treatment isocenter on a patient's body includes a base including alignment indicia; a marker disposed over the base and positioned relative to the indicia for marking the isocenter on the patient's body; and an actuator for actuating the marker and causing a mark indicating the isocenter to be made on the patient's body. The actuator can include a button and a spring coupled to the marker. Compressing the actuator causes the marker to travel through an ink well prior to piercing the patient's skin. The device is disposable as intended for a single use.
US09271794B2
Image-guided therapy of a tissue can utilize magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or another medical imaging device to guide an instrument within the tissue. A workstation can actuate movement of the instrument, and can actuate energy emission and/or cooling of the instrument to effect treatment to the tissue. The instrument can be an MRI compatible laser probe that provides thermal therapy to, e.g., a tissue in a brain of a patient. By tracking a probe position within tissue through feedback, multiple data slices provided around the probe position can be processed to monitor treatment and view thermal data. The operator selects treatment area reference points with the assistance of noise masking.
US09271793B2
Disclosed is a skin treatment device for personal use. The device includes an optical radiation providing module operating in pulsed or continuous operation mode, a mechanism for continuously displacing the device across the skin, and a device displacement speed monitoring arrangement. When the device is applied to skin, the optical pulses repetition rate establishes the power of the optical radiation as a function of the device displacement speed. The device a hair removal mechanism configured to mechanically remove hair from the treated segment of the skin.
US09271790B2
An electrosurgical generator is disclosed. The generator includes a radio frequency output stage configured to generate a radio frequency waveform and a sensor circuit configured to measure a property of the radio frequency waveform during a predetermined sampling period to determine whether an arc event has occurred. The generator also includes a controller configured to determine a total charge and/or total energy deposited by the radio frequency waveform during the predetermined sampling period associated with the arc event. The controller is further configured to adjust the output of the electrosurgical generator based on at least one parameter to limit arcing.
US09271788B2
An energy applicator for directing energy to tissue includes a feedline and a radiating section operably coupled to the feedline, wherein the radiating section has a length. The energy applicator also includes a length adjustment member adapted to allow for selective adjustment of the length of the radiating section.
US09271781B2
A method of treating scoliosis in a subject includes securing a scoliosis treatment device to first and second locations on the subject's skeletal system, the scoliosis treatment device including a first portion, a second portion moveably mounted relative to the first portion, and an adjustment device disposed on the device and configured to change a distraction force between the first location and the second location, the adjustment device including a rotationally mounted magnetic element configured to move the second portion relative to the first portion in response to rotation of the magnetic element. An external adjustment device is provided external to the subject and is able to adjust the distraction force between the first location and second location.
US09271779B2
A tissue retractor assembly may be moved through an opening formed in vertebrae in a patient's spinal column. The robotic mechanism may be utilized to form the opening in the vertebrae and to move the contracted tissue retractor assembly into the vertebra. The tissue retractor assembly may include a cannula or scope which is utilized to position the balloon or bladder relative to the vertebra and to conduct the fluid (gas or liquid) into the balloon or bladder to effect expansion of the balloon or bladder. The balloon or bladder may be formed of a biodegradable material. The robotic mechanism may be utilized to position the cannula through which the flow of synthetic bone material or cement is conducted into the space created in the vertebra by expansion of the balloon or bladder.
US09271777B2
An interbody fusion device including a body member, at least one side member engaging the body member, and at least one movement mechanism that engages at least one side member and the body member. A surgical method for maintaining a space between two vertebral bodies in a spine, including the steps of obtaining a medical device, such as an interbody fusion device, and inserting and coupling an expansion tool into an opening within the medical device. The surgical method also including slidingly inserting the medical device into a space between two vertebral bodies and rotating the expansion tool to move the at least one side member in a direction relative to the body member. The method may further include detaching the expansion tool from the medical device and removing the tool from the space between the two vertebral bodies in the spine.
US09271772B2
A system and method facilitating replacement of comminuted bone fractures or portions thereof adjacent bone joints. The system and method employs a prosthesis to replace at least a portion of the comminuted bone fractures. The prosthesis serves in reproducing the articular surface of the portion or portions of the comminuted bone fractures that are replaced. In doing so, the prosthesis serves in restoring joint viability and corresponding articulation thereof.
US09271770B2
A bone fixation plate includes a first opening formed in a plate that is configured to receive a first fastener; a second opening formed in the plate that is configured to receives a second fastener, and a retention member that extends into a third opening formed in the plate between the first opening and the second opening, wherein the retention member is elastically deformable between at least three positions.
US09271769B2
A bone plate and to a fixation system comprising two types of bone screws. The bone plate has two intersecting stepped round holes which are different in size and in the upper regions of which a circumferential rib extends. The upper region of the smaller round hole is designed to slidably guide a bone screw having a partially spherical heads and a screw having a thread or conical head. The lower region of the larger round hole is used to support a conical head.
US09271768B2
Embodiments herein are generally directed to rod reduction clips that can efficiently attach to orthopedic fixation devices and reduce rods therein. Other embodiments herein are generally directed to coupling elements having removable extended tabs for use in orthopedic fixation devices.
US09271763B2
A transverse rod connector includes an elongate member having first and second ends and first and second connection members. The first and second connection members are connected with first and second ends, respectively. The first and second connection members are configured for multidirectional positioning with respect to the elongate member. The first and second connection members are each dimensioned to be selectively and releasably secured to a bone anchor.
US09271761B2
A bone anchoring device for securement to a bone. The device includes an anchor, a receiver, a retainer and an insert. The receiver includes a seating surface defining a cavity communicating with the exterior of the receiver through a first opening configured to receive the connection head of the anchor therethrough. The retainer includes at least two discrete retaining members configured to engage with the receiver seating surface when they are captured between the connection head and the seating surface. The insert is disposed within the receiver and configured to frictionally engage the connection head. The insert includes a main body and at least one pin protruding from the main body, for circumferential insertion between two adjacent retaining members of the retainer.
US09271756B2
Systems and methods for joint replacement are provided. The systems and methods include a surgical orientation device, a reference sensor device, and at least one orthopedic fixture. The surgical orientation device, reference sensor device, and orthopedic fixtures can be used to locate the orientation of an axis in the body, to adjust an orientation of a cutting plane or planes along a bony surface, or otherwise to assist in an orthopedic procedure(s).
US09271752B2
A cannula is placed in an enlarged opening through a bladder wall and an abdominal wall by applying pulling tension to a placement guide extending through a small pathway to hold an inflated placement balloon in sealing contact with the bladder wall. The seal confines distension fluid in the bladder to establish sufficient reactive resistance to enlarge the opening through the bladder wall with blunt force dilation from an obturator.
US09271749B2
An endoscopic medical device system includes an elongated shaft assembly, a cam assembly and an articulating distal end assembly. The elongated shaft assembly extends along a main axis and includes first and second actuator rods arranged parallel to each other and the first actuator rod is longer than the second actuator rod. The cam assembly includes a cam, and the proximal ends of the first and second actuator rods are configured to be slidably attached to first and second locations of the cam, respectively, and the distal ends of the first and second actuator rods are positioned at the same distance from the cam center. The articulating distal end assembly extends along the main axis and is pivotally connected to the distal ends of the first and second actuator rods. Rotation of the cam around an axis perpendicular to the main axis provides angular displacement of the distal end assembly relative to the main axis.
US09271743B2
Techniques for joint fusion are described, including a drill guide assembly having a drill guide and a pin sleeve, the drill guide including a drill guide head having an opening, a shaft configured to receive the pin sleeve, a drill guide tip configured to engage a bone, and a cannula configured to receive an implant, a first guide pin configured to guide placement of the drill guide, a striker tube configured to fit over at least a portion of the pin sleeve, a cannulated drill bit configured to drill a pilot hole in a bone tissue, a stop collar configured to be placed over the cannulated drill bit and to be attached to the cannulated drill bit using a ridge, and a parallel spacer instrument configured to guide placement of a second guide pin at a distance from the implant after the implant is implanted into the bone tissue.
US09271735B2
A ligature device and method of use are disclosed. More specifically, a ligature device capable of maintaining a ligature band in an elongated position, applying a preformed ligation band to an object to be ligated, manually releasing the ligation band from an elongated position, and securing a ligation band in a tensioned position is described. The ligation device may be used to apply ligation bands to various body parts of various animals.
US09271734B2
A sheath is configured for elongation from a first length to a second, longer length and a retention member retains the sheath at the first length. A portion of the retention member is removed or disengaged, the sheath is released and expands in situ to the second longer length. A method for releasing the retention member is also disclosed.
US09271733B2
A system is described for performing vascular anastomosis without the use of sutures. The system includes a connector comprised of memory material and an incision seal. The connector has one end configured to securely engage a graft vessel and another end with wings and barbs. The wings are configured to securely engage an inner wall of a main vessel and the barbs are configured to lock with the incision seal. Once locked, the incision seal and the connector apply a clamping force that secures the graft vessel with the main vessel.
US09271731B2
Medical device used to cause hemostasis of blood vessels using a clip arrangement delivered to a target region through an endoscope. Method for using the device to cause hemostasis of a blood vessel through an endoscope. Medical device including a reversibly closeable clip, a locking arrangement, a control wire, a sheath, and a handle with an actuating trigger. Through the endoscope, hemostatic clipping device that is fully reversible and lockable. Hemostatic clip that reversibly targets and clips bleeding ulcers.
US09271726B2
A fastener for attaching a sheet-like implant to tissue or bone may be provided with a first arm having a proximal portion and a distal portion, a second arm having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and a bridge formed at least in part by the proximal portion of the first arm overlapping the proximal portion of the second arm. Each of the first and second arms can include at least a partial loop member having a lumen therethrough slidably receiving the other arm, each arm further including a tissue retention member on a distal portion having a projection extending therefrom for engagement of bone or tissue when inserted therein. The staple can also include a one-way position retention assembly for allowing distal movement of each at least partial loop member relative to the other arm therethrough to tension the fastener and maintain a desired configuration.
US09271709B2
An apparatus for the efficient provision of directed illumination to a subdermal surgical field that is attachable to or completely forms a surgical retractor blade. The surgical illumination system may include a retractor having a proximal handle portion and a distal portion adapted for insertion into a surgical field and retraction of body tissue, and a light guide disposed on the retractor.
US09271705B2
A highly secure instrument adapter includes a handle with an internal locking and release mechanism which does not use a pushing release and which requires little physical effort to lock and release, yet provides a stable and secure connection between an instrument and the handle. The locking mechanism is comprised an ergometric handle having an open handle cavity, a receiver having an internal threaded tubular body and a plurality of locking apertures, and a rotating collar having a limited range of rotation, a plurality of fingers that project outward from the flattened surface on a spacer structure, and a plurality of circular apertures placed alternately between said fingers.
US09271697B2
Described herein are systems and methods for suppressing speckle noise in ultrasound imaging. In an embodiment, speckle noise suppression is provided by incoherently summing echo waves that impinge the active aperture of the transducers. This incoherent summation prevents echo waves from destructively interfering and therefore prevents the signal ‘nulls’ that characterize speckle noise. In an exemplary embodiment, the incoherent summation is performed by sub-dividing a transducer into a plurality of smaller transducers and incoherently summing the electrical signals from the smaller transducers. In one exemplary embodiment, each of the smaller transducers is coupled to a separate rectifier, which rectifies the electrical signal from the respective transducer into a rectified signal. The rectified signals from the rectifiers are then summed to provide the incoherent summation.
US09271687B2
A method of adjusting an X-ray emission range includes: displaying an image obtained by capturing X-rays which pass through a subject; receiving a user input with respect to the captured image; and controlling a collimator according to the received user input, to adjust the X-ray emission range according to a size and position of the collimator.
US09271683B2
A radiation focal position detecting method for detecting a positional displacement of a focal point of a radiation source in a radiation tomographic imaging apparatus is provided. The method includes providing a radiation absorber that covers parts of first and second detecting element regions, the parts lying on mutually adjoining sides of the first and second detecting element regions in a radiation detector including a plurality of detecting elements arranged in channel and slice directions, and specifying, based on intensities of radiation detected by the detecting elements in the first and second detecting element regions, a position of the focal point or an amount of movement of the focal point from a reference position.
US09271678B2
A method for model based motion tracking of a catheter during an ablation procedure includes receiving a training series of biplanar fluoroscopic images of a catheter acquired under conditions that will be present during an ablation procedure, segmenting and processing the series of biplanar images to produce a distance transform image for each biplanar image at each acquisition time, minimizing, for each pair of biplanar images at each acquisition time, a cost function of the distance transform image for each pair of biplanar images to yield a translation parameter that provides a best fit for a model of the catheter to each pair of biplanar images at each acquisition time, and calculating an updated catheter model for each acquisition time from said translation parameter.
US09271676B2
The invention relates to a method for measuring tissue edema. By a method in accordance with the invention an electromagnetic probe (24) is placed on the skin, and the capacitance of the probe is proportional to the dielectric constant of the skin and subcutaneous fat, which is proportional to the water content of the skin. The edema is scored by measuring the capacitance of the electromagnetic probe, so called open-ended coaxial cable, at a high frequency, approximately 20-500 MHz.
US09271673B2
A method for targeting. The method includes determining skin characteristics in a region of a patient. An in-treatment optical scan is performed on a region of a patient, wherein the in-treatment optical scan comprises a near infrared (NIR) energy source. A plurality of detected signals is detected from the optical scan. The skin characteristics are filtered out from the plurality of detected signals. Skeletal anatomy positioning associated with the region is determined from the plurality of signals that is filtered.
US09271672B2
A method of monitoring a patient's foot forms a thermogram of the sole of at least one foot of the patient, and determines whether the thermogram presents at least one of a plurality of prescribed patterns. The method also compares the thermogram against a prior thermogram of the same foot, and produces output information indicating the emergence of an ulcer on a given portion on the at least one foot as a function of 1) whether the thermogram is determined to present the at least one pattern, and 2) the comparison with the prior thermogram, which shows non-ulcerated tissue at the given location.
US09271670B2
Analyte sensor connectors that connect analyte sensors, e.g., conductive members of analyte sensors, to other devices such as sensor electronics units, e.g., sensor control units, are provided. Also provided are systems that include analyte sensors, analyte sensor connectors, and analyte sensor electronics units, as well as methods of establishing and maintaining connections between analyte sensors and analyte sensor electronics units, and methods of analyte monitoring/detection. Also provided are methods of making analyte sensor connectors and systems that include analyte sensor connectors.
US09271668B2
A needle assembly is disclosed. The needle assembly includes a housing having a flash chamber, and having a distal end and a proximal end engageable with a specimen collection container. The assembly includes a cannula having a patient end, a non-patient end, and a sidewall extending therebetween defining a cannula interior. The patient end of the cannula projects at least partially from the distal end of the housing, and the cannula interior is in fluid communication with the flash chamber. The assembly further includes a shield restrainably engaged with a portion of the housing and axially transitionable over the patient cannula from a retracted position in which the patient end is exposed, to an extended position in which the patient end is shielded by at least a portion of the shield, wherein at least a portion of the flash chamber is visible in the retracted position.
US09271641B1
The present disclosure describes an apparatus for testing to assess the cone photoreceptor pathway by determining the sensitivity of the cone photoreceptors. The test may be used to determine of a subject is suffering from, or is likely to suffer from, a disease state involving the fovea, parafovea, macula, neurological pathways used by these area to communicate with the visual processing centers in the brain and cone photoreceptors and/or ganglion cells. Using the novel cone photoreceptor sensitivity test and apparatus, the present disclosure shows that cone photoreceptor sensitivity in subjects with primary open angle glaucoma was decreased as compared to a control group (p=0.04). This cone photoreceptor sensitivity test is shown to have excellent repeatability, can be administered in a short time, does not require extensive subject instruction and meets other limitations required for application in a clinical setting.
US09271637B2
A device for illuminating a body cavity may include an elongate tube, at least one lens element, and at least one deployable element. The elongate tube may include an internal lumen extending between a distal opening at a distal end and a proximal opening at a proximal end opposite the distal end. The at least one lens element may extend substantially across a diameter of the internal lumen of the elongate tube. The at least one deployable element may include a light source. The at least one deployable element may be operably coupled to a region of the elongate tube proximate the distal end and may be configured to be moved between an insertion position and a deployed position.
US09271632B2
A cylindrical rotation unit attachable to an elongated insertion unit which includes a base in which a central axis is defined, and a rotation member provided on an outer circumference of the base movably in an axial direction of the central axis relative to the base and rotatably around the central axis in response to the rotation of a rotation force transmission portion which is rotatable around a longitudinal axis parallel with the central axis of the base includes: an engagement portion attachable to and detachable from an outer circumferential surface of the base; and a contact portion which is provided to contact on the rotation member away from the engagement portion and which disposes the rotation member on an outer circumference of the rotation force transmission portion while the engagement portion is engaged with the outer circumferential surface of the base.
US09271630B2
A system for wirelessly powering various devices positioned on an endoscope, including, for example, a light source, various electronics including an imager and/or a memory device. The endoscope is coupled to a camera where the endoscope may be rotated relative to the camera when coupled thereto. The system is further provided such that video signal processing parameters are automatically set for an endoscopic video camera system based upon characteristics of an attached endoscope, with reduced EMI and improved inventory tracking, maintenance and quality assurance, and reducing the necessity for adjustment and alignment of the endoscope and camera to achieve the data transfer.
US09271628B2
A dishwasher includes an outer housing, a drawer having front, rear, bottom and opposing side walls that collectively define a washing tub, a lid for selectively closing the washing tub and an operating mechanism that raises and lowers the lid as the drawer is shifted into and out of the outer housing. The operating mechanism includes a lifting slider slidably mounted in the outer housing operatively coupled to a lifting spring and a compression slider, also slidably mounted in the outer housing coupled to a compression spring. The lifting slider and compression slider are provided with corresponding lifting rollers and compression rollers that engage the lid. As the drawer is withdrawn from the outer housing, the lifting spring urges the lifting slider upward raising the lid and, as the drawer is inserted into the outer housing, the compression slider forces the lid downward onto the washing tub.
US09271627B2
A household appliance for treating at least one item according to at least one cycle of operation, includes a treating chamber for receiving the at least one item for treatment according to the at least one cycle of operation, a treating chemistry dispenser receiving a unit dose container having an optically sensible element, a physical alteration element located proximate to the treating chemistry dispenser and operable to physically alter at least a portion of the optically sensible element, and a sensor to sense the physical alteration.
US09271626B2
A method for treating a consumer article wherein a treating chemistry is activated or deactivated by the introduction of steam.
US09271624B2
A disposable cellulosic wiper includes a percentage by weight of pulp-derived papermaking fibers, and a percentage by weight of regenerated independent cellulosic microfibers having a number average diameter of less than about 2 microns and a characteristic Canadian Standard Freeness (CSF) value of less than 175 ml. The microfibers are selected and present in amounts such that the wiper exhibits a Laplace pore volume fraction at pore sizes less than 15 microns of at least 1.5 times that of a like wiper prepared without regenerated independent cellulosic microfibers.
US09271620B2
The present invention is directed to a vacuum including a dust extraction system. The system includes a filter assembly, an airflow generation assembly, and valve assembly. The airflow generation assembly is configured to draw contaminated air toward the filter assembly and exhaust filtered air as a discharge stream. The filter assembly is configured to remove contaminants from the contaminated airflow by capturing particulate material suspended within the airflow. The valve assembly is configured to selectively direct filtered airflow into the filter assembly such that the filtered air stream cleans the filter.
US09271618B2
A hand held vacuum cleaner unit and docking assembly for a central vacuum system is shown. The hand held vacuum cleaner has a handle, a suction nozzle, a trigger switch to turn on a battery powered suction motor and an outlet port. The docking assembly fits into a central vacuum cleaner mounting plate, and provides a cradle to store the hand held vacuum cleaner. Recharging contacts, a latch mechanism, seals and an intake port are provided on the docking assembly. When the hand held unit is in the docking assembly it may be electrically charged, and emptied of dirt and debris by activation of the central vacuum system. The docking assembly also includes an access port for a conventional central vacuum hose.
US09271614B2
A portable back scrubbing and massaging device is provided that can be used in and out of the shower for effectively cleaning and massaging a back of an individual. The portable device has brushes that can be removed and replaced with other brushes or massage accessories. This permits an individual to select from a wide variety of brushes and massage accessories that have varying amounts of thickness, softness, firmness and/or length. The brushes can also be reconfigured into different arrangements or patterns that allows a person to get a cleaning or massage that matches the contours of that person's back.
US09271612B2
A dispensing device has a downward-facing outlet for dispensing a material, a mechanism causing material to be dispensed, a first sensor facing in a first horizontal direction, adapted to detect a person approaching the dispensing device, and an alert mechanism. The first sensor, detecting an approaching person, activates the alert mechanism, signaling the approaching person of the presence of the dispensing device.
US09271611B2
The invention relates generally to the field of hand sanitation, and particularly to a systems that encourage or compel the use of a hand sanitizer in order to open or unlock a door, unlock an access panel or drawer, or use a shared electronic device.
US09271594B1
Apparatus using a method of steam cooking food items in two consecutive steps whereby the food items contained in a food carrier are first preheated in water in a container which is being heated by a heater. After the food items are at or near the cooking temperature, the food carrier is raised above the water and into the steam zone produced by the boiling water for the purpose of steam cooking the food items. A cover is placed on the container so as to retain and concentrate the steam within the container to affect steam cooking of the food items.
US09271593B1
A suspension device includes a sticking piece, a suspension seat, and a connecting head. The sticking piece has a back face coated with a hydrophilic adhesive. The suspension seat has a first shell connected with a front face of the sticking piece. The first shell has a slideway and two insertion plates. The connecting head has a mounting portion and a resting portion. The mounting portion has a mounting hole mounted on one end of a shower rod. The resting portion has a second shell provided with a protruding slide and two slots. The second shell is juxtaposed to the first shell, with the slide sliding into the slideway, and with the two insertion plates being inserted into the two slots, such that the connecting head is combined with the suspension seat.
US09271590B2
A drinking straw comprises a thermoplastic tube and an active ingredient in the tube, releasable in a liquid drawn through the tube. The active ingredient is held in place between branched portions of the straw defined by neighbouring recesses formed in the tube and an inner seam connecting the neighbouring recesses. The branched portions are spaced from the ends of the straw. A device and method for making the drinking straw are disclosed as well.
US09271589B2
A sensory aroma glass is disclosed. According to one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a fluid barrier; and a fluid container designed for containing a fluid. The fluid barrier is in contact with the rim or internal or external sidewall of the fluid container. The fluid barrier extends into the fluid container. The fluid barrier has an opening that allows aroma of the fluid to escape from the fluid container without allowing the fluid to escape from the fluid container.
US09271582B1
A stackable object dispenser for selectively and sanitarily dispensing an individual object from a plurality of stacked objects. The stackable object dispenser generally includes a base and a plate member secured to an upper end thereof. The plate member includes an opening over which is positioned a retention member for retaining a stack of objects. Portions of dispensing retainers abut into the opening to prevent any of the objects from prematurely being dispensed. Upon activation of an external lever or knob, a dispensing assembly acts to push a pair of dispensing members inwardly to squeeze and push down the lowest object in the stack to be dispensed into a cavity and retrieved through a frontal opening of the base.
US09271581B2
Implementations of the present invention comprise infant feeding pillows having a main portion and a wedge portion. The top surface of the main portion can be configured to support Si least the arm of a user and, optionally, at least a portion of the head of an infant. The wedge portion can be coupled to and extend from the first side of the main portion. The width of the wedge portion decrease from a base portion to a tip portion as the distance from the first side of the main body increases. Additionally, a top surface of the wedge portion forms an angle with the top surface of the main portion. The wedge portion is configured to rest in the lap of a user and supports at least a portion of an infant. The main portion can further comprise a first and a second shoulder extending seamlessly from the main body along the longitudinal axis thereof.
US09271573B2
The control device includes a seat having a positioning hole. An elevation support connects a first control line and is pivoted to the seat. A control lever has a connecting base received in the receiving room. The connecting base has a receiving hole, a connecting trough and a driving shaft. A tilt support has a through hole and connects a second control line. A cover assembled with the seat has a rotation hole. A rotation support has a cap and a bar. The bar has an insert hole and passes the rotation hole, the through hole and the connecting trough. A bolt passes through the insert hole and the receiving hole.
US09271566B1
An illuminating toothbrush for illuminating the inside of a users mouth while the user brushes her teeth and/or gums. The illuminating toothbrush comprises a conventional toothbrush having elongated handle portion and bristle head portion modified with a lighting element connected to an internal battery compartment and a manually actuated momentary switch. The lighting element is positioned on the handle portion to enable it to direct light towards the bristle head, configuring it to illuminate the mouth of a user when the bristle head is in the user's mouth. In operation, when the manual switch is depressed through the application of manual pressure, the lighting element illuminates and when the manual pressure is removed, the lighting element ceases to illuminate.
US09271563B2
A method of determining a fault on a power line conductor includes the steps of determining a magnitude and a direction of a load current waveform in the power line conductor with a loop coil and determining a magnitude and a direction of a fault current waveform in the power line conductor with the loop coil. A polarity of the fault current waveform is compared with a polarity of the load current waveform to determine if a change in polarity between the fault current waveform and the load current waveform occurred to determine the direction of the fault. Data representing a fault to at least one remote location is transmitted when a predetermined trigger value is reached.
US09271560B2
The invention relates to a backpack comprising a frame structure stretching the back wall (2) of backpack (1) to be concavely taut and holding a netting member (4) in front of the backpack back wall (2) in bowstring fashion. The frame structure comprises a resilient frame member (3) having a pair of frame portions (8, 9) intersecting in front of backpack back wall (2), a top frame portion (10) which extends in a transverse direction of backpack (1), interconnects the top ends of frame portions (8, 9) and is held against backpack back wall (2), and a frame portion (18) comprising two frame elements (19, 20) extending approximately in the longitudinal direction of backpack (1) and mutually spaced in a transverse direction thereof.
US09271558B1
A collection bag has a bag body sized to fit along a wearer's torso. A back wall of the bag body is positionable in contact with the wearer's torso. A front wall is opposite the back wall. The back wall is formed from material that is generally impervious to items in the bag, while the front wall is generally pervious to water flow. The front and back walls are joined together along lateral and longitudinal margins to define the interior of the bag. Attachment members are attached to the bag body for supporting the weight of the bag body against the wearer's torso. A first sealable opening through the front wall allows the wearer to place collected items into the bag. A second sealable opening positioned along the lateral margin near the wearer's waste region allows the wearer to easily empty collected items from the bag.
US09271556B2
An automatic coloring device for moving coloring tool along a curve includes a guide-bar, a moving platform, a coloring tool, a first moving member and a second moving member. The moving platform is movably disposed on the guide-bar, and the coloring tool is disposed on the moving platform. The first moving member controls the guide-bar to move along a curve, and the second moving member controls the moving platform to move along the guide-bar. An axle center of the guide-bar penetrates the plane where the curve is disposed.
US09271553B2
The beach/pool bag with hidden compartment has a hidden compartment positioned at the bottom of the bag that is equipped with a zipper-closable access. A flap is provided to cover and conceal the zipper, thereby presenting a false bottom and disguising the existence of the compartment underneath.
US09271552B2
A sports ball collection, transport and combination sports goal device is provided, comprising a set of hingedly attached frame members and an internal netted bag attached thereto. The frames are rounded sections of tubular material that are connected at their terminal ends at two hinge devices. The hinges allow the rounded frame sections to be opened and closed with respect to one another, providing access to the internal netting or closure thereof. In an open configuration, the frames provide a structure to hold the netted bag in an open position, wherein balls may easily be placed into the bag. In a closed position, the frame members mate together to form a closed bag and handled device for improved carrying and transport of the device and sports ball contained therein. In an alternate configuration, the frames may be positioned to act as a sports goal for recreational purposes, or to facilitate entry of sports balls within the bag cavity.
US09271547B2
The molded hook and loop fastener has multiple hook and loop fastener parts on which multiple engaging elements are disposed, and a connection member for connecting the hook and loop fastener parts. The hook and loop fastener parts have fixing parts which fix the connection member to backings. The backings have forward and rearward extensions that extend in the longitudinal direction from the positions where the fixing parts are disposed. The dimension in the longitudinal direction of the connection member at a connection part is set to be longer than the minimum interval between adjacent hook and loop fastener parts, thereby allowing the molded hook and loop fastener to be bent easily in the width direction, and allowing the forward and rearward extensions to prevent foam resin material from directly hitting lateral walls.
US09271546B2
Provided is a molding hook and loop fastener, in which a barrier erected near left and right side edges of a substrate includes at least two rows of vertical wall arrays, and the vertical wall array includes a plurality of vertical walls disposed alternately. Between the two adjacent, rows of the vertical walls disposed alternately, each of the vertical walls disposed on one row is connected to two vertical walls disposed on the other row via a connecting part, and the connecting part connects one end portion of one vertical wall disposed on the adjacent row and the other end portion of the other vertical wall. Due to this, in the molding hook and loop fastener an outer side and an inner side of the barrier can be divided by the vertical wall array and the connecting part, and flexibility of the molding hook and loop fastener can be improved.
US09271544B2
An article of footwear may incorporate a chamber with an outer barrier and a tether element. The barrier may be formed from a polymer material that defines an interior cavity, and tether element may be located within the interior cavity and joined to opposite sides of the barrier. Upon pressurization of the chamber, the tether element may extend across the interior cavity and be placed in tension by the outward force of a pressurized fluid within the interior cavity. The tether element may have a variety of configurations. For example, the tether element may have a diagonal orientation, or different tether elements may have different lengths. A tether element may also have plates or tie pieces secured to opposite sides of the chamber, with one or more tethers extending between. Also, the tether element may include one of more sheets that extend across the interior cavity.
US09271534B2
Embodiments of the invention include a drawstring closure that allows two sides of a garment to securely and evenly tighten the garment and the fly of the garment. One embodiment of the invention includes a drawstring closure for use on a garment, including a first front panel, wherein the first front panel comprises a first tab, and wherein the first tab comprises a first opening through which a drawstring can be threaded; a second front panel, wherein the second front panel comprises a second tab, wherein the second tab comprises second and third openings through which a drawstring can be threaded; a first drawstring, wherein the first drawstring is attached to the first tab, the first drawstring is threaded through the third and the first opening; a second drawstring, wherein the second drawstring is attached to the first front panel; and the second drawstring is threaded through the second opening.
US09271532B2
A garment has a pocket with an opening located at the waistband of the garment. A strap includes a stretchy membrane and at least one of the opposite ends of the strap extends into openings in the garment to form a horizontal pocket opening. The strap may be made of an elastic material. A fabric can conceal part of the strap and may surround or be attached to the strap. The pocket lining has front and rear walls attached together, with top horizontal portions of the front and rear wall attached behind an exposed portion of the strap. The walls of the pocket lining may be attached to two join seams of the garment. Stretching the strap outwards will open the pocket thus accessing belongings stored therein. When the pocket is closed, the elastic material of the strap provides stretch and recoil, securing any belongings safely inside the pocket.
US09271531B2
A detachable wrist coach has a detachable sheet of football plays in a transparent pocket joined to a sweatband by hook-and-loop fasteners. The detachable sheet can be separated from the sweatband so that the sweatband can be cleaned without degrading the transparent pocket or getting water into it. One or more flaps with transparent pockets can be attached to the detachable sheet by a hinge that multiple pages of plays may be viewed by opening the flap. The flap is held down by a second hook-and-loop fasteners with a lower peel strength than the sweatband's hook and loop fasteners so that a top flap can be opened without removing the detachable sheet from the sweatband.
US09271529B2
A portable vaporization apparatus is a is a compact re-useable apparatus that attaches to an existing electrical source, such as a battery pack of an existing electronic cigarette/personal vaporizer, in order to vaporize a plurality of dried solid compounds as well as liquid compounds with a low viscosity into an inhalable aerosol. The portable vaporization apparatus utilizes a mouth piece, a lower housing which contains an interior chamber, a battery mount, and a wickless ceramic heating element. The ceramic heating element is securely engaged to the battery mount which is engaged to the lower housing forming a hermetic seal at the lower portion. The ceramic heating element is positioned within the interior chamber while the upper portion of the interior chamber is temporarily sealed by the mouth piece. With vaporizable material in the interior chamber, the user would connect the electrical source powering the ceramic heating element.
US09271526B2
The present invention provides an electronic cigarette box including a box body. The box body dispose cigarette slot for accommodating an electronic cigarette and an ejecting device to eject the electronic cigarette. The ejecting device includes an ejecting mechanism and a lever mechanism. The ejecting device is disposed at a lower end of the cigarette slot along an in-and-out direction of the electronic cigarette and resists between the electronic cigarette and the box body. The lever mechanism and the ejecting mechanism are correspondingly and engagingly disposed. The electronic cigarette is capable of being inserted into the cigarette slot for storage or ejected out from the cigarette slot for use repeatedly.
US09271520B2
The invention disclosed in this application relates to novel stable beadlets of lipophilic nutrients comprising an inert core having a coating of stabilizing antioxidants, lipophilic nutrients, or mixtures thereof. The beadlets may be coated with one or more coatings to protect the lipophilic ingredients from the atmosphere, specifically the coatings can be used to protect against moisture and/or oxygen. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of the stable beadlets. The beadlets can be used in medicines and dietary supplements intended to facilitate the reduced risk of macular degeneration, cataract, and several forms of cancer.
US09271513B2
The aim of the invention is to be able to arrange or secure an elastic nozzle in a device, especially a casting machine, using simple design measures while allowing the nozzle to be quickly replaced in the device using simple mounting steps. Said aim is achieved by a connection piece (1) which is particularly suitable for securing an elastic nozzle (3) in a casting machine. The connection piece (1) preferably has a hollow cylindrical shape and includes a securing mechanism (4), especially a thread, at one end. A clamping unit (2) is connected to the connection piece (1). The connection piece (1) and/or the clamping unit (2) has/have a receptacle for the nozzle (3), and the nozzle (3) is connected to the connection piece (1).
US09271506B2
A system for conveying carcasses or carcass parts of quadruped slaughter animals includes at least one carrier. The carrier includes a first jaw element, which has an engagement face for engaging the carcass or carcass part, a second jaw element, which has an engagement face for engaging the carcass or carcass part. The carrier further includes a tensioning structure, the connection between the first connection zone of the tensioning structure and the first jaw element and the connection between the second connection zone of the tensioning structure and the second jaw element being such that when the jaw elements move relative to each other when receiving a carcass or carcass part in the retaining part of the holding slot, the first connection zone moves along with the first jaw member and the second connection zone moves along with the second jaw member, which movement of the connection zones causes elastic deformation of the tensioning structure, the elastic deformation providing a clamping force to the engagement faces of the jaw elements such that the carcass or carcass part is retained in the holding slot by clamping a part of the carcass or carcass part between the engagement face of the first jaw element and the engagement face of the second jaw element.
US09271501B2
The present invention relates to the use of strobilurine type compounds of formula I and the N-oxides and the salts thereof for combating phytopathogenic fungi containing a mutation in the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene conferring resistance to Qo inhibitors, and to methods for combating such fungi. The invention also relates to novel compounds, processes for preparing these compounds, to compositions comprising at least one such compound, to plant health applications, and to seeds coated with at least one such compound.
US09271498B2
Methods for making antimicrobial coating materials are described. Antimicrobial materials and antimicrobial material precursors are formed from hexahydrotriazine and/or a hemiaminal material and a non-fouling material and adhesive material may be incorporated into the antimicrobial materials and antimicrobial material precursors. The hexahydrotriazine and/or hemiaminal material may be made from a diamine and an aldehyde. Metal ions are also incorporated into the antimicrobial material precursors to form an antimicrobial material.
US09271496B2
A fungicidal composition containing a fungicidally effective amount of a compound of Formula I: (3S,6S,7R,8R)-8-benzyl-3-(3-((isobutyryloxy)methoxy)-4-methoxypicolinamido)-6-methyl-4,9-dioxo-1,5-dioxonan-7-yl isobutyrate, and at least one fungicide selected from the group consisting of: benzovindiflupyr and penthiopyrad provides synergistic control of selected fungi.
US09271495B2
A controlled release biocidal salt of a first component comprises a cation of a Nα—(C1-C22) alkanoyl di-basic amino acid alkyl (C1-C22) ester cationic biocidal molecule and a second component comprising an anion of a monomeric anionic molecule having insignificant biocidal activity. The salt is characterized such that when the salt is exposed to an aqueous medium, the salt partially dissolves thereby releasing biocidal ions in an amount sufficient to exceed the MIC or MBC of a target bacteria being controlled, and further characterized as leaving a residual reservoir of undissolved salt capable of releasing more biocidal ions as the salt is consumed or otherwise removed from the environment encompassing the target bacteria. The preferred cationic biocidal molecule comprises Nα-lauroyl-L-arginine ethyl ester (“LAE”).
US09271487B2
A method for forming an antimicrobial composition that includes mixing an antimicrobially active botanical oil (e.g., thymol, carvacrol, etc.) and protein within a melt blending device (e.g., extruder) is provided. Despite the problems normally associated with melt processing proteins, the present inventors have discovered that the processing conditions and components may be selectively controlled to allow for the formation of a stable, melt-processed composition that is able to exhibit good mechanical properties. For example, the extrusion temperature(s) and shear rate employed during melt blending are relatively low to help limit polypeptide dissociation, thereby minimizing the impact of aggregation and embrittlement. While the use of such low temperature/shear conditions often tend to reduce mixing efficiency, the present inventors have discovered that a carrier fluid may be employed to enhance the ability of the botanical oil to flow into the internal structure of the protein where it can be retained in a stable manner. The composition is also typically anhydrous and generally free of solvents. In this manner, the protein will not generally disperse before use and prematurely release the botanical oil.
US09271484B2
A bobbin holder (2) for tying thread (F) for making fishing flies comprises, essentially, means (21) for holding a bobbin (3) of tying thread (F) and a thread (F) guide tube (20) through which the thread (F) from the said bobbin (3) is threaded. The bobbin holder (2) also comprises, spaced radially in relation to the thread (F) guide tube (20) and apart from each (4; 4′) other (4′; 4), at least two retaining hooks (4; 4′) around which a tying thread (F) can be partially wound. The bobbin holder is used for fastening dubbing onto the fish hook of a fishing fly.
US09271472B2
A self-propelled stall cleaning apparatus has a frame assembly, one pair of drive wheels, a motor attached to the assembly for driving the drive wheels and a motor driven collector head. The collector head has a pivoting fork with tines for collecting manure and debris. The fork picks up the manure and debris and tosses it onto a sifting conveyor. The sifting conveyor separates the manure from the bedding and delivers the manure to a lift conveyor which drops the manure into a collection bin. The collection bin is moveable from a stowed position to a dumping position.
US09271467B1
A novel maize variety designated PH24WY and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH24WY with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH24WY 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 PH24WY or a locus conversion of PH24WY with another maize variety.
US09271465B1
A novel maize variety designated PH1TRS and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1TRS with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1TRS 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 PH1TRS or a locus conversion of PH1TRS with another maize variety.
US09271461B1
A novel maize variety designated PH1KN9 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1KN9 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1KN9 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 PH1KN9 or a locus conversion of PH1KN9 with another maize variety.
US09271446B2
Apparatus for gathering bales that aligns itself during bale pick-up. Methods for transferring bales that use such an apparatus are also provided.
US09277683B2
Embodiments include a liquid cooled electronic device including a compartment configured to enclose an electronic module therein. The compartment includes a stationary cooling plate disposed on an interior portion of the compartment, the stationary cooling plate comprising a liquid cooling system configured to remove heat from the stationary cooling plate and a plurality of electrical connectors configured to connect to the electronic module. The electronic module includes a mobile cooling plate configured to intimately fit with the stationary cooling plate when the plurality of electrical connectors are connected to the electronic device module. The heat generated by the electronic module is removed by the mobile cooling plate and the stationary cooling plate.
US09277681B2
An electronic control apparatus includes housing members, and a circuit board. At least one of the housing members is opposed to a heat-generating region which is heated by the heat-generating electronic component. A heat radiating portion of the housing member includes a convex portion protruding from an inner wall surface at a location opposed to the heat-generating region, and a concave portion opened to an outer wall surface at a location shifted from the convex portion in a thickness direction. The convex portion is close to the heat-generating region through a clearance. The concave portion has a lateral wall formed in a tapered shape such that an opening area of the concave portion is larger than a bottom area of the concave portion. A thickness of the heat radiating portion is smaller than a thickness of a region peripheral to the heat radiating portion in the housing member.
US09277676B2
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a heating component, a housing, and a heat diffusing member. The housing accommodates the heating component and includes a wall. The wall includes a first region configured to receive heat from the component and a second region configured to have a lower temperature than a temperature of the first region. The heat diffusing member is attached to an inner surface of the wall and extends from the first region to the second region.
US09277672B2
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a housing, a heat-generating component in the housing, a first radiating portion in the housing thermally connected to the heat-generating component, a second radiating portion in the housing thermally connected to the heat-generating component, and a fan configured to blow air to the first radiating portion and the second radiating portion.
US09277668B2
An indicia-reading module suitable for integration within a host mobile computing device that has an integrated flexible circuit is disclosed. The indicia-reading module includes a plurality of subassemblies, each supported and electrically connected by a discrete, rigid, multilayer printed-circuit-board (PCB). A unitary flexible circuit electrically connects the subassemblies and is physically integrated between two inner layers of each subassembly's discrete, rigid, multilayer printed-circuit-board. The use of the integrated flexible circuit aids in reducing module size, signal loss, and interference with the host mobile computing device.
US09277660B1
This application relates to methods and apparatus for pneumatically separating adhesively joined components. A pneumatic release mechanism can be positioned between the adhesively joined components. The pneumatic release mechanism can be positioned adjacent to or within an adhesive joint so that when it is filled with air the pneumatic release mechanism can exert a force on the joined components sufficient to sever the adhesive bond. In some embodiments, the joined components can be housing components. In other embodiments, the joined components can be a battery cell and a housing component.
US09277659B2
A link mechanism which links a main body and a display part of an information apparatus with a display part which can be opened and closed with respect to a main body is made a four-section articulated link mechanism which arranges first and second joints on the main body and arranges third and fourth joints on the display part. The first joint is fixed in position, the second joint is made slidable with respect to the first joint, and the third and fourth joints are positioned at two ends of a slide block which can slide on the display part. Due to this, the four-section articulated link mechanism can make the display part simultaneously slide and tilt with respect to the main body from the closed position.
US09277656B2
Method for producing a substrate comprising at least one getter material arranged on the walls of at least one blind hole, comprising at least the steps of: etching the blind hole through a first face of the substrate, depositing a continuous layer of getter material on the whole of the first face of the substrate and at least on the side walls of the blind hole, etching part of the layer of getter material located on the first face of the substrate such that said first face of the substrate is no longer covered by the getter material, in which the step of etching part of the layer of getter material comprises the implementation of an etching by ion beam machining, or chemical-mechanical planarization or polishing.
US09277654B2
An array of composite polymer-metal contact members adapted to form solder free electrical connections with a first circuit member. The contact members include a resilient polymeric base layer and an array of metalized traces printed on selected portions of the base layer. Conductive plating is applied to the metalized layer to create an array of conductive paths. The resilient polymeric base layer, the metalized layer, and the conductive plating have an aggregate spring constant sufficient to maintain distal portions of the contact members in a cantilevered configuration and to form a stable electrical connection between the distal portions and the first circuit member solely by compressive engagement.
US09277653B2
Example multi-layer printed circuit boards (‘PCBs’) are described as well as methods of manufacturing a PCB. Embodiments include depositing upon layers of laminate printed circuit traces and joining the layers of laminate. Embodiments also include drilling at least one via hole through the layers of laminate and placing in the via hole a via conductor comprising a used portion and an unused portion, the via conductor comprising copper coated with a second metal having a conductivity lower than the conductivity of copper.
US09277644B2
A method of fabricating a capacitance touch panel module includes forming a plurality of first conductive patterns on a substrate comprising a touching area and a peripheral area along a first orientation, a plurality of second conductive patterns along a second orientation, and a plurality of connecting portions in the touching area; forming a plurality of insulated protrusions, in which each insulated protrusion covering one connecting portion, and forming an insulated frame on the peripheral area; and forming a bridging member on each insulated protrusion.
US09277642B2
A method of making an imprinted micro-wire structure includes providing a substrate having an edge area and a central area separate from the edge area and providing first, second, and third different stamps. A curable bottom, connecting layer, and top layer are formed on the substrate. A bottom-layer micro-channel is imprinted in the bottom layer in the central area and the edge area, a connecting-layer micro-channel is imprinted in the connecting layer in the edge area over the bottom-layer micro-channel, an edge micro-channel is imprinted in the top layer in the edge area over the connecting-layer micro-channel, and top-layer micro-channels are imprinted in the top layer over the central area. Micro-wires are formed in each micro-channel. The bottom-layer micro-wire in the central area is electrically connected to the edge micro-wire in the edge area and is electrically isolated from the top-layer micro-wire.
US09277638B2
A rosin composition includes a gum rosin, an emulsifier, and a randomizing additive. The rosin composition may be applied to circuit cards for protection of the circuit card during storage. The rosin composition is solderable and is also easily removed for the soldering of components.
US09277633B1
A method and system for powering gas-filled lamps using radio and/or microwave frequencies is disclosed. The method and system may include a gas-filled lamp, an antenna positioned proximal to the gas-filled lamp, a conductive element surrounding the gas-filled lamp, and a power source connector coupled to the antenna.
US09277625B2
A dimming system and a dimming converter and load dimming method thereof are provided. In the dimming converter, a cutting phase determination unit is connected with an input terminal and configured to determine phase angle information of a power supply signal of an output of a load terminal in a dimmer; an output unit is configured to output a dimming signal corresponding to the phase angle information determined by the cutting phase determination unit from a dimming output terminal to a load of the dimming system according to a correspondence relationship between the phase angle information and the dimming signal stored in a storage unit and to output a phase-cut power source signal from a supply output terminal to the load. The dimming system can be compatible with a large number of loads with different dimming requirements to thereby improve the dimming efficiency of the loads.
US09277624B1
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a system and method for providing compatibility between a load having a reactive impedance during steady-state operation and a secondary winding of an electronic transformer driven by a leading-edge dimmer may include a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may cause the load to have a substantially non-reactive impedance when the first circuit is enabled. The second circuit may enable the first circuit to cause the load to have the substantially non-reactive impedance during a duration of time following start-up of the electronic transformer and disable the first circuit after the duration such that the load has the reactive impedance during steady-state operation of the load.
US09277623B2
A system and method for operating one or more light emitting devices is disclosed. In one example, the intensity of light provided by the one or more light emitting devices is adjusted responsive to current feedback from the one or more light emitting devices.
US09277619B2
A light emitting layer-forming solid material including at least one host material and at least one light-emitting material, wherein the light emitting layer-forming solid material is used for forming a white light emitting layer having a single layer structure by an evaporation method.
US09277617B2
The general field of the invention is that of devices for controlling luminance of lighting devices comprising light-emitting diodes. The control device is driven by a cyclic input signal of determined period, each period comprising an activation time representative of a determined luminance level. The control device comprises analog electronic means generating a second control signal for the intensity of the electric current passing through the light-emitting diodes, the amplitude of the second control signal being an increasing function of the activation time in such a way that the combination of the cyclic input signal and of the second signal applied to the light-emitting diodes gives a greater luminance range than the range of the cyclic input signal.
US09277615B2
The purpose of the present invention is to provide an LED drive circuit that is capable of ameliorating insufficient lighting and improving power utilization efficiency. This LED drive circuit is an LED drive circuit wherein the number of LEDs that are turned on varies in accordance with the voltage of a commercial alternating-current power supply, the LED drive circuit being characterized by having an LED row in which multiple LEDs are connected in series, a current detection resistor for detecting a current that flows in the LED row, a bypass circuit that is connected to an intermediate connection part of the LED row, and a current-limiting circuit that is connected to an end of the LED row, wherein the bypass circuit includes a first current-limiting component, the current-limiting circuit includes a second current-limiting component, the first current-limiting component is controlled on the basis of a voltage across the ends of the current detection resistor or a voltage that is obtained by dividing the voltage across the ends of the current detection resistor, and the second current-limiting component is controlled by the divided voltage that is obtained by dividing the current detection resistor.
US09277611B2
A switching converter detects when a dimmer circuit supplying power to the switching converter changes from a conducting state to a nonconducting state or from a nonconducting state to a conducting state; an equivalent input resistance of the switching converter is changed to a first, higher value when the dimmer circuit is in the conducting state and to a second, lower value when the dimmer circuit is in the nonconducting state, thereby drawing a minimum current from the dimmer circuit while the dimmer circuit is in the nonconducting state.
US09277584B2
Home base station nodes (110) that support multi-carrier operation are disclosed. In some embodiments, two carrier signals are transmitted on different frequencies to one or more user devices that support multi-carrier operation, and different global cell identifiers are broadcast on the two carrier signals. Control messages are sent and received for both of the two carrier signals over a single control-plane interface between the home base station (110) and either a core network node (170) or a home base station gateway (120).
US09277583B2
A new set of random-access preamble signatures are introduced to differentiate new-release UEs from UEs compliant only with earlier releases. Additional new features of a random-access procedure are also disclosed, including an ability to deploy multiple transmission-time-intervals TTIs) in a given area. An example mobile terminal, according to some embodiments of the present invention, selects a TTI from two or more possible TTIs. The mobile terminal then selects a preamble signature from a group of one or more preamble signatures associated with enhanced-uplink resources and associated with the selected TTI, and transmits a random-access channel (RACH) preamble, using the selected preamble signature. In some embodiments, the mobile terminal selects between a 2-millisecond TTI and a 10-millisecond TTI.
US09277582B2
Various embodiments are disclosed of a method and apparatus for fast communication recovery in wireless mobile devices arranged to perform dual network radio resource management. In one embodiment, a wireless mobile device includes a transceiver configured to communicate with each of first and second networks. After establishing and maintaining a link with the first network, the wireless mobile device may tune a transceiver to the second network to monitor for traffic, subsequently tuning back to the first network. After turning the transceiver back to the first network, the wireless mobile device may perform one or more attempts to restore the link to the first network. The number of attempts to restore the link is dependent upon an amount of time the transceiver is tuned to the second network.
US09277581B2
A communication apparatus (101) includes: receiving means for receiving a communication parameter, which is necessary for communication, from another communication apparatus; storage means (103, 212) for storing the communication parameter; first detecting means for detecting a connection instruction for connection to a network; and connecting means which, if the connection instruction (S401) has been detected by the first detecting means, is for executing processing for connecting to the network using a communication parameter already stored in the storage means (212), or processing for connecting to the network after a communication parameter is received from another communication apparatus by the receiving means, in accordance with the type of communication parameter already stored in the storage means (212).
US09277562B2
After an increase in the number of wireless devices or traffic load by an amount greater than a value, a base station transmits a message. The message comprises an updated subframe allocation bitmap indicating a second plurality of subframes including an updated plurality of almost blank subframes. The updated plurality of almost blank subframes includes a smaller number of almost blank subframes than an initial plurality of almost blank subframes.
US09277561B2
The number of communication channels necessary for communication with a terminal is calculated by using type and volume of data to be transmitted. When calculated number of communication channels is one, a single communication channel is allocated based on quality information of a communication line to the terminal and, when calculated number of communication channels is more than one, then more than one communication channels are allocated based on the quality information. Allocation information used for notifying of allocated communication channels is generated based on virtual channels, which are defined in advance as channel units having a combination of a plurality of consecutive communication channels, and the allocation information is transmitted to the terminal.
US09277558B2
The present invention relates to demodulation of radio signals from a base station having collocated transmit antennas, and more particularly to signaling allocation information from a base station to a mobile terminal. The allocation information may include timeslot and code information of allocation to other mobile terminals. Some embodiments of the present invention facilitate a mobile terminal's ability to receive and demodulate a signal containing multiple interfering signals by communicating codes allocated to other mobile terminals.
US09277551B2
A method and device for performing a hybrid automatic repeat request in a wireless access system that supports collaborative transmission. The method includes: receiving, by the first wireless device, an allocation of a secondary carrier from a base station through a primary carrier. The primary carrier is used for data transmission and reception with the base station and the secondary carrier is used for data transmission and reception with a second wireless device. The method also includes: receiving configuration information of the secondary carrier from the base station; transmitting data to the second wireless device on an uplink subframe of the secondary carrier based on the received configuration information; and receiving acknowledgement or non-acknowledgement with respect to the transmitted data on a downlink subframe of the secondary carrier linked with the uplink subframe.
US09277538B2
A method of allocating user plane nodes to a connection being established across a packet core network is described. The method comprises maintaining at a Domain Name System (DNS) server one or more DNS resource records for each available user plane node in the packet core network, wherein the one or more DNS resource records comprises a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) for each area identity, each area identity represents a group of user plane nodes, associated with a user plane node in the packet core network; processing a connection establishment request originating from a user equipment (UE) to a core network node within the packet core network; sending a DNS query to a DNS server, the query containing at least one criterion for selecting a user plane node; receiving the query at the DNS server and, on the basis of the or each criterion, identifying one or more DNS resource records satisfying the criteria/criterion, and returning the identified DNS resource record(s) to said core network node; and receiving the DNS resource record(s) at the core network node, and using the fully qualified domain names (FQDNs) representing each area identity associated with a user plane node in the packet core network that are contained in the or each DNS resource record(s) when allocating a user plane node to said connection. A core network node arranged to allocate user plane nodes to a connection being established across a packet core network, and an apparatus configured to operate as a Domain Name System (DNS) server are also described.
US09277536B2
A single receiver is operable to utilize full spectrum capture to capture signals over a wide spectrum comprising a plurality of WiFi frequency bands, extract one or more WiFi channels from said captured signals and aggregate a plurality of blocks of said WiFi channels to create one or more aggregated WiFi channels. The WiFi frequency bands include 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi frequency bands. A plurality of blocks of the WiFi channels may be aggregated from contiguous blocks of spectrum and/or non-contiguous blocks of spectrum in one or more of said plurality of WiFi frequency bands. One or more non-WiFi channels may be filtered out from the captured signals. One or more aggregated WiFi channels may be assigned to one or more WiFi enabled communication devices. At least a portion of the one or more aggregated WiFi channels may be dynamically assigned to one or more other WiFi enabled communication devices.
US09277535B2
A call processing module includes a first network interface configured to communicate over a packet-switched network and a second network interface configured to communicate with a local subscriber over a broadband access network employing RF modulation. A call manager is provided which includes a database associating a local subscriber telephone number with an address of a client device associated with the local subscriber for a plurality of subscribers authorized to receive telephony service. A frequency handler is provided for allocating to the client device a receive frequency and a transmit frequency to be used by the client device over the broadband access network during a telephony call. The call processing module also includes a session manager configured to generate and receive signaling messages for establishing the telephony call between the local subscriber and a remote subscriber over the broadband access network and the packet-switched network as well as over the broadband access network, the packet-switched network and a circuit-switched network in communication with the packet-switched network.
US09277534B2
The present invention relates to a communication system and methods of use thereof. The system includes sets of complementary radios for transmitting and receiving signals to achieve high reliability and reduced costs. The sets of complementary radios are in wireless communication with each other. A new connection is made by selecting from amongst the complementary radios. Switching between complementary radios during a connection is also permitted. Optimized protocols and hardware for implementing the system are disclosed.
US09277533B2
Embodiments contemplate devices and techniques for receiving unicast and multicast transmissions over a downlink (DL) shared channel in parallel, for example an LTE DL shared channel (SCH). For example, one or more hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) entities may be configured to perform retransmissions of the multicast and/or unicast messages. Common and/or dedicated (e.g., separate) HARQ entities may be utilized for retransmission. The multicast downlink shared channels may be activated and/or deactivated on demand. The activation and/or deactivation may be performed using radio resource control (RRC) signaling and/or Medium Access Control (MAC) signaling. The multicast and/or unicast downlink shared channel data may include scalable video coding (SVC) data of varying priority. Embodiments also contemplate the use of simultaneous (e.g. parallel) multicast/unicast for scalable video coding transmission over WiFi/802.11 protocol signals.
US09277532B2
At least one example embodiment discloses a method for allocating downlink transmissions to a plurality of user equipments (UEs) from a base station. The method includes allocating downlink transmission air-time of the base station to a plurality of groups, associating each of the plurality of UEs to the plurality of groups, a throughput of each associated UE in a same group being affected by the remaining UEs in the same group and determining a resource sharing mode associated with each of the plurality of groups, the resource sharing mode being one of a first mode and a second mode, the base station allocating the same throughput to each associated UE in the associated group in the first mode and the base station allocating the same transmission time to each associated UE in the associated group in the second mode.
US09277522B2
In an embodiment, a client device associated with a first user performing a registration procedure with an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network to register the client device to a first user for IMS service. The client device communicates (e.g., via GRUUs) with one or more other client devices that are also registered to the first user for the IMS service to obtain rich communication suite (RCS) capability information for the one or more other client devices. The client device receives a request (e.g., a SIP OPTIONS message) to report the client device's RCS capability information, and then transmits, in response to the received request, a message (e.g., a SIP 200 OK message) that indicates both (i) the client device's RCS capability information and (ii) the RCS capability information for the one or more other client devices.
US09277504B2
A main processor of mobile phone changes from power saving state to active state for changing display in response to a sub processor for sensors, the main processor returning to the power saving state after changing the display. The main processor changes from power saving state to active state for storing information from the sub processor, the main processor returning to the power saving state after the storing function. The main processor selects the stored display data on the basis of the information from the sub processor to change display. The main processor receives and stores information from the sub processor in the boot up process or before finishing the operation. The sub processor is in the active state so as to control the sensor even in a case where the main processor is in the power saving state.
US09277491B2
There is provided methods, devices and computer program products for distributing a plurality of virtual IEEE 802.11 wireless networks through a heterogeneous infrastructure. A terminal sends a service provider request to an access point. The service provider request is forwarded to a master server which searches for available service providers. Acknowledgement information relating to available service providers capable of operatively connecting the terminal to the data communications network via the access point is sent by the master server to the access point. The access point forwards this information to the terminal. The access point may thus distribute a plurality of virtual IEEE 802.11 wireless networks, their number only constrained by the number of distinct identifiable service providers and the memory of the master server. A data connection may be established in the absence of a direct service agreement between the service provider of the terminal and the operator of the access point.
US09277490B2
A system and method of locating a wireless connection among a plurality of possible wireless connections. More particularly, a system and method of locating a user preferred wireless connection among a plurality of possible wireless connections. The method includes scanning for available networks and determining whether the available networks satisfy one or more user preferences. The method further includes establishing a secondary network connection with one of the available networks based on one or more user preferences being satisfied.
US09277476B2
Disclosed herein are a maritime communication apparatus and method. The maritime communication apparatus includes a land-based network communication unit, a maritime network communication unit, and a communication control unit. The land-based network communication unit communicates with a land-based communication network. The maritime network communication unit communicates with a maritime communication network. The communication control unit links the communication of the land-based network communication unit with the communication of the maritime network communication unit in accordance with a destination address of data provided by any one of the land-based network communication unit and the maritime network communication unit.
US09277474B2
A wireless communication system includes a serving base station, a mobile station, and peripheral base stations. The mobile station communicates with the serving base station. The serving base station includes a sending unit. The sending unit in the serving base station sends, to the mobile station, a signal indicating that communication is going to be performed in cooperation with the peripheral base stations. The mobile station includes a sending unit. The sending unit in the mobile station broadcasts a predetermined request signal to the peripheral base stations in accordance with the reception of the signal. The peripheral base stations, which have received the predetermined request signal, each include a notifying unit. The notifying units individually notify the serving base station of selection information that is information on the peripheral base station that is going to communicate with the mobile station in cooperation with the serving base station.
US09277459B2
A method for reporting in a wireless system, according to one embodiment, is provided. The method comprises: receiving a measurement setting from a serving cell, wherein the measurement setting comprises a system information report indicator for indicating a system information report of a cell to which a measurement result is reported; deciding whether a report condition is satisfied based on the measurement setting; and transmitting to the serving cell a measurement report message comprising the measurement result of the cell to which the result is reported, which satisfied the report condition. The measurement report message further comprises system information of the cell to which the report is made.
US09277449B2
A method of load balancing for a first network in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a radio resource control (RRC) connection request message from a mobile device, wherein the RRC message includes a specific cause; and not redirecting the mobile device to a second network according to the CS establishment cause.
US09277443B2
System and method of radio-awareness of mobile device for sending server-side control signals using a wireless network optimized transport protocol are disclosed. One embodiment includes a method of sending a message over an alternate channel to a mobile device in the presence of an open TCP connection with a mobile device, including sending the message over the alternate channel to the mobile device, without utilizing the open TCP connection, responsive to determining that a timing criteria has been met. The alternate channel utilized need not cause a radio of the mobile device to switch on.
US09277435B2
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. A method for a terminal to transmit channel state information to a plurality of transmission points in a wireless communication system comprises the steps of: receiving a configuration for reporting the channel state information; and selecting at least one subband for reporting the channel state information to each of a first transmission point and a second transmission point in accordance with the configuration for reporting the channel state information, wherein the configuration for reporting the channel state information comprises information on whether or not to select the subband for the first transmission point same to be the subband for the second transmission point.
US09277434B2
Methods (400, 500) and apparatus (16, 24) are disclosed for reporting and processing MBMS counting results. According to one exemplary embodiment, a base station counting request received from a MCE includes an update time, and identifiers for one or more MBMS services (402, 502). The base station includes the update time with its reported counting results (410). The MCE uses the update time to identify the transmitted counting request (506), and ignores counting data for services not identified in the request (516). In the same or another embodiment, if the base station has not received MBMS counting results from its supported UEs for one or more of the identified services within a defined reporting window (406), the base station transmits an empty list of service identifiers to the MCE (408). The MCE correspondingly determines that the base station has not yet received MBMS counting results for one or more of the identified services based on receiving the empty list (508, 510).
US09277433B2
Wireless end-user device with policy-based aggregation of network activity requested by applications
A wireless end-user device has a wireless wide-area network (WWAN) modem and supports multiple wireless network types. A network service activity control policy set has a policy element that associates one or more Internet activity access controls with at least one end-user application. One or more processors determine whether to apply the Internet activity access controls to an Internet access request by or on behalf of the end-user application, based at least on which of the wireless network types is configured to support Internet service activity. The determination may further be based on whether or not the application is interacting with a user. When the controls are to be applied, network activity for the Internet access request is delayed until it can be associated with network activity for one or more other requests not associated with the application.
US09277430B2
Aspects of the methods and apparatus include determining that a time-to-trigger (TTT) timer has expired, and determining that a serving radio access technology (RAT) received signal characteristic is less than a signal characteristic threshold when the TTT timer has expired. Further, the aspects include determining, in response to the serving RAT received signal characteristic being less than the signal characteristic threshold, that a target RAT frequency measurement associated with a Measurement Report Message (MRM) for performing an inter-RAT (IRAT) handover cannot be completed within a time limit according to a current measurement gap configuration. Also, the aspects include calculating a measurement gap duration sufficient to complete the target RAT frequency measurement associated with the MRM for performing the IRAT handover, and configuring a new measurement gap prior to the time limit, wherein the new measurement gap comprises the calculated measurement gap duration.
US09277429B2
Methods of identifying a user plane identifier of a user device by a monitoring probe in communication with a network device, the monitoring probe, and the system using the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, the monitoring probe includes a monitor, a comparator and a user plane identifier output. The monitor monitors a network device for receipt of a first control plane message comprising a first control plane identifier and a user device identifier, and monitors the network device for receipt of a second control plane message comprising a second control plane identifier and a user plane identifier. The comparator compares the first with the second control plane identifier to determine whether the control plane identifiers correspond. The user plane identifier output outputs the user plane identifier being identified as that of the user device, when the control plane identifiers correspond.
US09277420B2
Aspects described herein relate to a base station for providing air-to-ground wireless communication over various altitudes. The base station includes a first antenna array comprising one or more antennas configured to form a first cell coverage area extending substantially from a horizon up to a first elevation angle away from the first antenna array to a predetermined distance from the first antenna array. The base station further includes a second antenna array configured at an uptilt elevation angle to form a second cell coverage area extending at least from the first elevation angle to a second elevation away from the second antenna array, wherein the first cell coverage area and the second cell coverage area are concentric to define the ATG cell at least to the predetermined distance and up to a predetermined elevation.
US09277419B2
Device, system and method of indicating station-specific information within a wireless communication
Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of indicating station-specific information within a wireless communication. For example, a device may include a wireless communication unit to transmit a wireless communication frame to a plurality of stations using a respective plurality of beamforming configurations, wherein the wireless communication unit is to transmit to the stations beamforming configuration information including station-specific information corresponding to the plurality of beamforming configurations, respectively.
US09277416B2
Embodiments of the disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for scheduling radio resources in a communication system. According to the method, in response to receiving a request for accessing a target frequency band utilized by a Macro BS and a LPN from a frequency-shared system, a first notification is transmitted to the Macro BS, such that the Macro BS deactivates the target frequency band, and a second notification is transmitted to the LPN, such that the LPN extends its coverage. Then, information on the extended coverage is received from the LPN.
US09277415B2
A device implements multiple protocols that share overlapping resources. In some cases, a first operation, such as a scan, may have a resource conflict with a second operation associated with a different protocol. In some cases, determining grant normal priority level requests associated with the first operation over those at the normal priority level associated with the second operation may lead to operator-noticeable degradation in device performance. A protocol controller may request a selected portion of the first operation at a low priority level. Requesting the selected portion at the low priority level may allow the second operation to selectively override the portion of the first operation. The selective overriding of the first operation may allow for execution of the first and second operations without operator-noticeable performance degradation.
US09277414B2
A wireless communication system 1 performs inter-cell coordination control that coordinates a pico base station 100 and a macro base station 200 with each other and transmits a signal to a mobile station 10 of a picocell. The pico base station 100 includes a controller 100a and a communication unit 100b. The controller 100a interleaves resources of an E-PDCCH of the picocell corresponding to a predetermined resource unit based on a coordinated area ID that is an identifier common to the pico base station 100 and the macro base station 200. The communication unit 100b transmits a control signal to the mobile station 10 of the picocell using a first resource of the E-PDCCH of the picocell that corresponds to at least a part of the predetermined resource unit and is to be decoded by the mobile station 10 of the picocell.
US09277413B2
A spectrum sensing method for cognitive radio to detect spectrum holes in an environment of bandwidth scarcity. The method comprises first receiving a wireless signal at a cognitive radio user, and then discovering the frequency edges of allocated frequency bands by using wavelet transform coefficients to detect discontinuities in the power spectral density of the received signal. After determining the allocated frequency bands, the method determines frequency band availability by detecting the in band energy using a bi-threshold energy detector, where the energy detector makes hard decisions and soft decisions. Finally, a fusion center combines hard and soft decisions collected from a cooperative spectrum sensing network of cognitive radio users and makes a final decision using a hybrid of data fusion and decision fusion to determine the final decision regarding spectrum availability.
US09277398B2
A user equipment (UE) configured for signaling UE capability is described. The UE includes a processor and instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The UE sends an indicator regarding whether the UE can support different time division duplex (TDD) configurations on different bands for a band combination. The UE also sends an indicator regarding whether the UE can support concurrent transmission and reception on different bands for the band combination. The UE additionally sends an indicator regarding whether the UE can support different uplink timing adjustments for the band combination.
US09277396B2
A method and an apparatus for managing User Equipment (UE) history information are provided. The method for managing user equipment history information in a wireless communication network includes determining if a recording event occurs when the user equipment enters into an idle mode; recording information about the recording event in idle mode user equipment history information when the recording event occurs; and transmitting the recorded idle mode user equipment history information to a base station when the user equipment accesses the base station.
US09277390B2
Techniques are disclosed relating to facilitating transactions via mobile devices. In one embodiment, an account that is linked to a mobile telephone number of a mobile device is established at a computer system. In such an embodiment, the account permits a user to make and receive payments, and is not accessible without using the mobile device. In some embodiments, the account is established without setting up a username and password. In one embodiment, a request is sent from a payment application of the mobile device to the computer system. In some embodiments, the payment application is made active on the mobile device in response to a user input within a different application running on the mobile device. After the payment application is active, a purchase is confirmed within the payment application such that the request is sent responsive to the confirming and without authenticating the user within the payment application.
US09277388B2
A wireless communication device in a wireless communication network system that includes a plurality of wireless communication devices, the inside of the system being divided into zones each having a predetermined geographic area, includes a processing unit that, upon receiving a disaster warning message including predicted position information on an occurrence source of a disaster and disaster-influencing information indicating an area to be influenced by the disaster, calculates a disaster-stricken zone including the occurrence source based on the predicted position information, and an affected zone to be influenced by the disaster based on the disaster-influencing information, and performs any one of a process to transfer data that the own device has and a process to change a transfer route from the own device to a destination device, according to the relationship between a zone in which the own device is positioned, and the disaster-stricken zone and the affected zone.
US09277383B2
Methods and nodes for coordinating communication sessions are described herein. A method includes providing, by a control system, a signaling anchor point at a domain transfer function in a visited multimedia subsystem for an access signaling leg and a remote access signaling leg for a communication session between a user element and a public service access point and coordinating call signaling for the communication session via the access signaling leg and the remote signaling leg.
US09277382B2
The invention relates to an apparatus, method and a computer program product for establishing a request for a session by an application server, determining by an emergency related local service function that the session includes an emergency session, wherein the emergency related local service function is co-located at the application server, and, transmitting the request for the session to an emergency call state control function of the internet protocol multimedia subsystem based on the determination.
US09277380B2
A mobile communication terminal for controlling call termination based on a user's gaze includes a call answer and decline judging unit configured to compare a user's gaze movement frequency with preset call answer and call decline frequencies and judge a call answer or a call decline according to frequencies coinciding with each other; and a call termination control processing unit configured to perform a call mode or a call refusal mode according to the judgment of the call answer and decline judging unit.
US09277379B2
Message forwarding by communication devices is conditionally and/or automatically controlled. A network message management component and/or handset message management component can monitor messages (e.g., short message service (SMS) messages) communicated between user equipment (UE) in a communication network, identify and/or intercept a message for which one or more forwarding conditions have been specified by the message originator, target, or forward target, and conditionally and/or automatically route the message to the target and/or forward target in accordance with predefined message routing rules based at least in part on the conditions specified by the originator, target, or forward target. The predefined message routing rules can be implemented by the network and/or the UEs, and can relate to the UE identifiers, time, priority, cost, operation state, size, desired automatic response messages, or other desired factors, associated with the message.
US09277377B2
The invention relates to an electronic short messaging and advertising method where minimal initiative is required from the consumer. Some embodiments of the invention may also be applied to an electronic sales method. The invention may also be applied for normal short messaging. The electronic short messaging method for collect calling may send transmissions to at least one subscriber terminal via the Internet and/or the telephony network. The method may include sending a first transmission to a recipient subscriber terminal for display, wherein the first transmission defines one or more active alternatives including at least one of initiating a collect call and deleting the first transmission. The method may also include calculating costs associated with at least one of the first transmission and the one or more active alternatives.
US09277373B2
Methods, systems and devices are provided for managing press-to-transmit (PTX) communications on a PTX device, including include receiving at a recipient PTX device a first indication that a floor grant has been granted to an originating PTX device. Also, determining whether a PTX message segment from the originating PTX device should be buffered for delayed playback by the recipient PTX device. Further, transmitting a buffer signal based on determining the PTX message segment should buffered, the buffer signal indicating one of a request to buffer the PTX message segment and a recipient storage indication signifying the PTX message segment will be stored in a memory of the recipient PTX device. Further still, transmitting a ready signal indicating the recipient PTX device is ready to output PTX message segments.
US09277371B2
A reporting server receives reports on content items being accessed by a plurality of UE devices through a first multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN). The reporting server determines, for each content item being accessed, which of the UE devices is accessing the content item. The UE devices are then grouped by the accessed content items such that at least one content item is accessed by a first group of UE devices and not accessed by a second group of UE devices. The reporting server then sends data representing the first and second groups to a broadcast video provisioning system (BVPS) with a recommendation to split the MBSFN into second and third MBSFNs. In another implementation, the reporting server receives reports from fourth and fifth MBSFNs and recommends joining the fourth and fifth MBSFNs to form a sixth MBSFN if broadcast bandwidth requirements are met.
US09277362B2
A method and apparatus for generating and using location information is provided to a user of a mobile device. The method involves obtaining and processing a location history of the mobile device to determine locations of significance; automatically generating potential location identifiers associated with the locations of significance; and prompting, at a determined appropriate time, for user input for refining the set of one or more potential location identifiers into a customized location identifier.
US09277354B2
In an embodiment, a method provides for receiving commands within a mobile communications application running on a mobile communication device. The method includes monitoring text entered into a text input region of a touchscreen keyboard module within a user interface on the mobile communication device for an interrupt code, and detecting an interrupt code. The method also includes determining a command from a plurality of commands, based on user inputs following the interrupt code, identifying an action from a plurality of actions corresponding to the plurality of commands, and initiating the action corresponding to the command.
US09277351B2
The exemplary embodiments provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for managing location-based services provided via a wireless access point. A signal is received from a client device by at least one wireless access point. A distance the signal has traveled to the at least one wireless access point is determined. A determination as to whether the client device is within an allowed range of the at least one wireless access point is made based on the determined distance. Responsive to a determination that the client device is within an allowed range, a location of the client device is determined. Location-based service information is sent to the client device based on the determined location of the client device.
US09277347B2
Embodiments of the invention provide for a wireless computing device that comprises a set of one or more radio components to transmit and receive wireless communications on the device. Additionally, the wireless computing device includes processing and memory resources that individually or in combination provide multiple wireless applications, a radio object, and an arbitration component. The multiple wireless applications are each capable of generating a user-interface for enabling user-input in connection with wireless activities performed with that wireless application. The radio object interfaces the multiple applications with the set of one or more radio components. The arbitration component is configured to arbitrate at least one of (i) requests made by each of the wireless applications to the radio object for access to one or more of the radio components in the set, or (ii) responses from the radio object to requests made by each of the wireless applications.
US09277345B2
The quality of a multicast broadcast that is being received by a mobile device may be determined. In one implementation, a method may include receiving a radio signal corresponding to a multicast broadcast of content; measuring a strength of the received signal; determining a minimum signal strength to receive the content associated with the multicast broadcast; determining a signal quality metric, associated with the multicast broadcast, the signal quality metric being based on a difference between the measured strength of the signal and the determined minimum signal strength; and providing a visual indication of the signal quality metric.
US09277342B2
A loudspeaker arrangement includes a loudspeaker and a trigger circuit for electrically triggering the loudspeaker. The loudspeaker has a loudspeaker diaphragm for generating an acoustic signal. A digital pulse test signal is applied to the loudspeaker via the trigger circuit during a respective test sequence, the digital pulse test signal having a duty cycle that is predetermined to change such that the duty cycle increases over a plurality of periods of the test sequence at the beginning of the test sequence, and the duty cycle decreases over a plurality of periods of the test sequence at the end of the test sequence. During the respective test sequence, a measurement variable, representative of a voltage drop on a reference circuit connected in series to the loudspeaker, is detected, and the loudspeaker arrangement is classified as functional on the basis of a comparison of the measurement variable and a predetermined reference value.
US09277340B2
In a sound output system including: an information processing apparatus; a first output device; and a second output device, the information processing apparatus generates, based on predetermined information processing, a first sound signal to be outputted to the first output device, and a second sound signal that is a sound signal to be outputted to the second output device and has a content different from that of the first sound signal. When headphones are connected to the second output device, the second sound signal is generated such that at least a part of a first sound which is not outputted as a second sound when no headphones are connected, is contained in the second sound, and the second sound is outputted from the headphones.
US09277337B2
The present idea refers to an apparatus for generating an adapted audio file. The apparatus comprises an identification unit (51) for supporting identification of a frequency range (fr) associated with an auditory disorder of a user of the apparatus, and an adaptation unit (52) for adapting a frequency characteristic of an audio file (af) representing a track of music which adaptation is subject to the identified frequency range (fr). An audio player (6) is provided for playing the adapted audio file (aaf).
US09277334B1
A wearable computing device is authenticated using bone conduction. When a user wears the device, a bone conduction speaker and a bone conduction microphone on the device contact the user's head at positions proximate the user's skull. A calibration process is performed by transmitting a signal from the speaker through the skull and receiving a calibration signal at the microphone. An authentication process is subsequently performed by transmitting another signal from the speaker through the skull and an authentication signal is received at the microphone. In the event that frequency response characteristics of the authentication signal match the frequency response characteristics of the calibration signal, the user is authenticated and the device is enabled for user interaction without requiring the user to input any additional data.
US09277331B2
Techniques for testing a wireless communications device are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a system and method for testing a wireless communications device. The method may comprise generating an audio test signal. The audio test signal may be transmitted to a wireless communication device through a wireless base station simulator via a VoIP application. The method may also comprise receiving an output signal, where the output signal may be generated by the wireless communication device and transmitted to a telecoil probe. The method may further comprise processing the output signal by comparing the output signal with the audio test signal.
US09277328B2
A handheld condenser microphone is provided with a condenser microphone unit having two unidirectional condenser elements. A conductive fabric 221 is put between a lock ring 213 and the second condenser element 10b, when an acoustic-electric transducer 220 is fixed inside a unit case 210 by fastening force of the lock ring 213.
US09277325B2
An inner magnetic transducer with multiple magnetic gaps and multiple coils, and a preparation method thereof. The inner magnetic transducer with multiple magnetic gaps and multiple coils includes a non-magnetic material frame and a non-magnetic material bearer frame. The inner magnetic transducer with multiple magnetic gaps and multiple coils includes two or more coaxial annular magnetic gaps with the same diameter value, two suits of symmetric magnetic paths, and a symmetric coil. In the transducer, enwinding direction, connection mode and parameters of coils are decided, in order to ensure that the value of the inductance of coils and the opposing electromotive force obtained during the process of moving to and fro are counteracted by each other. The inner magnetic transducer with multiple magnetic gaps and multiple coils has resistance load character or approximately has a resistance load character, simultaneously, has high sensitivity, high analytic capability, and high fidelity.
US09277314B2
A method and an apparatus for reducing current consumption in a mobile terminal are provided. The mobile terminal includes a power supply unit for outputting a paging power signal that repeats power on and off states and a microphone bias according to a paging period previously set by a network, a connection unit for connecting the peripheral device and for outputting a connection detecting signal when connection of the peripheral device is detected, a determination unit for receiving the paging power signal and the connection detecting signal as an input signal and for generating and outputting a microphone bias apply signal when a power on state of the paging power signal is detected, and a controller for controlling application of the microphone bias apply signal to the connection unit when the controller receives the microphone bias apply signal.
US09277311B2
A method for controlling a loudspeaker arrangement in a vehicle. The loudspeaker arrangement can be adjusted to at least an inoperative position, a projecting position, and an operating position. An operating state of the vehicle is detected and the loudspeaker arrangement is automatically adjusted between the inoperative position and the projecting position depending on the operating state of the vehicle. An operating state of an audio apparatus of the vehicle is detected and the loudspeaker arrangement is automatically adjusted between the projecting position and the operating position depending on the operating state of the audio apparatus.
US09277309B2
Broadly speaking, the embodiments described herein relate to a media apparatus that can be used in conjunction with a host device to provide an end user a pleasurable listening experience especially during periods of physical activity. In the described embodiments, the host device can take the form of a portable media player. In particular, the media apparatus can include a listening device.
US09277305B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a suspension for a sound transducer which has a central portion serving as a center diaphragm and which has a cover layer and a copper pattern partially removed to prevent a decrease in sound pressure from being caused by an increase in weight of a vibration system. According to the present invention, there is provided a suspension for a sound transducer which includes a central portion, a peripheral portion, and a support portion for connecting the central portion to the peripheral portion, the suspension comprising: a base film, a conductive film attached on the base film by means of an adhesive, and a cover layer attached on the conductive film by an adhesive, wherein at least part of the cover layer disposed on the central portion is removed.
US09277302B2
A packet switch that scales gracefully from a capacity of a fraction of a terabit per second to thousands of terabits per second is disclosed. The packet switch comprises edge nodes interconnected by independent switch units. The switch units are arranged in a matrix having multiple rows and multiple columns and may comprise instantaneous or latent space switches. Each edge node has a channel to a switch unit in each column and a channel from each switch unit in a selected column. A simple path traversing only one of the switch units may be established from each edge node to each other edge node. Where needed, a compound path comprising at most two simple paths may be established for any edge-node pair. In a preferred configuration, the switch units connect at input to orthogonal sets of edge nodes. A distributed control system expedites connection-request processing.
US09277300B2
A passive connectivity optical module (“PassCOM”) is disclosed. A PassCOM is a passive device without a switching functionality. A PassCOM connects links between a plurality of nodes using replaceable plugs. The device can be used for an internal inter-node switching system, where each node is capable of sending data to a destination using a specific link. A source node sends data through a particular link that is connected to a link from a destination node in the PassCOM. Data is first sent from a source node through a link connecting the source node and the PassCOM, then the data is transmitted, through a plug, to the destination node using a link connecting the PassCOM and the destination.
US09277298B2
An energy storage system having a number of trays with each tray having a number of battery cells in which power is controllably stored and discharged. A first Battery Management System (BMS) is electrically coupled to a tray contained in a rack of trays. A second BMS is electrically coupled to and controls the first BMS. The first BMS includes a control unit electrically coupled to and controlling the battery cells. It further includes a switch unit electrically coupled to the control unit and selectively applying driving power according to a control signal from the second BMS.
US09277297B2
A metering device may be configured to communicate with other devices on a plurality of metering communication networks. To enable such communications across various networks, the metering communication device may use an active utility identifier corresponding to the metering network in which it is actively communicating. The active utility identifier may be changed to a valid utility identifier corresponding to another metering network and which may be associated with the metering communication device itself. The metering communication device may use the changed active utility identifier to communicate with other devices on the other metering network having the valid utility identifier. For example, the metering communication device may change the active utility identifier to enable communication a test network from a production network, a production network to a test network, or a first test network to a second test network.
US09277294B2
A method for operating an image display apparatus includes displaying a timeline indicating past, current and future time regions based on a current time, displaying first information about a past broadcast program in the past time region, displaying second information about a current broadcast program in the current time region, displaying third information about a future broadcast program in the future time region. Items included in the first information may be displayed in a list type format and items included in the second information and the third information may be displayed in a thumbnail type format. Therefore, since visually differentiated content is displayed along the timeline, it is possible to support various functions and to increase user convenience.
US09277283B2
A content synchronization apparatus is provided. The content synchronization apparatus includes a communication unit configured to communicate with a device that the content synchronization apparatus can synchronize content with, a control unit configured to, in response to a synchronization command to share current content being played by the device being received, share the current content by acquiring the current content and state information corresponding to the current content through the communication unit, synchronize the current content with the device using the current content and the state information, and configure a display screen based on the results of the synchronization of the current content with the device, and an output unit configured to display the configured display screen.
US09277271B2
An antenna for broadcast television programming includes a tuner and demodulator located with the antenna to generate a demodulated television program stream. A network interface is connected to the tuner and demodulator to provide the television program stream to a network, preferably a wireless network. A television set located remotely from the antenna receives the television program stream via the network and displays the program. A portable control device may be connected to the network. Reception of the broadcast programming is improved by controlling the directionality of the antenna in response to the demodulated signal. A service provider may poll the wireless network antenna to determine which broadcast programs are received and may provide extended programming television programs to the user by an internet connection to the user's network.
US09277270B2
An image processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire information about field of view associated with a plurality of video data, and an extraction unit configured to extract, from video data with a wide field of view which includes an area indicated by information about the field of view of the video data displayed in timing at which an instruction for setting frame video data extracted from video data is input and is associated with the information about the field of view indicating an area wider than the area among the plurality of the video data, the frame image data corresponding to the timing.
US09277264B2
The method and system for TV user profile data prediction and modeling allows accurate and narrowly focused behavioral clustering. A client-side system classifies television consumers into representative user profiles. The profiles target individual user advertising and program preference category groups. A contextual behavioral profiling system determines the user's monitor behavior and content preferences, and the system may be continually updated with user information. A behavioral model database is queried by various system modules. The programming, including targeted advertising for television and interactive television is based on the profile data prediction, modeling and preference determination. The system is enabled to present a complete program sequence to the viewer based on the preference determination and stored programming. The latter is referred to as automatic program sequence (virtual channel) creation and the virtual channel can be presented as a separate channel in an electronic programming guide (EPG).
US09277261B2
An information processing apparatus which communicates with an image capturing apparatus and reproduces video data obtained by the image capturing apparatus, comprises a unit which requests a segment list in which information of segments of video data is written; a unit which acquires the requested segment list; a unit which decides which segment, from the segments in the acquired segment list to request; a unit which requests the decided segment from the image capturing apparatus; and a unit which acquires the requested segment, in the case where a number of segments in the acquired segment list is greater than a first threshold, a predetermined segment from the segments in the segment list is requested and the predetermined segment is neither the latest segment nor the earliest segment in the segment list.
US09277259B2
A method and apparatus for securely and remotely enabling the playing of a media program encrypted by a content encryption key over the Internet is disclosed. A license encryption key and a content decryption key are separately and securely transmitted to the receiver. The license encryption key is stored in the CAM and later used to decrypt the content encryption key so that the media program may be recovered.
US09277258B2
Providing correlated programming information for broadcast media content and streaming media content
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing correlated programming information for broadcast media content and streaming media content. In one implementation, a processing device receives first programming information, the first programming information including scheduling information for media content originating at a first source. The processing device generates, based on media content originating at a second source, second programming information, the second programming information including scheduling information for the media content originating at the second source. The processing device correlates the second programming information with the first programming information. The processing device provides, at an interface, (a) the first programming information and (b) the second programming information as correlated with the first programming information.
US09277257B1
An affinity mapping service system allowing a video service provider to perform one or more automatic actions related to a video content item (e.g., automatically recording the video content item, recommending similar video content, automatically tuning to a channel airing the video content item, providing a notification when the video content item is airing, etc.) based on an affinity selection made by a user for a content object related to the video content item is provided. The user is enabled to selectively pair a social networking service identifier (e.g., username, handle, etc.) with a video service account. An affinity selection made by the user via a social networking service in association with a video content item is communicated to the video service provider and mapped to an automatic action for the video service provider to take based on action preferences selected by the user.
US09277256B2
There is provided a node for facilitating time distribution in communication networks, and more specifically for time synchronization in digital television (DTV) distribution network. The node comprises an interface, a clock for establishing a local time, and a time-locked loop. The interface is configured for interconnecting the node to at least one neighboring node over an isochronous transport link for transmission and reception of repetitive frames comprising time information. The time-locked loop is configured for, based on remote time information received via the interface and local time information from the clock, synchronizing the clock to the clock of one of the at least one neighboring node. This facilitates that the node, or a corresponding synchronous network comprising nodes according to the inventive concept, is rather insensitive to network delays. In this way the requirements on the network infrastructure are reduced. In particular, there is no need for dedicated networks. Further, a synchronous network, a method for the node and a method for a synchronous network is provided.
US09277248B1
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for receiving device instructions from one user to be overlaid on an image or video of the device for another user. In use, at least one of an image and video of a device is received from a first user via a network. Additionally, at least one instruction for the device is received from a second user, in response to the receipt of the at least one of the image and video of the device. Furthermore, the at least one instruction is provided to the first user for display as an overlay to the at least one of the image and video of the device.
US09277246B2
The invention relates to a method for deblocking filtering a macroblock (M1) on the basis of a coding standard for image information which is stored in macroblocks (M1, M2) which are arranged adjacent to one another horizontally in macroblock rows and adjacent to one another vertically in macroblock columns, wherein each macroblock (M1, M2) is formed from blocks (B) which are arranged adjacent to one another horizontally in block rows M and adjacent to one another vertically in block columns n and form block elements Mmn, where m=1 to 4 and n=1 to 4, of a first matrix M, wherein the blocks (B) have vertical edges (14, 15) and horizontal edges (18, 19), which each provide external boundaries for the blocks (B), and, starting with the block element MII, the vertical edges (14, 15) and the horizontal edges (18, 19) of the blocks (B) of a macroblock (M1, M2) are filtered, in which a context region (K1) comprising the blocks (B) of a first macroblock (M1) to be filtered is stipulated which is formed from blocks (B) which are arranged adjacent to one another horizontally in block rows o and adjacent to one another vertically in block columns p and form block elements Kop, where o=1 to 7 and p=1 to 7, of a second matrix K, wherein the block elements K1-S, where r=3 to 6 and s=3 to 6, correspond to the block elements Mmn, where m=1 to 4 and n=1 to 4, of the first matrix M. Next, the vertical edges (1, 3) and horizontal edges (2, 10) of the blocks (B) of the context region (K1) are filtered, starting with the block element KII of the second matrix K, on the basis of the coding standard for image information.
US09277244B2
A method and apparatus for decoding a video signal are disclosed. A method for decoding a video signal includes obtaining block type information of a current block, confirming a prediction mode of the current block based on the block type information, obtaining, if the prediction mode of the current block is an intra prediction mode according to the prediction mode, at least one correlation parameter information using at least one neighboring pixel of the current block, obtaining an intra prediction value of the current block using the correlation parameter information, and reconstructing the current block using the intra prediction value of the current block.
US09277243B2
There are provided methods and apparatus for in-loop artifact filtering. An apparatus includes an encoder for encoding an image region. The encoder has at least two filters for successively performing in-loop filtering to respectively reduce at least a first and a second type of quantization artifact.
US09277238B2
A moving image encoding and decoding system reduces compressed moving picture data amounts by producing a prediction signal suitable for moving pictures including dynamic textures. The system includes a moving picture encoding device 1 that includes a block divider 102 receiving a target pixel signal, a prediction signal generator 103 producing a prediction signal, a subtractor 105 producing a differential signal, and a transformer 106 and quantizer 107 producing an encoded differential signal. The encoding device 1 also includes an inverse quantizer 108 and inverse transformer 109 producing a decoded differential signal, an adder 110 producing a reproduction signal, a frame memory 104 storing the reproduction signal as a reference image, and a reference image generator 113. The reference image generator 113 may obtain an observation matrix C by using a pre-existing reference image. The encoding system 1 produces a new reference image y″t+5 based on the observation matrix C and a state vector xt+5, and stores the new reference image in the frame memory 104. The prediction signal generator 103 produces the prediction signal by using at least the new reference image y″t+5.
US09277231B2
A temporary prediction mode determining unit temporarily determines a prediction mode used to code a coding target pixel, based on a relation between the decoded value of a locally decoded pixel neighboring at least one line above the coding target pixel and the decoded values of locally decoded pixels surrounding the neighboring pixel, and then sets a temporary prediction mode index. A final prediction mode determining unit finally determines a prediction mode used to code the coding target pixel, based on the temporary prediction mode index of the coding target pixel and the relation between the decoded value of a locally decoded pixel located at least to the left of the coding target pixel and the decoded values of locally decoded pixels surrounding the pixel located to the left.
US09277227B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for DC intra prediction mode for video encoding and decoding. An apparatus includes a video encoder for encoding image data for at least a portion of an input picture by deriving a direct current prediction value from a pre-determined constant and using the derived direct current prediction value for a direct current intra prediction mode. The portion is encoded using the direct current intra prediction mode.
US09277219B2
An object of the embodiments is to achieve an improved reference picture handling. That is achieved by taking into account whether the reference pictures in the decoded picture buffer are long-term reference pictures or short-term reference pictures when determining how they should be marked when the information of the reference picture set is received. The reference pictures are marked as “used for short-term reference” or “used for long-term reference” in the Decoded Picture Buffer (DPB) depending on whether they are included as short-term pictures or long-term pictures in the RPS of a current picture.
US09277215B2
A method for realizing adaptive quantization in image encoding and dequantization in image decoding is disclosed. In the adaptive quantization method, an image to be encoded is divided into one or more blocks, and each block is transformed to obtain one or more transform coefficients, the method comprising: acquiring parameter information of neighbor blocks of a current block; determining a quantization mode for the current block according to the parameter information of the neighbor blocks; and quantizing transform coefficients of the current block in the determined quantization mode. The quantization mode includes at least one of quantization matrix, quantization parameter and quantization step.
US09277209B2
Provided is a pattern position detection method that allows detecting positions of patterns used for alignment with high accuracy. According to the pattern position detection method of the present invention, patterns are displayed on a liquid crystal panel (2) and captured by a camera (3). A black image is displayed on the liquid crystal panel (2) and captured by the camera (3) using a shutter speed or an f-number used when capturing the patterns. Based on a difference between a captured image of the patterns and a captured image of the black image, positions of images of the patterns on an imaging surface of the camera (3) are detected.
US09277208B2
A method and system that assesses video quality of transmitted video packet signals suffering from packet loss and delay. This packet loss and delay can create freeze events, which are observed as a jerkiness while viewing the video. The system and method compares the frames in a video transmission to determine freeze events; extracts a set of features from the locations of the freeze events and decoded video frames; and maps the set of features into a video quality score using a neural network. The video quality score provides an assessment of the effects of irregular frame freezes due to packet loss or delay on the quality of the video.
US09277201B2
An image processing method according to the present invention acquires a first image and second image that are picked up through a single image-taking optical system, that are images after a pupil division, and that have a parallax to each other, and then performs a filtering process for each pixel of the first and second images, using first and second transform filters that correspond to the parallax for the pixel and that are of first and second transform filter groups to be respectively applied to the first and second images for the transform into third and fourth images in which the parallax amount and blur amount of the first and second images have been altered.
US09277197B2
A recording apparatus of moving image data generates first moving image data and second moving image data having less number of pixels than the first moving image data, outputs the generated moving image data by using a plurality of output channels which conform with a predetermined format, determines the number of the second moving image data to be generated on the basis of an output state of the moving image data which is output by using the output channels in the case where the first moving image data is output in accordance with the predetermined format, and generates the second moving image data of the determined number in parallel with the outputting of the first moving image data.
US09277195B2
This disclosure provides pixel arrays made up of a clear pixel and a color pixel. The color pixel includes a first photo-detecting element and a color pixel access transistor to selectively couple the first photo-detecting element to a first charge-storage node. The clear pixel includes a second photo-detecting element and a clear pixel access transistor to selectively couple the second photo-detecting element to a second charge-storage node. The color pixel access transistor transfers a first charge per unit time between the first photo-detecting element and the first charge-storage node. The clear pixel access transistor transfers a second charge per unit time between the clear pixel access transistor and the second charge-storage node. The first charge per unit time is less than the second charge per unit time to mitigate blooming. In other embodiments, the clear pixel includes an excess-charge transfer path that couples the clear pixel to a DC supply node to mitigate blooming.
US09277191B2
Systems, methods and devices for monitoring an electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) are disclosed. A security system is disclosed for monitoring an EVCS having an electrical connector for electrically coupling to an electric vehicle. The security system includes a camera for recording images of a surrounding area of the EVCS. A sensor detects objects near the EVCS and/or detects removal of the electrical connector from the EVCS. A controller, which is operatively coupled to the camera and the sensor, is configured to: receive sensor signals output from the sensor; responsive to the sensor signals indicating that an object is near the EVCS or the electrical connector is removed from the EVCS: direct the camera to record images of the surrounding area of the EVCS; output to a user the images of the surrounding area of the EVCS; and, receive user command signals to control the EVCS and/or the security system.
US09277189B2
A function of being controlled by a second monitor camera controller is added to a first monitor camera controller which controls a plurality of monitor cameras. The second monitor camera controller is caused to recognize the first monitor camera controller as a monitor camera. The first monitor camera controller synthesizes videos from the monitor cameras as one video, and transmits the synthetic video to the second monitor camera controller. Control of the monitor cameras or acquisition of videos is conducted by controlling the first monitor camera controller recognized as a monitor camera by use of a control function of a part or all of pan, tilt and zoom.
US09277188B2
A method of initiating a cycle of operation based on a consumable includes providing a consumable reader having a software architecture configured to image data, communicate over a network, and identify functionalities of appliances based on a unique identifier associated with each instance of a functionality, imaging data about the consumable using the consumable reader; retrieving cycle data associated with the consumable based on the imaged data; ascertaining in the software architecture at least one functionality associated with the cycle data; selecting from the plurality of appliances an appliance having the at least one functionality using the unique identifier associated with an instance of the at least one functionality; and communicating the cycle data to the selected appliance over the network of appliances wherein the selected appliance can conduct a cycle of operation associated with the consumable using the cycle data.
US09277181B2
A media service presentation method, communication system and related device are provided, in which the media service presentation method comprises: obtaining the media presentation information; presenting media services to a user according to the service presentation information. By obtaining the media service presentation information, the media services are presented to the user according to the service presentation information. In this way, the scene SVG-based description is not necessarily needed, which in turn simplifies the terminal's computing process, improving the terminal's performance, and improving user experience.
US09277179B1
A method and computing system for enabling a video conference between a plurality of video conference participants. A video feed associated with the video conference is broadcast to a plurality of viewers. A plurality of interactions are received from a plurality of submitters included within the plurality of viewers. A chosen interaction is selected from the plurality of interactions. The submitter associated with the chosen interaction is invited to join the video conference.
US09277169B2
Previously-produced motion pictures are enhanced for theatrical exhibition, at double the frame rate at which they were originally produced. New, rendered images are interpolated between each of the images of the original motion picture. These new images are generated by computer software that analyzes the actual horizontal and vertical displacement of each pixel of every image of the original motion picture, so the interpolated images accurately depict the exact image that would have been captured, if the original motion picture had originally been produced at double the actual frame rate of production. This enhancement technique can be used for an entire motion picture, or selectively for certain scenes or sequences. For image components containing complex motion, those components are selected for treatment to correct for such complexity. The entire process can be executed automatically. In the preferred embodiment, the pictures are projected through digital means at 48 frames-per-second.
US09277165B2
A technique capable of preventing an increase in the load of a system and a IP-based network that perform both a process of transmitting information in real time and a process of storing and searching history information and of improving the scalability of the system. A video surveillance system includes: plural cameras that capture images; a monitoring apparatus that displays the images captured by the cameras; an information generating apparatus that generates information for searching the images captured by the cameras; and a search apparatus that searches the images captured by the cameras. The information generating apparatus acquires the images captured by the cameras, generates retrieval data from the acquired images, and transmits the generated retrieval data to the search apparatus. The search apparatus stores the retrieval data received from the information generating apparatus in a storage device, and notifies the monitoring apparatus that the retrieval data has been stored.
US09277159B2
A display apparatus and a display method are provided. The display apparatus includes: a receiver configured to receive a plurality of contents; a signal processor configured to obtain image frames by processing the received plurality of contents; a display configured to output a plurality of content views including a first content view and a second content view by sequentially outputting the obtained image frames; a remote control signal receiver configured to receive a control command from a remote control apparatus; and a controller configured to, when the received control command is to control the first content view, determine whether the received control command is a control command that has an influence on the second content view.
US09277157B2
This invention relates generally to a content integration and delivery system and a method of using the same. In particular, the present invention relates to a system that integrates digital video content with object-oriented script (hotspots) to provide object specific marketing, including potential channels of distribution, such as internet shopping. The system includes the process of identifying and marking the relative location of specific objects within digital media and providing an outlay for the users to locate the object over the global system of interconnected computer networks (e.g. Internet). By using the disclosed interactive platform, a user can easily view, display, select and purchase any featured product in the video through Internet.
US09277154B2
An image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, a plurality of sense circuits, and a count circuit. Each sense circuit is configured to read out electrical signals from at least one pixel associated with the sense circuit in order to generate data representing whether or not photons have been received by the sense circuit. The count circuit is in communication with a sense circuit selected from the plurality of sense circuits. The count circuit is configured to provide integration results for the pixels associated with the sense circuits based on the data received from the sense circuits.
US09277153B2
Provided is an image pickup device that includes: pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element and one or more switching elements; control lines provided to perform open/close control of at least one first switching element; a buffer circuit provided for each control line, and configured to output a voltage to each control line; second switching elements each provided between corresponding one of the control lines and a power source of the corresponding buffer circuit; and a switch control circuit that is, upon image pickup driving, configured to control one of the second switching elements, provided between a defect holding line that includes an electrically short-circuited part in the plurality of control lines and the power source of the buffer circuit of the defect holding line, to be in an open state, and configured to control another one of the second switching elements to be in a closed state.
US09277148B2
A method, system and computer program product for improving the perceptual quality and naturalness of an image captured by an image acquisition device (e.g., digital camera). Statistical features of a scene being imaged by the image acquisition device are derived from models of natural images. These statistical features are measured and mapped onto the control parameters (e.g., exposure, ISO) of the digital acquisition device. By mapping these statistical features onto the control parameters, the perceptual quality and naturalness of the scene being imaged may be based on the values of these control parameters. As a result, these control parameters are modified to maximize the perceptual quality and naturalness of the scene being imaged. After modification of these control parameters, the image is captured by the image acquisition device. In this manner, the perceptual quality and naturalness of the image captured by the image acquisition device is improved.
US09277144B2
A system and method for estimating an ambient light condition is using an image sensor of a digital camera. An array of pixels is obtained using the image sensor. A matrix of grid elements is defined. Each grid element comprises multiple adjacent pixels of the array of pixels. A first measurement value is generated for a grid element of the matrix of grid elements based on the pixels associated with the grid element. A set of grid elements are identified having a first measurement value that satisfies a brightness criteria. A second measurement is generated using the identified set of grid elements. A simulated-light-sensor array is generated using the second measurement value. An estimate of the ambient light condition is calculated using the simulated-light-sensor array.
US09277142B2
An infrared thermal imaging system includes a focal plane array (FPA) of infrared detectors, read out integrated circuitry (ROIC) operatively coupled to the FPA, and a microcontroller having at least one video display interface operatively coupled to the ROIC. The FPA is configured to generate an output signal in response to infrared radiation impinging upon the infrared detectors. The microcontroller is configured to send data to the ROIC via the at least one video display interface, the data including non-uniformity correction terms for correcting non-uniformities of the FPA.
US09277138B1
An image detection assembly includes a light source that is configured to generate at least one pulsed light beam. A modulator is configured to direct the pulsed light beam onto a device via a plurality of light patterns such that a plurality of electrical signals are generated by the device. Each electrical signal corresponds to a different light pattern. A signal processing apparatus is coupled to the device and the signal processing apparatus is configured to receive the electrical signals and to digitize each electrical signal to record a plurality of signal vectors such that each signal vector corresponds to a different electrical signal. The signal processing apparatus is also configured to generate at least one image output based, at least in part, on the recorded signal vectors and the light patterns such that the image output enables a determination of at least one transient effect on the device.
US09277133B2
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit, a first display unit, a second display unit, and a controller. The imaging unit is configured to obtain an image of an object. The first display unit is configured to be observed through an ocular lens. The second display unit includes a touchpanel. The controller is configured to cause the first display to display a live view which is based on the image obtained by the imaging unit and temporarily store the image in a first state. The controller is configured to cause the second display unit to display the image temporarily stored and obtain information concerning image processing based on an output from the touchpanel in a second state.
US09277126B2
A single user input element in an image capture device is used for both photo and video capture. Based on a first user interface activity, a timing reference is engaged at a first reference time. In a first case, photo capture is performed. In the first case, a second reference time is based on a second user interface activity, and the timing reference indicates a passage of time between the two reference times is shorter than a particular time interval. In a second case, video capture is performed. In the second case, the timing reference indicates a passage of time since the first reference time is equal to or longer than the particular time interval. Video capture is stopped based on a subsequent user interface activity. The user interface activities may comprise detecting actions based on the same type of physical manipulation of the single user input.
US09277116B2
An imaging device includes an imaging unit that receives light coming from a subject and thus generates electronic image data; a display unit that displays an image corresponding to the image data; an angle-of-view setting unit that an angle of view to be changed for the image displayed by the display unit according to a first signal input from the outside; and a control unit that starts control of change to a predetermined angle of view set by the angle-of-view setting unit according to a second signal different from the first signal.
US09277113B2
An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements provided correspondingly to each of microlenses arranged two-dimensionally, reads out a first signal through addition from the photoelectric conversion elements corresponding to the microlense, reads out a second signal from one of the photoelectric conversion elements corresponding to the microlense, and sets one of a first and second read-out modes to read signals from the image pickup unit in accordance with a photographing condition, wherein the first and second read-out modes differ in read-out density of the second signal in a read-out area in accordance with one of a thinning-out rate and an addition rate of a area from which the second signal is read out being different as compared to a area from which the first signal is read out.
US09277108B2
Disclosed is a camera module. The camera module according to one embodiment includes a lens barrel disposed in a housing to receive a lens; a driving unit moving the lens barrel relative to the housing; and a circuit board electrically connected to the driving unit. The driving unit includes a first driving unit in the lens barrel; and a second driving unit in the housing. A portion of the second driving unit directly makes contact with the circuit board.
US09277107B2
A camera apparatus includes: a camera main body having a single plate type imaging section; and a handle mounting section for mounting a handle on an upper portion of the camera main body, wherein a lens for a three-plate type imaging section can be mounted on a lens mount section of a front portion of the camera main body via a mount adapter, and the handle mounting section mounts the handle on the upper portion of the camera main body so as to be able to move in a front-back direction.
US09277106B2
An image pickup lens includes: a first lens group having positive refractive power; a second lens group having negative refractive power; a third lens group having positive refractive power; and a fourth lens group having negative refractive power, arranged in order from an object side to an image side, the fourth lens group being configured to travel along an optical axis through focusing operation. In the image pickup lens, following conditional expression (1) is satisfied, f/f4<−0.35 (1) where f is a total focal length of the image pickup lens, and f4 is a focal length of the fourth lens group.
US09277105B2
In one embodiment, a self-leveling camera head may include an eccentric leveling weight assembly that is supported inside an outer housing for free rotation about an axis. The leveling weight assembly may be removably coupled to a separate camera module assembly supported inside the outer housing for rotation about the axis so that its images will be “upright,” i.e. earth normal.
US09277099B2
Information corresponding to the degree of compression of lossy-compressed image data to be printed is acquired. Furthermore, based on the acquired information, a providing method of a recording agent when the image data to be printed is expanded and an image based on the expanded image data is printed, is determined.
US09277093B2
Common portions of applications are extracted as common system service. A platform is formed by the common system service and a general purpose OS. A printer application, a copy application, and various applications are mounted on the platform. As a result, each software (application) corresponding to a printer, a copier, a facsimile device, and so on can be developed efficiently and the productivity of the apparatus as a whole can be improved.
US09277087B2
A method for routing a confirmation of receipt of a facsimile or portion thereof according to one embodiment of the present invention includes analyzing text of a facsimile; detecting at least one document feature of the facsimile based on the analysis; comparing one or more detected document features to a plurality of document features, each of the plurality of document features corresponding to one or more known document types; and routing the confirmation to one or more destinations based on at least one of the comparison and the analysis.Systems and computer program products are also presented.
US09277079B2
An image forming apparatus into which applications are installable includes an operation panel and a resolution comparing circuit. The operation panel has a display resolution. The resolution comparing circuit compares the display resolution with resolution of an application screen that an installed application displays. If the resolution comparing circuit determines that the display resolution is higher than the application screen resolution, the image forming apparatus displays the application screen as a screen provided with a frame.
US09277077B2
An image forming apparatus, having an SSD as an auxiliary storage device, which is capable of preventing loss of data in the auxiliary storage device caused by lapse of a retention period in a power save state or a power off state. In a case where the auxiliary storage device is determined to be an SSD based on type information that is acquired when the image forming apparatus is activated, a predicted retention period is calculated, and is set in a part of the apparatus that operates in the power save state. The part of the apparatus that operates in the power save state causes the image forming apparatus to transit from the power save state to a normal state based on the set predicted retention period.
US09277073B2
A scanner identifies a document size on the basis of the intensity of light outputted in a photometric condition different from a first photometric condition, by photometric units provided to a position subject to determination that is a position excluding a position where light of an intensity not less than a first threshold value is received in the first photometric condition, among a plurality of positions to which the photometric units are provided. The first photometric condition is a condition where a document cover is open and a light-emitting unit is not emitting light.
US09277067B2
Systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to allow a multi-functional apparatus to control a mixed mode scan job build. Different types of sheets of documents with various configurations can be combined into a single output document with the various configurations intact.
US09277048B2
A method and apparatus is presented for enabling an agent to assume the identity or persona of a called party and process calls directed to the called party. In one embodiment, methods, which enable an agent to assume the identity or persona of a called party, and process calls directed to the called party are considered a call center functions and may be implemented in a call center. A call is initiated to a called party. Initiating the call generates called party information. Using the called party information a server retrieves information associated with the called party and then forward the information associated with the called party to an agent. The call is then forwarded to the agent. As a result, the agent may use the information associated with the called party to assume the identity or persona of the called party when responding to the call.
US09277041B2
Method and system for recognizing a numeric or alphanumeric sequence of characters in a document, the sequence conforming to predetermined rules and representing user identifiers for identifying users in a communication system include identifying a country of origin of the document, recalling rules relating to the format of the sequence associated with the determined country of origin, searching the document to identify any sequence in the document satisfying the format and returning any such sequence.
US09277033B2
Multi-mode communication devices capable of multiple wireless and/or wired network communication modes can be configured to communicate for backend services (e.g. Web Services, database, events) via a network gateway to operate in response to available modes. For example, for some activities, the devices are configured to communicate in any available mode while for other activities (e.g. high bandwidth communications), they are restricted to certain mode(s). Component applications for execution by the devices can specify message delivery properties to indicate the mode(s) to be used. The network gateway comprises at least one communication subsystem for communicating with the multi-mode device in accordance with selectable modes of communication; a message processor for processing messages for sending to the multi-mode communication device; and a mode selector for selecting a mode for sending a particular message in response to delivery mode properties received from the multi-mode communication device.
US09277022B2
Methods and systems related to guided workflows for establishing a web presence include a customer user interface with a guided workflow layer based on a knowledge base about the customer, wherein the customer interface allows a customer to manage a customer's web presence based on operation of a logic engine that accesses information about what a customer has done and who the customer is (e.g. type of business), wherein the user interface presents a guided workflow of tasks associated with a recommended area of improvement for the customer.
US09277020B2
A method and system for correlating events with social media is provided. The method includes retrieving from a social network, social network data associated with users of the social network. The social network data is associated with event data associated with a user of the users. Temporary actions associated with a social network account of the user are enabled and a notification is transmitted to a group of users. In response, confirmation data associated with enabling the temporary actions is received from the group of users and permanent actions associated with the temporary actions are enabled.
US09277016B2
In a communication system in which a server apparatus on the Internet is connected to at least one client apparatus on an intranet via a firewall, the client apparatus comprises: acquisition means for acquiring, from the server apparatus, information associated with a transmission interval at which notifications are periodically transmitted to maintain the connection to the server; and management means for maintaining the connection by periodically transmitting the notifications based on the information associated with the acquired transmission interval, and the server apparatus comprises: decision means for deciding an interval, in which the connection in the push communication can be maintained in non-communication, based on the communication status information; and notification means for notifying the client apparatus of the decided interval as information associated with the transmission interval used to maintain the connection in the push communication.
US09277015B1
There is provided a method for establishing a communication session between a client device of a caller and a client device of a callee, comprising: iteratively attempting to establish a communication session, via a communication interface of a client device of a caller, to a communication address of a client device of one of a plurality of callees represented as contact members stored in an electronic address-book, wherein each respective iterative attempt includes; detecting failure of the establishment of the communication session; applying a set-of-rules associated with the respective contact member and stored in a set-of-rules repository, to attempt to establish a subsequent communication session via the communication interface; and attempting to establishing further communication sessions defined by a sequence of the set-of-rules when previous attempts at establishing communication sessions have failed; wherein each respective communication session allows human language based communication between the caller and the callee.
US09277014B2
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including: receiving, at the network device, a traffic message including an IP address; identifying the traffic message as belonging to a new session; generating a request message based on identifying the traffic message as belonging to a new session, wherein the request message includes the IP address; transmitting the request message to a policy server; and receiving, from the policy server, a policy message including a policy. Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including: receiving, at the policy server, a request message from a network device, the request message including a subscriber IP and a network device identifier; identifying a subscriber session associated with the IP address; recording the network device identifier in association with the subscriber session; retrieving a policy associated with the subscriber session; and transmitting the policy to the network device.
US09277008B2
Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, systems and/or methods of setting up an Application Service Platform (ASP) Peer-to-Peer (P2P) persistent group. For example, an apparatus may include a first ASP to communicate with a second ASP to setup one or more ASP-P2P groups over a wireless communication link, the first ASP is to form each ASP-P2P group only as an ASP-P2P persistent group extendable over a plurality of distinct sessions, the first ASP is to store credentials of the ASP-P2P persistent group for use during the sessions.
US09277006B2
In individualized data communication of a data entity (200) between peers of a group, the data entity (200) includes at least one common data piece (210) and at least one non-common data piece (220). The at least one common data piece (210) is shared by all peers of the group, whereas the at least one non-common data piece (220) is shared by a subgroup of the group. A non-common data identifier (600) is used to identify the at least one non-common data piece (220). By receiving the non-common data identifier (600), one peer of the group may determine whether another peer of the group is sharing the same non-common data piece (220).
US09277000B2
Systems and methods for providing a user with virtual computing services are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for providing virtual computing services to a specific user, may comprising: detecting a request generated from a user device of the specific user to access data; in which the data is not accessible by applications installed on the user device; identifying a file type of the data; and providing the specific user access to a remote application or a virtual desktop, in which the remote application or the virtual desktop is configured to allow the specific user to open, execute, edit, and/or access the data.
US09276999B2
According to one example of the present invention, there is provided a system for providing a service. The service is accessible from a client application and is provided through a service application using a set of service provider resources. The system comprises a mapping module for generating mapping data, the mapping data being generated in part from an enterprise architecture definition, in part from a vocabulary definition; and in part from a client context definition. The system additionally comprises a communication module for receiving a communication request, transforming the communication request using the generated mapping data, and processing the transformed communication request.
US09276997B2
Method of controlling playback of Internet web page video on remote or high quality video displays using a remote control device, such as a smart phone. The method runs a first client browser on the remote control device, which in turn sends commands to a proxy browser with a data buffer. In response to user commands from the remote control device, the proxy browser retrieves and buffers video and non-video web page data from Internet servers, and sends this data to the remote control device. Upon user command, the proxy browser also sends selected buffered data to a second client browser that is connected to the remote or high quality video display. Media player playback commands on the remote control are echoed to a second media player on the second client browser, resulting in good synchronization between devices. Various compression, IP address adjustment, and public key methods are also discussed.
US09276989B2
A buffer model in an HTTP streaming client may include receiving a first content fragment of a first content stream in response to a first HTTP request. It may also include receiving a second content fragment of a second content stream in response to a second HTTP request. The buffer model may further include storing the first and second content fragments in first and second buffers of a plurality of configurable buffers. The first and second content fragments may be multiplexed into a third buffer of the plurality of buffers. The multiplexed first and second content fragments may be stored in a fourth buffer of the plurality of buffers for playback. The buffer model may be implemented by an application. The buffers may be designed based on one or more constraints.
US09276987B1
Techniques are described for managing execution of programs, such as for distributed execution of a program on multiple computing nodes. In some situations, the techniques include selecting a cluster of computing nodes to use for executing a program based at least in part on data to be used during the program execution. For example, the computing node selection for a particular program may be performed so as to attempt to identify and use computing nodes that already locally store some or all of the input data that will be used by those computing nodes as part of the executing of that program on those nodes. Such techniques may provide benefits in a variety of situations, including when the size of input datasets to be used by a program are large, and the transferring of data to and/or from computing nodes may impose large delays and/or monetary costs.
US09276985B2
A determination unit of a transmission apparatus determines a transmission timing of notice data (SR) for informing a reception apparatus that the event data has been transmitted according to a transmission state of the event data. An transmission unit transmits the SR at the timing determined by the determination unit.
US09276982B2
A method performed by a conversation manager in a communications network includes establishing a multimedia conversation between a first device associated with a first user and at least one endpoint associated with at least one other user, the multimedia conversation comprising at least two different media types according to respective and different protocol types. The method further includes receiving an instruction to transfer the conversation from the first device of the first user to a second device, adding the second device to the multimedia conversation by establishing connections for the at least two different media types to the second device, and removing the first device from the multimedia conversation by removing connections for the at least two media types to the first device.
US09276972B2
Real-time media optimization may be provided. First, a remote session may be established with a remote computing device. Then, during the remote session, non-real-time media data may be exchanged with the remote computing device over a server path. Moreover, real-time media data may be exchanged with the remote computing device over a media path during the remote session.
US09276967B2
A system and method for selecting an initial bandwidth setting. A determination is made that a client is initiating a communication session. Network conditions for the client are determined. A bandwidth setting for the client is selected utilizing the network conditions and a previous bandwidth setting saved in a memory. The communication session for the client is initiated utilizing the bandwidth seating.
US09276961B2
Methods and systems are provided for adapting security settings of a communication station based on security relevant events. The communication station may be associated with an identification module. A security registry in the identification module may be updated according to an identified security related event occurring in the communication station, and a security level of the communication station may be adapted and/or enforced according to the security registry (e.g., as updated according to the identified even) of the identification module. The security relevant event may be identified and stored in an event registry, in one or both of the communication station and the identification module. The communication station may comprise a workstation and a mobile terminal that includes the identification module.
US09276960B2
Technology for policies with reduced associated costs is disclosed. A policy may include an ordered rule set. When evaluated, the highest priority rule in the order that does not skip may control the policy outcome. Rules within a policy may have associated costs, such as data fetch and evaluation costs. In some contexts, it may be less important to evaluate every rule than to evaluate the policy quickly. Reduced policies that have one or more rules removed or that skip evaluation of some rules may be created for these contexts. When a rule of a policy is skipped, it may result in a possibility of a false allow or false deny. In some cases, rules may be duplicative. Removal or skipping of duplicative rules does not increase the possibility of a false allow or false deny. By using reduced policies in identified contexts, policy evaluation costs may be reduced.
US09276958B2
Systems, apparatuses and methods are provided for managing information technology devices in an information technology environment in which at least some of the devices are connected to a network, and access of each user in the information technology environment is customized in a convenient manner.
US09276956B2
A method for detecting a phishing website includes extracting a domain name from a target URL of a web page under investigation, and querying PageRank and/or Alexa ranking of the domain name; extracting a title character string from the title of the web page and matching the character string to phishing sensitive words; using the title of web page as a keyword to search on a search engine; querying whether Target URL and the web page in the search result with a same title as the web page under investigation have the same domain name server NS and server IP address to determine whether the website is a phishing website. The disclosed method utilizes common features of phishing websites and public resources on the Internet, and overcomes the difficulty in collecting phishing website samples, and is well adapted to detecting phishing aimed at new target websites.
US09276952B2
A method of automated security testing includes recording a macro. The recorded macro is played and a web request is intercepted while playing the macro. The web request may be attacked and sent to a web server. A response from the web server based on the web request is received, and the response of the web server is processed to determine any vulnerabilities.
US09276946B2
A disclosed computer-implemented method includes receiving and indexing the raw data. Indexing includes dividing the raw data into time stamped searchable events that include information relating to computer or network security. Store the indexed data in an indexed data store and extract values from a field in the indexed data using a schema. Search the extracted field values for the security information. Determine a group of security events using the security information. Each security event includes a field value specified by a criteria. Present a graphical interface (GI) including a summary of the group of security events, other summaries of security events, and a remove element (associated with the summary). Receive input corresponding to an interaction of the remove element. Interacting with the remove element causes the summary to be removed from the GI. Update the GI to remove the summary from the GI.
US09276936B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a tethering enforcement device controller and methods thereof. The tethering enforcement device controller (TEDC) is installed on a primary device, or otherwise known as the tethered device. The TEDC is configured to detect, control and block unauthorized or inappropriate tethering with a secondary device, or otherwise known as the tethering device, via either a native or a third-party tethering application, by retrieving a configuration file from a server associated with a wireless carrier. The configuration file typically includes customer profile and currently blacklisted package names of third-party tethering applications. The customer profile typically includes subscription information, including use of tethering services. If the customer is trying to tether and tethering is not allowed, then the TEDC will prevent the secondary device from tethering with the primary device. In some embodiments, the TEDC is an untethering application installed on the primary device.
US09276933B2
Methods, systems, and devices for determining a time-expiry algorithm based on a cached and verified security token, a disposition of the security token, and a cache table, where the disposition of the security token is based on whether the received security token is a single-use token or a multiple-use token and where the cache table is selected from two separate cache tables.
US09276927B1
A security service determines whether to grant a user access to a resource. The service receives from the user a security term in an obscured form derived from a revealed form of the security term according to a predefined padding scheme known to the user and to the security service. The service applies the padding scheme to the received term to result in a de-padded security term and confirms that the de-padded security term matches the retrieved revealed security term. Additionally, the service confirms that the received term has not been previously employed within a predetermined frame of reference. Accordingly, if the received obscured security term is purloined and re-used within the predetermined frame of reference, the security service denies access to the resource.
US09276921B2
A server in a communications network establishes a communication channel between a user's device and another device having a display. Particularly, the server generates a Quick Response (QR) code utilizing one or more parameters, and sends it to a device for display to a user. Using his or her device, the user captures an image of the displayed QR code and extracts the parameters using an image analysis technique. The device then sends the extracted parameters back to the server, which then utilizes them to authenticate the user and establish the communications session.
US09276918B2
An example system causes a computer of an information processing device including a restriction unit for restricting use of functions and a handwritten input receiving unit to carry out functions of requesting an input of a handwritten signature, sending, to a server, a result of a handwritten input which has been input in response to the request of the signature input, and receiving the input of authorization information which has been issued by the server that has received the handwritten input result and which shows that the use of the functions is authorized, and moreover cancelling the restriction by the restriction unit when the input of the authorization information is received.
US09276908B2
Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating the anonymization of unique entity information when transmitting data to services. A content server may store entity identifiers that respectively represent entities associated with the content server. The content server may send anonymized responses to requests for data from multiple services, the data being associated with entity identifiers. The anonymized responses may comprise the data requested in association with anonymous entity identifiers as opposed to the entity identifiers. The requesting services may each receive a different anonymous identifier representing a single entity.
US09276906B2
In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses to assign a routing address to a wireless computer that is in a different logical network from the routing addresses of other wireless computers within the same physical wireless network; and to prevent a wireless computer from learning the routing address of another wireless computer within the same physical wireless network.
US09276904B2
Some embodiments of the invention provide a novel method for specifying firewall rules. In some embodiments, the method provides the ability to specify for a particular firewall rule, a set of network nodes (also called a set of enforcement points below) at which the particular firewall should be enforced. To provide this ability, the method of some embodiments adds an extra tuple (referred to below as the AppliedTo tuple) to a firewall rule. This added AppliedTo tuple lists the set of enforcement points at which the firewall rule has to be applied (i.e., enforced).
US09276902B2
A recursive DNS nameserver system and related domain name resolution techniques are disclosed. The DNS nameservers utilize a local cache having previously retrieved domain name resolution to avoid recursive resolution processes and the attendant DNS requests. If a matching record is found with a valid (not expired) TTL field, the nameserver returns the cached domain name information to the client. If the TTL for the record in the cache has expired and the nameserver is unable to resolve the domain name information using DNS requests to authoritative servers, the recursive DNS nameserver returns to the cache and accesses the resource record having an expired TTL. The nameserver generates a DNS response to the client device that includes the domain name information from the cached resource record. In various embodiments, subscriber information is utilized to resolve the requested domain name information in accordance with user-defined preferences.
US09276901B2
A system and method for provisioning a web service for enabling communication between networks running different Internet Protocol (IP) versions includes a processor-implemented communication module and a processor-implemented provisioning module. The processor-implemented communication module is configured to receive provisioning information from a content provider. The provisioning information includes a fully qualified domain name and an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a first IP version associated with the fully qualified domain name. The processor-implemented provisioning module is configured to provision the web service. The web service causes a request by a client device running a second IP version to access a content provider registered to the IP address to be redirected to a proxy server. The web service further causes the proxy server to retrieve the content from the content provider and to provide the content to the client device.
US09276898B2
A method for link fault detection and recovery based on Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) interaction, including: configuring an IP address and a mask code, a strategy routing or static routing module and an ARP module for network devices of a home terminal and an opposite terminal; the strategy routing or static routing module regularly inquiring whether an ARP entry to which a next hop corresponds exists, if the ARP entry exists, a link being available, otherwise, notifying the ARP module to perform keepalive on the next hop; and the ARP module performing a process of keepalive on the next hop, and after performing keepalive on the next hop, notifying the strategy routing or static routing module to judge whether the link is available. Further, a device for link fault detection and recovery based on ARP interaction.
US09276897B2
A non-transitory machine readable medium storing a program that configures first and second managed forwarding elements to perform logical L2 switching and L3 routing is described. The program generates a first set of flow entries for configuring the first managed forwarding element to perform (1) a first logical L2 processing for a first logical L2 domain, (2) a logical L3 processing, and (3) a second logical L2 processing for a second logical L2 domain. The program generates a second set of flow entries for configuring the second managed forwarding element to determine whether the first managed forwarding element has performed the first logical L2 processing, the logical L3 processing, and the second logical L2 processing.
US09276892B2
Embodiments of social media listening, analytics, and engagement systems and method are described herein where a system user may listen to and analyze social media content based on one or more key terms. The system may expand the key terms and listen to additional social media content based on the expanded terms. The system may also enable a user to engage social media participants related to the social media content via multiple campaigns. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09276891B2
The present invention aims at offering a mobile communication device allowing the user to identify the sender when the user selects or opens a mail in a mail list by outputting an image and music that have been registered to the address book. Accordingly, when a mail is selected in the mail list of the mail box 401, or when a mail is opened and the mail message is displayed, the received mail display control unit 140 searches a mail address of the sender of the received mail in the address book 301. If the image/music data ID information 303(?) that has been registered in association with the sender of the mail address is present in the address book 301, the received mail display control unit 140 reads image data or music data from the image/music information 302 of the information storage unit 100 based on the image-music data ID information 303. After the brightness of the image is raised so that the image has enhanced contrast, the image is displayed on the display unit 120 as a background image of a mail list or a mail message while the music is output by the audio processing unit 104.
US09276883B2
A mobile terminal collects information items identified by a user of the mobile terminal, the collected information items having different formats of data that are to be rendered by different applications at the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal synchronizes itself with the remote server so that the user can access the plurality of information items stored at the remote server from another terminal. Next, the mobile terminal displays some information items in a chronological order. In response to detecting a user selection of one information item, the mobile terminal determines whether data associated with the information item is in the mobile terminal or not. If the data is present in the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal then renders the data on the mobile terminal. Otherwise, the mobile terminal first downloads the data from the remote server and then renders the data on the mobile terminal.
US09276879B2
Mechanisms are provided, in a data processing system comprising a host system and a network adapter, for processing received frames of data over a network connection. The mechanisms receive, in the host system from the network adapter, a plurality of frames of data. The mechanisms record, by the host system, for each frame in the plurality of frames, a header size associated with the frame over a current predetermined interval. The mechanisms determine, by the host system, a receive buffer address offset for receive buffers in the host system for a next predetermined interval based on the recorded header sizes of the plurality of frames over the current predetermined interval. In addition, the mechanisms configure, by the host system, the network adapter to utilize the receive buffer address offset to perform data transfers with the host system.
US09276877B1
In one example, a controller device for a software defined network (SDN) includes one or more network interfaces configured to communicate with network devices of the SDN, and one or more processors configured to obtain data representative of the network devices in the SDN, instantiate software-based controller objects for controllers of the network devices, instantiate software-based switch description objects for switches of the network devices, wherein the software-based switch description objects each comprise data representative of a respective primary controller corresponding to a controller of the one or more controllers, a respective switch identifier, a respective switch media access control (MAC) address, a respective Internet protocol (IP) address, and a respective array of port description objects for each physical port on the respective switch, and managing, via the network interfaces, at least some of the switches using the switch description objects and the controller objects.
US09276866B2
A system, method or computer readable medium to provide efficient congestion notification is described herein. In various embodiments, a packet is received at an intermediate node of one or more data center networks. A current queue length at the intermediate node is determined. A threshold value for the current queue length is tuned by dynamically computing an upper bound and a lower bound based at least in part on the network. The packet is marked to indicate possible congestion in the one or more data center networks when the current queue length exceeds the threshold value. In some embodiments, the packet is marked when it is being de-queued. In a further embodiment, Flexible Initial Packet Size (FIPS) may be utilized to improve the efficiency of the tuning.
US09276864B1
Information about the transmission of packets or other information can be inferred based at least in part upon the state of one or more queues used to transmit that information. In a networking example, a hook can be added to a free buffer API call from a queue of a NIC driver. When a packet is transmitted and a buffer freed, the hook can cause information for that packet to be transmitted to an appropriate location, such as a network traffic control component or control plane component, whereby that information can be compared with packet, source, and other such information to infer which packets have been transmitted, which packets are pending, and other such information. This information can be used for various purposes, such as to dynamically adjust the allocation of a resource (e.g., a NIC) to various sources based at least in part upon the monitored behavior.
US09276859B2
A wireless data access system is provided to ameliorate bursty traffic occurring in a radio communications link such as a WiFi, WiMAX, 3G or cellular telephone link to a wireless network access device. A data traffic event is detected relating to traffic in the link. The traffic event may be a traffic burst exceeding a predetermined threshold. Based on detecting the data traffic event, a free-space optical communications link is established to the network access device to handle the traffic burst. The established radio link may be used to set-up and coordinate the free-space optical link.
US09276857B2
A network processor includes an arbitration device, a processing device, and a pipeline. The arbitration device receives a first packet and a second packet. The second packet includes a first control message. The pipeline includes access devices, where the access devices include first and second access devices. The pipeline, based on a clock signal, forwards the first and second packets between successive ones of the access devices. The arbitration device: sets a timer based on at least one of (i) an amount of time for data to travel between the first and second access devices, or (ii) a number of pipeline stages between the first and second access devices; adjusts a variable based on (i) the clock signal, and (ii) transmission of the first packet from the arbitration device to the pipeline; and based on the timer and the variable, schedules transmission of the second packet through the pipeline.
US09276856B2
In accordance with disclosed embodiments, there are provided methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing a slipstream bandwidth management algorithm including, for example, means for executing an application a computing device, in which the application is to communicate with a remote computing device over a public Internet; means for approximating outgoing bandwidth for communications from the computing device to the remote computing device; means for approximating incoming bandwidth for communications received at the computing device from the remote computing device; means for allocating multiple simultaneous Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connections in support of the application based at least in part on the approximated outgoing bandwidth and based further on the approximated incoming bandwidth; and means for iteratively adjusting bandwidth communicated for the application between the computing device and the remote computing device based at least in part on latency between the computing device and the remote computing device. Other related embodiments are disclosed.
US09276850B2
Provided is a packet processing device for an information-centric network. The packet processing device includes a packet transceiver configured to transmit and receive packets, and a packet processing unit configured to process a transmitted or received packet including a forwarding identifier that identifies information present in the ICN and corresponds to an IP address of a network node holding the information, and at least one sub-identifier that identifies child information of the information, in which the forwarding identifier is used to forward packets.
US09276847B2
Included are systems and methods for providing a ReNAT virtual private network (VPN). Accordingly, some embodiments include receiving, at a network operations center (NOC), external packets from a client workstation on a private network and providing source addressing for the external packets to identify the private network from where the external packets were received. Similarly, some embodiments include receiving data from the external packets from a ReNAT twin NAT, where the ReNAT twin NAT includes both a destination public address and a public source address for the data and decrypting the data and forwarding the data with the public source address to the ReNAT twin NAT. In some embodiments the NOC provides a virtual private network within the NOC for facilitating communication of the data between a remote computing device across a wide area network and the client workstation in the private network.
US09276846B2
A packet processor provides for rule matching of packets in a network architecture. The packet processor includes a lookup cluster complex having a number of lookup engines and respective on-chip memory units. The on-chip memory stores rules for matching against packet data. A lookup front-end receives lookup requests from a host, and processes these lookup requests to generate key requests for forwarding to the lookup engines. Based on information in the packet, the lookup front-end can optimize start times for sending key requests as a continuous stream with minimal delay. As a result of the rule matching, the lookup engine returns a response message indicating whether a match is found.
US09276844B2
In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving, by an apparatus, a Media Access Control (MAC) frame destined for a destination device; dividing, by the apparatus, the MAC frame into frame fragments; coding the frame fragments into encoded cells; and causing, by the apparatus, transmission of selected subsets of the encoded cells, as distinct flows of the encoded cells, by respective optical physical layer transmitter devices reachable by the destination device.
US09276842B2
Methods and apparatus are provided with improved routing techniques for bifurcated flows. Routing methods and apparatus are provided that obtain a fractional flow from a set of nodes to a given destination having a maximum load, L, on any link between a node in the set and the given destination; and generate a bifurcated flow between the set of nodes and the given destination from the fractional flow such that the maximum load on any link in the bifurcated flow does not exceed 2L, wherein the bifurcated flow allows a flow from a given node to be sent on at most two outgoing links. The fractional flow can be, for example, a fractional single-sink multicommodity flow.
US09276834B2
Methods and apparatus for providing a device for forwarding packets in a network are disclosed. A first router and a second router having a shared set of interfaces are provided, enabling the first router and the second router to share forwarding data for forwarding packets on the shared set of interfaces.
US09276820B2
Computer-readable media, methods and network information computer systems are provided for obtaining network topology information about a relationship between a configuration item and a network of configuration items based upon a property of the selected configuration item, and displaying the network topology information as a topological map.
US09276817B2
Presented is a method of determining network topology. A determination is made whether a remote port on a first network device for establishing a layer 2 connection is an aggregate port. If the remote port is an aggregate port, identify the aggregate port and a coupled second network device based on Management Information Base (MIB) attributes. Identify a base port of the second network device from the aggregate port on the first network device, and a local interface index number corresponding to the identified base port from a mapping between local interface index numbers and corresponding base ports of the second network device.
US09276813B2
A node residing within a wireless mesh network is configured to transmit a state transition message to a downstream node also residing within the wireless mesh network. The state transition message indicates a new operating state for the downstream node. Upon receipt of the state transition message, the downstream node may transition to the new operating state and then transmit an acknowledgement message back to the node that sent the state transition message. Alternatively, the downstream node may transmit the acknowledgement message back to the node that sent the state transition message first, and then transition to the new operating state.
US09276803B2
Methods for automatically generating a report in response to detecting performance and/or availability issues that occur throughout multiple layers of a networked computing environment based on a role of a target recipient of the report are described. In some embodiments, a failure graph may be generated by a root cause identification tool that aggregates data from a plurality of performance management tools monitoring the networked computing environment. The root cause identification tool may acquire a plurality of report templates, determine a first report template of the plurality of report templates based on the role associated with the target recipient, identify a set of variables or an ontology associated with the first report template, assign values to the set of variables using the failure graph, generate a first report based on the first report template, and output the first report to the target recipient.
US09276802B2
Systems, methods, and apparatus for use with at least one first virtual agent executing on a first device. In some embodiments, the at least one first virtual agent is programmed to: share information with at least one second virtual agent executing on at least one second device different from the first device, wherein the at least one first virtual agent is associated with a first user and the at least one second virtual agent is associate with a second user; and use the information shared between the at least one first virtual agent and the at least one second virtual agent to make a joint recommendation for the first and second users.
US09276790B2
Phase rotation for preambles within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. An appropriately designed phase rotation vector and/or appropriately designed cyclic shift delays (CSDs) are applied to respective sub-band components of the preamble. With appropriately designed CSDs, certain fields within the preamble are not modified. For example, a legacy short training field (L-STF) of the preamble is not changed when using appropriately designed CSDs. The respective CSDs may be implemented as integer multiples of a common CSD (e.g., 0×CSD, 1×CSD, 2×CSD, etc. such that one of the values of such a CSD vector may be zero [0], another may be the common CSD itself, etc.). Also, by employing an appropriately designed phase rotation vector and integer multiples of a CSD to a preamble, the respective peak to average power ratio (PAPR) between different respective fields within the preamble may be minimized.
US09276787B2
Techniques for sending signaling messages with beacon signals in a wireless communication network are described. In one design, a transmitter station may map a signaling message (e.g., a reduce interference request) to multiple code symbols. The transmitter station may select multiple resource elements from among a plurality of resource elements based on the multiple code symbols. In one design, each code symbol may be sent across frequency by selecting one of multiple subcarriers in one symbol period. In another design, each code symbol may be sent across time by selecting one of multiple symbol periods on one subcarrier. The transmitter station may generate a beacon signal having transmit power on the selected resource elements and no transmit power on remaining resource elements. The transmitter station may send the beacon signal to at least one receiver station.
US09276786B2
Methods and systems for amplitude estimation and gain adjustment using noise as a reference are described. An example receiver can include an antenna and a front end amplifier coupled to the antenna. The receiver can also include a detector circuit coupled to the front end amplifier. The receiver can be configured to determine a power of a received signal at the antenna based on a gain of the receiver. The gain of the receiver can be determined based on a noise figure of the front end amplifier and a noise amplitude.
US09276782B1
In a receiver, there is a precursor iterative canceller (“PIC”) having first and second paths. A postcursor decision block is coupled to the PIC to provide a decision signal thereto. The PIC includes: comparators for receiving an input signal and corresponding threshold inputs for precursor ISI speculation; and select circuits for selecting a first speculative input for the first path and a second speculative input for the second path, respectively associated with a negative precursor contribution and a positive precursor contribution. The first path and the second path in combination include at least a first stage and a second stage for processing the first speculative input and the second speculative input. The decision signal is provided to the first stage and to the select circuits. The select circuits are coupled to receive the decision signal for selection of the first speculative input and the second speculative input.
US09276781B2
An exemplary receiver equalizer includes a first decision feedback equalizer (DFE) sampler coupled to a summer, the first DFE to latch an equalized output of the summer. The first branch includes a second DFE sampler coupled to the first DFE sampler, the second DFE to latch an output of the first DFE sampler. The first branch includes a third DFE sampler coupled to the second DFE sampler, the third DFE to latch an output of the second DFE sampler. The summer coupled to the first, second, and third DFE samplers of the first branch, the summer to integrate the output of said DFE samplers, the received signal, and equalized outputs from one or more other branches, wherein the integrating occurs over a plurality of unit intervals (UIs).
US09276780B2
A method for calibrating signal swing and a trip reference voltage. The signal swing of a system can be calibrated in a symmetric or asymmetric technique through adjustment of a drive parameter such as a supply voltage for a transmitter or a drive termination. The trip reference voltage of the system can also be calibrated in a symmetric or asymmetric technique through sampling of a data pattern to determine an ideal level of the trip reference voltage.
US09276775B2
A system that can deliver a tailored message based upon characteristics surrounding an incoming communication. In one aspect, the system is a targeted voice-mail system that has the capability to provide a unique voice-mail depending upon the communication characteristics which include the identity of caller or the initiator of the call, whether a specific identity or within a group, the identity for which the call is targeted, and the intent of the caller. Additionally, other contextual factors can be considered in generating, locating and/or rendering a tailored response message.
US09276774B2
A method of managing a network including a plurality of nodes. The nodes are displayed, in a pictorial display, relative to a current geographic location of the nodes. The method includes modifying, via the display and via the network, one or more capabilities of one of the nodes. The node is an ad-hoc node. This method can improve network management flexibility, asset utilization, resource sharing, and load leveling.
US09276772B2
A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving data. The method and apparatus previously determines a validity of a data transmission path for transmitting a stream from a source device to a sink device. The validity of the transmission path is verified by checking and securing the data transmission path, thereby executing a streaming service based on the validity.
US09276770B2
A network connecting device includes: a wired LAN connection detection section that detects connecting of a LAN cable; a profile management section that manages a profile; a profile selection section that selects in sequence at least one profile that indicates wired LAN connection; a network configuration section that sets a network configuration based on the selected profile; a network identification information acquisition section that acquires network identification information; a network determination section that determines whether or not a wired LAN with which a connection is formed by the LAN cable and a network indicated by the profile match each other; and a network connection section that applies the profile when it is determined as a match.
US09276768B2
A wireless access node receives a first frame from a station through a first communication network such as an IEEE 802.11 network. The first frame comprises a source address identifying the station. The wireless access node applies a function to the source address to derive a destination address identifying an access controller coupled to the wireless access node through a second communication network such as an IEEE 802.3 network. The first frame is encapsulated in a second frame that comprises the destination address identifying the access controller and a source address identifying the wireless access node, respectively. The wireless access node sends the second frame to the access controller having the destination address through the second communication network. The access controller owns association and authentication state of the station, and shares the association and authentication state of the station with the wireless access node when needed to support desired service.
US09276767B2
According to embodiments of the invention, a first ring node is arranged to protect against loops in an Ethernet ring by performing Ethernet ring protection (ERP) according to an Ethernet ring protection protocol (ERP) standard. The first ring node is located directly adjacent to at least one second ring node in the Ethernet ring which is not configured to perform ERP according to the same ERP protocol standard. The first ring node is configured to, upon detection of a link failure or recovery event in the Ethernet ring resulting in a flush operation of the filtering database (FDB) in the first ring node in accordance with the ERP protocol standard, send a message to the at least one second ring node which is operable to cause said at least one second ring node to perform a flush operation of its filtering database (FDB). Embodiments of the invention also include an Ethernet ring, a broadband communications network and methods for use in the first ring node and in the Ethernet ring.
US09276766B2
Display calibration systems and related methods are disclosed that use photo-sensitivity of LEDs to correct for variations between LEDs during initial production and over lifetime for display systems. The display devices include arrays of LEDs and use photo-sensitivity of the LEDs to correct for variations between LEDs. Such LED arrays can produce images directly as in LED billboards and sports arena scoreboards, and smaller Organic LED (OLED) displays, or can produce the backlight for LCD screens for instance. Variations in LED brightness and color can be compensated for in order for such a display to have uniform color and brightness. This compensation is performed in the embodiments disclosed by measuring the signal induced on each LED by uniform incident light as a measurement of the photo-sensitivity of the LEDs.
US09276765B2
Apparatus and system for an active star/stub/ring controller area network physical layer transceiver
A controller area network (CAN) node comprises an internal high differential bus line (CANH) and an internal low differential bus line (CANL). The CAN node further comprises a receiver (RXD) comparator coupled to both the internal CANH and the internal CANL that outputs an internal RXD signal. The CAN node further comprises an RXD dominant time out (DTO) circuit. The RXD DTO circuit includes: a) an RXD dominant transition detector coupled to an output of the RXD comparator; b) a timer triggered by the RXD dominant transition detector detecting a dominant RXD transition; c) an RXD dominant timer comparator that is coupled to an output of the timer which compares an output of the timer to a selected value; d) an internal RXD dominant signal is changed to an RXD DTO recessive signal after a selected time interval has lapsed and can include a fault output to signal this fault condition.
US09276762B2
A bus-based control system comprises a plurality of bus subscribers which are connected to one another by means of a communication medium. The bus subscribers are assigned logical subscriber addresses. Next, the assigned subscriber addresses are verified. For this purpose, the bus subscribers use a defined mathematical operation to calculate a common first check value which is compared with a second check value. The mathematical operation begins with a defined starting value and comprises a number of operation steps which use a number of defined operands. Each of the subscriber addresses to be verified forms a different operand, and each bus subscriber executes at least one operation step.
US09276758B2
Techniques for analyzing and repairing documents are described, including evaluating a document at a first location using a first application, the document comprising one or more parameters and being formatted using a document standard, identifying a problem associated with the document by comparing the one or more parameters to the document standard, presenting a status associated with the document, wherein the status is associated with the one or more parameters, and repairing the problem a second location using a second application by modifying at least one of the one or more parameters associated with the document.
US09276757B1
A method performed by one or more processing devices includes transmitting, to a first client device, content items, wherein one of the content items is selected by a user of the first client device; receiving, from a second client device, information indicative of a selection, by a user of the second client device, of a reference in a social networking system to a resource associated with the selected content item; wherein the user of the first client device has a social connection in the social networking system to the user of the second client device; and generating, based on the information received, one or more viral metrics for the selected content item.
US09276749B2
Systems and methods are presented for distributed validation of a digitally signed electronic document. A computing device accesses both a representation of the electronic document and a digital signature for the electronic document that includes a digest generated by the digital signature's creator by applying a one-way function to the electronic document. The computing device applies the same one-way function to the accessed representation of the electronic document to generate a new digest, and includes both the digital signature and the new digest in a request sent to a separate validation server. The request does not include the electronic document. The validation server generates validation results that depend on comparing the digest from the digital signature with the new digest, and that do not depend on having the electronic document available to the validation server. The computing device receives the validation results from the separate validation server.
US09276748B2
Disclosed is a cell phone data encryption method, which comprises the steps of obtaining a PIN code which is input by a user, obtaining a SIM card code from a SIM card according to the PIN code, and combining the PIN code with the SIM card code to form a password string; and encryption source data using the password string, so as to obtain encrypted data. Also provided is a cell phone data encryption method. Through the manner mentioned above, the technical solution provided in the present invention can protect cell phone data.
US09276746B2
In a wildcard-applicable anonymous hierarchical identity-based encryption system, it is aimed to make the number of pairing operations a fixed number. A user identifier ID and a pattern P are used. The user identifier ID includes k number of hierarchy identifiers. The pattern P includes either of a hierarchy identifier, a wildcard value and a blank value for each hierarchy. An encryption device 400 extracts a key value H corresponding to a hierarchy of the wildcard value and a key value H corresponding to a hierarchy of a pattern value from a public key PK, calculates a cipher value C1 and a cipher value C3, and outputs ciphertext data CT including plaintext cipher value C0, the cipher value C1, and the cipher value C3. A decryption device 300 extracts the hierarchy identifier of the hierarchy corresponding to the wildcard value from the user identifier ID, decrypts the plaintext cipher value C0 included in the ciphertext data CT using the extracted hierarchy identifier, the cipher value C1 and the cipher value C3 which are included in the ciphertext data CT, and outputs plaintext data M.
US09276744B2
A user key storage unit stores at least one user key corresponding to usage authorities of image data. A first encryption unit encrypts the image data using a first encryption key. A second encryption key creation unit creates a second encryption key assigned to each usage authority. A key-storage data creation unit creates a key-storage data for each usage authority by encrypting the first encryption key and authority information using the second encryption key. A user-supplementary data creation unit creates user-supplementary data for each user key. A device-supplementary data creation unit creates device-supplementary data for at least one usage authority and for at least one device key. A data output unit outputs encrypted image data with the key-storage data, the user-supplementary data and the device-supplementary data.
US09276742B1
Cryptographic resources, such as those including PGP keys and certificates, are transformed such that they are understood by certificate repositories, such as in a format understood by the Java JAVA tools of JAVA KEYSTORE (JKS). JAVA is one example of a general-purpose computer programming language that is concurrent, class-based, object-oriented. JAVA KEYSTORE is one example of a repository of security certificates, such as authorization certificates and public key certificates, used for instance in SSL encryption. The transformation of the cryptographic resources is completed such that the necessary metadata for retrieving the original cryptographic resources, or artifacts thereof, are retained. In that way, cryptographic resources are effectively hidden within the certificate repository until needed. The security program applies an algorithm to generate keys for JKS storage such that the keys “masquerade” in a JKS canonical format until the time in which the resources are needed to be in a PGP canonical format.
US09276740B2
Methods and systems are provided for supporting efficient and secure “Machine-to-Machine” (M2M) communications using a module, a server, and an application. A module can communicate with the server by accessing the Internet, and the module can include a sensor and/or an actuator. The module, server, and application can utilize public key infrastructure (PKI) such as public keys and private keys. The module can internally derive pairs of private/public keys using cryptographic algorithms and a first set of parameters. A server can authenticate the submission of derived public keys and an associated module identity. The server can use a first server private key and a second set of parameters to (i) send module data to the application and (ii) receive module instructions from the application. The server can use a second server private key and the first set of parameters to communicate with the module.
US09276739B2
A method of encrypting data using a first key and multiple encryption keys at least in part based on the first key. The method includes encoding the data into a redundant representation by distributing the information content of the data among a number of groups, each group being associated with a respective encryption key of the multiple encryption keys, each encryption key being associated with at least one group, the redundant representation allowing recovery of the data in the absence of the groups associated with the at least one of the multiple encryption keys, and encrypting each group by the respective associated encryption key.
US09276736B2
A system and a method implementing the method pertaining to securely providing a mobile device with a cryptographic key in a vehicle. The method includes generating a cryptographic key pair. The key pair may include at least a first cryptographic key and a second cryptographic key. The method may further include creating a label using a scannable image readable by a mobile device; the scannable image may be based on the second cryptographic key. And the method may include providing the label to the vehicle for displaying the scannable image.
US09276730B2
A method and apparatus which allows dynamic TDD UL/DL configuration that is able to adapt to an instantaneous traffic situation. The values of at least one uplink/downlink configuration indication bit in a predetermined region in a received downlink time division duplex subframe of wireless data transmission are examined. A time division duplex uplink/downlink configuration for a predetermined configuration period is determined based on the examined values.
US09276728B2
Provided is an interference avoidance-based communication apparatus and method, the apparatus including an interface to receive operating channel number information transmitted by another communication apparatus in response to an event occurring in the other communication apparatus, and a processor to verify a current use channel of the other communication apparatus based on the received operating channel information, allocate a first weighted value to a remaining channel, aside from the verified current use channel and a second weighted value to the verified current use channel, and generate channel map information for use in hop selection based on the remaining channel to which the first weighted value is allocated and the current use channel to which the second weighted value is allocated.
US09276724B2
The present invention relates to a method for operating a network comprising a first primary station and a second primary station, wherein the first primary station serves a first cell including at least one first secondary station communicating with the first primary station and wherein the second primary station serves a second cell including at least one second secondary station communicating with the second primary station, the method comprising the steps of (a) the first primary station and the second primary station transmitting payloads in a synchronous manner on at least one set of resources, (b) the first and the second primary stations transmitting control data on the at least one set of resources respectively to the first secondary station and to the second secondary station, wherein the method further comprises (c) at least the first primary station rendering the transmission of control data to the first secondary station orthogonal to the transmission of control data from the second primary station.
US09276713B2
Aspects of the methods and apparatus relate to exploiting the spectrum of a high power base station cell to provide higher capacity in a wireless communication system. Generally, a small cell with multi-carrier support may detect an absence of high power base station cell coverage or absence of high power base station cell users and may harness the high power base station cell carrier spectrum to provide higher data download rates and/or serve more mobility users. Specifically, aspects of the methods and apparatus include transmitting a first signal on a first carrier from a first access point and determining a current ability of a second access point on a second carrier. Thereafter, aspects of the methods and apparatus include transmitting a second signal on the second carrier from the first access point according to the determined current ability of the second access point.
US09276706B2
To improve throughput by reducing the resource used for transmitting a parameter relating to retransmission control and decreasing overhead of retransmission control signaling. Where a retransmission control method is employed with adaptive MCS control in which the encoding rate can be changed, the scheduling section sets the MCS in accordance with CQI notified from the communication counterpart apparatus. When transmission data is encoded, the RV parameter bit-number setting section sets the number of bits used for signaling the RV parameter to decrease as the encoding rate of the first transmission is decreased and sets the RV parameter based on the number of bits. For example, in a case where the encoding rate R is R>2/3, two bits are set. In a case where the encoding rate 1/3
US09276704B1
A wireless device, and corresponding method, having a receiver configured to receive a signal having in-phase and quadrature components; a non-linear filter demodulator configured to translate noncoherently the in-phase and quadrature components into a phase domain signal; a coherence acquisition unit configured to estimate and correct at least one coherence parameter based on the in-phase and quadrature components and the phase domain signal; and a detector configured to detect information in the phase domain signal.
US09276703B2
Impulse and/or burst noise signal to noise ratio (SNR) aware concatenated forward error correction (FEC). Adaptive processing is performed on a signal based on one or more effects which may deleteriously modify a signal. For example, based on a modification of a signal to noise ratio (SNR) associated with one or more impulse or burst noise events, which may be estimated, different respective processing may be performed selectively to differently affected bits associated with the signal. For example, two respective SNRs may be employed: a first SNR for one or more first bits, and a second SNR for one or more second bits. For example, as an impulse or burst noise event may affect different respective bits of a codeword differently, and adaptive processing may be made such that different respective bits of the codeword may be handled differently.
US09276701B2
A multi-mode transmission unit processes data to form an error correction code in accordance with one of a plurality of selectable processes. The data, correction code and a process identifier can be transmitted to a receiving unit which can carry out error correction of the data in accordance with the identified process.
US09276697B2
A network evaluation apparatus that evaluates a design of an optical network, the network evaluation apparatus including: a processor that selects two nodes, between which a lightpath is to be set up, from a plurality of nodes based on a traffic volume demand values, calculates a decreased amount of cost based on numbers of the plurality of nodes and a plurality of routers for relaying a signal transmitted between the two nodes selected, calculates an increased amount of cost based on a transmission distance of the lightpath and a number of a plurality of repeaters to be inserted according to a segment distance, and determines a value of the optical network based on the decreased amount of cost and the increased amount of cost.
US09276691B2
A control channel transmission method and an apparatus for facilitating control channel transmission in an intra-cell carrier aggregation system by applying Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD) cell's uplink control channel transmission timing for transmitting the uplink control channel corresponding to the TDD cells' downlink data are provided. The control channel transmission method and apparatus of the present disclosure are capable of transmitting/receiving data of the cells operating in the different duplexing modes simultaneously, resulting in improvement of peak data rate.
US09276685B2
Distributed antenna systems (DASs) can include a plurality of spatially separated remote antenna units. According to at least one example, a first group of remote antenna units can simulcast downlink transmissions on a first carrier with a particular sector identity (ID). A second group of remote antenna units, including at least one different remote antenna unit from the first group, can simulcast downlink transmissions on a second carrier with the same sector ID. According to at least one other example, two or more remote antenna units which include respective coverage areas that are non-adjacent to one another can be employed to simulcast downlink transmissions.
US09276683B2
A method for noise rise estimation in a wireless communication system comprises measuring of received total wideband power a plurality of times and computing an estimate of a noise floor measure based on a number of the measured received total wideband powers. An interference whitening is performed based on one of GRAKE, GRAKE−and chip equalizer. A useful signal power for the first user after interference whitening is determined. A first user noise floor compensation factor is derived based on combining weights for the first user used in the interference whitening. A code power to interference ratio measure for said first user is obtained. A noise rise measure is calculated, based at least on the useful signal power for the first user after interference whitening, the first user noise floor compensation factor, the code power to interference ratio measure for the first user and the noise floor measure.
US09276680B2
Techniques are described for adaptive sampling qualification for extinction ration control. The techniques may be implemented in a laser driver assembly which includes a laser driver and a sampling loop configured to facilitate sampling of photodiode current produced by a monitor photodiode (MPD) of an optical transmitter assembly. The sampling loop comprises a low pass filter with reset, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), and a comparator. The filter receives transmit (Tx) data provided to the laser driver and generates an output corresponding to a number of consecutive bits of a first type received in the transmit (Tx) data. The filter resets the output when a bit of a second type is received. The digital-to-analog converter (DAC) outputs a threshold signal. The comparator compares the output from the low pass filter and the threshold signal, and outputs a signal indicating when the photodiode current is to be sampled.
US09276674B2
An optical receiver may receive input signals carried by sub-carriers, and may apply test phases to each input signal. The optical receiver may determine error values, associated with test phases, for each input signal. The optical receiver may calculate updated metric values, associated with the test phases, for a particular input signal, based on a first error value and a second error value. The first error value may be associated with a first sub-carrier, and the second error value may be associated with a second sub-carrier. The optical receiver may compare the updated metric values associated with the particular input signal, and may determine a test phase that represents an estimated phase, associated with the particular input signal, based on the comparison. The optical receiver may determine a phase estimate value based on the test phase, and may provide the phase estimate value to modify the particular input signal.
US09276672B2
A method for detecting a submarine optical cable line includes: splitting a detection signal input to a first optical functional unit in an optical functional module of an optical cable line into a first detection signal and a second detection signal; directly coupling and looping back the first detection signal to an output end of a second optical functional unit in a direction opposite to the first optical functional unit to constitute a first loopback path, and outputting a first detection loopback signal; looping back the second detection signal passing through the first optical functional unit to the output end of the second optical functional unit to constitute a second loopback path, and outputting a second detection loopback signal; and detecting a status of the submarine optical cable line according to power of the first detection loopback signal and power of the second detection loopback signal.
US09276658B2
The present invention relates to method for communicating in a network, said network comprising a primary station and at least one secondary station having a plurality of antennas, the method comprising the step of the primary station transmitting to a first secondary station an indication of a first receive combining matrix that the first secondary station should use to combine the signals received at its said plurality of antennas from a first subsequent transmission from the primary station.
US09276654B2
A signal transmitter and receiver are provided. The transmitter includes: a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) precoder configured to, in response to a first input signal and a second input signal, generate a first transmission signal and a second transmission signal by performing MIMO precoding by pre-phase shifting or pre-phase shifting/hopping the second input signal, and superposition encoding the first input signal and the pre-phase shifted or pre-phase shifted/hopped second input signal; and an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) modulator configured to OFDM modulate the first transmission signal and the second transmission signal.
US09276638B2
Coupling circuits for power line communication (PLC) devices are described. In an embodiment, a PLC device may comprise a processor and a coupling circuit coupled to the processor. The coupling circuit may in turn comprise a transmitter path and a receiver path. In some implementations, the transmitter path may include a first amplifier, a first capacitor coupled to the first amplifier, a first transformer coupled to the first capacitor, and a plurality of line interface coupling circuits coupled to the first transformer, where each of the line interface coupling circuits is configured to be connected to a different phase of an electrical power circuit. Meanwhile, the receiver path may include a plurality of capacitors, where each of the plurality of capacitors coupled to a corresponding one of the line interface circuits, a filter network coupled to the plurality of capacitors, and a second amplifier coupled to the filter network.
US09276635B2
A device, system, and method for communicating with a power inverter of an array of inverters includes transmitting a relay message from an inverter array controller to a relay inverter in response to failing to receive a response from at least one power inverter of the array. The relay inverter is configured to retransmit a message from the inverter array controller to a non-responsive power inverter of the array of inverters in response to receiving the relay message. The relay inverter may subsequently retransmit a reply received from the non-responsive power inverter to the inverter array controller or to another power inverter of the array of inverters.
US09276632B2
A multichannel communications medium may have two or more channels available for transmitting information. A first transmission signal and a second transmission signal may be prepared from a same analog signal to be transmitted on a first channel and a second channel. For example, a phase shift or amplitude shift may be performed on the first transmission signal or the second transmission signal. The first transmission signal may be transmitted via the first channel, and the second transmission signal may be transmitted via the second channel. The phase shift or amplitude shift may be performed by analog components that are less complex than digital signal processors used for digital signal diversity. The analog components may be digitally controlled. The analog signal diversity may utilize cost effective analog components to improve the performance of the communications system over single channel communications without requiring complex digital signal processing of multiple signal paths.
US09276630B2
Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments provide modified frequency hopping patterns that enable synchronization of a wireless tracking device with a beacon signal that defines a predetermined area (i.e., beacon fence). In an embodiment, a beacon may transmit a beacon signal according to a modified frequency hopping pattern and a wireless tracking device may receive the beacon signal by tuning a receiver according to the frequency hopping pattern. In an embodiment, the modified frequency hopping pattern may include a reference frequency generated at a high redundancy pattern multiplexed with a pseudo random sequence of frequencies. In an embodiment, the packets of the beacon signal transmitted at the reference frequency may include an indication of the next frequency according to the modified frequency hopping pattern.
US09276626B2
An apparatus and a system for housing a device are described. The apparatus includes a housing that is configured such that a device may be fitted within the housing and thereby be protected, such as from shocks and/or liquid. The housing may include top and bottom members that may be removably coupled together so as to form the housing. Each top and bottom member includes a perimeter portion. The perimeter is defined by proximal and distal ends as well as opposing sides. The top and bottom members may include respective clasping mechanisms that extend along the perimeter of the top and bottom members and may be configured for engaging a third clasping mechanism, such as a locking comb or wedge feature. The clasping mechanisms are configured for coupling the top and bottom members with one another thereby sealing the housing, for instance, in a shock-proof and/or water tight seal.
US09276624B2
According to one embodiment disclosed herein, there is provided an antenna module including a self-identification mechanism that may be used by one or more wireless circuits for management purposes. The self-identification mechanism may, for example, take the form of an integrated circuit (IC) device or chip that stores a serial number that may function as a unique identifier for an antenna on which it is mounted or associated. In one embodiment, a wireless module, for example containing RF components for sending and receiving signals from the antenna, queries the serial number device, and acquires the serial number for the antenna. The wireless module can use the serial number for any number of purposes, and in particular to verify that the antenna connected is a compliant antenna that will operate within the range, within the limits, and/or with the performance specified for the radio circuits within the wireless module.
US09276622B2
Techniques for generating a local oscillator (LO) signal are disclosed. In one design, an apparatus includes an oscillator, a divider, and a phase locked loop (PLL). The oscillator receives a control signal and provides an oscillator signal having a frequency determined by the control signal. The divider receives the oscillator signal and generates multiple divided signals of different phases. The PLL receives a reference signal and a selected divided signal and generates the control signal for the oscillator. The divider is powered on and off periodically and wakes up in one of multiple possible states, with each state being associated with a different phase of the selected divided signal. Phase continuity of the selected divided signal is ensured by using the divider in a feedback loop with the PLL. The PLL locks the selected divided signal to the reference signal, and the selected divided signal has continuous phase due to the reference signal having continuous phase.
US09276617B2
Digital pre-distortion (DPD) systems are often used to improve the linearity of a power amplifier in transmitters. These DPD systems are typically implemented in baseband (prior to modulation). However, ever increasing signal bandwidth requirements limits the practicality of DPD systems implemented in baseband. A DPD system in the radio frequency (RF) domain (as opposed to in baseband) can solve this problem and further improve a DPD system's ability to correct for distortions. The RF domain DPD system is upstream from a digital-to-analog converter, and performs DPD after a baseband signal is up-sampled into the RF domain (after the modulation process). When compared against a baseband DPD system, the RF domain DPD system can handle significantly wider bandwidth, and has an improved ability to linearize a wide variety of distortions present in the spectrum.
US09276615B1
A superconducting multi-bit digital mixer, designed using rapid single flux quantum (RSFQ) logic, for multiplying two independent digital streams, at least one of these comprising a plurality of parallel bit lines, wherein the output is also a similar plurality of bit lines. In a preferred embodiment, one of the digital streams represents a local oscillator signal, and the other digital stream digital radio frequency input from an analog-to-digital converter. The multi-bit mixer comprises an array of bit-slices, with the local oscillator signal generated using shift registers. This multi-bit mixer is suitable for an integrated circuit with application to a broadband digital radio frequency receiver, a digital correlation receiver, or a digital radio frequency transmitter. A synchronous pulse distribution network is used to ensure proper operation at data rates of 20 GHz or above.
US09276614B2
A plurality of partially-decoded codewords that have been processed at least once by a first and a second error correction decoder is stored. A plurality of metrics associated with how close a corresponding partially-decoded codeword is to being successfully decoded is stored. From the plurality of partially-decoded codewords, a codeword having a metric indicating that that codeword is the closest to being successfully decoded by the first error correction decoder and the second error correction decoder is selected. The selected codeword is output to the first error correction decoder.
US09276607B2
Described herein are techniques related to the generation of data blocks that collectively include padding appended before a first or after a last of the data blocks. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US09276605B2
A compression method is disclosed, which comprises receiving an OFDM data block comprising a plurality of complex valued data samples wherein each in-phase and quadrature sample value is represented by a first number of bits. The method also comprises calculating an average of absolute sample values of the OFDM data block and mapping the average absolute sample value to a standard deviation value. The method further comprises quantizing each of the sample values using quantization thresholds scaled by the standard deviation value to produce quantized in phase and quadrature sample value representations, each comprising a second number of bits, and mapping the standard deviation value and the quantized sample value representations to an OFDM transmission frame. Corresponding de-compression method, compressor, de-compressor and network node are also disclosed.
US09276596B1
An analog to digital converting apparatus and an initial method thereof are provided. The analog to digital converting apparatus includes a first and a second switching capacitor units, a circuit unit, a first and a second initialization switches, a third and a fourth capacitors and a logic buffer. The first and the second switching capacitor units respectively couple first capacitors and second capacitors to a first logic voltage, a second logic voltage or a first or a second input voltage according to a first control signal, and respectively generate a first and a second voltage. The circuit unit compares the first voltage and the second voltage to generate the first control signal. The first and the second initialization switches are respectively connected in series between the first and the second voltage and a common-mode endpoint. The logic buffer outputs the first or the second logic voltage to the common-mode endpoint.
