US09327706B2
Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, an engine is rotated to increase pressure within a fuel rail. The engine is rotated without combusting air and fuel within the engine.
US09327705B2
In a method and a device for steering a vehicle towards an object, an optimization of such steering leads to a close and accurate approach. In a method for controlling a vehicle having a drive unit and a braking device during a parking operation leading up to an object, the vehicle is brought to a parking speed up to a first distance of the vehicle from the object, the parking speed maximally corresponding to the drive speed that is achievable using the idling speed, the speed is maintained, and after the first distance has been reached, the braking device decelerates to standstill up to a second distance to the object, which corresponds to the stopping distance. Furthermore, a device is adapted for implementing the method.
US09327698B2
A tractor park brake force sensing system includes a force sensor switch that is actuated if a tensile force applied to a linkage between a park brake lever and a park brake is adequate to compress a spring in the linkage a pre-specified amount as the park brake lever is moved to a park brake set position. A controller connected to the force sensor switch and to a tractor motion sensor turns on a solid indicator light if the force sensor switch is actuated, and flashes the indicator light if the park brake lever is moved to the park brake set position and the tractor motion sensor indicates the tractor is moving.
US09327696B2
A hydraulic braking system has a brake actuator including hydraulic pumps that generate a W/C pressure by sucking and discharging a brake fluid from a master reservoir, and suck the brake fluid discharged from the W/C side for decompressing a W/C pressure during anti-lock braking. Further, open-when-self-priming valves that suck the brake fluid by themselves from the master reservoir in the hydraulic pumps are provided. Further, an accumulator is provided in a pipe connecting the hydraulic pumps and the W/C, and an accumulation to the accumulator is performed by the hydraulic pumps. Then, communication and cut-off of a pipe connected to the accumulator are controlled by lower limit indicating valves.
US09327693B2
A collision avoidance system of a vehicle includes a camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view exterior of and rearward of the vehicle. An image processor is operable to process image data captured by the camera. Responsive to image processing of captured image data, the collision avoidance system is operable to determine an approach of a vehicle rearward of the vehicle and to determine an excitation level depending on a difference between the speed of the approaching vehicle and the speed of the equipped vehicle and a distance between the approaching vehicle and the equipped vehicle. Responsive to the determined excitation level, the collision avoidance system may provide an alert to the driver of one or both vehicles, prepare for impact, control a vehicle braking system, vehicle steering system and/or vehicle acceleration system and/or communicate information to the approaching vehicle via a telematics system.
US09327685B1
A vehicle anti-theft system to sense the presence of an intruder in proximity to a vehicle via motion sensors which activates one or more cameras and sends real-time video to a remote location accessible by a user to monitor their vehicle.
US09327682B2
Disclosed is a safety belt system for vehicle seats, including: a vehicle seat part which includes a seat portion, and a backrest; a safety belt which includes a shoulder belt, and a waist belt, and restricts a body of an occupant; a headrest which is connected with the backrest by a rotation shaft, and protects a face or neck region of the occupant from the shoulder belt using a cushion having both convex sides; a sensor which senses impact of the vehicle; and a rotation locking unit which prevents the headrest from being rotated when the sensor senses an accident signal that is equal to or greater than a predetermined output.
US09327678B1
A vehicular seat belt assembly includes a pair of lateral webbing strips that extend laterally across the passenger's lap, proximal ends being manually connectable and dis-connectable from each other. A vertically extending webbing strip includes a pair of upper body strips that are configured to contact opposite sides of a front of the passenger's upper body. A sensor is configured to provide data indicative of whether the proximal ends of the pair of lateral webbing strips are connected together. A harness assembly includes a harness webbing that is attached to one of the pair of lateral webbing strips, and a wire harness that is connectable to the sensor, the wire harness extending along the harness webbing.
US09327670B1
A rollover protection apparatus unlocks and lowers from a raised position to a lowered position suitable for clearing a low hanging obstacle when an operator applies a force to an operator lever or pedal. The rollover protection apparatus returns to the raised position when the operator ceases applying force to the operator lever or pedal.
US09327666B2
A vehicle includes a floor structure and one or more tubular rocker structures. Each rocker structure includes an outer cladding and/or an inner structure extending across an interior space of the rocker structure. At least one acceleration sensor is connected to a central portion of the floor structure to detect acceleration resulting from a crash event. The vehicle may also include pressure sensors that detect changes in pressure in the door cavities that result from side impacts. The cladding and/or inner structure of the rockers reduce the time required to detect acceleration due to a side impact on the rocker structures.
US09327664B2
An end of a stay material made of a tubular aluminum alloy extruded material is expanded by electromagnetic molding to form a flange for producing a bumper stay. The flange width is increased without cracking and a decrease in the thickness. A stay material having a circumferential wall undulating in a waveform pattern is used. A circumferential length L (one round length along waveform pattern) of the outer periphery wall along the circumferential direction of the stay material is longer than a circumferential length L0 of a simple cylindrical circumferential wall having the same outer diameter (circumscribed circle) (L>L0). L−L0 is an excessive line length. Since the circumferential wall has the excessive line length, when the end of the circumferential wall is expanded to form the flange, the flange having a large diameter can be formed.
US09327658B2
A power conversion device in an electric vehicle that uses a short-circuit capacitor and is capable of detecting a short circuit of the capacitor by using a simple structure. The power conversion device includes an inductor connected on a main battery side with a switching member provided between the inductor and a power line. The power line connects a first capacitor and a second capacitor as well as an electric load in parallel. A controller is provided for controlling the on/off of the switching member. The first capacitor and the second capacitor are each a small capacitor configured to be short-circuited upon application of an excess voltage. The power conversion device is provided with a detection member for detecting a short circuit of any one of the first capacitor and the second capacitor. The detection member is connected in series to the first capacitor and the second capacitor.
US09327656B2
The present invention discloses a vehicle interior material that is integrally formed, the vehicle interior material comprising an impact absorbing rib that is extended from a counter surface facing a vehicle body panel, an insertion portion that is inserted into a hole formed on the vehicle body panel; and a base portion that has a thick portion that is thicker than the impact absorbing rib, is extended from the counter surface, and is integrated with the insertion portion at a tip portion of the base portion.
US09327650B2
A cup holder assembly and an instrument panel assembly for use in an automotive vehicle. The cup holder assembly includes a catch configured to assist with the blind installation of the cup holder assembly into an opening of the instrument panel. The catch is further configured to provide cantilevered support so as to help maintain the cup holder in a fixed relationship when a cup is mounted therein. The catch engages an elongated portion of a reinforcement bracket so as to limit the advancement of the cup holder assembly during installation.
US09327644B2
Provided is a sound generating device (20) for a vehicle, including: a plurality of pressure sensors (21a to 21d) for detecting air pressures of an air intake sound of an engine (12) and outputting the air pressures as sound pressure signals; a signal processing unit (24) for performing processing of changing the sound pressure signals in accordance with a driving condition of a vehicle (10); and loudspeakers (28a and 28b) for outputting the sound pressure signals as the air intake sound of the engine (12). Then, the plurality of pressure sensors (21a to 21d) are provided at an interval in a circumferential direction of an outer periphery of an air intake duct (15) at positions in a vicinity of an air flow meter (18) on an air cleaner (16) side with respect to a center of the air intake duct (15), the air intake duct (15) connecting the air cleaner (16) to a throttle body (17).
US09327631B2
A seat cushion frame for a vehicle includes a composite material containing reinforcing fibers which extend in at least the frame extension direction is integrated with an injection molded thermoplastic resin. The weight of the entire seat cushion frame can be greatly reduced, the rigidity and strength required for each section of the frame can be readily secured, required functions such as submarine prevention or the like, can be fulfilled, the number of components can be greatly reduced, and the overall structure can be greatly simplified.
US09327630B1
A seat back cushion for a vehicle includes a back surface including a plurality of indentations, the plurality of indentations including a plurality of generally vertical indentations and a plurality of generally horizontal indentations.
US09327623B2
A system includes a shear member and an energy absorber. The shear member is configured to couple a seat portion to a base structure of a vehicle. The shear member is configured to sustain a first load without fracture and configured to inelastically deform under a second load. The second load is greater than the first load. The energy absorber is coupled to the seat portion and coupled to the base structure. The energy absorber is configured to absorb the energy following deformation of the shear member.
US09327612B2
An emergency power supply system for a fuel cell-powered vehicle is provided. In particular, the system includes a low voltage DC-DC converter (LDC) designed to convert an output voltage from either a fuel cell stack, or a bi-directional high voltage DC-DC converter into a low voltage and supply the low voltage to a low voltage battery, a DC-DC converter designed to convert an output voltage from either the fuel cell stack or the bi-directional high voltage DC-DC converter into a low voltage, and a fuel cell controller designed to determine whether to supply an output voltage from the DC-DC converter to an output voltage supply line of the low voltage battery.
US09327608B2
A subsurface mounted inductive charging coil system for electric vehicles accommodates the gap distance between primary charging coil and secondary coil on the vehicle with an extendable primary coil carrier. The system protects the primary coil when exposed by mounting on a deformable and elastic structure. By keeping the primary coil normally hidden in a deformable and elastic structure several advantages are obtained. The extendable structure is preferably a low pressure inflatable bladder or membrane in the floor for carrying, protecting, and extending the primary coil.
US09327605B2
The present method relates to a method of charging a traction battery of a vehicle from an external AC power supply system. The traction battery is coupled, via an inverter, to an electric alternating-field machine such that the AC power supply can be connected to the phase windings of the alternating-field machine. The method includes a step of synchronizing the rotational speed of the alternating-field machine with the frequency of the AC power supply. Then the AC power supply is connected to the phase windings of the alternating-field machine and the inverter, which is electrically coupled to the alternating-field machine, is operated as a step-up converter.
US09327601B2
A high-voltage (“HV”) system for a vehicle is provided, and includes a HV source providing HV power, a low-voltage source, a high-voltage interlock loop (“HVIL”) switch, and at least one control module. The low-voltage source provides a low-voltage power that is less than the HV power. The HVIL switch is in communication with the low-voltage source. The HVIL switch includes a reed relay and a magnetic element. The magnetic element is selectively positioned within an actuation distance from the reed relay. The HVIL switch is in a closed circuit condition when the magnetic element is positioned within the actuation distance from the reed relay, and is in an open circuit condition when the magnetic element is positioned outside of the actuation distance from the reed relay. The at least one control module is in communication with and monitors the HVIL switch.
US09327598B1
A transmission has four planetary gear sets, four interconnecting members and six torque-transmitting mechanisms selectively engageable in different combinations of four to establish ten forward speed ratios. One of the six torque-transmitting mechanisms is a mechanical on-off clutch that engages to prevent rotation of a first member of a first of the planetary gear sets rotates in a first direction, and freewheels when the first member rotates in an opposing second direction. When engaged, the first member is grounded to a stationary member.
US09327591B2
The SOC of a power storage device provided in an electrically powered vehicle is controlled not to fall out of a SOC control range. When a SOC estimate value reaches a control lower limit value during vehicle traveling, a power generating structure provided in the vehicle starts to charge the power storage device. In the case of low temperature and/or deterioration of the power storage device, i.e., in the case where decrease of performance of the power storage device is concerned, the control lower limit value is increased as compared with that in a normal state. As a result, decrease of driveability and decrease of startability of an engine in the hybrid vehicle, both otherwise caused by insufficient output electric power from the power storage device, can be avoided.
US09327586B2
A vehicle includes an electric motor disposed downward of a battery. The vehicle is provided with a motor control unit configured to receive electrical power from the battery and to supply the electrical power of the battery to the electric motor, and a case that accommodates the motor control unit. The case is positioned downward of the battery and forward of the electric motor, and is arranged in a posture in which the length in the front-rear direction of an accommodating portion in the case is less than the vertical height thereof in a side view of the vehicle body. Accordingly, a compact longitudinal layout of the electric motor and the motor control unit that controls the electric motor is achieved.
US09327584B2
A glass run capable of preventing noises from intruding into an automobile compartment from an interior of an automobile door via glass runs during running of an automobile. The glass run includes extruded parts and molded parts. Each of the extruded parts and the molded parts has a bottom wall, an outer side wall, and an inner side wall, which define a generally U-shaped cross-section. An outer seal lip and an inner seal lip respectively extend from open ends of the outer side wall and the inner side wall towards the interior of the glass run. A barrier rib is formed in at least one position of the molded parts between the inner side wall and the inner seal lip or between the outer side wall and the outer seal lip.
US09327582B2
The present invention is aimed to provide a working machine provided with: a condenser unit including a condenser of an air conditioner and a cooling fan for cooling the condenser, the condenser unit being disposed in a side of a cabin; and a protection cover covering above the condenser unit, capable of reducing propagation to an operator side of an air intake sound caused by inhalation of air in the protection cover through an air intake vent when the cooling fan causes a wind. In this working machine, each of air intake vents for taking cooling air into the protection cover is formed in an upper surface side of the protection cover and in each of wall parts oriented in a direction opposite to a direction visible from an operator in the cabin.
US09327576B2
A valve assembly for a suspension system includes a housing including a first port, a second port, and a third port, the housing defining a first flow path extending between the third port and the first port and a second flow path extending between the third port and the second port. The valve assembly further includes a first check valve having a first crack pressure positioned within the housing along the first flow path and a second check valve having a second crack pressure positioned within the housing along the second flow path. A difference between the first crack pressure and the second crack pressure provides a corresponding difference in pressures at the first port and the second port.
US09327574B2
A vehicle control device includes a variable-damping-force shock absorber, a sprung vibration damping control device, an unsprung vibration damping control device, a driving state-determining device, a damping force distribution factor-calculating device, and a damping force control device that, when the driving state-determining device determines that the vehicle is traveling in a straight line, controls the damping force of the variable-damping-force shock absorber on the basis of a greater of an unsprung vibration damping control amount and a sprung vibration damping control amount, and that, when the driving state-determining device determines that the vehicle is turning, calculates the damping force control amount on the basis of an unsprung vibration damping control amount so as to maintain the damping force distribution factor, and controls the damping force of the variable-damping-force shock absorber on the basis of a greater of a calculated damping force control amount and the sprung vibration damping control amount.
US09327568B1
A wheelhouse structure, including: an arm section of a suspension arm that is supported by a suspension member so as to be capable of oscillating in a vehicle vertical direction about a support axis disposed inside an engine room, and that extends from the support axis toward a side of a wheelhouse; a wheelhouse side cover that partitions the engine room from the wheelhouse, and that has a lower portion at which is formed an opening portion having a size that allows oscillation of the arm section of the suspension arm; and an arm side cover that is integrally provided at the support axis side of the arm section, and that blocks a gap between a peripheral edge of the opening portion and the arm section as viewed along an axial direction of the support axis.
US09327563B2
This invention describes a system to maintain equal pressure in a pair of dual tires, and also incorporates a valve mechanism that will prevent one dual wheel tire from going flat in the event the other dual wheel tire experiences a rapid air loss. Dual wheels are typically mounted on the vehicle hub with both wheel disc faces in direct contact with each other. To ensure equal pressure in both tires, this invention has air passageways machined into the wheels such that the air passageways meet at the interface between the wheels where the wheel disc faces are in direct contact. These junctions are sealed by a rubber seal or gasket. Both tires can then be inflated or deflated simultaneously through a standard air valve located on either wheel. Where a dual wheel arrangement requires the use of an intermediate piece between the dual wheels, air passageways can connect the two-piece wheels via intermediate air passageways going through the common intermediate piece. A dual pressure equalizing valve is connected to the air passageways and embedded into the wheels or intermediate piece.
US09327552B2
A deflector is arranged to prevent differential oil, as lubrication oil, leaking from a gap between a rod of an axle and a shaft portion of a drive shaft and passing through a unit bearing, from attaching to an inner periphery of a brake drum. A guide groove unit is formed on an inward surface of a hub in a vehicle-width direction so as to guide the differential oil leaking into an internal space defined inside of the deflector to outside of the brake drum.
US09327545B2
A handheld precise liquid marker. The handheld precise liquid marker preferably creates a substantially perfect dot when marking one or more surfaces and is preferably used for multiple applications such as marking a dimple of a golf ball surface and/or providing a proper amount of dosage for medicinal applications. The handheld precise liquid marker may also comprise a liquid delivery system for dispensing a precise amount of ink or liquid onto various surfaces, a projecting/retracting mechanism, and an audible and/or tactile physical feedback mechanism. The projecting/retracting mechanism may controllably retract or protrude a nib into and out of the housing, and the audible/physical feedback mechanism may provide either a physical and/or audible click once a desired amount of ink or liquid transfers onto the surface.
US09327539B2
A dye sublimation printing method for a light transmissive medium includes the following steps. First, a ribbon is provided above the light transmissive medium. Then, the light transmissive medium is moved. During the period that the light transmissive medium is moved, at least one first dye zone of the ribbon is heated, so that the dye in the first dye zone is transferred onto the light transmissive medium.
US09327528B2
A printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a printing unit, a conveying unit, a driving source driving the conveying unit, a feeding unit, a discharging unit, a control unit, a switching mechanism switching a driving state of the feeding unit and a restricting mechanism restricting backward feeding of the discharging unit. The control unit changes a timing of feeding the subsequent printing medium in accordance with a printing start position of the subsequent printing medium.
US09327524B1
A dryer for drying an ink image formed on a recording medium is provided. The dryer includes a selective heating dryer, a uniform heating dryer, and a controller. The selective heating dryer is disposed on an upstream side of a feeding path of the recording medium, and performs a first-time drying of the ink image under an output condition in which an amount of cockling becomes equal to or less than a given amount. The uniform heating dryer is disposed on a downstream side from the selective heating dryer on the feeding path, and performs a second-time drying of the ink image after the selective heating dryer performs the first-time drying. The controller changes the output condition of the selective heating dryer in accordance with image information of the ink image, when the ink image is formed with a conductive-particle-containing ink.
US09327521B2
A recording apparatus includes a plurality of line heads that discharge light curable inks onto a recording target material, a plurality of first light irradiators that are located at downstream side of transportation direction relative to the respective line heads in the transportation direction and emit light to the recording target material, a drum that is located at the downstream side relative to the first light irradiators in the transportation direction and forms a part of the transportation path, and a second light irradiator that is located opposite to a portion of the drum with which the transported recording target material makes contact and emits light to the contact portion. In the recording apparatus, the first light irradiators emit light for provisionally curing the discharged light curable inks, and the second light irradiator emits light for permanently curing the light curable inks, which have been provisionally cured, on the drum.
US09327508B2
A printing apparatus has a cartridge carrier and with a locking-and-ejection mechanism. The cartridge carrier has a cavity for insertion of an ink cartridge, and the locking-and-ejection mechanism is arranged on an outside of a side part of a cartridge carrier. This locking-and-ejection mechanism has a locking mechanism with a locking lever biased by a spring force produced by a first spring. The locking lever can be tilted around a rotation axis situated on the outside of the side part. The locking-and-ejection mechanism also has an ejection mechanism with a lifting plate biased by a spring force produced at least by a second spring. The lifting plate is rotatable on the outside of the side part, and the rotation axis of the lifting plate is stationary on the outside of the side part. The locking lever has a first locking mechanism and a second locking mechanism to the lock the first locking mechanism, and an actuator is operable to unlock the locking of the second locking mechanism. The lifting plate is rotatable by a sufficient amount that the locking lever is held in the unlocked position after an ejection of an ink cartridge.
US09327503B2
A liquid absorber that is constituted mainly by fibers, includes fusion bondable resin, and is configured to absorb liquid, includes a first surface having a largest surface area, and a second surface perpendicular to the first surface. The second surface includes a surface low in degree of fusion bond of the fusion bondable resin and a surface high in degree of fusion bond of the fusion bondable resin that has a higher degree of fusion bond of the fusion bondable resin than the surface low in degree of fusion bond, and at least a part of the surface low in degree of fusion bond absorbs the liquid.
US09327501B2
An inkjet-head includes a first flow path member in which a plurality of first flow paths are formed; and a second flow path member in which a plurality of second flow paths are formed and to which the first flow path member is bonded. The second flow paths have intra-joint-surface flow paths, respectively, which are formed by surrounding, with a first adhesive, a peripheral edge of a groove formed in the second flow path member and bonding the first flow path member thereto. A joint space is formed and includes a plurality of the intra-joint-surface flow paths due to surrounding, with a second adhesive, an outer periphery of the intra-joint-surface flow path and bonding the second flow path member and the first flow path member. At least a part of the second adhesive is formed further inside of a straight line connecting an end of one intra-joint-surface flow path on the outer side and an end of another intra-joint-surface flow path on the outer side in joined surfaces.
US09327497B2
A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a channel unit including: a discharge port; a first channel through which liquid to be supplied to the discharge port flows; and a second channel communicated with the first channel and the discharge port; an actuator including a first and second electrodes and a piezoelectric layer, and being configured to apply pressure to the liquid in the second channel; and a signal supply unit configured to selectively supply a discharge driving signal and a non-discharge driving signal to the actuator. The discharge driving signal includes a first voltage signal which drives the actuator to discharge the liquid from the discharge port, and the non-discharge driving signal includes a plurality of second voltage signals each of which drives the actuator not to discharge the liquid from the discharge port.
US09327490B2
A screen printing machine and method, the screen printing machine comprising: a print head (111) which is operable to drive a material through a printing screen (109) and deposit the material onto a workpiece (w); an imaging unit (121) which comprises a vision camera (123) for imaging at least one of the printing screen (109) and the workpiece (w), and a positioning mechanism (125) which is operable to position the vision camera; and an end effector (141) which is operable to perform an operation on the workpiece and is coupled to the vision camera, such as to be moved commonly therewith by the positioning mechanism, wherein the screen printing machine is operable in one of a first mode in which the print head is operated to print material deposits on the workpiece, and a second, mode in which the end effector is actuated to perform an operation on the workpiece at defined positions.
US09327489B2
A method for controlling feature characteristics in a flexographic printing system that forms a printed pattern on a substrate by applying ink from an ink reservoir using a flexographic printing plate mounted on a plate cylinder. An imaging system is used to capture an image of the pattern printed on the substrate, and the captured image is analyzed to determine a feature characteristic of one or more features of the printed pattern. A control system automatically controls an amount of solvent used to replenish the ink in the ink reservoir responsive to the determined feature characteristic.
US09327485B2
A laminating unit to manufacture a multi-layer composite (2) in a laminating machine (1), comprising a laminating rotating roll (16), laminating a first web (3) onto a second web (4), is characterized in that it further comprises: driving means (42), rotating (R) the roll (16); gripping means (39, 41), maintaining the first web (3) in contact with the roll (16); first detection means (43, 46) emitting first detection signals (44, 47) in accordance with detected longitudinal positions of the first web (3); second detection means (48, 51) emitting second detection signals (49, 52) in accordance with detected longitudinal positions of the second web (4); and control means (53), regulating a rotation speed of the driving means (42) and of the roll (16) as a function of the first and second signals (44, 47, 49, 52), to convey, correct longitudinally positions of the first web (3), and laminate the first web (3) in register onto the second web (4).
US09327479B1
Adhesive sheet material arc application squeegees and methods for using the same are disclosed. According to at least one embodiment of the disclosure, an adhesive sheet material arc application squeegee comprises an at least one base and an at least one cover. The at least one base comprises an at least one edge, a first gripping surface and a second gripping surface. The at least one edge comprises a convex arc. According to at least one embodiment of the disclosure, the method of using an adhesive sheet material arc application squeegee comprises securing a portion of adhesive sheet material to a surface and applying the adhesive sheet material to the surface with the adhesive sheet material arc application squeegee.
US09327477B2
Some embodiments of the present invention include elastomeric films with a basis weight of about 40 gsm or less or about 25 gsm or less. Other embodiments include elastomeric laminates comprising the elastomeric film bonded to one or more substrates (such as nonwoven fabrics). Methods of the making the elastomeric films and elastomeric laminates are also provided.
US09327469B2
The invention relates to a rotary tablet press comprising: a rotatingly drivable rotor, having a die plate comprising die holes and assigned to the die holes upper and lower punches, rotating synchronously with the die plate, whose axial movement is controlled by upper and lower control cams, having at least one filling station comprising at least one filling device for filling the die holes with material to be pressed, having at least one compression station disposed downstream of the filling station in the rotational direction of the rotor, comprising at least one pressing device which presses the upper and/or lower punches into the die holes when passing through the compression station in order to press the filled material in the die holes, and having at least one ejector station, disposed downstream of the compression station in the rotational direction of the rotor, comprising an ejector device for ejecting the pressed tablets in the die holes, characterized in that at least one vibration generator is provided in the circumferential direction of the upper and lower punches between the filling station and the ejector station that at least temporarily vibrates the upper and/or lower punches at least at the compression station and/or at the filling station and/or at least at an upper control cam and/or at least at a lower control cam.
US09327468B2
A rod-shaped FRP bar is manufactured with a fiber and a resin by using a nozzle (100) which includes an outer nozzle (11) having a penetration hole at its center and a plurality of middle nozzles (12) disposed at an inlet of the outer nozzle 11 so that one middle nozzle is located inside another middle nozzle with an interval. Fibers are supplied through a center hole of the middle nozzle located at an innermost location, through intervals between the middle nozzles and through intervals between the middle nozzles and the outer nozzle, thereby making a hybrid FRP bar (1) having a section in which the fibers configure a plurality of fiber distribution layers from the center of the FRP bar toward the outside.
US09327467B2
A composite mandrel includes a generally elongated mandrel body comprising a resilient mandrel core and an elastomeric mandrel outer layer disposed outside the mandrel core. A method for fabricating a contoured stiffened composite panel is also disclosed.
US09327462B2
Cans, bottles and/or other containers used to hold a carbonated beverage can include internal features to promote and/or control bubble formation.
US09327461B2
A method for manufacturing a plastic fuel tank including: a) inserting a plastic parison including two distinct parts into an open two-cavity mold; b) inserting a core, bearing at least part of a reinforcing element configured to create a link between the two parison parts, inside the parison; c) pressing the parison firmly against the mold cavities, for example by blowing through the core and/or creating suction behind the cavities; d) fixing the part of the reinforcing element to at least one of the parison parts using the core; e) withdrawing the core; f) closing the mold, bringing its two cavities together to grip the two parison parts around their periphery to weld them together; g) injecting a pressurized fluid into the mold and/or creating a vacuum behind the mold cavities to press the parison firmly against the mold cavities; and h) opening the mold and extracting the tank.
US09327455B2
Method and mold for producing air ducts (P) from plastic material, especially soft plastic material, with a hardness of between Shore 5 and Shore 65, of the type comprising a hollow main body (P1) provided with at least one protuberance or nipple (P2) that projects from the exterior wall of the main body (P1), the method comprising the steps of injection-molding at least one nipple (P2) from plastic material inside a first cavity (1) of a mold (M); interconnecting the first cavity (1) with a second cavity (3) arranged in the same mold (M) and located adjacent to said first cavity (1), in order to form a single volume; and blow-molding a hollow body from a moldable plastic-material parison inside the second cavity (3).
US09327452B2
Various embodiments related to three dimensional printers, and reinforced filaments, and their methods of use are described. In one embodiment, a void free reinforced filament is fed into an conduit nozzle. The reinforced filament includes a core, which may be continuous or semi-continuous, and a matrix material surrounding the core. The reinforced filament is heated to a temperature greater than a melting temperature of the matrix material and less than a melting temperature of the core prior to drag the filament from the conduit nozzle.
US09327451B2
This process for manufacturing an object by solidifying a powder (P) includes steps of: a) depositing a powder layer (P) on a working zone (Z); b) compacting this layer; c) solidifying a first zone (7) of the compacted layer using a laser; d) solidifying at least one second zone (11, 12, 13) of the compact layer, this second zone (11, 12, 13) making contact with the zone (7) solidified in step c), under solidifying conditions chosen so that this second solidified zone (11, 12, 13) is less strong than the first solidified zone (7); e) repeating steps a) to d) until the object (1) is obtained; and f), after step e) and when the object (1) is finished, removing the second zones (11, 12) with respect to the first zones (7).
US09327446B2
A joint including a substrate, optionally a metal substrate, and a body of material joined to the substrate, the body of material typically having a composite portion. An outer surface of the substrate is provided with a fastening projection for fastening the substrate to body of material, where the fastening projection has a stem and a plurality of branches having dendritic geometry projecting into the material of the body.
US09327442B2
A device for producing plastic containers may include a heating element for heating plastic parisons, a transport system for transporting the plastic parisons along a pre-defined transport path, and a shaping element arranged along the transport path, downstream of the heating device. The shaping element shapes the plastic parisons to form plastic containers. The device has a sterilization element that applies a free-flowing medium to a wall of the plastic parisons in order to sterilize said wall, the sterilization device being arranged along the transport path of the containers such that the sterilization takes place after the heating process applied to the containers in the heating device and before the end of the shaping process in the shaping element.
US09327439B2
An extrusion die for laminating at least two kinds of resins in the width direction is provided. The extrusion die has not less than 10 nozzles arranged in the width direction and not less than 10 holes such that the holes surround each of the arranged nozzles, or alternatively, the extrusion die has not less than 10 holes arranged in the width direction.
US09327433B2
The invention relates to a process for compacting a polymeric powder in a press, wherein the polymeric powder is supported during compaction by a powder carrier, characterized in that said powder carrier comprises a layer of thickness (T), said layer comprising a material with a static coefficient of friction (COF), and wherein T×COF is at least 10 μm. The invention also relates to a compacted polymeric powder obtainable with the above process.
US09327424B2
Electric saw being powered by an external power supply through a multicore cable. The multicore cable includes electrical wires for supplying power to the motors of the electric saw and communication wires for data communication between the electric saw and the power supply. Two motors of the electric saw are three phase permanent magnet motors, with an outer rotor and an inner stator. Each of the two motors has three Hall Effect sensors located around the outer rotor.
US09327422B2
A saw guide for increasing a gap between deck boards is an apparatus that includes a base panel, a blade hole, a front guide tab, a back guide tab, a binding clamp, and an alignment rail. The apparatus is used in conjunction with a circular handheld saw to more precisely widen the gap between two deck boards. The circular handheld saw is mounted onto the base panel by the binding clamp. The blade of the circular handheld saw is positioned within the blade hole, and the alignment rail is used to properly orient the blade. The front guide tab and the second guide tab are located on opposite sides of the base panel and are used to guide the cutting direction of the circular handheld saw.
US09327419B2
An apparatus (1) for cutting and/or etching articles (4) having a flat surface on which designs and/or writings (11A, 11B, 11C) are reproduced has an operating group (5) arranged above a work plane (2), which work plane (2) is provided with an upper surface (3) for receiving the articles. The operating group is movable along the work plane (2) in order to operate on the articles (4) for cutting and/or etching the articles (4). A first optical device detects designs and/or writings (11A, 11B, 11C) reproduced on the articles arranged on the work plane (2). The apparatus (1) has a second optical device (9) arranged with respect to the surface (2) such as to detect the orientation as well as the position of the articles (4) on the work plane (2) as well as the designs and/or the writings (11A, 11B, 11C) reproduced on the articles.
US09327416B2
A novel application of the atomic layer deposition (ALD) process for producing a conformal coating on a razor blade is disclosed where a uniform, conformal, dense coating is deposited on an entire surface of a blade flank and at least a portion or an entire surface of a blade body. To improve the shaving ability of the coated blade edge (e.g., decrease the blade tip radius), the ALD-produced coating may be etched during, after, or both during and after, the ALD process.
US09327413B2
A locking mechanism for a folding knife is provided. More specifically, the locking mechanism is a two-piece backlock that maintains the folding knife's extended position and prevents the blade from inadvertently closing when the knife is in use in the extended position and impedes the folding knife from inadvertently opening when the knife is in a closed position of storage. The locking mechanism generally comprises a backlock, a toggle, and a biasing member. The toggle rotates between two positions and engages with the tang of the blade and the backlock.
US09327407B2
A control system for a mobile robot (10) is provided to effectively cover a given area by operating in a plurality of modes, including an obstacle following mode (51) and a random bounce mode (49). In other embodiments, spot coverage, such as spiraling (45), or other modes are also used to increase effectiveness. In addition, a behavior based architecture is used to implement the control system, and various escape behaviors are used to ensure full coverage.
US09327403B2
A method of commanding a remote vehicle includes executing a command on a controller of the remote vehicle based on a kinodynamic fixed depth motion planning algorithm to use incremental feedback from evaluators to select a best feasible action. The method also includes determining servo commands corresponding to the best feasible action for one or more actuators of a drive system or a manipulation system of the remote vehicle and commanding the one or more actuators of the remote vehicle based on the servo commands. The best feasible action includes actions within a fixed time horizon of several seconds from a current time each time a feasible action is selected.
US09327396B2
A tele-operation system enabling a robot arm to move by following a motion of a motion of a hand of a user without an additional mechanical apparatus, the tele-operation system including a slave robot having a robot arm, a master console configured to detect a gesture of a user, and to control the slave robot from a remote place so that the slave robot moves by following the gesture of the user.
US09327391B2
A tool for crimping a ring member on a pipe is provided. The tool includes a first arm having a plurality of slots on a first side and a second slot on a second side. Each slot of the plurality of slots is a different size diameter, and the at least one second slot has a different size. The tool further includes a second arm operably coupled to rotate. The second arm having a plurality of slots on a third side and at least one fourth slot on a fourth side. Each of the plurality of slots are sized and positioned to cooperate with each other when in the first position to crimp the ring member. The at least one fourth slot is sized and positioned to cooperate with the at least one second slot when in the second position to crimp the ring member.
US09327385B2
A method of making a near-net superhard material body includes preparing granules from a mixture of superhard powder, binders, and fluids, compacting the granules to form a soft green complex-shaped body, heating the soft green body in a furnace to form a hard green body free from residual binders, embedding one or more of the hard green bodies in a containment powder or a containment means and forming a pressure cell, sintering the cell at high pressure and high temperature, and removing the containment powder from the cell or removing the inserts from the containment means to reveal one or more near-net bodies.
US09327384B2
A manufacturing method includes forming one or more grooves in a component that comprises a substrate with an outer surface. The substrate has at least one interior space, and each groove extends at least partially along the substrate and has a base. The manufacturing method further includes forming one or more access holes through the base of a respective groove, to connect the groove in fluid communication with the respective hollow interior space. The manufacturing method further includes forming at least one connecting groove in the component, such that each connecting groove intersects at least a subset of the one or more grooves. The manufacturing method further includes disposing a coating over at least a portion of the outer surface of the substrate, such that the groove(s) and the coating together define one or more channels for cooling the component. The coating does not completely bridge the connecting groove, such that the connecting groove at least partially defines an exit region for the respective cooling channel(s).
US09327382B2
A carrier for a double-side polishing apparatus comprising at least: a metallic carrier base that is arranged between upper and lower turn tables having polishing pads attached thereto and has a holding hole formed therein to hold a wafer sandwiched between the upper and lower turn tables at the time of polishing; and a ring-like resin insert that is arranged along an inner peripheral portion of the holding hole of the carrier base and is in contact with a peripheral portion of the held wafer, wherein an inner peripheral end portion of the holding hole of the carrier base has an upwardly opening tapered surface, an outer peripheral portion of the ring-like insert has a reverse tapered surface with respect to the tapered surface of the holding hole of the carrier base, and the resin insert is fitted in the holding hole of the carrier base through the tapered surface.
US09327381B2
Disclosed herein is a device for cutting a glass sheet, continuously supplied after a melting and solidification process, into quadrangular glass substrates. The glass sheet cutting device includes two or more cutters for cutting a glass sheet into quadrangular glass substrates, a defect inspector for scanning the glass sheet to three-dimensionally check defect positions in a length direction, a width direction and a thickness direction of the glass sheet, a position adjuster for moving at least one of the cutters to a portion of the glass sheet at which few defects are distributed, and a controller for informing the position adjuster of positions of the cutters based on the scanned results received from the defect inspector.
US09327374B1
A fixture for a milling machine to position and manipulate related work pieces. The fixture has a first sub fixture powered to rotate a rotary plate and a second sub fixture. The fixture includes one of a first plate fixture and a second plate fixture for the mounting of work pieces. The rotary plate is mounted to the first sub fixture such that the rotary plate can be rotated by the first sub fixture. The rotary plate attaches to one of the first plate fixture and the second plate fixture. The rotary plate includes a first precision surface adapted for mounting of the first plate fixture and a second precision surface adapted for mounting of the second plate fixture. The fixture includes a tailstock plate mounted to the second sub fixture. The tailstock plate attaches to one of the first plate fixture and the second plate fixture.
US09327367B2
The invention relates to a method and a device for guiding bands to be joined to one another along their longitudinal edges, comprising guide elements which form tracks for guiding the bands that are configured such that the bands approach one another in the transport direction and the longitudinal edges thereof rest on one another at a non-overlapping contact point. At least one of the tracks may be configured to undulate with a wavelength of ¼≦λ≦2, such that transverse displacement of the band guided thereon occurs. The axes of rotation and/or longitudinal central axes of the guide elements may also be inclined towards one another at different angles of inclination in relation to a horizontal plane of reference, such that the band guided on said track is rotated about its longitudinal axis in the transport direction.
US09327359B2
A tap tool assembly includes a tap, a retaining member and a sleeve. The tap has a thread cutting section and a shaft section. The retaining member is fixed to the shaft section of the tap adjacent to a first end of the thread cutting section. The sleeve has a central bore extending therethrough. A surface of the sleeve defines the central bore and has a shoulder. The sleeve is coupled to the shaft section of the tap for movement between a first position completely covering the thread cutting section and a second position exposing at least a portion of the thread cutting section, with the sleeve being biased to move toward the first position.
US09327348B2
Preparation methods, compositions, and articles useful for electronic and optical applications are disclosed. Such methods reduce metal ions to metal nanowires in the presence of bromide ions, IUPAC Group 14 elements in their +2 oxidation state, and optionally chloride ions. The product nanowires are useful in electronics applications.
US09327346B2
A “cold box” process for forming a foundry shape by curing a binder in a foundry mix operates by sequentially introducing a first vaporous curing catalyst to a pattern containing the formed foundry mix, followed by introducing at least a second vaporous curing catalyst. By arranging the amounts of the respective vaporous curing catalysts and the contact times, as well as by using the less active vaporous curing catalyst first, the total amount of curing catalyst used to effect the cure is reduced. Carrier gas may be used with the respective vaporous curing catalysts. Typically, the vaporous curing catalysts are tertiary amines having between three and six carbon atoms.
US09327344B2
Various embodiments include methods and related systems for laser-assisted casting. Some embodiments include a method including: performing laser ablation to a preliminary wax casting model to form a modified wax model including at least one cooling hole absent from the wax casting substrate; coating the modified wax model to form a mold shape around the modified wax model; and removing the modified wax model to leave a casting mold including the at least one cooling hole.
US09327339B2
An apparatus configured to make blanks that would be used to assemble a CVT belt formed from such blanks. The CVT is assembled by arrange a body portion of the blanks on an inner periphery, a head portion on an outer periphery, and a neck portion, which connects the head and body. The apparatus has a die that has an opening shape conforming to a planar shape of the element to be formed. An ejector that has a sectional shape conforming to the opening shape of the blanking blade and is located inside the blanking blade. A punch that has a sectional shape conforming to the opening shape of the blanking blade and moves downward into the blanking blade to blank the element together with the blanking blade, and a pusher that is located around the punch and presses the flat plate-like material against the die.
US09327335B2
Retainers for holding tools and methods for controlling the motion of a locking member, such as a resiliently-biased locking ball, in a retainer. The locking member is disposed in a passage that intersects another passage configured to receive the tool. A portion of the locking member has a contacting relationship with the tool in order to hold the tool within its passage. The retainer further includes a constraint member, which may be a threaded member or a non-threaded member, that occludes the passage containing the locking member. During a stamping operation using the tool, the constraint member mechanically constrains motion of the locking member within its passage by contact with the locking member.
US09327325B1
A portable resonance induction cleaning method for cleaning a process tubular, heat exchanger, or both can include providing a liquid and air to a portable resonance induction cleaning apparatus, and regulating flow of the liquid therein using the air; thereby providing pressurized pulses of the liquid having a resonance. The method can include engaging a hose assembly or hydraulic ram with the portable resonance induction cleaning apparatus, and engaging the hose assembly with the process tubular or sealing the hydraulic ram to the heat exchanger. The method can include continually expelling the pressurized pulses of the liquid into the process tubular or heat exchanger until a standing column of the liquid is formed. The standing column of the liquid can receive the resonance and transmit the resonance through the process tubular or heat exchanger for removing fouling.
US09327308B2
A dispenser system employs a packaging module for use with moisture sensitive materials. The packaging module comprises an outer carton and an inner bladder, which is substantially impermeable to moisture and is filled with one part of an adhesive. The carton is loaded on a mobile cart and the one part adhesive is supplied to a pump/mixer without exposure to moisture in the atmosphere. The packaging and dispensing system can be used in conjunction with mechanized adhesive application equipment for the construction trades.
US09327304B2
An installation for dip coating articles, which are movable up to and away from at least one dip tank with the aid of a transport system. In order to be dipped and removed, they are moved onto a rotary platform of at least one stationary rotary station and are dipped into and removed from the treatment liquid by rotation of the rotary platform. Each article is fastened with the aid of a fastening device to a skid which interacts with the transport system. The fastening device has a holding structure for the article and at least two rockers which are U- or V-shaped and are fastened in a pivotable manner to the holding structure at their vertex. The two arms of the U or V have a slot into which one guide pin fastened to the skid engages and slides in the corresponding slot upon rotation of the skid.
US09327291B2
Underwater mineral dressing units, systems and methods are provided. Material is milled in a water-immiscible liquid which is heavier than water and lighter than the product material. Gangue material is removed by the milling and floats on the water-immiscible liquid to be removed without further processing. Product containing material sinks and is further milled to remove additional gangue material, until the required level of extraction is achieved. Cascades of milling rolls in the water-immiscible liquid allow ever improving extraction of the product material. The rolls are arranged to regulate material flow through the system to remove floating gangue while directing sinking product material to further processing.
US09327281B2
Tetrahedral [MoO4]2− readily binds CO2 to produce a robust [MoO3(κ2-CO3)]2− that can affect the reduction of CO2 to formate.
US09327278B1
A process is disclosed for an improved catalyst regeneration process to improve catalyst stability and hence increase overall catalyst life. The process includes passing a spent catalyst stream to a first, or upper, combustion zone to partially regenerate the catalyst through controlled combustion of the carbon on the catalyst. The first combustion zone will burn off a high fraction of hydrogen at lower temperatures generating a large fraction of H2O. The partially regenerated catalyst is passed to a second, or lower, combustion zone to burn off the remaining coke at the needed high severity operation. The second combustion zone will burn off the remaining coke at a higher temperature and higher oxygen gas inlet concentration.
US09327267B2
A powder-based adsorbent and a related method of manufacture are provided. The powder-based adsorbent includes polymer powder with grafted side chains and an increased surface area per unit weight to increase the adsorption of dissolved metals, for example uranium, from aqueous solutions. A method for forming the powder-based adsorbent includes irradiating polymer powder, grafting with polymerizable reactive monomers, reacting with hydroxylamine, and conditioning with an alkaline solution. Powder-based adsorbents formed according to the present method demonstrated a significantly improved uranium adsorption capacity per unit weight over existing adsorbents.
US09327266B2
A reinforced absorbent polymer is provided for improving mechanical properties without degrading their absorption performance. The reinforced polymer includes an absorbent polymer; and at least one fiber for reinforcement disposed in the polymer.
US09327253B2
A foam pump includes a fluid cylinder, an air cylinder, and a mixing chamber, in which the fluid cylinder is adapted to draw a fluid therein in a priming stroke, and to pump the fluid into the mixing chamber in a dispensing stroke, in which the air cylinder is adapted to draw air therein in a priming stroke, and to pump the air into the mixing chamber in a dispensing stroke, in which the mixing chamber includes a fluid throughflow axis, in which the fluid cylinder and the air cylinder are co-axial with one another and are aligned on a second axis which is substantially normal to the fluid throughflow axis, in which the fluid cylinder and the air cylinder are provided with a common piston member, and in which the foam pump includes spring means adapted to bias the common piston member to perform a priming stroke of the fluid cylinder and the air cylinder.
US09327249B2
Systems and methods are provided for humidifying a gas stream. Methods for providing a humidified gas stream comprise providing a dry gas, directing the dry gas to a humidification device, humidifying the dry gas to provide a humidified gas stream having an amount of moisture in excess of a predetermined amount, directing the humidified gas stream to a cooling device, cooling the humidified gas to a predetermined temperature, and directing the cooled humidified gas to a point of usage. Systems for providing a humidified gas stream comprise a dry gas stream, a humidification device configured to receive and humidify the dry gas stream to form a humidified gas stream having an amount of moisture in excess of a predetermined amount, and a cooling device configured to receive and cool the humidified gas stream to a predetermined temperature to form a cooled humidified gas stream.
US09327246B2
There is provided a honeycomb-shaped ceramic separation-membrane structure having higher pressure resistance than conventional ones and being capable of reducing production costs. The honeycomb-shaped ceramic separation-membrane structure is provided with a honeycomb-shaped base material, an intermediate layer, and a separation layer. At least part of a ceramic porous body has a structure where aggregate particles are bonded to one another by an inorganic bonding material component. In the ceramic separation-membrane structure, an internal pressure fracture strength capable of fracturing the structure by application of water pressure inside the cells is 7 MPa or more.
US09327239B2
A catalysed filter for filtering particulate matter from exhaust gas comprising one or more catalyst poisons and emitted from a positive ignition internal combustion engine, which filter comprising a porous substrate having a total substrate length and having inlet surfaces and outlet surfaces, wherein the inlet surfaces are separated from the outlet surfaces by a porous structure containing pores of a first mean pore size, wherein the porous substrate is coated with a washcoat comprising a plurality of solid particles, wherein the porous structure of the washcoated porous substrate contains pores of a second mean pore size, wherein the second mean pore size is less than the first mean pore size, which washcoat being axially arranged on the porous substrate as a first zone comprising the inlet surfaces of a first substrate length less than the total substrate length and a second zone comprising the outlet surfaces of a second substrate length less than the total substrate length, wherein the sum of the substrate length in the first zone and the substrate length in the second zone≧100%, wherein the washcoat of at least the second zone is a three-way catalyst washcoat comprising one or more precious metal supported on a high surface area oxide, and an oxygen storage component and wherein: (i) a specific surface area of washcoat in the first zone>second zone; or (ii) both a washcoat loading and a specific surface area of washcoat in the first zone>second zone.
US09327235B2
One aspect of the invention relates to a method comprising a single-stage conversion of an atmospheric pollutant, such as NO, NO2 and/or SOx in a first stream to one or more mineral acids and/or salts thereof by reacting with nonionic gas phase chlorine dioxide (ClO20), wherein the reaction is carried out in the gas phase. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method comprising first adjusting the atmospheric pollutant concentrations in a first stream to a molar ratio of about 1:1, and then reacting with an aqueous metal hydroxide solution (MOH). Another aspect of the invention relates to an apparatus that can be used to carry out the methods disclosed herein. The methods disclosed herein are unexpectedly efficient and cost effective, and can be applied to a stream comprising high concentration and large volume of atmospheric pollutants.
US09327234B2
A flue gas desulfurization process and system that utilize ammonia as a reactant, and in which any hydrogen sulfide and/or mercaptans within the ammonia are separated during the desulfurization process so as to prevent their release into the atmosphere. The process and system entail absorbing acidic gases from a flue gas with a scrubbing media containing ammonium sulfate to produce a stream of scrubbed flue gas, collecting the scrubbing media containing the absorbed acidic gases, injecting into the collected scrubbing media a source of ammonia that is laden with hydrogen sulfide and/or mercaptans so that the injected ammonia is absorbed into and reacted with the collected scrubbing media, stripping the hydrogen sulfide and/or mercaptans from the collected scrubbing media by causing the hydrogen sulfide and/or mercaptans to exit the collected scrubbing media as stripped gases, and collecting the stripped gases without allowing the stripped gases to enter the stream of scrubbed flue gas.
US09327233B2
A method of producing trona suitable for flue gas desulfurization comprising mechanically mining a trona ore deposit containing insoluble impurities; crushing the mined trona ore to create a mixture of uncalcined trona-rich particles and impurities-rich particles; beneficiating the crushed uncalcined trona ore to obtain a trona-rich, impurities-depleted ore fraction; and drying the trona-rich ore fraction under non-calcining conditions to yield a dry uncalcined trona ore. A preferred embodiment includes concurrently milling and drying the trona-rich, impurities-depleted ore fraction to recover a low moisture content trona product having a high NaHCO3:Na2CO3 ratio, useful for the efficient dry injection desulfurization of flue gas streams.
US09327230B2
A gas cleaning system including a wet scrubber (14) for removal of sulphur dioxide from a gas and an oxidation basin system (42) for receiving effluent generated in the removal of sulphur dioxide from the process gas. The oxidation basin system (42) comprises an oxidation basin (43) for containing the effluent during treatment thereof, an oxygen supply system (47) for supplying oxygen to the effluent in the oxidation basin (43), and a contacting system for bringing the effluent into contact with an enzyme which catalyzes the oxidation of bisulphite and/or sulphite ions.
US09327229B2
SOx removal equipment 15 which reduces sulfur oxides from flue gas 12 from a boiler 11, a cooler 16 which is provided on the downstream side of the SOx removal equipment 15 so as to reduce the sulfur oxides from the flue gas and decrease a gas temperature, CO2 recovery equipment 17 which includes an absorber for bringing CO2 in the flue gas into contact with a CO2 absorption liquid so as to be reduced and a regenerator for causing the CO2 absorption liquid to emit CO2 so as to recover CO2 and regenerate the CO2 absorption liquid, and ammonia injection equipment 22 for reducing a mist generation material which is a generation source of mist that is generated in the absorber of the CO2 recovery equipment before introducing the flue gas to the CO2 recovery equipment, are included.
US09327217B2
This invention relates to a multilayer filter. The filter comprises at least a first layer comprising a plurality of openings and at least a second permeable layer overlaying the first layer and reducing the size of the openings. The filter may further comprise one or more successive layers overlaying the second layer, wherein each layer further successively reduces the size of the openings. The filter may be used for separation of particles from fluid or gas. There is also provided a method for fabricating a multilayer filter.
US09327209B2
A separations tray assembly for use in a fluid-fluid exchange column. The separations tray assembly is of the type where a first fluid, in a continuous phase, is directed across successive trays in a serpentine flow path. A second fluid, in a dispersed phase ascends through apertures in the tray thus inducing interaction and mass transfer with the first fluid. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the separations tray further includes a diffuser skirt, having apertures disposed therein, operatively coupled to a fluid channel. The diffuser skirt is operable to direct the first fluid to cover substantially an entire volumetric cross-flow window between successive separations trays and to induce stirring and mixing of the first fluid and the second fluid to effect efficient mass transfer.
US09327207B2
The spherical desalination device includes a hollow spherical transparent shell serving as a distillation chamber or still. Water initially flows through an underground system for geothermal heating, then flows into the hollow shell. The water flows from the upper portion of the shell, filling a series of concentric circular trays arranged in a conical stack within the shell. Water cascades from the smallest diameter uppermost tray to the largest lowermost tray, in sequence. Sunlight focused on the transparent shell causes the water to evaporate, and condensation collects upon the interior surface of the shell. A resilient seal extends about the lower rim of the largest and lowest evaporator tray, and is located at the equator of the hollow shell. The shell is rotated by an external motor, thereby drawing the internal surface of the shell across the seal to remove collected condensation from the internal surface of the shell.
US09327200B2
Objectives, an environment, and/or a theme associated with a virtual space may be managed based on characters made accessible responsive to corresponding tokens being detected. Tokens, including a first token associated with a first character or a second token associated with a second character, may be detected based on signals received from one or more token readers. The first character may be made accessible in the virtual space responsive to the first token being detected and the second character may be made accessible in the virtual space responsive to the second token being detected. Responsive to one or both of the first token being detected or the second token being detected, a given objective associated with the virtual space may be effectuated in the virtual space, an environment of the virtual space may be modified, and/or a theme of the virtual space being modified.
US09327196B2
A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method are provided for displaying feed-based information in an online game. Player feeds are received in a game networking system. A specification for displaying information from the player feeds in the game networking system is accessed. A first player profile is accessed for a first player in an online game, the first player profile identifying one or more characteristics of the first player. The first-player profile is used with the specification to determine a first display profile for displaying information from the player feeds to the first player. The feed-based information is generated for the first player by using the first display profile to access the player feeds, and the feed-based information is then displayed to the first player through a user interface of the online game.
US09327188B2
A plurality of gaming terminals each having a terminal display on which a plurality of symbols are lined up, a plurality of upper displays forming a single common effect image display screen constituted by gaming terminal areas corresponding to the respective gaming terminals, and a center controller are included. The center controller determines whether a common game is being run when an independent special game is started, and produces an effect in the gaming terminal area corresponding to the gaming terminal, only when the common game is not being run.
US09327185B2
Systems, apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture provide for a bingo game including a representation of a ball queue. In one example, a display for a bingo game represents a queue of one or more upcoming ball calls for the bingo game. In some embodiments, a ball queue may include partial information about an upcoming ball call (e.g., an indication of a corresponding bingo card column but not a bingo number).
US09327183B1
A method for conducting a game includes receiving an ante wager and optional side wagers. A player hand, a dealer hand, and a community set are dealt. A first option is conducted for the player to place a raise wager or check. After the first option, a portion of the community set is exposed, followed by a second option to place a raise wager or check, unless a raise wager was previously received. A portion of the dealer hand is exposed, followed by a third option to place a raise wager or fold, unless a raise wager was previously received. The remainder of the community set and dealer hand are exposed, a final player hand and final dealer hand are formed, and wagers are resolved based on a comparison of the final player hand to the final dealer hand, and whether the final dealer hand has a qualifying holding.
US09327180B2
A gliding or rolling board, having a length measured along a longitudinal direction between a first end and a second end, a width measured along a transverse direction between a first slide and a second slide, and a height measured between a bottom and a top, the board including a first zone for receiving a foot or a boot, and a second zone for receiving a foot or boot. Between the receiving zones, the board includes a first flexing zone located toward the first receiving zone, as well as a second flexing zone located toward the second receiving zone.
US09327179B2
A piece of footwear, such as ice skating boots, is provided wherein a skating blade system is operable to be pivoted, tilted and/or rotated about at least two axes so as to enable the skating blade to be vertically aligned with the knee/upper portion of the lower leg (e.g., proximal portion of the tibia) of the skater so as to maintain proper balance. The adjustable skating blade system can provide the corrected foot with adequate balance relative to the skating blade during typical ice skating maneuvers. The skating blade system may include a skating blade and at least one mounting system. The mounting system may be provided on the underside surface of the sole and/or heel platform of the skating boot. The mounting system may be positioned at the heel, toe, and/or the mid-foot positions of the underside surface of the sole and/or heel platform of the ice skating boot.
US09327173B2
A head 4 includes a head main body h1, a socket 10, an attachment member 11, and a weight body 12. The head main body h1 includes a socket housing portion 14. The socket 10 is attached to the socket housing portion 14. The socket housing portion 14 includes a first opening K1 through which the socket 10 can be housed. The attachment member 11 is mechanically joined to the head main body h1. The attachment member 11 is disposed so as to block at least a part of the first opening K1. The attachment member 11 controls the falling off of the socket 10 from the first opening K1. The socket 10 includes a held portion 10b. The held portion 10b is pressed by the attachment member 11. The socket 10 is formed of a polymer.
US09327171B2
A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft, a shaft sleeve assembly, and a club head. The shaft sleeve assembly is coupled to an end of the shaft and is received in a hosel included in the club head. The shaft sleeve assembly is removably coupled to the club head includes portions coupled by a flexible coupling.
US09327166B2
Multi-layered golf balls containing a dual-core structure are provided. The core structure includes an inner core (center) comprising a foam composition, preferably foamed polyurethane. The outer core layer is preferably formed from a non-foamed thermoset composition such as polybutadiene rubber. The core layers have different hardness and specific gravity levels. The specific gravity (density) of the foam inner core is preferably less than the density of the outer core layer. The core assembly preferably has a positive hardness gradient extending across the entire assembly. The core structure and resulting ball have relatively good resiliency.
US09327161B1
A portable spotting device that can be moved by a single person from one piece of exercise equipment to another is described. The portable spotting device has a central tower having a vertical support, a powered lifting device and an actuator portion. A powered lifting device, such as an electric motor, may be coupled to the vertical support and drive a cable spool, whereby a cable is attached to the actuator portion. The electric motor, configured as a wench may move the actuator portion up and down along the vertical support. A horizontal extension attached to the actuator has a pair of adjustable arms the extend forward to retain and lift a weight, such as a weight bar. An actuator pedal allows a weight lifter to control the height of the adjustable arms while lying on a bench.
US09327153B2
A multi-purpose exercise device includes a first side assembly having a first side assembly short side with an angled first side assembly front foot, a first side assembly long side with an angled first side assembly back foot, and a first elbow provided between the first side assembly short side and the first side assembly long side. The multi-purpose exercise device further includes a second side assembly located parallel to the first side assembly, the second side assembly having a second side assembly short side with an angled second side assembly front foot, a second side assembly long side with an angled second side assembly back foot, and a second elbow provided between the second side assembly short side and the second side assembly long side. At least one brace is provided for connecting the first side assembly to the second side assembly.
US09327151B2
Method and a fire-fighting extinguisher nozzle for providing a spray of fine droplet mist of liquid into a space, room or a cavity, comprises a number of openings in the exterior surface of the nozzle. Openings communicate with a liquid source through at least one small diameter drilled hole in a nozzle material, enabling liquid in the form of a mist to be directed at least partly in lateral direction and/or at least partly in a sector axially out from the nozzle. The nozzle is also being associated with trigger mechanism, initiating the mist creating effect by allowing an extinguishing liquid to be sprayed out the openings of the nozzle when heat or fumes are detected. Some of the drilled holes are configured in such way that a deflecting surface is provided inside the drilled holed in the nozzle material in the vicinity of the outlet, causing formation of the mist spray of crushed liquid consisting of fine, minute droplets just inside the drilled holes.
US09327147B2
A roof anchor comprises a pliable member including an interconnecting portion interconnecting a first portion and a second portion. The first portion and the second portion each include a securing portion with a plurality of apertures and a connecting portion with an aperture. A first notch and a second notch are proximate the junctures of each securing portion and connecting portion. The first notch and the second notch extend inward from opposing sides and toward proximate a middle of the respective first and second portions, and an aperture is between each first notch and second notch.
US09327144B2
A powder composition comprising a particulate phase containing a plurality of edible grains.
US09327131B2
Evaluation of an implanted electrical lead condition includes comparing electrogram template features with test electrogram features. The evaluating also includes determining the implanted electrical lead condition based solely on the electrogram comparison. The compared test electrogram features and template electrogram features may be atrial amplitudes and ventricular amplitudes. The sensing may be with a quad polar lead. The compared test electrogram features and electrogram template features may account for different patient postures and/or may account for respiration modulation.
US09327130B2
Method and system for non-linear modeling of physiological behavior, such as R-R intervals, in implantable devices, such as a rate responsive pacemakers, comprising a comprehensive modeling and optimization methodology based on fractional calculus and constrained finite horizon optimal control theory that allows for allows for fine-grain optimization of pacemaker response to heart rate variations; and the theoretical basis on which a hardware implementation of the fractional optimal controller that can respond to changes in the heart rate dynamics. Present invention describes a fractal approach to pacemaker control based on the constrained finite horizon optimal control problem. This is achieved by modeling the heart rate dynamics via fractional differential equations. Also, by using calculus of variations, the invention describes how the constrained finite horizon optimal control problem can be reduced to solving a linear system of equations. Finally, the invention describes the theoretical basis on which a hardware implementation become possible.
US09327128B2
A therapeutic neurostimulation system configured for providing therapy to a patient. The neurostimulation system comprises a neurostimulation lead having an array of electrodes arranged along a longitudinal axis configured for being implanted along a spinal cord of a patient, a neurostimulation device configured for delivering electrical stimulation energy to active ones of the electrode array, and control/processing circuitry for instructing the neurostimulation device to configure an active electrode as a cathode, and two active electrodes longitudinally flanking and laterally offset from the cathode as anodes, selecting a ratio of stimulation amplitude values for the two anodes based on a known longitudinal location of the implanted neurostimulation lead relative to the spinal cord, and instructing the neurostimulation device to distribute the electrical stimulation energy between the two anodes in accordance with the selected stimulation amplitude value ratio.
US09327115B2
An implant device for stimulating osteogenesis and osseointegration comprises a hollow annular housing member, a pulsed current modulator, and a coil connected to the current modulator. The current modulator and at least a portion of the coil are mounted within the housing member. A frequency of the pulsed current is selected to generate an electromagnetic field of a predetermined flux density that penetrates, and propagates radially outwardly from, the housing member for a sufficiently large propagation distance to stimulate osteogenesis and osseointegration, by means of the generated electromagnetic field, of a bone region in which the implant device is implanted and which is disposed radially outwardly from the housing member.
US09327108B2
A flexible circuit electrode array device comprising: a polymer layer; wherein the polymer layer includes one or more metal traces, an electrode array; one or more bond pads; and the electrode array is located on the opposite side of the polymer layer. A method for backside processing of a flexible circuit electrode device, comprising: applying polymer film on a substrate; processing the front side; releasing the polymer film from substrate; flipping over the polymer film and fixing it onto the substrate; processing the backside; and final releasing of the polymer film from the substrate. Another aspect of the method involves backside processing of a flexible circuit electrode device, comprising: processing the front side without releasing the polymer; processing the backside by sacrificial substrate method, or by laser drilling method; and releasing the polymer film from the substrate.
US09327107B2
A system for a neurostimulation device comprises a user input device configured for receiving an electrode morphology having at least one electrode, memory storing at least one basis electrode model, and at least one processor configured for modeling at least one electrode by recalling the at least one basis electrode model from the memory, and using the recalled at least one basis electrode model multiple times to construct a model of the at least one electrode.
US09327104B2
A system for delivering a therapeutic agent to a nasopharyngeal mucosa target comprises a foam generating mechanism, a gas, a therapeutic agent in liquid form that inhibits mucus production, and a delivery device. Actuation of the foam generating mechanism entraps gaseous bubbles from the gas in the liquid thereby forming a foam. The therapeutic agent is dispersed in the foam which has an expanded configuration adapted to fill a nasopharyngeal space and deliver the therapeutic agent to the mucosa targets. The delivery device is for delivering the foam to the nasopharyngeal space. The foam may also have a collapsed configuration for removal from the nasopharyngeal space or for concentration of the therapeutic agent onto the mucosa.
US09327099B2
A medical tube harness that a subject wears to organize, orient and support medical tubes and reduce the potential for unintentional tugging, kinking, and/or dislodging of the tubes as they extend from a subject's internal cavities, organs, orifices and/or anchor sites on the subject. The harness can improve patient comfort and safety, and can provide multiple locations for strategic tube placement.
US09327092B2
A mask for achieving positive pressure mechanical ventilation (inclusive of CPAP, ventilator support, critical care ventilation, emergency applications), and a method for a operating a ventilation system including such mask. The mask includes a piloted exhalation valve that is used to achieve the target pressures/flows to the patient. The pilot for the valve may be pneumatic and driven from the gas supply tubing from the ventilator. The pilot may also be a preset pressure derived in the mask, a separate pneumatic line from the ventilator, or an electro-mechanical control. The mask of the present invention may further include a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) which is integrated therein.
US09327083B2
Provided is a medicament delivery device (100) comprising a tubular housing (110), having a proximal end (111) and an opposite distal end (112), an actuator means (119, 120), slidably and coaxially arranged inside the tubular housing (110) wherein is provided an inter-locking mechanism (119, 413) between the a cap (410) and the housing (110), enabling the cap (410) to freely spin, i.e. it is impossible to open the cap (410), until the medicament delivery device (100) has been properly activated by an activator means (160).
US09327078B2
A system and method to automatically initiate an injection procedure of a medicament into a patient. In the system, a delivery assembly includes an injector for infusing the medicament into the patient. Further, the system includes a monitor for detecting a parameter characteristic of the procedure, for instance, a pressure indicative of a partial vacuum between the injector and the injection site, a pressure exerted by the patient against the delivery assembly, a conductance, a capacitance, or an optical blood reading. Also, the system includes a timer for determining compliance of the parameter within a predetermined range during a first time interval. In response to the timer, an actuator initiates the injection procedure at the expiration of the first time interval. Further, the actuator may stop the injection procedure if the parameter is outside the predetermined range during a second time interval.
US09327076B2
An electronically and remotely controlled pill (500) or medicament delivery system is provided. The pill (500) includes a housing (102); a medicament reservoir (104) for storing a medicament; an electronically controlled release valve or hatch (106) for dispensing one or more medicaments stored in the medicament reservoir (104) while traversing the gastrointestinal tract; control and timing circuitry (108) for opening and closing the valve (106); and a battery (109). The control and timing circuitry (108) opens an closes the valve (106) throughout a dispensing time period in accordance with a preset dispensing timing pattern which is programmed within the control and timing circuitry (108). RF communication circuitry receives control signals for remotely overriding the preset dispensing timing pattern, reprogramming the control and timing circuitry (108) or terminating the dispensing of the medicament within the body. The pill (500) includes an RFID tag (508) for tracking, identification, inventory and other purposes.
US09327072B2
A medical pump or the like provides for a multi-function flow monitor that provides for capacitive plates positioned on opposite sides of the IV line to sense changes in the electrical environment within the IV line to deduce IV line pressure, the presence of IV fluid bubbles, the presence of the IV line within the pump, and/or correct pump operation. Each of these conditions may be determined by different analysis of the capacitance across the capacitive plates.
US09327065B2
Disclosed herein are several embodiments of a negative pressure appliance and methods of using the same in the treatment of wounds. Some embodiments are directed to improved fluidic connectors or suction adapters for connecting to a wound site, for example using softer, kink-free conformable suction adapters.
US09327063B2
A reduced-pressure canister includes a canister body having a fluid reservoir, an inlet for receiving fluids from a patient, and an integral hydrophobic filter formed within a side or top portion of the canister body. The integral hydrophobic filter has a plurality of pores in the canister body that are covered by a hydrophobic coating. Other canisters, methods, and systems are also presented.
US09327056B2
Provided are devices for bone tissue engineering, comprising a metal or metal-based composite member comprising an interior macroporous structure with porosity varying from 0-90% (v), the member comprising a surface region having a surface pore size, porosity, and composition designed to encourage cell growth and adhesion thereon, to provide a device engineered for a particular recipient subject. Engineered devices may further comprises a gradient of pore size, porosity, and material composition extending from the surface region throughout the interior of the device, wherein the gradient transition is continuous, discontinuous or seamless to promote cell in-growth. Additional aspects provide methods for bone tissue engineering, comprising use of a metal or metal-based composite member comprising an interior porous structure, wherein the pore size, porosity and material composition is selected to provide a device having an optimal density and/or elastic modulus and/or compression strength for a specific recipient. Fabrication methods are provided.
US09327049B2
The present invention relates to an anti-adhesion polymer composition capable of supporting growth factor, which effectively exhibits anti-adhesion function and, at the same time, has an excellent adhesive property so as to be able to easily and continuously adhere to a wound site, has antibacterial and hemostatic properties, and is composed of an injectable formulation suitable for use in minimally invasive surgery, laparoscopic surgery or the like. The anti-adhesion polymer composition capable of supporting growth factor comprises: 24-50 wt % of a polyethyleneglycol-polypropyleneglycol-polyethyleneglycol (PEG-PPG-PEG) block copolymer having a polyethyleneglycol (PEG) content of 65-85 wt % and a molecular weight of 6,000-20,000 Da; 0.03-5 wt % of gelatin; 0.03-5 wt % of chitosan; and distilled water.
US09327047B1
A UVC radiation system for producing decontaminated air which flows into the surroundings of the system while blocking UVC radiation from entering the surrounding environment. In one embodiment, the system comprises a first housing forming a first air chamber and having multiple side walls each having one or more UVC lamps adjacent thereto. Each side wall has air vent openings in a pattern which confronts substantially the entire length of the one or more adjacent lamps. A second housing surrounds the first housing and lamps and forms a second air chamber having one or more walls containing an air filter to permit air to flow through the filter into the surrounding environment and to prevent UVC radiation from entering the environment.
US09327041B2
The system contains a container, comprising a plurality of sides, each side having a plurality of fluid permeable openings, wherein the plurality of sides form a substantially enclosed unit. The system contains at least one lid. The system contains at least one latch unit for movably attached to a first side of the plurality of sides at a proximate end of the latch unit. The system contains a lid restraint, formed at a distal end of the latch unit whereby the lid restraint restrains the lid when engaged with the lid. Lastly, the system contains at least one locking element formed along the latch unit for engagement with the first side, wherein engagement of the locking element limits the mobility of the latch unit.
US09327029B2
An antimicrobial therapeutic hydrogel composition comprises a pharmaceutical and/or medical grade silver salt, and an Aloe vera gel or extract. The composition could also include stabilizing agents, a non-ionic surfactant, polyol, and hydrophilic hygroscopic polymers. The resulting product has potent antimicrobial activity against bacteria, protozoa, fungi and viruses. The antimicrobial therapeutic composition can serve as a treatment for burns and as a wound/lesion dressing that either donates or receives moisture to provide a physiologic environment for accelerated wound healing and the relief of pain.
US09327028B2
A pharmaceutical composition and method for providing a reduction in side effects for human patients in need of therapy comprising the administration of a pharmaceutical composition comprising acetylcysteine is disclosed.
US09327026B2
Compositions and methods for immunization against human breast cancer are disclosed. In one embodiment the multivalent antigenic composition is provided comprising immunogenic polypeptides selected from the group consisting of human α-lactalbumin, αS1 casein, β-casein and κ-casein.
US09327022B2
The invention relates to antibodies specific to serum albumins. More specifically, the invention relates to camelid single domain antibodies and pentabodies binding to serum albumins of various species with various affinities.
US09327020B2
The present invention relates to the use of trisaccharide derivates comprising a substituted trisaccharide core, which trisaccharide core is fully substituted with fatty acid ester groups, and optionally one or more anionic groups as adjuvants, to the trisaccharide derivates as such, to a method for preparing such trisaccharides, to trisaccharides obtained with such method, to adjuvant compositions comprising such trisaccharide derivates and to a vaccine or kit comprising such adjuvant compositions.
US09327011B2
Peptide 6 and in particular, Peptide 021, may be used to treat tauopathies, such as frontotemporal dementia with Parkinsonism linked to chromosome-17 (FTDP-17) tau, corticobasal degeneration, Pick disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, Guam Parkinsonism dementia complex, dementia pugilistica also known as traumatic encephalopathy or traumatic brain injury, ceroid neuronal lipofusinosis, Hallerworden Sptaz disease, Alzheimer's disease, and adults with Down syndrome.
US09327009B2
The present invention relates to synthetic peptide inhibitors (Seq ID No. 67-71) useful as anti-HIV therapeutics. The invention also relates to a novel screening method for screening anti-HIV molecules. The present invention relates to a synthetic peptide useful as anti-HIV therapeutic. The invention also relates to a novel screening method for screening of anti-HIV therapeutics. In particular, the present invention relates to reporter gene constructs for the detection of the HIV Nef and host ASK1 protein interaction. Furthermore, the invention relates to a functional interaction for Nef-ASK1 proteins prepared in a recombinant manner, a method for identifying of Nef-ASK1 interaction which causes activation of pathway to activate apoptosis presumably causing immune evasion for HIV in infected cells. The reporter gene construct according to the present invention, after it had been introduced into cells, in the presence of HIV Nef and host ASK1 proteins result in the expression of reporter luciferase protein which may be used for quantitative/qualitative interaction of HIV Nef and host ASK1 protein. The both interacting construct cloned in fluorescence expression vector when transfected in eukaryotic cells inhibits ASK1 mediated apoptosis and were reversed by the inhibitors. Furthermore, the invention was used to identify the inhibitor for the interaction of Nef-ASK1 in the cell.
US09327005B1
Compositions and methods for dietary supplements that contain a cold-water extract of humic shale and/or an extract of the apple fruit or skin of the apple fruit that is/are effective to modulate in vivo cytokines, oxygen consumption rate, extracellular acidification rate, and ATP production.
US09327004B2
The present invention relates to topical compositions containing fermented extracts of Traditional Chinese Medicinal (TCM) ingredients for improving the appearance and skin condition of the user. The topical compositions of the present invention are tailored for different users of different skin compositions according to TCM principles. The fermented TCM extracts are characterized by reduced odor and/or color in comparison with unfermented TCM extracts and are therefore more suitable for use in cosmetic products.
US09327003B2
The present invention provides a method of using Polygonum multiflorum or extracts thereof to enhance stem cell mobilization in a subject, including hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and bone marrow stem cells (BM-SCs). In one embodiment, a blended composition of plant parts, fruits, mushrooms, microorganisms, maternal fluids, and extracts thereof are used to promote mobilization of stem cells, resulting in migration of the stem cells to specific sties of maintenance and repair within tissues and/or organs. Increased circulation of HSCs and/or BMSCs and migration towards sites of maintenance promotes the natural regeneration mechanisms in the body.
US09327000B2
Methods for treating a cardiovascular disorder comprising administration of one or more extracellular matrix (ECM) based compositions directly to damaged or diseased cardiovascular tissue associated with the cardiovascular disorder, and provision of ventricular assistance.
US09326991B2
Embodiments of the present invention include nucleoside 5′-monophosphate derivative compounds, their preparation and their uses. In some embodiments, nucleoside 5′-monophosphate derivative compounds are useful to treat viral infections.
US09326984B2
Alkyl-piperazine-phenyl 4 (3H)-quinazolinones compounds of general formula (I) below are provided that are pharmacologically active and able to act on the 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A serotonin receptors in a manner that promotes the control, relief or cure of disorders associated with these receptors, and pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds for the treatment of disorders associated with these receptors. These compounds and their pharmaceutical compositions are useful in the treatment of conditions such as depression, anxiety, phobias, addictions, aggressiveness, impulsiveness, panic, psychotic, eating and sleep disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder and female sexual dysfunctions, including loss of sexual desire, inhibition of sexual desire and absence of sexual desire, among other disorders associated with these receptors.
US09326982B1
An extended release composition for an analgesic active pharmaceutical ingredient which may be an opioid, preferably hydrocodone as the only active ingredient. The extended release composition preferably comprises a extended release composition which may be in the form of beads contained in an oral dosage form such as gelatin capsules. The composition is designed to release hydrocodone in a way such that the increase in hydrocodone exposure in hepatically impaired patients is not clinically significant. The oral dosage units are supplied as part of a kit, which also includes a primary package and a package insert all sold as a commercially marketed product. The primary package and package insert are contained in an optional secondary package and the package insert does not contain a warning, a dosing instruction, or a dosing table specifically directed to patients suffering from mild, moderate or severe hepatic impairment, and preferably explicitly states that dosing adjustment is not required for mild or moderate hepatic impairment.
US09326981B2
The invention features methods involving the use of sublingual film formulations of apomorphine for treating Parkinson's disease. The methods involve providing the sublingual film formulation and administering the sublingual film formulation sublingually in the mouth of a subject by contacting sublingual mucosal tissue with the film.
US09326980B2
The embodiments herein provide a nano-carrier system for delivering a long-acting injectable drug of buprenorphine and a method of synthesizing the same. The buprenorphine entrapped nanoparticles are prepared using a lipid/phospholipid core which is coated by a polymer. The lipid and phospholipid are dissolved in organic solvent. This solution is transferred into an aqueous phase consisting of distilled water or a buffer. A solution of polymer is added drop wise. The drug entrapped nanoparticle formation is achieved by diffusion of the organic solvent within the aqueous solvent to obtain the nanoparticles. The drug gets entrapped within the nanoparticles via the anti-solvency effect of the aqueous matrix. The resulting drug nanocarriers are capable of releasing the drug in a slow rate upon injection. The synthesized drug carrying nanoparticles are cryopreserved stored for future administration. For better storage, the nanodispersion is dried to form a powder.
US09326977B2
Compositions comprising isolated ido-BR1 are described for use in therapy or prophylaxis, including the treatment of inflammatory diseases (for example as anti-inflammatory drugs) and to reduce inflammation. Also described are methods for monitoring the quality of a Cucurbitaceae extract, to processes for producing a Cucurbitaceae extract as well as to Cucurbitaceae extracts obtainable by such processes.
US09326975B2
The present invention provides novel substituted pyrazolone compounds, pharmaceutical acceptable salts and formulations thereof useful in modulating the protein tyrosine kinase activity, and in modulating cellular activities such as proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, migration and invasion. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising such compounds and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of hyperproliferative disorders in mammals, especially humans.
US09326974B2
A method of treatment and/or prevention of cancer comprises administering agents which cause increased intracellular granularity in cancer cells, at least in an amount sufficient to inhibit proliferation of such cells and preferably in an amount sufficient to lead to cancer cell death. The method is particularly directed to refractory cancer, particularly hormone refractory prostate cancer. The agents identified cause increased intracellular granularity in the cancer cells, and also convert adherent cancer cells to non-adherent cancer cells, leading to cancer cell death. Using the present invention, cancer cells undergo increased intracellular granularity at relatively low agent concentrations, while also inhibiting cell proliferation. Increased concentrations lead to conversion of adherent cancer cells to non-adherent cancer cells, then to cell death. While the exact mechanism of cancer cell degradation and death is not completely understood, the treated cancer cells, including refractory prostate cancer cells, give indications of cell death through an autophagic mechanism. Pharmaceutical compositions related to the presently disclosed methods are also disclosed.
US09326970B2
Compounds, formulations, and methods are provided containing the choline ester of a reducing agent, especially lipoic acid or derivatives thereof. The compounds may be administered via a topical ocular route to treat or prevent oxidative damage.
US09326963B2
The invention provides intradialytic parenteral nutrition (IDPN) solutions with low carbohydrate for the treatment of malnutrition in dialysis patients. The IDPN solutions of the invention are particularly advantageous for the treatment of malnutrition in patients who are diabetic or suffer from other glucose management related pathologies or patients who require strict fluid management.
US09326951B2
A composition containing a macrophage inhibitor may be administered in an effective amount to prevent, inhibit or reduce restenosis, thrombus or aneurysm formation in implanted polymeric vascular grafts. The composition may be administered prior to vascular graft implantation, at the same time as vascular graft implantation, following vascular graft implantation, or any combination thereof. Exemplary macrophage inhibitors include bisphosphonates, anti-folate drugs and antibodies, preferably in a controlled release or liposomal formulation.
US09326945B2
Compositions comprising crystalline apixaban particles having a D90 equal to or less than 89 μm, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, are substantially bioequivalent and can be used to for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of thromboembolic disorders.
US09326944B2
The invention relates to the field of pharmaceutical formulations. More particularly it is directed to freeze-dried formulations of Fibroblast Growth Factor 18 (FGF-18) compound and to methods of producing such formulations. The freeze-dried formulations according to the invention are stable upon storage for an appropriate period of time. They can be used, after reconstitution, for the treatment of cartilage disorders such as osteoarthritis or cartilage injury.
US09326935B2
The present invention provides a novel palatable pharmaceutical composition in the form of aqueous solution of atomoxetine. The oral aqueous solution of this invention will significantly reduce the potently bitter taste of atomoxetine, and further avoid swallow issue for young and elderly patients.
US09326934B2
Compositions are disclosed that afford drug delivery from two-part polymer compositions that rapidly form covalent linkages when mixed together. Such compositions are particularly well suited for use in a variety of tissue related applications when rapid adhesion to the tissue and gel formation is desired along with drug delivery. For example, the compositions are useful as tissue sealants, in promoting hemostasis, in effecting tissue adhesion, in providing tissue augmentation, and in the prevention of surgical adhesions.
US09326924B1
Provided are compositions comprising succinic acid, aconitic acid, and a carrier, wherein the succinic acid and aconitic acid are present in a ratio of from about 0.9:1 to about 40:1. Also provided are methods of disrupting a biofilm comprising applying to a surface having a biofilm a composition of the present invention.
US09326918B2
Method for adjusting or improving or optimizing the usage properties of filler(s)-containing, flowable dental material, which involves relating to at least one measuring value representing the tackiness to at least one measuring value representing the texturing or plasticity or consistency. Flowable, usage-optimized, usually non-polymerized dental composites contain, as fillers, at least one glass filler and at least one filler from the group of chipped polymers or pre-polymer fillers based on ground polymer that is pre-polymerized together with inorganic particles,and, as additive(s),at least one compound represented through formula H—Y—Z (I),where: Y=—O—, —S—, —CO—, —OSi(OR1)2—, —OE Z=H, OH, SH, NH2, COOH, COOR2 E=—CnHmOp- R1=H, C1-C4-Alkyl R2=C1-C15-Alkyl, interrupted by one or more O atoms. C2-C14-Alkyl, n=2 bis 5 m=4 bis 11 p=n.
US09326910B2
A method and apparatus that affect vacuum to massage a volume of the skin and one or more types of skin treatment energies coupled to the massaged volume to treat the skin and subcutaneous adipose tissue and produce a desired treatment effect. The method and apparatus are based on coupling an array or a number of arrays being an assembly of skin treatment units with each skin treatment unit including a hollow cavity and a number of different energy to skin applying elements operative to receive skin treatment energy from a source of such energy and couple or apply the received energy to a treated segment of skin.
US09326906B2
An orthopedic or therapeutic support pillow is provided for use by a patient to support an arm and shoulder while the patient is resting in a generally prone position on a resting surface. The pillow includes a back section for positioning and supporting the pillow on resting surface, the back section having a central memory foam section to adapt to the contour of the body of the patient. The pillow further includes a pair of side arms extending from the back section, each side arm including contoured areas and a plush thickness to support the body, arms, and shoulders. The back section includes shoulder support zones to engage and support the shoulders of the patient when reclining on the pillow.
US09326902B2
An enclosure for enclosing an area including a frame and a canopy assembly. The frame includes an upper laterally-extending support, a first upstanding support coupled to a first end of the upper support, and a second upstanding support coupled to a second end of the upper support. The upper support is length-adjustable. The canopy assembly is connectable to the frame for defining an enclosed area, and includes a plurality of collars removably connectable to the frame, and at least one panel holdable in a plane defined by the supports of the frame. The circumference of at least one such collar is adjustable so that when the length of the upper support is adjusted, the collar circumference can be adjusted to accommodate the change in length.
US09326897B2
A sanitary tampon 10 includes an absorber 11 and a strand member 12 extending out from a tail end of the absorber 11 in a direction of insertion inside the vagina. A hook unit 20 is configured from a member different from the strand member 12 and distended outside from a circumferential surface 12e of the strand member 12 is provided in the strand member 12.
US09326891B2
The present invention generally relates to methods for deploying intraocular shunts without the use of an optical apparatus that contacts an eye, such as a goniolens. In certain embodiments, methods of the invention involve inserting into an eye a deployment device configured to hold an intraocular shunt, determining that a distal portion of the device is properly positioned within the eye without use of an optical apparatus that contacts the eye, and deploying the shunt from the device.
US09326887B2
Methods and devices treating an autonomic nervous system associated disease condition in a subject are provided. Aspects of the invention include inducing one or more physiological response selected from the group consisting of sweating, gastric emptying, enhanced heart rate variability and enhanced quantitative sensory test responsiveness in a manner sufficient to modify the autonomic nervous system so as to treat the subject for the disease condition. The methods and devices find use in a variety of applications, e.g. in the treatment of subjects suffering from conditions arising from disorders of the autonomic nervous system.
US09326884B2
A convex ostomy device, including i) a moldable pressure-sensitive thin center region covered on both sides with an adhesive; and ii) a thick region outside of and thicker than the center region, covered on both sides with the adhesive.
US09326880B2
Device embodiments and methods for using same are disclosed for treatment of static ankle plantar flexion. The device includes a sock configured to contain a patient's foot, the sock having a loop at an upper portion and a mechanical link coupled to the loop. The device further includes an adjustable plate, and an adjustable strap that is configured to selectively attach to the mechanical link. A cavity is formed by the sock and the adjustable strap that is configured to hold the adjustable plate when the strap is engaged to the mechanical link.
US09326879B2
The present invention provides bariatric therapy systems. One system includes a gastrointestinal implant device and a delivery mechanism therefor. The device can include a sleeve for placement into a small intestine and to minimize absorption of nutrients by its walls. An anchoring mechanism coupled to a proximal end of the sleeve and designed to be secured within the stomach can be provided. A passageway extending through the anchoring mechanism and the sleeve can also be provided, along which food can be directed from the stomach to the small intestine. The delivery mechanism can include a housing for accommodating the device, and a deploying balloon situated within the housing and which can be actuated to direct the sleeve of the device from within the housing to the site of implantation. Methods for providing bariatric therapy are also provided by the present invention.
US09326876B2
Delivery catheters and systems are adapted for delivering multiple discreet prostheses in body lumens. An exemplary delivery catheter comprises a sheath, a pusher for moving the prostheses relative to the sheath, and a valve member for selectively retaining the prostheses in the sheath. For balloon expandable stents, an elongated shaft and an expandable member are slidably disposed in the sheath, and the prostheses are positionable on the expandable member for deployment in the body lumen. The valve member allows a selected number of prostheses to be deployed from the sheath while retaining other prostheses within the sheath.
US09326867B2
Systems and methods for providing deeper knee flexion capabilities. In some instances, such systems and methods include a modular component, wherein the modular component is configured to attach to a femoral component, and wherein the femoral component is configured to attach to a distal portion of a femur. In some cases, the modular component includes an articular surface that is configured to increase a surface area of an articulation surface of a proximal portion of a posterior condyle of the femoral component. Other implementations are also discussed.
US09326856B2
A prosthetic heart valve includes a collapsible and expandable stent having a proximal end, a distal end, an annulus section adjacent the proximal end and an aortic section adjacent the distal end. The stent is formed of a plurality of struts. A cuff is coupled to the stent. The cuff has one or more features configured to reduce abrasion and/or perivalvular leakage.
US09326855B2
A delivery device for a collapsible prosthetic heart valve includes a support shaft around which a compartment is defined, an inner shaft extending through the support shaft and adapted to slide relative to the support shaft along a longitudinal axis thereof, the inner shaft having a lumen therethrough, and a distal sheath operatively connected at a distal end to the inner shaft and slidable therewith. The compartment may receive the valve in an assembled condition, and may be selectively covered and uncovered by the distal sheath. A first flow path may provide flow communication between the lumen of the inner shaft and the compartment.
US09326853B2
Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems used to deliver a prosthetic heart valve to a deficient valve. In one embodiment, for instance, a support structure and an expandable prosthetic valve are advanced through the aortic arch of a patient using a delivery system. The support structure is delivered to a position on or adjacent to the surface of the outflow side of the aortic valve (the support structure defining a support-structure interior). The expandable prosthetic valve is delivered into the aortic valve and into the support-structure interior. The expandable prosthetic heart valve is expanded while the expandable prosthetic heart valve is in the support-structure interior and while the support structure is at the position on or adjacent to the surface of the outflow side of the aortic valve, thereby causing one or more native leaflets of the aortic valve to be frictionally secured between the support structure and the expanded prosthetic heart valve.
US09326841B2
Biocompatible coatings and spin finishes that can be applied to polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) polymers, and medical devices made from PHA polymers, have been developed. The coatings impart good lubricity to PHA polymers, particularly to fibers and braids made from these materials, making the coatings ideal for use on medical devices such as PHA braided sutures. The spin finishes can be applied to PHA fibers to facilitate their manufacture, and also for their conversion to other products, including medical textiles. The spin finishes serve to protect multifilament fiber bundles, and keep them intact following extrusion, and also to impart lubricity to the fiber bundles and monofilament fibers so that they are not damaged in subsequent processing steps particularly in textile processing. The coating reduces tissue drag of, for example, braided sutures.
US09326834B2
The present application describes a method for designing and manufacturing a denture device for a patient. A method is described for designing a virtual denture and manufacturing a functional fitting replica denture from the virtual denture. An apparatus comprising a functional fitting replica denture is prepared having denture teeth having a fit substantially similar to the final denture. The methods and apparatus described herein reduce the number of visits required to manufacture the final denture.
US09326832B2
Secondary part for securing an impression cap (72) releasably on a tooth implant (10). The secondary part (40) is secured on the latter by means of a screw connection. The secondary part (40) has elastically deformable spring fingers (44) that cooperate with a wall (76) of the impression cap (72). The wall (76) is dimensionally stable. With a good fit of the impression cap, the device can thus have a slender configuration, such that it is also suitable in particular for use in the front area of the lower jaw.
US09326827B2
The present invention relates to medical devices, and more specifically, the present invention relates to a medical device that allows a surgeon to personally adjust the aperture of the light beam being projected from his or her surgical headlight during surgery, as often as necessary and without compromising the sterile field.
US09326818B2
A catheter has a distal assembly with at least one loop, if not two, with ring electrodes. The distal assembly has an elongated support member covered by an extruded form having two lumens, one sized for nonslip tight fit with the support member. A single continuous puller wire for bidirectional deflection is pre-bent into two long portions and a U-shape bend therebetween. The U-shape bend is anchored at a distal end of a deflectable section which is reinforced by at least one washer having at least two holes, each hole axially aligned with a respective lumen in the deflectable section. Each hole is centered with a lumen so that each puller wire portion therethrough is straight and subjected to tensile force only. A proximal end of the support member is flattened and serrated to provide a better bonding to the distal end of the deflectable section.
US09326815B2
A steerable catheter sheath for use in directing a catheter into a desired position is provided. The sheath includes an elongated member configured to receive the catheter therein. The distal end of the elongated member is steerable in two directions, each direction having a different bent configuration, e.g., a sharp curve in one direction and an open arching curve in the other direction. A resilient structure having different bending properties in each of its lateral sides is carried in the distal portion of the elongated member and causes the asymmetric bending. In one embodiment, the resilient structure includes a hypotube with a plurality of notches and slits in the sides. In another embodiment, the resilient structure is covered in an outer coating having different durometer portions. The sheath is particularly useful for accessing left and right pulmonary veins when a transeptal entry approach is used into the left atrium.
US09326814B2
Lesion size or volume prediction shortly after the onset of an ablation procedure can inform or control the ablation procedure. The prediction and/or control is made without regard to an actual detected temperature in the vicinity of the ablation electrodes. As a consequence, the system has utility with irrigated catheter constructions and other situations in which local irrigation in the vicinity of an ablation site would otherwise interfere with a prediction or control scheme that solely relies upon temperature measurements.
US09326810B2
A multi-button electrosurgical apparatus includes a housing having a passage extending therethough, a distal end configured to support an electrode; at least four switches disposed on a surface of the housing configured to be selectively activated by a user; and three wires connected between the housing and a connector, the connector configured to be operatively coupled to an electrosurgical generator, a first wire being coupled to the electrode and configured to receive electrosurgical energy from the electrosurgical generator, a second wire being coupled to a first switch and configured to generate a first activation signal and a third wire being coupled to a second switch and configured to generate a second activation signal, wherein a third and fourth switch are coupled to the first wire and the second or third wire via a respective reactive switching element configured to generate third and fourth activation signals.
US09326809B2
An electrosurgical apparatus for coagulating tissue comprises an elongate tube (3) having a proximal end and a distal end, and having a distal end face (12). The tube comprises one or more first apertures (14) located at the distal end face (12) and one or more second apertures (13) located along the periphery of the tube between the proximal and distal ends. The tube provides a conduit though which ionizable gas can be supplied to the distal end of the tube, and includes at least one electrode (4) for ionizing the ionizable gas exiting either the first or second apertures.
US09326803B2
A retaining mechanism for use in affixing a stratum to bone is disclosed. The mechanism comprises a stratum comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a hole extending between the two surfaces. The hole has a central longitudinal axis extending substantially perpendicular to the two surfaces. The retaining element comprises a first position that permits a fastener to be passed through the hole, a second position that at least partially overlaps the hole, and a spring element. The spring element is configured to engage the stratum, configured to move in a direction substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the hole when the retaining element moves between its first and second positions, and configured to engage the retaining element to help maintain the retaining element in its second position to help prevent inadvertent backing out of the fastener after it has been fully inserted into the hole.
US09326791B2
The distal portion of a shape-memory filament extends from a needle containing at least one filament gripping element. To implant the shape-memory filament in tissue, the needle is inserted into a cannula with a flexible and removable hook. During partial withdrawal of the needle, the hook holds the distal portion of the filament stationary to deposit a section of filament in the distal portion of the cannula. The needle is re-advanced, pushing the section of the shape-memory filament to coil or fold within the tissue. Rotation of the needle with the filament gripping element further tightens the coiled or folded filament. Partial withdrawal, re-advancement, rotation and pushing of the needle are repeated to fill, pack, strengthen, enlarge or augment the tissue with the shape-memory filament.
US09326788B2
A robotically controlled surgical tool including a lockout mechanism is provided. The surgical tool may comprise an instrument mounting portion. The instrument mounting portion includes a housing, a plate, a shaft assembly comprising an end effector, and a coupler to couple the shaft assembly to the instrument mounting portion. The end effector comprises a first jaw member and a second jaw member, the first and second jaw members defining a channel therebetween, and a blade slideably receivable within the channel to cut tissue located between the first and second jaw members. The surgical tool may include an actuation mechanism to actuate the end effector to provide reciprocating movement of the blade within the channel. A lockout mechanism is coupled to the actuation mechanism. The lockout mechanism may selectively enable reciprocating movement of the blade. An interface mechanically and electrically couples the instrument mounting portion to a robotic manipulator.
US09326785B2
A connector for connecting an instrument tip with a laparoscopic tube end, the connector including a base forming a body of the connector, the base having a lumen configured to accommodate an instrument tip actuator therein, and a seal permanently bonded to an inner surface of a proximal end of the base and configured to deform upon connection of the connector with the tube end.
US09326782B2
An arterial device, system and method are provided for use with a patient undergoing a cardiac procedure. The system is configured for enabling one or more arterial devices to be accommodated in the aorta of the patient in use of the system, and a perfusion lumen arrangement provides therethrough a target perfusion flow into the aorta having a target perfusion flow rate that is significantly greater than a nominal perfusion flow rate, by an excess perfusion flow rate. A suction lumen arrangement provides therethrough a suction flow out of the aorta at a suction flow rate. The target perfusion flow rate and the suction flow rate may be concurrently and selectively controlled to cause embolic debris that may be present in the aorta to be diverted to the suction inlet, while providing the nominal flow rate to the body circulation of the patient.
US09326776B2
A surgical clip applier is provided having a cartridge carrying multiple surgical clips with a manual graspable actuator configured to sequentially deliver clips to the jaws of the clip applier. Both the cartridge and the jaws are connectable to a scissors-like handle assembly arranged to translate motion from finger loops to the jaws to open and close the jaws and thus close or crimp a delivered clip between the jaws.
US09326775B2
A system for obesity control includes a sheath and a plurality of medical devices. The sheath has a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween. The medical devices are disposed within the lumen. Each medical device includes a shell defining a cavity, the shell being movable between a deformed state and an unstressed state; a magnet disposed within the cavity; and a filler material disposed within the cavity. The filler material conforms to a shape of the shell when the shell is in the unstressed state. The filler material changes state to maintain a shape of the shell in the deformed state.
US09326761B2
An access device includes a body, a first tube, a second tube, and a mechanism. The first and second tubes extend through the body. The mechanism operably couples the first and second tubes such that at least one tube is pivotable about an axis with respect to the other tube. The body may form a substantially fluid-tight seal at the incision. In another embodiment, the access device further includes a third tube extending through the body and the mechanism operably couples the tubes together such that at least two tubes are pivotable about the axis with respect to the remaining tube.
US09326759B2
Occluder devices for occluding an anatomical aperture, such as an atrial septal defect (ASD) or a patent foramen ovale (PFO) comprise two sides connected by a central tube. The occluder devices are formed from a tube, which is cut to produce struts in each side. Upon the application of force, the struts deform into loops. The loops may be of various shapes, sizes, and configurations, and, in at least some embodiments, the loops have rounded peripheries. In some embodiments, at least one of the sides includes a tissue scaffold. The occluder devices include a catch system that maintains its deployed state in vivo. When an occluder device is deployed in vivo, the two sides are disposed on opposite sides of the septal tissue surrounding the aperture and the catch system is deployed so that the occluder device exerts a compressive force on the septal tissue and closes the aperture.
US09326756B2
Improved hand assemblies and methods combining a number of the separate known devices used in transseptal catheterization procedures, including sheaths, dilators, and needle assemblies (including a puncture device and a stylet, for example). The hand assemblies provide cooperating members that reduce the overall complexity and increase safety of transseptal catheterization procedures.
US09326751B2
An in vivo apparatus includes a flexible shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a length sufficient to access a patient's renal artery relative to a percutaneous access location. An energy guide apparatus is provided at the distal end of the shaft and dimensioned for deployment within the renal artery. An ex vivo apparatus includes an arrangement configured to localize the energy guide apparatus within the renal artery, and an energy source configured to direct ablative energy to target tissue located a predetermined distance from the localized energy guide apparatus. The target tissue includes perivascular renal nerve tissue adjacent the renal artery.
US09326750B2
Disclosed is an ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus including an ultrasound probe which outputs a transmission ultrasound toward a subject and a received signal obtained by receiving a reflected ultrasound from the subject, a transmission unit, a receiving unit and a puncture needle position detection unit which obtains a puncture needle echo information indicating an angle and a position of the puncture needle from the plane-wave received signal, and an ultrasound image is displayed on the basis of the received signal, the transmission unit applies the driving signal to the ultrasound probe so that a plane-wave transmission ultrasound is output from the ultrasound probe, and the receiving unit receives a plane-wave received signal which is obtained in such a way that the plane-wave transmission ultrasound is transmitted from the ultrasound probe, reflected by a puncture needle to be the reflected ultrasound and received by the ultrasound probe.
US09326737B2
An approach for providing diagnostic information regarding one or more impacts sustained by one or more users while the one or more users are participating in a team activity is described. A diagnostic platform detects one or more impacts sustained by a user, wherein the user is part of a team with one or more other users engaged in a team activity. The diagnostic platform generates a recommendation for a level of participation of the user, the one or more other users, or a combination thereof in the team activity based on the one or more impacts, a severity level of the one or more impacts, or a combination thereof. The diagnostic platform further presents the recommendation, a representation of the severity level, a representation of the level of participation, or a combination thereof in a user interface.
US09326736B2
Methods and systems for visualizing mechanical ventilation information are provided. One system includes a user interface for a medical system having a ventilator is provided. The user interface includes a memory storing one or more sensor measurements for a patient and a processor. The processor is programmed to display a visualization of a tidal volume determined from one of the sensor measurements of the patient and display a visualization of lung compliance for the patient, wherein the tidal volume visualization and the lung compliance visualization are displayed concurrently.
US09326733B2
A biopotential signal acquisition system comprising an analog readout unit configured to receive an analog biopotential signal and to extract an analog measured biopotential signal and an analog reference signal, and an ADC unit configured to provide a digital version of the analog measured biopotential signal and the analog reference signal. The system also includes a first digital filter unit comprising a cascaded integrator-comb filter configured to provide a first digital filtered version of the digital measured biopotential signal and the reference signal, and a second digital filter unit configured to calculate a digital motion artifact estimate based on the first digital filtered version signals.
US09326729B2
An electrode catheter is provided with a catheter shaft (10), an operating handle (20) provided with a connector (70), a tip electrode (31), ring-shaped electrodes (32 to 34), lead wires (41 to 44) connected to the tip electrode (31) and the ring-shaped electrodes (32 to 34), respectively, and a pull wire (50) fixed to the tip electrode (31). The catheter shaft (10) is constituted of a shaft proximal end portion (11) formed of a metal tube having a spiral slit (115) formed in a tip portion, a shaft distal end portion (12) formed of a resin tube of multi-lumen structure, and a resin covering layer (13) covering outer peripheries of the shaft proximal end portion (11) and a rear end portion of the shaft distal end portion (12). The lead wires (41 to 44) and the pull wire (50) extend through different lumens of the resin tube constituting the shaft distal end portion (12). This electrode catheter can exhibit good kink resistance, torque transmissibility and pushability in the entire shaft.
US09326716B2
In aspects of the present disclosure, a no coding blood glucose monitoring unit including a calibration unit is integrated with one or more components of an analyte monitoring system to provide compatibility with in vitro test strip that do not require a calibration code is provided. Also disclosed are methods, systems, devices and kits for providing the same.
US09326715B1
The invention is directed to a hyperspectral/multispectral system referred to as the OxyVu-1 system. The hyperspectral imaging technology performs spectral analysis at each point in a two-dimensional scanned a producing an image displaying information derived from the analysis. For the OxyVu-1 system, the spectral analytical methods determined in superficial tissues approximate values of oxygen saturation (HT-Sat), oxyhemoglobin levels (HT-oxy), and deoxyhemoglobin levels (HT-deoxy). The OxyVu-1 system displays the tissue oxygenation in a two-dimensional, color-coded image. The system contains a system console, a cart, system electronics, CPU, monitor, keyboard, pointing device and printer. The hyperspectral instrument head with support arm contains broadband illuminator, camera and spectral filter for collecting hyperspectral imaging cube. The single use OxyVu Check Pads and Targets are used to perform an instrument check prior to patient measurements. The OxyVu Target is placed within the intended field of view and is used as a fiduciary mark for image registration and for focusing.
US09326710B1
Apparatus and methods employing contact lenses having electrochemical sensors that have adjustable analyte-sensing sensitivity are provided. In some aspects, level of the analyte or biological substance is detected and a number of sub-electrodes of the sensor are turned on or off based on the level of the analyte or biological substance. The sensitivity of the sensor is adjusted based on the number of sub-electrodes that are turned on or off. In some aspects, the current level from the sensor is employed in determining the number of sub-electrodes to turn on or off. In one aspect, a contact lens includes: a substrate; a power component; a circuit and an adjustment circuit. The circuit can include a potentiostat; and a sensor electrically coupled to the potentiostat, and configured to sense a level of an analyte. The sensitivity of the sensor can be adjustable by the adjustment circuit.
US09326707B2
Methods and apparatus including determining a rate of occurrence of a glycemic excursion event, determining a frequency of an alarm activation associated with the glycemic excursion event, determining an analyte level associated with the alarm activation, and setting an alarm parameter based on one or more of the determined rate of occurrence of the glycemic excursion event, the frequency of the alarm activation associated with the glycemic excursion event or the determined analyte level are provided.
US09326703B2
A manipulation device is programmable with different parameters associated with different manipulation exercises for different types of simulated patients. A measuring system determines the success or failure for any of the programmable manipulation exercises and tracks specific results that precisely track how close a student comes to specific target force values. This allows a student to more accurately track performance improvements and more effectively focus practice sessions on problem manipulation techniques. The measurement system not only measures the time and force values associated with the manipulation exercises but also measures angular displacement of the manipulation apparatus during the manipulation exercise. This allows the student to not only determine if a proper amount of force was applied during the manipulation exercise but also to determine if the force was maintained in the same direction and angle.
US09326701B2
In a method and imaging apparatus to automatically determine imaging planes for an imaging procedure to visualize a percutaneous intervention of a patient along a trajectory to a target point, data are obtained that represent a reference coordinate system with three orthogonal reference planes, and data also are acquired that represent the trajectory. One of the reference planes is determined as a selected reference plane based on the arrangement thereof relative to the trajectory. A first imaging plane is defined such that the trajectory lies therein, and such that it has a defined arrangement in relation to the selected reference plane. A second imaging plane is defined such that the trajectory lies therein, and such that it is orthogonal to the first imaging plane. A third imaging plane is defined such that it is orthogonal to the first imaging plane and second imaging plane, and includes the target point.
US09326697B2
A method, system, and device for detection of an arrhythmia, and discrimination between different types of arrhythmia, for example to determine whether to administer an electric shock to the heart, the device comprising a wearable monitor with electrodes that detect the electrical activity of a beating heart, attached to an embedded monitoring system having an amplifier, a microprocessor, a data storage device, and a power supply, all disposed on a substrate having large distal end portions that attach to the electrodes and a narrow intermediate portion that attaches to the monitoring system.
US09326696B2
Disclosed is a system having an implanted component and external component which are configured to provide a test of wireless communication in order to assess the success or failure of such communication and to store attributes related to such test in a memory log. To provide the communication test the implantable and external components can attempt wireless communication according to communication test parameters which relate to number of times to retry communication, duration of sending communication test signals, durations of waiting for communication test signals and the schedule of the communication tests. The schedule of tests may be period or may change over time in order to become more or less frequency according to a programmable schedule that may also decrease if the communication tests are successful and indicate patient compliance in keeping the external components close by. The communication tests can assist in determining if the patient is maintaining external components within a suggested proximity (e.g. 6 feet) of the patient and may assist to determine if transmission or reception difficulties are the source of communication failure. A physician programmer can provide for programming, conducting, summarizing and assessing the results of communication tests.
US09326690B2
A patient monitor configured to display patient information in a display area. The patient information is indicative of at least one physiological parameter of a patient and includes at least one unitary display element in the display area that indicates simultaneously both a quantitative value and a reliability indication of the physiological parameter. An appearance of the display element transitions so as to represent a plurality of different reliability levels, including at least a first reliability level, a second reliability level, and at least one intermediary reliability level between the first and second reliability levels.
US09326684B2
Systems and methods for measuring a physiological parameter of blood in a patient are provided herein. An example method includes establishing with a magnetic array, an first magnetic field along tissue of the patient inserted into the magnetic array and a second magnetic field perpendicular to the tissue, emitting optical signals into further tissue of the patient during at least a first alignment of the magnetic array around the tissue, detecting characteristics of the optical signals, and identifying a value of a physiological parameter based on at least the characteristics of the optical signals.
US09326679B2
A medical system includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a tomographic image of an object to be examined based on a combined beam generated by combining a return beam returning from the object to be examined illuminated with a measuring beam and a reference beam corresponding to the measuring beam, a focus position changing unit configured to change a focus position on the object to be examined;an optical-path-length difference changing unit configured to change a difference in optical path lengths between the measuring beam and the reference beam, and a control unit configured to control the optical-path-length difference changing unit so that the difference in the optical path length is within a predetermined range and then receive an instruction to the focus position changing unit to make a change.
US09326678B2
A tomographic-image pickup unit is controlled so as to capture a tomographic image in response to a signal input from a signal input unit. Then, a display unit is controlled so as to display the captured. tomographic image. An eyeground-image pickup unit is controlled so as to capture a two-dimensional image in response to a signal input from the signal input unit while the tomographic image. is displayed on the display unit. Therewith, the user can more easily perform imaging, and the time load on the subject is reduced.
US09326676B2
A tomographic image capturing apparatus includes a fixation lamp configured to guide a line of sight of a subject's eye, and a control unit configured to control a projection position of measuring light according to a predetermined position on a fundus of the subject's eye and a projection position of the fixation lamp.
US09326674B2
An optical tomographic imaging apparatus includes a measurement light optical path length changing unit configured to change an optical path length of measurement light. In a case where any one of a plurality of imaging regions of an object (for example, a region of an anterior eye of a subject's eye and a region of a fundus of the subject's eye) is selected, the optical tomographic imaging apparatus can control the measurement light optical path length changing unit according to a size of an imaging range of a tomographic image corresponding to the selected imaging region.
US09326670B2
A Glottiscope for assisting with the insertion of an endotracheal tube or an Eschman like stylet into a patient is claimed. The Glottiscope comprises a blade which defines an internal passage for receiving an endotracheal tube or an Eschman like stylet, the blade having a proximal end and a distal end and means for viewing the patient's glottis, wherein the viewing means is disposed at the distal end and in use, below the point of emergence of an endotracheal tube or a stylet/guide (to rail road the endotracheal tube) in the internal passage to provide a view of the patient's glottis, the blade being adapted to direct the viewing means towards the center of the patient's glottis.
US09326669B2
The claimed subject matter provides systems and/or methods that facilitate improving visualization associated with intubation. A dynamically articulating laryngoscope blade can be controlled to configure to normal anatomic variants and pathologic abnormalities to facilitate placing of an endotracheal tube into a patient's trachea. Further, cameras can be integrated into and/or mounted upon the dynamically articulating laryngoscope blade. The cameras can enable stereoscopic visualization of the laryngeal aperture allowing for depth perception. Moreover, the cameras can be moved independently of the blade allowing for optimal viewing of the laryngeal opening.
US09326651B2
A vacuum cleaner with a flexible head portion and combined suction and blowing mechanism to agitate debris. An external pressured air source is used to provide a source of pressured air for the blowing mechanism. The head portion has blowing and suction nozzles arranged such that the suction nozzles surround the blowing nozzles or vice versa. The blowing and suction nozzles may be in parallel rows and may have almost perpendicular trajectories. The blowing mechanism may be operated according to an alternating pulsing pattern corresponding to different blowing nozzle groups to create a repeating and bidirectional agitation effect onto stubborn debris in the area between the nozzle groups. The flexible head portion is formed by a grid of head portion units attached to each other by a joining mechanism. The flexible head portion has a concave shape in its relaxed state and can at least partially conform to irregular surfaces.
US09326649B1
A specially designed toilet seat accessory that is operated via hydraulics and an integrated, electronic foot pedal to provide consumers a sanitary and convenient hands-free method of lifting and lowering the toilet seat.
US09326648B2
A system for consecutively dispensing paper sheet material from a stub roll and a primary roll which utilizes a pivoted transfer door to locate a lead end portion of the primary roll in dispensing position responsive to disengagement between the transfer door and a pivoted lever supporting the stub roll.
US09326645B1
The invention describes a cleaning system in the form of a mitt having cleaning pads attached by reversible fastening means so that pads may be electively and consecutively attached, removed, or replaced. Furthermore, the invention provides a means for introducing, retaining, dispensing, and distributing a fluid, such as water or a liquid cleaning product, so that a removable pad may be irrigated with a regulated dose of fluid prior to use. The invention also describes a cooperative enclosure that can store a plurality of cleaning pads. Features of the compatible enclosure serve to physically guide the body of the mitt into alignment with a replacement pad.
US09326637B2
A container includes an emulsifying device having a milk suction pipe, a nozzle for supplying hot or emulsified milk with a discharge end outside the container, a steam inlet and an air inlet. The container is thermally insulated so as to better preserve the milk.
US09326634B1
An information handling system (IHS) includes a coffee design application. The IHS receives first input information from a user that specifies a coffee design mode. The IHS receives second input information from a user that enables the IHS to define a unitless brew formula line ratio of water weight to coffee weight. The IHS displays a brew formula line on a universal brewing control chart graph, the brew formula line being dependent on the brew formula ratio. The IHS operates in a selected one of a brew water volume mode, a desired coffee yield mode and a ground coffee weight mode. The IHS converts input values to selected units and resultant output values to selected units in real time. The IHS projects a target total dissolved solids (TDS) % value on the brew formula line and plots a universal brewing control chart.
US09326632B2
A valve structure includes a housing having an interior chamber, a first conduit connecting the interior chamber with a cooking chamber of a cooking device and having a first discharge cross-section, a second conduit connecting the interior chamber with the outside environment and having a second discharge cross-section, and at least one valve seat within the interior chamber having at least one valve seat opening which cooperates with at least one valve disc. The at least one valve disc moves between a closed position on the valve seat opening, and an open position spaced apart from the valve seat opening by changes in pressure in the cooking chamber. The valve operates to allow bidirectional flow of fluid to relieve over pressure and underpressure conditions, and enables automatic balancing of low pressure or vacuum in the cooking chamber.
US09326622B2
A block system includes a plurality of blocks connected side by side into a configuration, each block including a front, a rear, sides, lips, and fastener accommodating spaces; a plurality of adjacent fasteners connecting side by side blocks together. Each fastener disposed in the fastener accommodating spaces of side by side blocks without overlapping adjacent fasteners.
US09326620B1
Disclosed are embodiments of display modules, assemblies of display modules, and systems of display modules. Display modules have a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in a predetermined pattern and providing a highly uniform visual effect. Alignment and complementary alignment features enable the alignment of adjacent display modules and the creation of large displays from a plurality of aligned display modules. Features to grip and retain a support frame are provided. Modules and systems have features that permit installation and removal from the front side of the display. A system of modular support frames works cooperatively with the display modules, adapting to different mounting environments, and thereby providing large modular displays with desirable properties.
US09326619B2
A multi-function baby carrier is disclosed. Embodiments include a lightweight, portable baby carrier capable of supporting a baby safely and securely. Embodiments also include a lightweight, portable baby carrier capable of being held with a single hand and function as a portable baby swing. Embodiments further include a lightweight, portable baby carrier capable of being used, together with the weight of the baby, for resistance-training.
US09326607B2
A rotatable armrest contains a body, a connecting mount, a joining member, and a cover. The body includes an inner rod and an outer rod. The inner rod has a rotating seat, a through hole, a first groove, a second groove, and two retaining shoulders. The connecting mount includes a locking rib and a column, the column has a slot and two notches. The joining member includes a first segment mounted in the through hole of the inner rod and a second segment fixed in the first groove of the inner rod, the first segment has two engaging blocks formed on an outer peripheral side thereof and a lock protrusion formed therein and accommodated in the slot, the second segment has a trench for receiving the cover, and the trench has a cutout which has two threaded orifices passing through the lock protrusion of the joining member.
US09326604B1
An inventory system for wire shelving is provided which includes a pivoting divider unit that subdivides individual bins of a shelving system into front and rear sections accessed through an open front side of the bin. The divider unit hinges between an upright position and a forwardly-lowered position. When fully stocked, the bin includes articles which are located in both the forward and rearward bin sections with the divider unit oriented in the upright position between adjacent articles. As articles are removed from the front bin section, eventually the divider unit is exposed. The divider unit is then manually tilted forwardly or lowered to allow continued removal of articles from the rear bin section. This lowered orientation of the divider unit indicates that the front bin section is now empty and restocking is due. The divider unit rotatably engages with the wire shelving and includes hinge clips which releasably lock the divider unit in the upright orientation.
US09326601B2
The present invention provides a modular system for at least one of displaying and storing at least one article. The modular system includes at least a pair of elongated support brackets having magnetic protrusions; at least one elongated cross member having downwardly facing end stops and means for positioning each of the at least one elongated cross member and the at least said pair of elongated support brackets in a generally horizontal plane during use of the modular system. The at least a pair of elongated support brackets are disposed in a spaced apart parallel relationship with each other. The at least one elongated cross member is sized to at least span a distance between the at least pair of elongated support brackets. Additionally, the at least one elongated cross member may at least rest on a top edge of each of the at least the pair of elongated support brackets during use of said modular system.
US09326600B1
Shelving is provided which is easy to assemble and will fit a variety of spaces. Lateral members of various lengths and widths are connected to elongated extruded stanchions to form different shelving configurations. While bracing and adjustable feet make the shelving suitable for many applications such as with uneven floors, walls and ceiling heights.
US09326595B2
Tweezer-applicators having an applicator arranged linearly with tweezers are disclosed. The applicator may comprise a substantially flat rectangular shaped group of bristles that are arranged substantially straight along a linear axis of the tweezer-applicator. By virtue of having an applicator arranged substantially straight along the linear axis and in line with the tweezers, a user may grip the tweezers without the applicator interfering with a grip of a user and provide the user with precision while applying product to a portion of a body.
US09326581B1
An implement for abrading or filing a nail of a person, such as a fingernail or a toenail, includes a body that has a first side, a second side, and a peripheral edge. The peripheral edge has a peripheral groove formed therearound that has a floor that continuously varies in depth based on a radial position. A perimeter abrading surface is applied to the floor of the groove. A first abrading surface is applied to the first side of the body, preferably via a removable disk that adheres with an adhesive to the first side of the body. A second abrading surface, preferably via a second removable disk that adheres with the adhesive to the second side of the body, is preferably applied to the second side of the body, the second abrading surface having a different abrasiveness or grit than the first abrading surface.
US09326576B2
A cover is described that is magnetically attached to a tablet device. The cover includes at least as flap. In the described embodiment, the flap includes a plurality of segments where the first segment includes a first plurality of edge attach magnets arrayed along a first edge of the flap and where a second segment includes a second plurality of edge attach magnets arrayed along a second edge of the flap opposite the first edge.
US09326575B2
A mobile office comprising a wheeled luggage with telescoping handle; a top surface comprising an integrated seat; multiple internal and external storage compartments; a removable organizer drawer; and a removable table with extendable legs.
US09326571B2
The present invention relates to a jewelry (100) having decorative elements (90) in the jewelry (100) that are mobile and can be changed allowing the personalization of the jewelry (100). The plurality of decorative elements (90) is mounted and un-mounted into/from the main frame (10) through the lock system (40) provided at the main frame (10). The main frame (10) forms a track for the elements to oscillate freely. The lock system (40) allows the decorative elements (90) to be secured into the main frame (10). A secondary frame (20) provides firmness to jewelry (100). A flip-over safety lock (70) is provided to further secure the decorative elements (90) and at the same time to hide the mechanical arrangements.
US09326567B2
Systems for producing traction, wherein each traction system is an apparatus that provides traction on snow and ice covered surfaces.A pair of Back Country skis each are mounted with an apparatus; having DC powered controls, tilt switch, pressurized carbon dioxide (CO2) gas powered pneumatic actuators operating gripping parts; controlled by a servo unit. A pair of foot wear (hiking boots) having a DC powered servo-solenoid-valve units controlling pressurized CO2, gas powering pneumatic rotors, operating, hydraulic pumps, actuators with gripping parts. A pair of snowmobile skis each having an assembly of parts; driven by an hydraulic rotor that pivots the skis, adjusting their position when cornering, providing traction, according to a snowmobile steering system. And is powered and controlled by at least one of: hydraulic steering system, an electro-hydraulic steering system; an electric power steering system using an electric motor instead of hydraulic rotor.
US09326557B2
A glove is formed from elastomer having Mooney viscosity, ML(1+4)(100° C.) of 100-220, that contains 25-30 weight % of acrylonitrile, 62-71 weight % of butadiene and 4-8 weight % of unsaturated carboxylic acid, and does not contain sulfur crosslinking agents or vulcanization accelerators. The unsaturated carboxylic acid comprises a first fraction of substituents and a second fraction of substituents, the first fraction of substituents forming cross-links via bonds with each other, and the second fraction of substituents forming cross-links via bonds with a bivalent metal. Glove properties include thickness 0.05-0.15 mm, swelling ratio 240-320, tensile stress 22-35 MPa, elongation to break 480-620%, and tensile stress at 500% elongation 15-35 MPa. By chlorine treatment of both inner and outer surfaces of the glove, the inner surface has decreased tackiness and the outer surface has increased smoothness. Content of metal and metallic salt impurities and an anion contained in the glove is decreased.
US09326554B2
Functional pants include a pant body, two front bands, two rhombic bands and two back bands. The two rhombic bands are disposed corresponding to the wearer's gluteus medius muscles that work to extend and lift the legs during a long-distance running. The rhombic bands are adapted to enhance the extensibility and reduce fatigue of the gluteus medius muscles. The front and back bands alternatively impart a stretching force to the wearer when the wearer's legs are repeatedly kicking and lifting during running, enabling the wearer to run with less effort. Thus, the functional pants have a significant effect on reducing fatigue, and are suitable for long-distance runners.
US09326549B2
An electronic cigarette includes a shell and a mouthpiece. The external wall of the shell has an air inlet. An atomizer and a liquid-supply are in contact with each other. The air inlet, atomizer, and an aerosol passage are interconnected.
US09326548B2
An electronic cigarette includes a battery assembly and an atomizer assembly within a housing with the battery assembly electrically connected to the atomizer assembly. The housing has one or more air inlets. A liquid storage component is in contact with a porous component of the atomizer assembly, with the porous component having a run-through hole. A heating wire is in an air flow path through the run-through hole.
US09326542B2
Technology for utilizing, as a raw material for food or beverage products, malt sprouts having been removed as the cause of odd taste, despite containing nitrogen sources and various active substances in high proportion, in the production of beer or whiskey is provided by a process for producing a food or beverage product wherein a malt sprout of controlled particle size are used as a raw material. In particular, a process for producing a food or beverage from malt sprouts wherein the ratio of particles of less than 150 μm size is 60 wt. % or less. This process for producing a food or beverage products preferably comprises the steps of immersing malt sprouts in a liquid so as to leach malt sprout components with the liquid and, after the leaching, removing the residual malt sprouts.
US09326535B2
Methods for reducing the environmental impact of animal waste are described. In particular embodiments, the methods comprise administering to an animal an enzyme, such as alkaline phosphatase, that is effective to reduce the amount of a detrimental compound, such as ammonia or phosphorous, that is present in or released from animal waste. Also provided is a method for increasing phosphorus digestion in an animal. Compositions suitable for use in such methods are also described.
US09326526B2
A shaped food product, such as a sausage, having a central opening into which at least one condiment may be placed prior to consumption and methods of preparing, eating, and manufacturing such a food product. The condiment may be placed after the cooking of the food product, prior to the cooking of the food product, or as part of the cooking of the food product.
US09326522B2
[Problem]A microbial pesticidal composition containing viable spores of a bacterium belonging to the genus Bacillus and a chemical pesticide, in which the spores can be preserved stably in a living state for a long period of time, and a method for preserving the spores stably in a living state for a long period of time, are provided.[Dissolution Means]Viable spores of Bacillus subtilis and/or Bacillus amyloliquefaciens are blended with at least one member selected from a metal oxide, a metal hydroxide, a metal oxide silicic acid salt, and a metal hydroxide silicic acid salt.
US09326513B2
The present invention provides a composition comprising a combination of components A) and B), wherein component A) is a compound of formula (I) and the component (B) is a further fungicide, insecticide or herbicide.
US09326512B2
A synergistic antimicrobial composition containing flurochloridone and zinc pyrithione is provided. Also provided is a method of inhibiting the growth of or controlling the growth of microorganisms in a building material by adding such a synergistic antimicrobial composition. Also provided is a coating composition containing such a synergistic antimicrobial composition, and a dry film made from such a coating composition.
US09326509B2
The present invention relates to plant-protecting active ingredient mixtures comprising, as active components, a neonicotinoid and one or two fungicides selected from pyraclostrobin and boscalid, in synergistically effective amounts and to a method of improving the health of plants by to the plants or the locus thereof by applying said mixtures.
US09326503B2
Agrochemical compositions comprising (a) one or more branched alkyl polyglycosides, and (b) one or more biocides are disclosed. The compositions display improved solubility in water, and reduced foam generation.
US09326502B2
The invention relates to the production of nitrogen containing polymers from aziridines, to the use of these nitrogen containing polymers for stabilizing iodine containing compounds, to compositions comprising at least the nitrogen containing polymers and also iodine containing compounds, and to the use of these compositions as biocides and/or for controlling microorganisms.
US09326496B2
An adjustable holding assembly is provided to support a tubular member and includes a base assembly adapted to be mounted to a support surface. The base assembly includes a vertical shaft defining a vertical pivot axis, and a horizontal shaft rotatable about the vertical shaft and defining a horizontal pivot axis. A holder is adapted to receive the tubular member and is pivotally mounted to the base assembly so that the holder is simultaneously rotatable about the vertical pivot axis and the horizontal pivot axis. A single latching arrangement is carried by the horizontal shaft and is configured for selective engagement and disengagement with the base assembly to permit a one-handed adjustment of the holder simultaneously about the vertical pivot axis and the horizontal pivot axis or separately about either the vertical pivot axis or the horizontal pivot axis to multiple angular locked positions with respect to the base assembly.
US09326493B2
Disclosed is an automatic feeding system for an underwater fish farm, which includes a marine base facility standing vertically in the sea; an underwater fish farm installed on an outer surface of the marine base facility; a storage tank installed inside the marine base facility to store feed to be supplied to the underwater fish farm; a feed transfer device transferring the feed discharged through an outlet of the storage tank; a feed supply device mixing seawater with the feed transferred by the feed transfer device and supplying the mixture to the underwater fish farm; a controller installed inside the marine base facility to control operations of the feed transfer device and the feed supply device; and an illumination device installed in the underwater fish farm to illuminate an inside of the underwater fish farm.
US09326480B2
A robotic attacher comprises a main arm, a supplemental arm coupled to the main arm, and a gripping portion coupled to the supplemental arm. The gripping portion comprises at least one nozzle and is operable to rotate such that during a first mode of operation, the nozzle is positioned away from the top of the gripping portion, and during a second mode of operation, the nozzle is positioned generally on the top of the gripping portion.
US09326476B1
A novel maize variety designated X08D421 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X08D421 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08D421 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08D421, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08D421. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08D421.
US09326471B1
A novel maize variety designated X08D384 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X08D384 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08D384 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08D384, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08D384. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08D384.
US09326470B1
A novel maize variety designated X08D357 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X08D357 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08D357 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08D357, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08D357. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08D357.
US09326469B2
A celery cultivar, designated ADS-25, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of celery cultivar ADS-25, to the plants of celery cultivar ADS-25 and to methods for producing a celery plant by crossing the cultivar ADS-25 with itself or another celery cultivar. The invention further relates to methods for producing a celery plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic celery plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to celery cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from celery cultivar ADS-25, to methods for producing other celery cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from celery cultivar ADS-25 and to the celery plants, varieties, and their parts derived from the use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid celery seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar ADS-25 with another celery cultivar.
US09326464B1
The invention provides seed and plants of Tagetes patula variety ‘PAS1077387’. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds, and tissue cultures of Tagetes patula variety ‘PAS1077387’, and to methods for producing a marigold plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another marigold plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the gametes of such plants.
US09326462B2
In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a soil moisture sensor for interrupting an irrigation schedule of an irrigation controller. The moisture sensor comprises a relatively flat body with two lower electrodes and two lower anchoring barbs. A receiver receives moisture readings from the sensor and compares moisture data to a predetermined moisture interrupt value or limit, over which irrigation is interrupted.
US09326454B2
A plant-cultivating method is provided which comprises a red light irradiation step (A) and a blue light irradiation step (B), wherein the step (A) and the step (B) are independently carried out for a predetermined period of time under cultivation conditions such that amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as fertilizer ingredients as used at the step (B) are smaller than amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as fertilizer ingredients, respectively, as used at the step (A). Preferably, fertilizer ingredients are applied in amounts such that a growth medium at the step (B) contains 10-15 me/L of nitrogen, 1-4 me/L of phosphorus and 2-6 me/L of potassium, and a growth medium at the step (A) contains 15-20 me/L of nitrogen, 3-6 me/L of phosphorus and 6-9 me/L of potassium.
US09326453B2
A core harvester storage rack assembly includes a frame including a first end and a second end, a plurality of wheels operatively coupled about a lower portion of the frame, a jack operatively coupled to an upper portion of the frame, the jack including a seat adapted to engage with an elevator assembly of the core harvester at a first point, a brace operatively coupled to the first end of the frame, the brace adapted to engage the elevator assembly of the core harvester at two spaced-apart points proximate a forward portion of the core harvester elevator assembly, so as to provide three points of support for the core harvester elevator assembly; and the second end of the frame is adapted to removably hold a conveyor assembly of the core harvester.
US09326446B2
A clutch assembly attachable to a rotational output shaft of the engine, wherein the clutch assembly is configured to drive at least one implement of a lawn maintenance vehicle is provided. The clutch assembly includes a first pulley fixedly attached to the output shaft, a second pulley independently rotatable relative to the first pulley, and a belt extending between the first and second pulleys and an idler pulley that is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The clutch assembly further includes a third pulley directly connected with the second pulley, wherein rotation of the second pulley is directly transferred to the third pulley, and rotation of the third pulley provides an output rotation of the clutch assembly.
US09326441B2
A device for calibrating the product dispensed by a distributor (5) of granular materials comprises a calibration aperture (9) formed in a through-conduit (8) for the granular material between the distributor (5) of the seed and a device (4) for transporting the material, and a gate (10) associated with the calibration aperture (9) and movable between a calibration position, in which the aperture (9) is open and the material from the distributor (5) is conducted via the aperture (9), and a distribution position, in which the aperture (9) is closed and the material is conducted therebeyond along the through-conduit (8), wherein a motorized actuator (11) is connected to the gate (10) so as to make the gate (10) movable between those positions.
US09332686B2
A lower supporting pin module 22 is given a shape having a contact surface 26a. On the occasion of position recognition for determining a position of a pin on the lower supporting pin module 22, an image of the lower supporting pin module 22 is captured, and the image is subjected to recognition processing, to thus detect an outer shape of an upper shaft 24B. Even when an extraneous matter on a downside surface of a substrate adheres to the contact surface 26a, the position of the lower supporting pin module 22 can be stably recognized with superior recognition precision.
US09332682B2
In an electronic component mounting method, electronic components are picked up from a component supply unit in which first and second tray supply mechanisms are arranged, and mounted on substrates. In the method, a first substrate and a second substrate different in type from the first substrate are transported by first and second substrate transport lanes, respectively, and a first component to be mounted on the first substrate and a second component to be mounted on the second substrate are supplied by the first and second tray supply mechanisms, respectively. If use stop setting indicating that the pickup of the electronic components is no longer conducted is enabled in one tray supply mechanism, the controller prohibits an access of a mounting head to the one tray supply mechanism, and permits an operation access of an operator to a tray housing unit of the one tray supply mechanism.
US09332669B1
A cable management arm of a server rack includes two cable frames, two first connecting bases and two first connecting members. The cable frames are pivotally connected with each other as a whole, and the first connecting bases are installed between a rear end of a slide and the server rack, and the first connecting members are installed at open ends of the cable frames respectively. A first snap portion designed on a first elastic plate of the first connecting member is snapped into the first connecting base by the elasticity of the first elastic plate and provided for accommodating at least one connecting wire. The cable management arm may change its length as the slide is stretched or pushed, and the structural design of the first connecting base and the first connecting member is simplified significantly to lower manufacturing costs and facilitate installation and removal.
US09332661B2
A printer includes a body case and an interface connector unit that is movable between a hidden position where the interface connector unit is hidden by the body case and an exposed position where the interface connector unit is exposed from the body case.
US09332658B2
A wiring board includes first and second insulating layers, first and second through holes, a via, a plane layer, and signal wirings. The first insulating layer covers a first wiring layer. The first through hole opens on a surface of the first insulating layer and exposes a surface of the first wiring layer. The via fills the first through hole. The plane layer is connected to the via and is stacked on the first insulating layer. The second through hole opens on a surface of the plane layer and exposes the surface of the first insulating layer. The second insulating layer at least partially fills the second through hole and covers the plane layer. The signal wirings are stacked on the second insulating layer. The first through hole overlaps the signal wirings in a plan view. The second through hole does not overlap the signal wirings in a plan view.
US09332657B2
A method for manufacturing a multilayer printed wiring board includes preparing a metal layer having metal member portions and connector portions connecting the metal member portions, forming laminated multilayer structures having electronic components and the metal member portions, respectively, forming cut penetrating holes in the connector portions of the metal layer, respectively, such that the connector portions of the metal layer are cut, and forming interlayer insulation layers on the laminated multilayer structures such that the laminated multilayer structures are interposed between the interlayer insulation layers. The forming of the interlayer insulation layers includes filling the cut penetrating holes with a resin derived from one or more interlayer insulation layers on the laminated multilayer structures.
US09332649B2
A flexible circuit board, a semiconductor package, and methods of forming the same are provided. The flexible circuit board includes: a base film; an input line pattern, an output line pattern, and a dummy pattern on a first surface of the base film; and a ground pattern on a second surface of the base film and electrically connected with the dummy pattern.
US09332648B2
The method for producing conductive tracks includes applying continuous metallization layers to a non-conductive substrate, forming a metallization pattern, and applying to the formed tracks a protective barrier layer and a layer for soldering and/or welding elements of parts to the conductive tracks. The continuous metallization layers are applied by consecutively applying an adhesive layer, a conductive layer, and a metal layer, acting as a mask, to the non-conductive substrate. To form the metallization pattern, a mask is formed by laser ablation on sections of the metal layer not occupied by conductive tracks, then selective chemical etching removes the conductive layer and adhesive sublayer from the exposed sections, and selective chemical etching removes the mask, after which the protective barrier layer and layer for soldering and/or welding are applied.
US09332645B2
A main body of an electronic part has multiple electrodes, to which multiple terminals are respectively connected. The terminals include a fuse terminal and a normal terminal, each of which extends from the main body to a printed board so that the main body is supported at a position above and separated from a board surface of the printed board. The fuse terminal has an intermediate portion between an electrode-connected portion and a land-connected portion. The intermediate portion has a cut-off portion having a smaller width than other portions of the fuse terminal, so that the cut-off portion is melted down when excess current flows in the fuse terminal. The intermediate portion extends in a direction parallel to the board surface or in a direction inclined to the board surface at an angle smaller than 90 degrees.
US09332639B2
Embodiments of the invention relates to a method for rework of a BGA package. Memory shape material is placed adjacent to a plurality of solder joints of the package. Stimulation is applied to the material, with the stimulation causing the material to change from a non-stimulated shape to a stimulated shape. This stimulation causes an expansion of the material. As the material expands, it exerts a tensile force on the BGA package and an adjacently positioned carrier, causing a separation of the two components, while mitigating collateral heat of adjacently positioned components.
US09332628B2
A microelectronic structure and a method for fabricating the microelectronic structure provide a plurality of voids interposed between a plurality of conductor layers. The plurality of voids is also located between a liner layer and an inter-level dielectric layer. The voids provide for enhanced electrical performance of the microelectronic structure.
US09332622B1
A lighting system for emulating at a first location the lighting conditions of a remote location includes a lighting control circuit that controls the brightness and color of each of a plurality of lamps at the first location. The lighting control circuit further includes a power source, a networking module that is adapted to receive lighting scene information, via a network, a non-transitory storage medium, and optionally at least one mirror. A remote command module is accessible by the networking module of the control circuit and is adapted to provide the lighting scene information to the lighting control circuit. The remote command module is preferably resident at least in part in a portable electronic device of a user. Alternately, the remote command module may be resident on the remote network server that is in communication with the networking module of the lighting control circuit through the network.
US09332602B2
A system and apparatus including a light emitting diode (LED) driver provides an operating DC voltage to a plurality of LEDs connected in series (LED array) for providing illumination. A rectifier circuit and a filter are coupled to an AC power supply and provide a rectified and filtered DC source voltage to a transformerless voltage boost circuit, which provides the operating DC voltage to the LED array. A hysteretic self-oscillating circuit drives the transformerless voltage boost circuit at an oscillation frequency. A tap is connected between two LEDs in the LED array, which provides an auxiliary DC voltage, which is used to power the oscillating circuit and which eliminates the need for the LED driver to have a conventional transformer or auxiliary DC-DC power converter. The transformerless voltage boost circuit includes an inductor, a capacitor, a diode, and a switch wherein the switch is controlled by the oscillating circuit.
US09332601B2
A two-stage AC-DC power converter for powering a load at a substantially constant current, and related methods and systems. The first stage of the AC-DC power converter includes a conventional power factor correction (PFC) circuit that outputs a direct current (DC) voltage and a DC current. The second stage of the AC-DC power converter includes a low voltage flyback circuit that receives the DC voltage and the DC current. The low voltage flyback circuit includes a flyback transformer and a switch circuit that selectably toggles the substantially constant output current provided by the low voltage flyback circuit to the load between a first and a second, preset constant current. The secondary windings of the flyback transformer are split into two sections, and the switch circuit toggles the two sections of the secondary windings between a series and a parallel configuration to provide the first and second, preset constant currents.
US09332600B2
A driving circuit that switches a light emitting element between an ON state and an OFF state in synchronization with an input signal is provided. The circuit includes a driving current supply unit that has a control terminal and supplies the light emitting element with a driving current whose value changes with dependency on the potential of the control terminal; a control unit that changes the potential of the control terminal in synchronization with the input signal; and a supplementary current supply unit that supplies the control terminal with a supplementary current that promotes change in the potential of the control terminal. The supplementary current supply unit has a capacitor, a voltage that is applied to the capacitor changes in synchronization with the input signal, and the supplementary current is generated by change in the voltage of the capacitor.
US09332596B2
A microwave oven has an oven chamber, a door hinged to the chamber, and at least one door position switch. The switch provides a signal on door position to a central process unit of the oven. A door position switch assembly includes the switch mounted on the door and adjacent a sliding cover element that is adapted to protect the switch in an open configuration of the door and a first protruding element adapted to move the sliding cover element when the door is closed on the oven chamber in order to make the switch accessible. Additionally, a second protruding element may be included that is adapted to actuate the switch in its accessible configuration.
US09332595B2
The present invention is directed to a portable and microwaveable container into which a vessel may be inserted, and which assists in preserving or prolonging elevated temperatures of the contents of the vessel for an extended period of time. The container includes a receptacle area, or opening, into which the vessel is inserted. The container of the present invention may be heated, such as in a microwave oven, and once heated, a vessel containing a warmed food product, typically an elevated temperature liquid, may be inserted. The container of the present invention internally contains a microwaveable absorbing material which retains thermal energy. Once heated, the container passively improves the heat retention of the contents of the inserted vessel.
US09332582B2
In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, a method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for wireless communication. The method, apparatus, and computer program product may be configured to provide a first peer connection with a first node, provide a second peer connection with a second node, and coordinate communication between the first and second nodes via the first and second peer connections.
US09332576B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, at a base station, communicating with a mobile phone where the base station comprises a premises wireless access point, at the base station, communicating with a mobile communication system by way of a broadband connection, and instructing a landline phone communicatively coupled to the base station to communicate with a remote end user device via the mobile communication system utilizing identification information of the mobile phone and responsive to communications between the base station and the mobile phone. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09332571B2
Wireless communication in a wireless system using a multiple user transmission opportunity is provided. Data blocks at a wireless station are transmitted to multiple wireless receivers over a shared wireless communication medium. The data blocks are organized in order of transmission priority based on access categories. Contention for access to the communication medium during a transmission opportunity period is based on a backoff timer of each access category and the transmission priority. Upon successful contention for a transmission opportunity period, during the transmission opportunity period, a data block of a primary access category is wirelessly transmitted from the wireless station to one or more primary destination wireless receivers. Simultaneously, a data block of a secondary access category is wirelessly transmitted from the wireless station to one or more secondary destination wireless receivers.
US09332566B2
The invention relates to a method for service aware scheduling of wireless resources in a wireless network. According to the inventive method, a service request for service delivery of a service type is received (51). A performance to value relationship for the service type is determined (52) and approximated (53) with a scheduling weight function associated with the service type. Previous performance for service delivery related to this service request is evaluated and approximated with a performance estimate (54). A scheduling weight is determined (55) by introducing the performance estimate in the scheduling weight function. Resource scheduling is performed (58) following a step of comparing (56) scheduling weights for on-going service requests. The invention also includes a network node and a system for service aware scheduling of wireless resources in a wireless network.
US09332565B2
A communications apparatus includes a first radio frequency (RF) signal processing device, a first baseband signal processing device and a processor. The first RF signal processing device transceives a plurality of RF signals to and from a peer communications apparatus to communicate with the peer communications apparatus in compliance with a first Radio Access Technology (RAT) and processing the RF signals. The first baseband signal processing device processes a plurality of baseband signals corresponding to the RF signals. The processor obtains an uplink scheduling indicating a predetermined time assigned by the peer communications apparatus to transmit uplink data from the baseband signals, determines whether to transmit the uplink data at the predetermined time according to a gap-creation criterion, and transmits padding instead of the uplink data to the peer communications apparatus at the predetermined time when the gap-creation criterion is satisfied.
US09332558B2
A method for allocating radio resources, a base station, and a system are provided. The method includes: acquiring statistical average user satisfaction of each access point in a relay cell, where the access point includes the base station and a relay node in the relay cell, the average user satisfaction is an average ratio of a total user rate obtained by an access point to a total user rate required by the access point, where the average ratio is in a statistical period; and when a difference between the statistical average user satisfaction of the base station and the statistical average user satisfaction of each relay node approaches a preset value, determining a resource partitioning weight of each access point; and calculating radio resources of each access point according to the resource partitioning weight of each access point, and allocating the radio resources to each access point.
US09332551B2
Techniques for opportunistic resource sharing between mobile devices are described. A method comprises identifying a set of homogeneous device resources implemented by multiple devices based in part on resource configuration information received by a wireless transceiver, selecting a shared homogeneous device resource of one of the multiple devices to share between the multiple devices, and sending shared configuration information to identify the shared homogeneous device resource and a share role for each of the multiple devices. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09332547B1
In systems and methods of frequency band selection for wireless device communication, a first frequency band comprising a first channel bandwidth is associated with a first application type and a second frequency band comprising a second channel bandwidth is associated with a second application type. When a request to establish a communication session is received at an access node from a wireless device, an application type associated with the request, a frequency band for the communication session with the wireless device based on the application type from among the first frequency band and the second frequency band, and the communication session is established between the access node and the wireless device using the selected frequency band.
US09332540B2
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and more particularly, to a method and device for transmitting and receiving a downlink control channel for controlling inter-cell interference in a wireless communication system. An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for transmitting a downlink control channel from a base station to a terminal, and the method may comprise: a step of determining whether a downlink subframe is of a first type or a second type; and a step in which if the downlink subframe is of the first type, the number of OFDM symbols for transmitting the downlink control channel is set to a preset value (N), and the downlink control channel is transmitted using N OFDM symbols.
US09332533B2
Examples of the present disclosure provide an ACK/NACK/SR resource mapping method and an apparatus. According to the technical solution provided by the examples of the present disclosure, in a system including a terminal utilizing a first type protocol and a terminal utilizing a second type protocol, the base station allocates the ACK/NACK/SR resources corresponding to the second type protocol in an area outside of the ACK/NACK/SR resource area reserved for the terminal utilizing the first type protocol, and informs the terminal utilizing the second type protocol of the allocation information of the corresponding ACK/NACK/SR resources. Thus, the terminal utilizing the second type protocol may transmit feedback information via the corresponding ACK/NACK/SR resources.
US09332528B2
The present invention relates to a method and a device for feeding back a channel through precoding matrix indicator (PMI) interpolation. As one embodiment of the present invention, a method for feeding back a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) in a CoMP environment comprises the steps of: allowing a terminal to perform PMI interpolation by using PMIs that are included in the PMI window; allowing the terminal to select an optimum PMI by comparing the interpolated PMIs with a channel state of a current channel; and allowing the terminal to feed back the optimum PMI to a base station.
US09332527B2
The disclosure provides a method for processing a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) counting message. The method includes: a network side configures counting message for performing feedback counting on an MBMS service; and the network side determines a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) area to which the counted MBMS belongs and a Multimedia Control Channel (MCCH) which corresponds to the MBSFN area, and transmits the counting message to user equipment (UE) through the MCCH which corresponds to the MBSFN area, or transmits the counting message to the UE through a Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH). The disclosure also discloses an apparatus for processing an MBMS counting message. By using the method and the apparatus provided by the disclosure, the network side can know the reception situation of the MBMS service in the MBSFN area.
US09332522B2
An audio-based navigation system for determining a present location or position of a mobile device such as a smartphone within a venue. The system includes a sound system with a first speaker playing first audio content and a second speaker playing second audio content. The first speaker is positioned in a first space in a venue, and the second speaker is positioned in a second space of the venue. The navigation system also includes a mobile device with memory storing a database of fingerprints of a plurality of differing audio content. The mobile device includes a microphone for receiving an audio signal associated with the first audio content or with the second audio content. The mobile device includes a processor(s) selectively running software to determine the mobile device location in the first or second space using either fingerprinting or watermarking module by processing the received audio signal.
US09332513B2
A method and an apparatus for performing synchronization by a first device in a Device-to-Device (D2D) network are provided. The method includes detecting a synchronization signal from at least one second device during one period, determining a phase adjustment value depending on a number of synchronization signals, which have been detected from the at least one second device during the one period, adjusting a phase value of a first device using the phase adjustment value, and transmitting a synchronization signal if the phase value of the first device reaches a predetermined specific value.
US09332509B2
Methods, systems, and devices are provided that may address problems pertaining to effective transmit power control of a communications device operating in a wireless communications system. Some embodiments utilize mechanisms or techniques with dynamically adaptive steps sizes for transmit power control based on one or more trends. Some of these techniques may identify a trend in the transmit power control (TPC) commands and may adapt a TPC step size as a result. Other techniques may be utilized in which transmit power control is based on multiple interference estimates in a frame slot. Having multiple interference estimates at sub-slot intervals may provide additional transmit power control by allowing more transmit power adjustments, or more appropriate adjustments, for each slot. Metric calculations may be performed on one or more techniques to determine appropriate TPC operations.
US09332494B1
A technique includes communicating with a base station via a transmitter and a receiver of a first client device based on a static schedule. The static schedule indicates an uplink time and a downlink time allocated to the first client device and associated with each of multiple frames of the base station. Communication time between the base station and multiple client devices linked to the base station including the first client device is divided into multiple frames. A mode request signal is transmitted or received and performs one of: (i) requesting operation in a sleep mode for a selected number S of the frames, and (ii) indicating operation in a standby mode. An initiate signal is transmitted from the first client device to the base station via the transmitter and indicates when to begin operating in the one of the sleep mode and the standby mode.
US09332492B2
The disclosure relates to a transmission scheme for nodes in a network. More specifically, the disclosure relates to an acknowledgment scheme that minimizes energy requirements for an acknowledgment of a transmission between nodes. The disclosure describes that an energy constrained node may transmit to other nodes in a network and may only require that an acknowledgment of that transmission is received from at least one of the proximal recipients, which may or may not be the ultimate target. In order to minimize the complexity of the receiver in a node and its energy requirements, the acknowledgment scheme may employ simple on-off keying (OOK) irrespective of the modulation technique of the sending transmission. The acknowledgment comprises a series of OOK pulses sent at a specified time after receipt of the transmission. In addition, simultaneously received acknowledgments can be processed and verified without confusion.
US09332487B2
A method provided in one embodiment includes determining a first resource indicator indicative of a first resource capability of a first network element, determining a second resource indicator indicative of a second resource capability of the first network element, determining a third resource indicator indicative of a third resource capability of the first network element, and sending the first resource indicator, the second resource indicator, and the third resource indicator to a second network element. The second network element is configured to determine a first metric value for the first network element based upon the first resource indicator, the second resource indicator, and the third resource indicator. The second network element is further configured to utilize the first metric value to determine a list of one or more acceptable network elements for a wireless device to establish a connection therewith.
US09332484B2
A method and apparatus for operating within a white space band using a message indicating whether an available channel information is valid in the wireless system are disclosed. In a method for a first station (STA) to operate as an unlicensed device which is permitted to operate on an available channel within a White Space (WS) band of a wireless system, comprises: receiving a message indicating whether an available channel information of the first STA is valid from a second STA, wherein the available channel is a channel not used by a licensed device, wherein the message includes a Map ID of a current valid available channel information; and determining whether an existing available channel information of the first STA is valid by comparing a Map ID of the existing available channel information of the first STA with the Map ID included in the received message.
US09332482B2
A method for communication of a base station includes: receiving first data from a first terminal; transmitting the first data to a second terminal by local forwarding without passing through an access service network (ASN); receiving second data from the second terminal; and transmitting the second data to the first terminal without passing through the ASN.
US09332481B2
A wireless communication system constitutes a wireless ad hoc network. A plurality of wireless terminals include a receiving terminal and a plurality of the transmitting terminals. Each of the transmitting terminals executes direct communication or indirect communication. The wireless communication system includes a first obtainer that obtains a reception side terminal number which is the number of the wireless terminals with which the receiving terminal is able to communicate directly, a second obtainer that obtains a transmission side terminal number which is the number of the wireless terminals with which a target transmitting terminal, which is one of the plurality of transmitting terminals, is able to communicate directly, and a setter that selects one of the direct communication and the indirect communication based on the reception side terminal number and the transmission side terminal number, and sets the target transmitting terminal so as to execute the selected communication.
US09332479B2
A wireless network site comprises a base station and a cell site gateway. The cell site gateway comprises a first interface connected to the base station, a second interface connected to a packet network gateway, a label forwarding layer, and a third interface connected to a signaling peer to exchange control plane information to program the forwarding layer. The label forwarding layer transmits and receive packets. The control plane information comprises at least one first label value for transmitting a first plurality of packets to the base station and at least one second label value for transmitting a second plurality of packets to the packet network gateway.
US09332476B2
A system and method may dynamically correct the dead reckoning (DR) position of a mobile device. An indoor or outdoor venue may have Access Points (APs) dispersed around its interior. Each time that a mobile device experiences a handover from one AP to a new AP, the mobile device and/or the local network associated with the venue may determine whether or not the mobile device's DR position corresponds to the location of the new AP. If the mobile device's DR position does not correspond to the location of the new AP within a predetermined threshold, then the mobile device's DR position may be updated to a position associated with the new AP. As a result, the DR position of the mobile device may be continuously checked, and if need be, corrected at each AP handover associated with the venue. The APs may be Wi-Fi/WLAN APs, eNodeB's, or other APs.
US09332474B2
A method in a controller for a first cell in a mobile cellular network for making a decision to handover a user equipment to a second cell of the mobile cellular network is described. The method may include obtaining a first measurement of an uplink signal from a user equipment at the first cell, obtaining a second measurement of an uplink signal from the user equipment at the second cell, and making a decision to handover the user equipment from the first cell to the second cell using the obtained first and second measurements.
US09332447B2
The present invention is directed to a base station including a transceiver configured to communicate with another base station using a radio resource, wherein the radio resource is allocated to the base station to serve communication devices located in a radio cell operated by the base station. A method of operating a base station is also disclosed.
US09332437B2
A wireless communications device is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the wireless communication device includes: a transceiver configured to facilitate communications with a radio access network; and a processing unit configured to: determine that a cell update message is to be transmitted to the network; determine if a security mode configuration procedure is in progress at the device; and if a security mode configuration procedure is not in progress, transmit a second type of cell update message to the network entity, the second type of cell update message not including an indicator indicating that the device has not had to abort an on-going security procedure and in place of said indicator including information not pertaining to a security procedure.
US09332432B2
A request is received to access a user account. A geolocation of a mobile device registered with the user account is obtained directly from the mobile device. Authentication credentials for the user account are verified for correctness. A mobile device geolocation verification request is transmitted to a cellular data provider. The cellular data provider is equipped to independently determine a true geolocation region of the mobile device for comparison with the geolocation of the mobile device as obtained directly from the mobile device. A verification response to the mobile device geolocation verification request is received from the cellular data provider. The verification response indicates whether or not the geolocation of the mobile device as obtained directly from the mobile device corresponds to the true geolocation region of the mobile device. A response to the access request based on the verification response is transmitted.
US09332430B2
A method and apparatus are provided for identifying and authenticating a radio tag by a radio reader. The tag forms part of a set of tags in a radio range of the reader and has selected a time slot from a set of available time slots. The method includes: a step of the reader sending a query message during the selected time slot; and a step of the reader receiving a reply message from the tag that selected the time slot. The reply message includes a random value selected by the tag. The tag stores authentication coupons and the reply from the tag received by the reader during the time slot contains, as a random value selected by the tag, a value that is a function of one of the coupons.
US09332427B2
A wireless computing device includes an antenna that is configured to transmit and receive wireless signals. The wireless computing device comprises a transmitter component that causes a first wireless signal to be transmitted to a wireless access point via the antenna, wherein the first wireless signal comprises a request for a location proof, wherein the request for the location proof comprises data that identifies the wireless computing device, and wherein the location proof comprises data that is indicative of a geographic location of the wireless access point. The system also includes a receiver component that receives, via the antenna, a second wireless signal from the wireless access point, wherein the second wireless signal is received by the receiver component subsequent to the transmitter component causing the first wireless signal to be transmitted to the wireless access point.
US09332407B2
There is provided a method of processing a rich-media message by a mobile device having a display, a mobile device operating system and a software application. The method includes receiving the rich-media message over a network by the mobile device, depacketizing the rich-media message by the mobile device operating system to retrieve an encoded rich-media message and address data in the rich-media message, and activating the software application on the mobile device by the mobile device operating system based on the address data in the rich-media message. The method also includes decoding the encoded rich-media message by the software application to generate rich-media content information, determining, using the rich-media content information, whether a rich-media element identified by the rich-media content information is resident on the mobile device, and if the determining determines that the rich-media element is resident on the mobile device, displaying the rich-media element on the display.
US09332403B2
Systems and methods are described that facilitate the generation of calling lists for use in planning or setting up conference calls. The system may include a communications module and a contact database comprising a plurality of contact records, each contact record corresponding to a different contact. Each contact record may include at least one contact address and at least one descriptor. For example, the descriptor may include a job title and/or expertise for the contact. The system may also include a selection module configured to select at least one of the contacts and also configured to compare the at least one descriptor to at least one qualifier criteria. The method may include: providing a contact database comprising a plurality of contact records, each contact record corresponding to a different contact; wherein each contact record comprises at least one contact address and at least one descriptor; determining at least one qualifier criteria; comparing the qualifier criteria to the at least one descriptor; determining a calling list corresponding to at least one contact.
US09332401B2
A method for providing dynamically translated public address announcements can begin with a multi-lingual module maintaining a listing of mobile devices that are currently active within a specified geographic area serviced by a public address system. The native language used by a mobile device that is different than a language used by the public address system can be noted. Content for an announcement broadcast by the public address system can be converted into a format capable of being transmitted via a wireless communications message. The converted content can be translated to the native languages noted in the listing. The wireless communications message containing the translated content can be pushed to corresponding mobile devices in the listing and the wireless communications message containing the converted content can be pushed to a remainder of the mobile devices in the listing via a non-cellular wireless network local to the specified geographic area.
US09332399B2
An apparatus includes a network node configured to communicate with other network nodes via a communication network. The network node includes a plurality of transceivers and a controller. The controller includes a packet management module that identifies a link profile solution set that includes a set of link profiles corresponding to communication links for multicasting the message packet. The link profile solution set maximizes coverage of network target nodes of the multicast message packet. The packet management module places a first message clone of the message packet in a transceiver queue for transmission to one or more of the network target nodes, updates the link profile solution set when the first message clone reaches the end of the transceiver queue, and initiates transmission of the first message clone or drop the first message clone according to the updated link profile solution set.
US09332392B1
A method of remotely activating a combination of mobile device functions using a network application includes receiving, using the network application at a server, a client command from a client computer and sending an instruction to activate a combination of mobile device functions on the mobile device based on the client command. The method further includes receiving, at the server, information from the mobile device based on the activated combination of mobile device functions and sending client information to the client computer based on the received information from the mobile device.
US09332388B1
A composite device includes an RFID device and a controller. The controller allows the RFID to respond to a query from an external source only when the composite device is at a predetermined location. In this manner, a code associated with the RFID is not released by the RFID anywhere in the world except at the location of the query requester.
US09332386B2
Methods, devices and systems for generating enhanced location information on or about a mobile device may include hybrid lateration and/or trilateration solutions in which the mobile device determines whether information obtained via a geospatial system of the mobile device is accurate, collects location information from a plurality of mobile devices in a communication group in response to determining that the information obtained via the geospatial system of the mobile device is not accurate, computes computing more precise location information (including three-dimensional location and position information) based on the location information collected from the plurality of mobile devices, and using the generated location and position information to provide an enhanced location based service, such as an emergency location service, a commercial location service, an internal location service and/or a lawful intercept location service.
US09332385B1
Based on wireless communication between a mobile device and at least one beacon, a present physical location of a mobile device can be identified. Responsive to determining that the mobile device is located at a particular physical location, at least a first message can be communicated to the mobile device. The first message can specify at least one application to be disabled while the mobile device is present at the physical location. Responsive to receiving from the mobile device a response to the first message indicating that the at least one application is disabled, the mobile device can be authorized to establish presence on a network maintained for the physical location.
US09332382B1
Systems and methods are provided for estimating the locations and coverage ranges of wireless transmission stations based on the existing location and coverage range data. The system divides the transmitting stations into a plurality of pairs and estimates new coverage range and location for each transmitting station in each pair based on confidence level, distance to another transmitting station in the same pair and coverage range overlap with other transmitting stations. Systems and methods are provided to estimate the location and accuracy range of the location of a client device based on the intersections of the coverage ranges of wireless transmission stations detected by the client device. The system repeatedly removes the transmission station with fewer number of intersections from further process if the number of intersections for each remaining transmission station is not the same.
US09332378B2
A wireless communication device includes a memory unit that stores a communication setting information, and a communication control unit that controls a wireless communication in accordance with the communication setting information. When the first wireless communication switches to the second wireless communication, the communication control unit keeps the communication setting information of the first wireless communication being stored. After that, when the second wireless communication is turned off, the communication control unit controls the first wireless communication in accordance with the communication setting information of the first wireless communication.
US09332377B2
The present invention concerns devices and methods for control of data transfer in a personal area network. The data transfer being performed by body coupled communication (BCC) and short-range wireless communication between a first portable electronic communication device (10) and a second portable electronic communication device (20, 30). The devices being adapted to be in close proximity to a body of a user and the first portable electronic communication device (10) is configured to initiate and perform execution of predefined actions by means of the method to cooperate with the second portable electronic communication device (20, 30) in a system/personal area network.
US09332375B2
An image forming apparatus includes a communication unit, a radio wave intensity measurement unit, and a communication control unit. The radio wave intensity measurement unit measures a radio wave intensity of radio waves received by the communication unit. The communication control unit performs control associated with communication disruption between the portable terminal and the communication unit when the measured result is lower than a predetermined first radio wave intensity and continuously decreases for a predetermined reference time.
US09332371B2
A system for determining loudspeaker position estimates comprises motion sensors (201,203) and a movement processor (205) arranged to determine motion data for a user movable unit where the motion data characterizes movement of the user moveable unit. A user input interface (207) receives user inputs and a user processor (209) processes them into user activations which indicate that at least one of a current position and orientation of the user movable unit is associated with a loudspeaker position. An analyzing processor (211) then generates loudspeaker position estimates in response to the motion data and the user activations. The system thus performs speaker position estimations based on (i) the motion data of the user moveable unit being pointed towards or positioned on a speaker and (ii) the user activations.
US09332369B2
In accordance with an embodiment, an interface circuit includes a variable voltage bias generator coupled to a transducer, and a measurement circuit coupled to an output of the transducer. The measurement circuit is configured to measure an output amplitude of the transducer. The interface circuit further includes a calibration controller coupled to the bias generator and the measurement circuit, and is configured to set a sensitivity of the transducer and interface circuit during an auto-calibration sequence.
US09332365B2
A stereo device testing method includes the following steps. Firstly, a stereo device is fixed, and a gas is continuously inputted into an inner space of the stereo device. After a predetermined time period, an internal pressure value of the inner space of the stereo device is detected. By judging whether the internal pressure value is higher than or equal to a default pressure value, the tester may determine whether the stereo device is qualified or not. After the stereo device is tested, the manufacturer of the stereo device may repair the gas leakage position. Since the influence of the gas leakage condition on the resonant effect is minimized, the sound quality of the stereo device is enhanced.
US09332345B1
Use of microphone capacitance as a switched capacitor in an input network of a delta-sigma modulator
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method and apparatus for providing a digitized microphone signal to a digital processing device may include an analog signal path portion, a digital signal path portion, and a control circuit. The analog signal path portion may have an audio input configured to receive an analog input signal indicative of audio sounds incident upon an audio transducer. The digital signal path portion may have an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog microphone signal to the digitized microphone signal. The control circuit may be configured to control a magnitude of the analog input signal or a derivative thereof in order to reduce audio distortion occurring in either or both of the analog signal path portion and the digital signal path portion.
US09332339B2
Flexible connectors that can be mated into specially designed electronic receptacles are described. In some embodiments, additional connections on the connector can make contact with the receptacle. However, the additional connections are also provided in a manner wherein if the connector is plugged into a legacy, conventional receptacle, the additional connectors become disengaged and slide away from, back from, or inside the jack so that the connector can still be used on legacy devices.
US09332338B2
A Bluetooth communication bracelet includes a main body and a Bluetooth earphone. The main body includes a wearing member, a charging plate, an USB interface, and an audio jack. The wearing member defines a receiving groove, a positioning portion and a charging electrode. The receiving groove is located on the outer peripheral of the wearing member, the positioning portion. The charging electrode is located on sidewalls of the receiving groove. The charging plate is located in the wearing member. The USB interface is electrically coupled to the charging plate for charging the charging plate. The Bluetooth earphone, which is received in the receiving groove, includes a carrier, an earplug, and a microphone. The carrier sets a matching portion and a contact electrode. The matching portion matches the positioning portion to make the Bluetooth earphone releasably mounted to the wearing member. The contact electrode is in contact with the charging plate.
US09332337B2
A headset (1) comprising at least one earphone (2, 3) with at a first earphone side (39) and earphone attachment means (14) for detachably attaching an ear pad (8) with co-operating ear pad attachment means (16) to the first earphone side (39). The headset (1) further comprising a wearing device (4) for attaching the headset (1) to the head of a user, such that the first earphone side (39) faces the ear. The earphone attachment means comprise magnetic elements (14), such that an ear pad (8) with co-operating magnetic ear pad attachment means (15) can be magnetically attached to the earphone (2, 3). The invention also relates to such an ear pad (8).
US09332334B2
A case for a mobile communications device is provided that is configurable to take on at least two audio/audible configurations. The first audio/audible configuration is a handset configuration and the second audio configuration is a headphone/earphone/earbud configuration. The case has a housing and a headphone male connector. The headphone male connector forms part of a headphone male connector assembly. The headphone male connector assembly is capable of moving the headphone male connector to selectively and/or mechanically engage a mobile communications device headphone port to actuate the first audio/audible configuration in a first position, and to actuate the second audio/audible configuration in a second position. A method of switching between different modes of operation of a mobile communications device, such as an iPhone™ smartphone, using the functionality of a removable, protective case for the device is also provided herein.
US09332309B2
An error recovery method may be engaged by an encoder to recover from misalignment between reference picture caches at the encoder and decoder. When a communication error is detected between a coder and a decoder, a number of non-acknowledged reference frames present in the decoder's reference picture cache may be estimated. Thereafter, frames may be coded as reference frames in a number greater or equal to the number of non-acknowledged reference frames that are estimated to be present in the decoder's reference picture cache. Thereafter, ordinary coding operations may resume. Typically, a final reference frame that is coded in the error recovery mode will be coded as a synchronization frame that has high coding quality. The coded reference frames that precede it may be coded at low quality (or may be coded as SKIP-coded frames). On reception and decoding, the preceding frames may cause the decoder to flush from its reference picture cache any non-acknowledged reference frames that otherwise might collide with the new synchronization frame. In this manner, alignment between the encoder and decoder may be restored.
US09332282B2
The present invention relates to an image encoding and decoding technique, and more particularly, to an image encoder and decoder using unidirectional prediction. The image encoder includes a dividing unit to divide a macro block into a plurality of sub-blocks, a unidirectional application determining unit to determine whether an identical prediction mode is applied to each of the plurality of sub-blocks, and a prediction mode determining unit to determine a prediction mode with respect to each of the plurality of sub-blocks based on a determined result of the unidirectional application determining unit.
US09332275B2
Compared to conventional intra divided-picture encoding, deterioration in the coding efficiency is suppressed and the encoding computational complexity and the decoding computational complexity are reduced. A divided picture generating unit divides an input encoding target picture into blocks of the same size and generates divided pictures having the same size by collecting pixels having the same relative position within each block. An intra divided-picture encoding processing unit performs intra divided-picture encoding on part of the divided pictures. An inter divided-picture encoding processing unit performs inter divided-picture encoding using another encoded divided picture as a reference picture. When there are a plurality of candidates for the reference picture, a correlation direction calculating unit obtains a combination in which a correlation of a pixel on an original picture is high among combinations of encoded divided pictures and their reference pictures. A reference picture selecting unit selects an encoded divided picture in a direction in which a correlation with an encoding target divided picture is high as the reference picture to be used in the inter divided-picture encoding processing unit.
US09332271B2
A method, a device and computer readable storage media facilitate providing screen content including a plurality of video frames that are displayed by a computing device. During coding of the screen content, a suitable predictor is found that is used to code pixel blocks from one or more frames. The suitable predictor is found by selecting a pixel block of a current frame, conducting a direction based search by comparing pixel blocks within a search window of a reference frame with the selected pixel block of the current frame to determine whether a match exists, and, in response to a determination that no sufficient match has been found, conducting a feature oriented search by comparing pixel blocks of the reference frame with the selected pixel block of the current frame to find a suitable match based upon a common feature.
US09332269B2
An example video coding system may include a processor and memory. The processor may determine sets of parameters for slices that correspond to a picture of a video sequence, and determine, and store in overhead information, the set of parameters that has the highest commonality. The processor may determine for each slice whether the set of parameters determined for the slice is equivalent to the set of parameters stored in overhead information. If the set of parameters for the slice is equivalent to the set of parameters stored in overhead information, the processor may store an indication in a slice header of the slice that indicates that the set of parameters stored in overhead information applies to the slice, otherwise the processor may store in the slice header of the slice the determined set of parameters for the slice. The processor may transmit the overhead information and the slices.
US09332265B2
An image decoding method is provided. The image decoding method includes obtaining information about a color representation from a bitstream, entropy decoding a residue, which corresponds to a difference between a current image and a predicted image of the current image, and reconstructing the current image by using the entropy decoded residue and the predicted image, based on the information about the color representation.
US09332261B2
A network management module includes a network interface module, memory, and a processing module. The network interface module is operable for coupling the network management module to a vehicle communication network. The processing module is operable to manage a global vehicle network communication protocol that includes instituting a content-based network packet processing protocol and managing the vehicle communication network to support the network packet processing protocol. The content-based network packet processing protocol includes determining content type of a packet, determining a processing requirement of the packet, and prioritizing execution of the processing requirement based on the content type.
US09332254B2
A method and device for encoding, decoding, storage and transmission of a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties including: producing one or more layers of the scalable data stream, wherein the coding properties include at least one of the following: Fine granularity scalability information; Region-of-interest scalability information; Sub-sample scalable layer information; Decoding dependency information; and Initial parameter sets, and signaling the layers with the characterized coding property such that they are readable by a decoder without the need to decode the entire layers. A corresponding method of encoding, decoding, storage, and transmission of a scalable bit stream is also disclosed, wherein at least two scalability layers are present and each layer has a set of at least one property, such as those above identified.
US09332250B2
In order to provide a display device capable of improving the display quality at the time of 2D display and 3D display, the present invention provides a display device that includes: a display panel that displays an image; and a liquid crystal lens panel that is arranged on the display surface side of the display panel, controls a refractive index in a cylindrical lens manner to form parallax barriers, and switches 2D display and 3D display, and the liquid crystal lens panel includes: a first transparent substrate that is arranged on the display panel side; a second transparent substrate that is arranged to face the first substrate through a liquid crystal layer; and a first polarizing plate that is formed on the display surface side of the second transparent substrate to control a polarization direction of light transmitting through the liquid crystal lens panel.
US09332240B1
A method, device, and/or medium may be associated with controlling media content delivery to a remote device by generating and transmitting a request to schedule media content for recording. An identification of a remote device that is prohibited from accessing the scheduled media content may be generated and included in the request. A request to transmit the recorded media content may be denied based, at least in part, on the identification of the prohibited device.
US09332231B2
In a method for monitoring safe driving of a vehicle, the method obtains a current image captured by an image capturing device positioned on an outside sideview mirror of the vehicle, determines a horizontal distance and a vertical distance between each pixel point in the current image and the lens of image capturing device, and selects a reference point from first specified pixel points whose horizontal distances are less than a first preset value. The method further determines second specified pixel points whose vertical distances are less than or equal to a second preset value based on the reference point, to obtains a processed image based on the second specified pixel points, and displays the processed image on an inside rearview mirror of the vehicle.
US09332226B2
A video session manager and method for enabling, optimizing, and managing inter-domain video communication sessions, including telepresence and videoconferencing sessions. The video session manager is configured to receive and analyze a video communication session request from one or more endpoints; to determine the viability of a communication session based on one or more attributes of the session; and to connect the one or more requesting endpoints to start the session. The video session manager is further configured to connect the one or more requesting endpoints via a bridging resource, such as a multipoint control unit, based on one or more considerations such as geography and transmission channel utilization.
US09332225B2
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, an apparatus, and a system for controlling a conference including a telepresence conference site, and relate to the field of network communications technologies. An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for controlling a conference site in a telepresence conference, including: receiving attribute information of a telepresence conference site sent by the telepresence conference site, where the telepresence conference site includes at least two video areas; and performing conference control according to the received attribute information of the telepresence conference site. Through application of the present invention, the conference control process of the telepresence conference site may be simplified.
US09332215B1
A method and system for displaying to a pilot, or other airborne personnel, high resolution video signal content on a lower resolution display, by providing a plurality of pilot selectable aspects of the high resolution video signals, which are predetermined to accentuate a particular characteristic of said high resolution video signals, where the aspects are non-linear mappings of the high resolution signals (x) to (y) on said lower resolution display, where the non-linear mapping has y determined by a constant with an exponent which includes x and a logarithmic constant.
US09332203B2
A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a photoelectric-conversion element configured to output electric charges generated by photoelectric conversion to a first node, and an accumulation circuit having an input terminal connected to the first node and being capable of changing an integral capacitance value. The number of drain or source of a MOS transistor in an OFF state connected to the first node is one.
US09332202B2
A solid-state imaging apparatus, wherein an analog to digital conversion unit converts an analog signal from the pixel, a first memory holds the digital signal from the analog to digital conversion unit, and thereafter, a second memory holds the digital signal held by the first memory. The analog to digital conversion unit converts an analog signal from the pixel based on a photoelectric conversion of the pixel, and the first memory holds the digital signal from the analog to digital conversion unit. The first memory includes a first latch circuit holding a digital signal from the analog to digital conversion unit and a second latch circuit holding a signal held by the first latch circuit. The second memory includes a third latch circuit holding a signal held in the first latch circuit and a fourth latch circuit holding a signal held in the third latch circuit.
US09332187B2
A camera module according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a first Printed Circuit Board (PCB) configured to have an image sensor mounted thereon; a housing unit disposed over the first PCB; a holder module spaced apart from a bottom surface within the housing unit at a specific interval and configured to have first coils wound on its outer circumferential face and to include at least lens therein; a second PCB combined with the bottom surface of the holder module; a third PCB disposed over the holder module; a plurality of wire springs each configured to have one end connected to the second PCB and the other end connected to the third PCB; and buffer units provided at the connection units of the wire springs and the third PCB and configured to surround the connection units of the wire springs and the third PCB.
US09332183B2
An imaging device that captures an image using an imaging section includes a control section that controls a signal modulation process that decreases or increases a signal level of an image signal acquired by the imaging section during an exposure period from a start of exposure to an end of exposure when the imaging section captures an image, and a blur correction section that performs a blur correction process on the image signal subjected to the signal modulation process.
US09332180B2
An image capture apparatus includes an image capture unit, an image processing unit, an image quality adjusting unit, and an output unit. The image capture unit generates first image data using an image capture device. The image processing unit generates second image data from the first image data so that an image quality of the second image data corresponds to a flat image quality. The image quality adjusting unit converts the second image data into third image data by adjusting the image quality of the second image data to be a predetermined image quality. The output unit outputs the third image data instead of the second image data to an external apparatus if a predetermined condition is satisfied.
US09332175B2
An image photographing apparatus and a photographing method thereof are provided. The image photographing method includes displaying a photographing mode selection user interface (UI), in response to a plurality of photographing modes being selected through the photographing mode selection UI, calculating a final setting value based on a photographing setting value of the plurality of selected photographing modes, and in response to a photographing command being input, photographing an image according to the calculated final setting value.
US09332173B2
An imaging device is configured to include an imaging lens, an imaging unit which acquires image data based on an optical image of a subject received via the imaging lens, a motion detector which detects a motion of the subject based on image data sequentially obtained from the imaging unit, a focus detector which calculates focus position data based on the image data obtained from the imaging lens when the motion detector detects a motion of the subject, and an in-focus position estimating unit which estimates an in-focus position based on the calculated focus position data.
US09332167B1
Approaches are described for selectively managing imaging elements on a computing device. A portable computing device can include a camera module that can manage the capture and/or processing of image data. The module can include a first imaging element attached to a first surface of a substrate and a second imaging element attached to a second surface of the substrate, the first surface being opposite the second surface. The image module can also include an image signal processor (ISP) or other dedicated imaging processing circuitry attached to or otherwise in connection with the substrate. The circuitry can be shared between the imaging elements, and can be configured to receive a selection of one of the imaging elements and process (e.g., depth pixel correction, etc.) captured image data based on the selected imaging element.
US09332160B1
A system and method of synchronizing the processing and distribution of audio-visual assets in a distributed production studio are presented. The method addresses the processing of broadcast television, including match moving computer graphics technology, in such an environment. Audio-visual sources provide the assets while processing nodes interact with them to produce a composite output. Synchronization of the communication between, and the processing by, the sources and nodes is managed by a master controller and delay buffers located on the nodes. Assets are tagged with updatable reference-to-zero values indicative of a current transmission delay between their last source and the controller. These reference-to-zero values are used by processing nodes to determine where in their local buffer to place each asset so they emerge from the buffer to a local digital signal processor in synchronicity and that assets originally produced at a common time are executed locally at a common time.
US09332151B2
An image processing apparatus, having a reconstruction circuit for which reconstruction based on construction data is possible, comprises a first storage unit configured to store the construction data; a writing unit configured to, when the image processing apparatus transitions to a power saving state, write the construction data, which is stored in a first storage unit, in a second storage unit which is different to the first storage unit; and a reconstruction unit configured to, when the image processing apparatus returns from the power saving state, reconstruct the reconstruction circuit based on the construction data stored in the second storage unit.
US09332145B2
System and methods for prevention of empty media trays in a print system. In one embodiment, a system includes a print controller configured to receive a print job, and to initiate collection of media from a media tray based on information in the print job. The system also includes a supply detection module configured to detect a low supply of the media in the media tray, and to generate an error responsive to detection of the low supply before the media tray is empty. The print controller is configured to stop the collection of the media based on the error signal so that at least one sheet of the media remains in the media tray.
US09332136B2
An image processing apparatus and method includes inputting user information, setting folder information about a specified user based on the user information as a destination of image data, registering the set folder information, and performing control so as not to register folder information corresponding to a transmission protocol set to be disable from among a plurality of transmission protocols.
US09332133B2
A cellular traffic monitoring system includes: a Traffic Detection Function (TDF) module to monitor cellular traffic associated with a cellular subscriber device, and to generate application detection output indicative of an application used by the cellular subscriber device; an application-based charging module to generate, based on the application detection output of said TDF module, application-based charging data related to said cellular subscriber device; a Policy Charging and Enforcement Function (PCEF) module to enforce one or more charging rules that are Service Data Flow (SDF) based and are related to said cellular subscriber device; an SDF-based charging module to generate SDF-based charging data related to said cellular subscriber device; and a charging correlator module to identify a potential over-charging due to an overlap between the application-based charging data and the SDF-based charging data.
US09332128B2
A method and system are described for servicing a second line service (“SLS”) based communication request originating from a subscriber's telecommunications device (“TD”) even if the call signal does not include sufficient information to identify the phone number from which the subscriber initiated the call. The method involves associating the SLS phone number of the subscriber, the primary number of the subscriber and the primary number of a third party via a special relationship number.
US09332123B1
A system, method, and computer readable medium for feedback of survey results comprises a data center, a call center, and a survey platform communicably coupled to the data center and to the call center, wherein the data center receives a communication initiated by an individual, wherein the communication is routed to the survey platform after an event, wherein data related to at least one of: the individual and the communication is collected, wherein the individual is prompted for participation in a survey, if the individual agrees to participate in the survey, the data is routed to the call center, based on the data and information related to the individual, the individual is routed to an agent within a call center, wherein the agent conducts a survey, and wherein results of the survey are dynamically provided to quality control database.
US09332118B2
A computer-implemented method for distributing phone calls includes the steps of receiving or initiating a telephone call from or with a caller associated with caller identification information, generating masked caller identification information by masking a portion of the caller identification information, transmitting the masked caller identification information to a plurality of potential call-buyers, determining a call-buyer of the plurality of potential call-buyers to receive the incoming phone call, and storing the caller identification information with the masked caller identification information. A system and computer-readable medium are also disclosed.
US09332111B2
A method of transferring data between a first mobile terminal and a second terminal, the method includes displaying an object on a display unit of the first mobile terminal; receiving an input of a directional gesture on the displayed object; and transmitting the object to the second mobile terminal based on the input gesture, when the first mobile terminal and the second terminal are in a predetermined directional range with respect to each other.
US09332110B2
An operation method and mobile terminal connected to an electronic device are provided. An extracted piece of content among multiple pieces of content displayed on a screen of the electronic device and a command of a functional application are received. The functional application is executed according to the command using the extracted piece of content.
US09332109B2
Phone call tracing is a law enforcement tool best known for its use by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in trying to catch kidnappers. Tracing a call is useful for law enforcement and intelligence agencies in order to capture potentially dangerous people. Although useful, tracing a phone call has one drawback: time. It takes time to trace a call. Because of the time it takes to trace a call, the phone is usually hung up or turned off before a trace can be completed. Since there is no way for the trace to be hurried, I propose a phone app that when uploaded to a phone will prevent the phone from disconnecting from the network. This app would upload on the electrical signal carrying the audio and/or video signal. The app will upload into the phone and interfere with the phones ability to terminate the call without indicating that the phone is still connected to the network. With the app downloaded, the app will keep the phone call active so that the trace can then be completed.
US09332107B1
A wireless handset for avoiding application interruption is disclosed that comprises a processor, a first component, and a second component. The first component, when executed by the processor, supports an application interruption avoidance feature that promotes preventing an incoming voice call from interrupting an application and forwarding the voice call to a voice mail server. Optionally, the first component also supports alerting a user without interrupting the in-progress application with one of a voice mail notification and an incoming call notification. The second component, when executed by the processor, is configured to receive control inputs to activate the application interruption avoidance feature and to deactivate the application interruption avoidance feature to allow a new voice call to come to the handset. The second component is also configured to select incoming call indicators and to activate/deactivate an incoming call alert to allow/prevent display of the incoming call indicators on the handset.
US09332098B2
An electronic device includes a cover panel, a piezoelectric vibration element, and a drive section. The cover panel is provided on a front surface of the electronic device. The piezoelectric vibration element is provided on an inner main surface of the cover panel. The drive section causes the piezoelectric vibration element to vibrate based on a sound signal. The cover panel has no earpiece hole.
US09332096B2
A mobile terminal includes: a display module formed to output image information to one surface thereof; a window covering one surface of the display module; and a bonding member formed on an upper surface of the display module to bond the window to the display module, wherein the bonding member extends from the upper surface of the display module to one point of a rear surface the display module through a lateral surface of the display module to integrally fix a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and a backlight module installed in the display module, and the display module is disposed between a rear surface of the window and a case forming the exterior of a terminal body.
US09332094B2
A modem is disclosed. An embodiment thereof includes: a first interface arranged to connect to a network, a second interface arranged to connect to a host processor on the terminal, an audio interface arranged to connect to an audio processing means and a processing unit arranged to receive a plurality of parameters from the terminal via the second interface. The plurality of parameters are associated with a call established by the host processor to at least one further terminal connected to the network; wherein the processing unit is further arranged to receive input voice data from the audio processing means, process the input voice data in dependence on at least one of said parameters; and transmit the processed input voice data via the first interface to the at least one further terminal over said network during the call in dependence on a further at least one of said parameters.
US09332085B2
The present invention provides a method for realizing a REST (Representational State Transfer) interface of a cloud cache in an Nginx. The method includes: receiving a Hyper Text Transport Protocol (HTTP) message transmitted from a client, and parsing out key information and an operation type corresponding to the HTTP message according to a preset configuration file; converting the key information and the operation type into a parameter required by a cloud cache operation and a cloud cache operation type, and transmitting the parameter to a cloud cache apparatus, so that the cloud cache apparatus performs the cloud cache operation according to the parameter and the cloud cache operation type; receiving a cloud cache operation result returned by the cloud cache apparatus, processing the cloud cache operation result, and returning the processed result to the client. The present invention also provides a corresponding system. The present invention enables a larger cache capacity and better saves CPU resources, thereby enabling a more powerful cache function of the Nginx.
US09332083B2
A server and/or a client stores a metadata hash map that includes one or more entries associated with keys for data records stored in a cache on a server, wherein the data records comprise Java Virtual Machine (JVM) artifacts or monitoring information. Each of the entries stores metadata for a corresponding data record, wherein the metadata comprises a server-side remote pointer that references the corresponding data record stored in the cache, as well as a version identifier for the key. A selected data record is accessed using a provided key by: (1) identifying potentially matching entries in the metadata hash map using the provided key; (2) accessing data records stored in the cache using the server-side remote pointers from the potentially matching entries; and (3) determining whether the accessed data records match the selected data record using the provided key and the version identifiers from the potentially matching entries.
US09332080B1
Methods and Systems for determining a user state for a member of a social network are described. According to one embodiment, a method comprising receiving in a network of associated users user state information for a first user, wherein the network of associated users comprises user established relationships between users, determining a current user state for the first user; and outputting to a second user the user state information based at least in part on the current user state and a relationship based permission status is set forth.
US09332077B2
To enhance information about connections in a social networking service, embodiments of the invention enable users to reference nodes while posting content to a communication channel. To identify connections within content in the social networking service, users of the social networking service are provided an interface to post content items in communication channels of the social networking service. A trigger received in the interface indicates that a user wishes to identify a connection in the posted content item. Selectable links enable the user to mention another node in the social networking service when posting a content item. As users reference nodes in content items, information about the connections with the referenced nodes is gathered and stored in a database that is indexable and searchable in real-time.
US09332075B2
A method performed by a network appliance having a plurality of application processing units, includes: receiving a first packet at the network appliance; calculating a first value using a mathematical algorithm based on one or more information regarding the first packet; and using the calculated first value to identify a first application processing unit of the plurality of application processing units in the network appliance. A network appliance includes: a plurality of processing units that are communicatively connected to each other; wherein a first processing unit of the plurality of processing units is configured for: calculating a first value using a mathematical algorithm based on one or more information regarding a first packet; and using the calculated first value to identify a second processing unit of the plurality of processing units.
US09332074B2
The present invention relates to memory to memory communication and storage for hybrid systems. Under the present invention, a data stream is received on a first computing device of a hybrid system. An attempt is made to store the data stream on the first computing device up to a per stream limit and a total storage limit of the first computing device. It is then determined whether to store at least a portion of the data stream on a second computing device of the hybrid system that is in communication with the first computing device. This decision is based on the per stream limit and the total storage limit of the first computing device as well as a per stream limit and a total storage limit of the second computing device. Thereafter, the at least a portion of the data stream and a control signal are communicated to the second computing device for storage.
US09332070B2
The communications method for synchronization of service event related communications at an event management platform, may include receiving a notification transmitted from a service event source including event information related to at least one service offered by the service event source and for a mobile wireless device associated with a given service user, and including a synchronization value associated with a service instance. The method may further include storing the synchronization value, and receiving a subsequent notification transmitted from the service event source including a subsequent synchronization value associated with the service instance. The subsequent synchronization value is compared with the stored synchronization value and based thereon a request is generated and sent to the service event source for event information associated with notifications having synchronization values between the subsequent synchronization value with the stored synchronization value. The notifications are provided to the mobile wireless device associated with the given service user.
US09332065B2
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for in obtrusively determining previous actions and information associated with a user and generating web page content based upon previous actions and stored information.
US09332064B2
A computer system and a remote control method thereof are provided. The method is adapted for the computer system having a network and a processor. In the method, the network card is used to receive a management interface request sent by a remote device thorough a network and send a system management interrupt to the processor, so as to wake up the processor and control the processor to enter a system management mode. Then, the processor loads a management monitoring program into a memory so as to execute the management monitor program. Finally, the processor processes the management interface request by using the management monitoring program in the system management mode, and replies a processing result to the remote device through the network by using the network card.
US09332054B2
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling access to a network by a network device comprises returning a message prompting connectivity to a captive portal that is different from a HTTP Source Code redirect. The message is an HTML document such as a frameset.
US09332051B2
Methods and systems for adaptive streaming cost management are described. A processing device can receive a request over a network from a media player executing on a client device to adaptively stream media content. The media content can include a plurality of media slices. The processing device can identify a geographical location of the client device from the request. The processing device can generate a media manifest file based on the geographical location of the client device. The media manifest file can indicate one or more media sources at which a copy of the plurality of media slices is geographically located and a cost associated with delivery of the plurality of media slices from the respective one of the one or more media sources. The processing device can transmit the media manifest file to the client device over the network.
US09332048B2
Mechanisms are provided for allowing a streaming server to efficiently provide frames associated with a media stream to a client device. A streaming server receives multiple media streams and determines which frames in the multiple media streams are key frames. When a connection request is received from a client device, a key frame is selected and provided to the client device. A client device receiving a key frame does not have to drop any predictive frames prior to playing a media stream.
US09332043B1
A system and method for facilitating user interactions with a virtual space through a graphical chat interface is disclosed. One or more potential inputs to the virtual space and/or virtual space status information may be determined dynamically for a user participating in a chat session through a graphical chat interface. An activity notification may be generated for the user based one the determined potential inputs and/or the virtual space status information. The generated activity notification may comprise graphical representation for the notification and as well as representation information for one or more controls facilitating the user to provide inputs requested by the activity notification through the graphical chat interface. User acceptance to the activity notification via the graphical chat interface may be received. One or more activity commands may be generated based on the received user acceptance and executed in the virtual space.
US09332034B2
Disclosed are system, methods, and computer program product for designation of encryption policies for user devices. An example method includes determining one or more criteria for the user device related to encryption requirements of the user device; determining numeric values for each of the one of more criteria; determining a coefficient for the device based on the numeric values; determining an encryption policy for the device based on the coefficient; and applying the determined encryption policy to the device.
US09332027B1
A web browser may implement a single origin policy that makes an exception for media files such as markup language image files. In cases where the delivery of data to a browser may be blocked by a single origin policy, such as where the data originates from a domain other than the domain that originates the initially presented content, the data may be encoded in one or more media files, such as images, to circumvent the single origin policy. The data may be encoded using height and width dimensions, pixel colors, transparencies, or other characteristics of the media file(s). The media file(s) may be sent to the browser and decoded to access the data.
US09332026B2
The invention features systems and methods for detecting and mitigating network attacks in a Voice-Over-IP (VoIP) network. A server is configured to receive information related to a mitigation action for a call. The information can include a complexity level for administering an audio challenge-response test to the call and an identification of the call. The server also generates i) a routing label based on the identification of the call, and ii) a script defining a plurality of variables that store identifications of a plurality of altered sound files for the audio challenge-response test. Each altered sound file is randomly selected by the server subject to one or more constraints associated with the complexity level. The server is further configured to transmit the script to a guardian module and the routing label to a gateway.
US09332019B2
A method of controlling access to a remote system includes granting a connecting device full access to the system upon determining the device is registered to a user, upon determining the device is not registered, determining whether the device has connected to the system before, granting the device full access to the system if the device has connected before and a trust index based on a trust level for the device and a trust level of a location the device is currently connecting from exceeds a threshold, and granting the device limited access to the system otherwise.
US09332002B1
An administrator may issue a credential to a user and may define a policy that authorizes its use based on a predefined location. The policy and the credential may be bound in a digital certificate signed by a trusted party. When the user operates a computing device to access a resource, the computing device may present the digital certificate to the resource. In turn, the resource may use the digital certificate to authenticate the user and to verify that the policy authorizes his or her access.
US09332000B2
A one-pass authentication mechanism and system for heterogeneous networks are provided. The mechanism comprises authenticating a user based on an authentication key and an authentication algorithm in response to a request of the user to register a first network, wherein the authentication key and the authentication algorithm are associated with a first user identity for the first network and a second user identity for a second network; and if the authentication is successful, then comparing the first user identity retrieved from an authentication database through the second user identity provided by the user to the first user identity provided by the user in the authentication, in response to a request of the user to register the second network, and setting up security associations between the user and the second network if the retrieved first user identity matches the first user identity provided by the user.
US09331991B2
Techniques are provided for improving security in a single-sign-on context by providing, to a user's client system, two linked authentication credentials in separate logical communication sessions and requiring that both credentials be presented to a host system. Only after presentation of both credentials is the user authenticated and permitted to access applications on the host system.
US09331989B2
Systems and methods used to securely communicate a shared key to devices. One embodiment describes a method to securely communicate a shared key to a first device and a second device that includes receiving, using the first device, a shared key and unique identifier pairing associated with the first device from a key generator; receiving, using a trusted third party, the shared key and unique identifier pairing from the key generator; generating, using the first device, a signature using the unique identifier and the shared key; transmitting, using the first device, the signature and the unique identifier to the trusted third party; verifying, using the trusted third party, the unique identifier based on the signature; determining, using the trusted third party, the shared key when the unique identifier is verified; and transmitting, using the trusted third party, the shared key to the second device to enable the first device and the second device to communicate securely by encoding and decoding communicated data using the shared key.
US09331986B2
An encrypted communication method relating to communication technologies includes allocating a same encryption key for a first application and a terminal that is only bound to the first application. The method also includes transparently transmitting information communicated between the terminal and the first application when determining that the terminal communicates with the first application by using the same encryption key.
US09331985B2
A method includes sensing an image of a portable device by using a camera unit, acquiring an orientation information estimation value of the portable device by using the sensed image, extracting key generation information for secure communication by using the orientation information estimation value, generating a secret key by using the extracted key generation information, and performing secure communication with the portable device by using the secret key.
US09331973B1
In order to facilitate access to relevant information, a system may determine topics that are of interest based on skills of users in a social network of users and annotations associated with content in the social network. Then, the system may identify experts knowledgeable about the topics among the users in the social network. These experts may be invited to aggregate and edit the topic content. For a given topic, the system may provide, to a subset of the experts, documents with suggested topic content and presentation formats for the topics. Based on feedback from the subset of the experts (such as modifications to one or more of the documents and/or the presentation formats), the system may modify or revise the documents.
US09331964B2
A method for transferring data between a first and a second computer system by way of a storage location in a third computer system. When needed for a transfer, the third computer system creates the storage location associated with the first computer system. Using the association, the first computer is able to access the storage location. The second computer system reads access information from a close proximity identification medium, where the information is associated with the storage location. Using the information, the second computer system is able to access the storage location. In a data transfer, one of the first and second computer system stores information in the storage location and the other of the first and second computer systems reads the data from the storage location. Once the data has been transferred from the storage location, the storage location is deleted.
US09331963B2
Mechanisms provide hosts such as servers and mobile devices with access to virtualized I/O resources including virtual Host Bus Adapters (vHBAs) and virtual Network Interface Cards (vNICs) over a wireless I/O interconnect. Host applications access virtualized I/O resources using virtual device drivers that communicate with virtualized I/O resources on an I/O director using a reliable communication protocol running over a wireless network. I/O data is throttled if necessary based on wireless network considerations.
US09331962B2
A packet based switched multimedia network which consolidates networking of high throughput, time sensitive data, and control streams, with Ethernet data networking over home span. The multimedia network may support in parallel, over the same home span cabling infrastructure, high quality networking including time sensitive data streams, such as HDMI, USB, and Ethernet, transparent network attachment for legacy devices, multi stream, and low power modes.
US09331961B2
Methods and systems for bridging network packets transmitted over heterogeneous media channels are provided. According to one embodiment, a network switching/routing blade server comprises network interfaces, including a first and second set operable to receive packets encapsulated within a first and second set of media transmissions, respectively, and each having a first and second framing media format, respectively. A single bridging domain is provided by a shared bridging application. A memory stores data structures for translating between the first and second framing media formats via an intermediate format. The netmods pass a received packet, through a switching fabric, to the bridging application, which determines a relay location for the packet and whether the relay location is among the other set of netmods. Responsive to an affirmative determination, the bridging application uses the translation data structures to translate the packet before relaying the packet to the relay location.
US09331959B2
A transmission apparatus includes a detector to receive a multiplexed signal including a plurality of signals having different frame periods and detect switching information included in the multiplexed signal; a sorter to sort a plurality of pieces of detected switching information into one or more groups according to types of corresponding signals; an adjuster to adjust an order of transferring the switching information sorted, according to a period with which the switching information is received; a transfer unit to transfer the plurality of pieces of switching information sorted, based on a result of the adjustment performed by the adjuster; a controller to generate path setting information to set transmission paths of the signals based on the plurality of pieces of switching information transferred from the transfer unit; and a switch unit to set the transmission paths based on the path setting information generated by the controller.
US09331949B2
A control network management system for relaying first and second wireless communications comprises a first repeater having a packet control means for writing priority information in a header of communication packet data of the first wireless communication, as received and transmitting the communication packet data with a hash value of the header, added thereto, a second repeater having a packet control means for zero-clearing priority information in a header of communication packet data of the second wireless communication, as received, or changing the priority information to a predetermined value before transmitting the communication packet data with a hash value of the header, added thereto, and a third repeater having a priority control means for applying priority control to the header of the communication packet data received from the first repeater or the second repeater, on the basis of priority information, thereby transmitting the communication packet data to a control system.
US09331948B2
An example method is provided and includes receiving a request from a mobile node for an Internet protocol (IP) address and establishing a point-to-point (PPP) link for the mobile node. The method also includes provisioning a first tunnel associated with a first communication flow for the mobile node, and provisioning a sub-tunnel with the first tunnel for a second communication flow. The second communication flow is associated with a high priority type of data to be transported on the sub-tunnel. In more specific embodiments, a call admission control (CAC) mechanism is used to establish the sub-tunnel with the first tunnel for the second communication flow. Additionally, an inner label is installed in a header of a packet associated with the second communication flow in order to identify the sub-tunnel.
US09331947B1
Systems and methods can provide for packet-rate policing and admission control with optional stress throttling. In some implementations, a broadband device can monitor bandwidth usage and respond after exceeding a maximum packet-rate threshold based on a per-channel basis. In other implementations, a broadband device can monitor bandwidth usage and respond after exceeding a maximum packet-rate threshold based on a per-service-flow basis. In additional implementations, a broadband device processor can feedback data to the packet-rate policer to throttle the packet rate based on processor utilization. Policing data traffic based on packet-rate instead of bandwidth can increase flexibility to service providers as an increasing number of services are deployed to users.
US09331937B2
Some embodiments provide a network control system that includes a network controller and a set of hosts on which a set of managed forwarding elements operate. The network controller computes forwarding state information and pushes the computed forwarding state information to a set of managed forwarding elements to define forwarding behaviors of the managed forwarding elements. The managed forwarding elements receive the forwarding state information from the network controller and directly exchange with each other updates to the forwarding state information. The updates are exchanged between the managed forwarding elements without a network controller relaying the updates.
US09331930B1
A controller may be used to control client switches in a network that includes non-client switches. The controller may form client domains from groups of client switches that are separated by intervening non-client domains formed from non-client switches. The controller may determine a network domain topology from the client domains and non-client domains. The controller may determine a spanning tree that interconnects the nodes of the network domain topology. The controller may control client switches of the client domains to allow only network traffic between the client domains and the non-client domains along the spanning tree. The controller may use the network domain topology to generate inter-domain forwarding maps. The inter-domain forwarding maps may be used to determine network forwarding paths between end hosts in the network.
US09331927B2
A communication system includes a first communication device configured to transmit input data to a transmission path, detects a first accumulated amount of the input data, and transmit notifying data to the transmission path when the detected first accumulated amount has reached a threshold value, and a second communication device configured to receive data transmitted to the transmission path by the first communication device, detect a second accumulated amount of the received data, and output measurement information based on the detected second accumulated amount and the threshold value when having received the notifying data.
US09331920B2
Techniques are provided for obtaining header information from a packet configured for real-time communications transport over a network. The header information is used to monitor network performance of one or more secure portions of the network. The packet is encrypted using a security protocol and encapsulated using a transport protocol to produce a transport packet for transmission over the network. The transport packet header information is inserted into the transport packet prior to transmission over the network. The header information is used by a downstream network device or network analyzer to determine performance metrics for the network without decrypting the encrypted packet.
US09331919B2
A method for organizing network flow information within a relational database relates to minimizing contention for the network flow information. In particular, data is generally aggregated at certain time intervals and separately organized. In this way, contention is decreased as analysis can occur on the separated existing flow records, which are optionally aggregated, while new raw flow records are stored. In another embodiment, the aggregated data can be re-aggregated at second, larger time intervals.
US09331918B2
A method, performed by a computer system, of providing usage data for a plurality of hyperlinks in a resource is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes maintaining hyperlink usage data for each of the hyperlinks within the resource and adjusting a copy of the resource to incorporate the hyperlink usage data associated with each hyperlink, wherein the hyperlink usage data represents the number of times users have selected a hyperlink of the resource. The method also includes sending the adjusted copy of the resource to a networked device to provide a display representing the hyperlink usage data with each associated hyperlink. The hyperlink usage data is incorporated into the copy of the resource so as to be displayed adjacent to the corresponding hyperlinks of the resource.
US09331915B1
Data packets may be mirrored or replicated to network ports and/or listening stations. Additionally, the data packets may include characteristics. Based at least in part on the characteristics of the data packets, dynamic capture lengths may be determined. A portion of the data packets may be transmitted to the network ports and/or listening station based at least in part on determined capture lengths.
US09331913B2
A method is implemented in a first node for charging of a mobile device in communication with the first node in a communications network. The method includes determining a number of data packets lost between the first node and the mobile device within a predetermined period. The method includes determining a packet loss rate using the number of data packets determined to be lost. The method includes determining whether a first predetermined condition is met based on an evaluation of the determined packet loss rate. The method also includes transmitting, by the first node after determination that the first predetermined condition is met, a notification to a second node causing the second node to stop charging the mobile device for packets sent to the mobile device.
US09331904B2
A method includes establishing an ad-hoc network between a borrower and at least two lenders of bandwidth and establishing one lender of the at least two lenders as a multiplexer to manage data flow over the ad-hoc network between the borrower and lenders of the at least two lenders of bandwidth. The method may include providing a computer infrastructure to perform the steps of the invention. A system is also provided which includes a server having a database containing data associated with one or more lenders and a borrower in an ad-hoc network and at least one hardware and/or software component. The system may further include computer usable medium having readable program code embodied in the medium to perform processes of the invention.
US09331903B2
The disclosure relates to a portable computing device configured to selectably switch between a wired zero client mode in which the portable computing device operates as a terminal for a host computer via a wired communication channel, a wireless zero client mode in which the portable computing device operates as a terminal for the host computer via a wireless communication channel, and a local mode in which the portable computing device operates independently from the host computer. The portable computing device may include one or more zero client processors that facilitate operation in the wired or wireless zero client mode and one or more local control processors that facilitate operation in the local mode. The portable computing device may include input devices used to receive inputs for the host computer during the wireless or wired zero client modes or for the local control processors during the local mode.
US09331885B2
Embodiments of a system and method for providing fundamental group modulation are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a trajectory mapper is arranged to receive a modulation symbol sequence. A signal trajectory sample memory is arranged to store a representation of signal trajectories for a topological space having a set of predetermined removed regions therein. The trajectory mapper accesses the signal trajectory sample memory to select a signal trajectory relative to the set of predetermined removed regions in the topological space based on the received modulation symbol sequence and produces a sequence of in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) sample values at a specified sample rate in response to the selected signal trajectory, the I and Q sample values serving as a basis for an amplified radio frequency signal.
US09331874B2
A wireless communication system including a base station and a plurality of terminals, the wireless communication system uses a frame including a plurality of sub-frames, the sub-frames including a plurality of data symbols and guard intervals between the data symbols, each sub-frame being transmitted every frame period, and a different guard interval length being available for each sub-frame; configured to insert a guard interval of a fixed length between each of the data symbols in a specified sub-frame of the frame; a placement information determination section configured to determine placement information pertaining to a placement of a sub-frame to which guard intervals different in length from the guard interval of the fixed length are to be applied; and configured to multiplex the placement information determined by the placement information determination section into a transmission; wherein the plurality of terminals is notified of information containing the placement information.
US09331872B2
In one embodiment, a list of source identifiers is maintained at a virtual switch. These source identifiers are allowed to send packets through the virtual switch to ports in a private virtual local area network (PVLAN). When a packet is received at the virtual switch from a particular source destined for a particular port in the PVLAN, the virtual switch determines whether a particular identifier associated with the particular source matches one of the source identifiers in the list. If that particular source identifier is not on the list, the packet is prevented from being forwarded to the particular port in the PVLAN.
US09331859B2
Method and system for establishing a combined local area network (CLAN) in a conference network (CN)
A method including: receiving, at a conference unit, a command to establish a conference call between the conference unit and another conference unit, the conference unit being connected to at least one access point and the access point being accessible by a terminal; utilizing, by the conference unit, an internet telephony protocol to setup at least one media line between the conference unit and the other conference unit; establishing at least one data channel that transmits LAN traffic between the conference unit and the other conference unit utilizing the internet telephony protocol; establishing, by the conference unit, a connection with the terminal, the terminal being part of a combined local area network; and receiving, at the conference unit, an input from the terminal via the connection to access the combined local area network.
US09331856B1
A computer-implemented method for validating digital signatures may include (1) receiving, through a camera of smart glasses, an image of an object, (2) decrypting, using a processor of the smart glasses, a digital signature on the object to obtain a decrypted digital signature, (3) attempting, using the processor of the smart glasses, to validate the object by comparing content of the object with the decrypted digital signature, and (4) outputting a result of the attempt to validate the object from an output component of the smart glasses. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09331850B2
Method to secure the communication of components within self-service automats that are linked to each other by a bus system, having a transmitter and a receiver, characterized in that data are exchanged as tupels (C,A,R,N,Z) on the transport layer of the bus system where C are the message data M encrypted with an encryption key, A are the message data M authenticated with an authentication key, R represents the role of a component on the bus system of active or passive participants, N represents a message counter, Z represents a session counter.
US09331844B2
Distribution of reference frequency and timing information in a network involves determining latency between a first and second node from time delay between transmission of a reference frequency and timing signal and reception of an optical return timing signal in response. In a network with pairs of first and second optical fibers in optical fiber connections between network nodes, for transmission of optical data signals separately in mutually opposite directions between the network nodes respectively, provisions are made to transmit the reference frequency and timing signal and the resulting optical return signal via the same fiber, one in the same direction as the unidirectional data signal over that fiber and the other upstream. Repeaters between the nodes may be modified to pass such signals upstream and downstream. In an embodiment wherein the network provides for an optical supervisory channel, the optical filters for combining the optical supervisory channel signal with the unidirectional data signal and separating the optical supervisory channel signal from the unidirectional data signal are used to combine and separate the reference frequency and timing signal and to pass the optical return timing signal. For this purpose, further optical filters may be added outside the main optical data channel to combine and separate the reference frequency and timing signal and the optical supervisory channel and to pass the optical return signal back to the filter that separates the optical supervisory channel signal from the data signal.
US09331834B2
A method for detecting a channel bandwidth for a signal, comprises the steps of: determining a differential operator between carriers of the signal; determining a signal power for the signal; and detecting the channel bandwidth as a function of the determined differential operator and the determined signal power, wherein the signal is processed as a function of the detected channel bandwidth.
US09331828B2
The present invention relates to a bundling scheduling method in a wireless access system and an apparatus therefor. Specifically, the bundling scheduling method in the wireless access system comprises the steps of: transmitting the bundled downlink control information including a plurality of downlink control information through one physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) to a terminal; transmitting the downlink data, to the terminal, through a plurality of physical downlink shared channels (PDSCH) scheduled by the bundled downlink control information; and receiving acknowledgement/negative-acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) information for the plurality of PDSCHs from the terminal.
US09331824B2
Transmission of data is scheduled via a first communication channel within a first cell of a cellular network. A first base station is assigned to the first cell. A user equipment is served by the first base station, and the first communication channel is divided into subframes. The cellular network includes a second base station assigned to a second cell, wherein the second base station uses a second communication channel divided into subframes, and a part of the subframes is unscheduled by the second base station due to a predefined muting pattern. The first base station determines a first subframes of the first communication channel related in time with the unscheduled subframes of the second communication channel, and schedules transmission of data between the first base station and the user equipment via the first communication channel so that the data is transmitted in the determined first subframes.
US09331818B2
A method and apparatus for improved downlink data transport with hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback and a measurement gap are provided. A user equipment (UE) receives from a network a transmission grant for downlink data on a first control channel. The UE receives the data from the network via a transport channel. In response to the received data, the UE determines whether transmission of an acknowledgement message falls in a measurement gap. Upon determining that the transmission of the acknowledgement message by the UE falls in the measurement gap, and prior to receiving from the network a retransmission grant for the data on the first control channel, the UE sends the acknowledgement message on a second control channel in a sub-frame following the measurement gap. The first control channel is associated with the second control channel.
US09331808B2
An optical transmission apparatus includes: an optical amplifier configured to amplify a wavelength multiplexing light to be transmitted, the wavelength multiplexing light being input thereto; a combining unit configured to combine a plurality of non-signal lights in such a way that angles formed between polarization planes of the plurality of non-signal lights of a wavelength of wavelengths belonging to an amplification band of the optical amplifier become equal, the wavelength being different from a wavelength of a polarization multiplexing signal light; and a wavelength multiplexer configured to generate the wavelength multiplexing light to be input to the optical amplifier by multiplexing the plurality of non-signal lights combined by the combining unit and the polarization multiplexing signal light.
US09331806B2
A system that includes an interface, a processor; and a hardware accelerator. The hardware accelerator is arranged to perform, for each Zadoff-Chu sequence of at least a first sub-set of the set of Zadoff-Chu sequences, a first hardware accelerator set of operations that includes frequency to time domain conversion to provide third intermediate vector that is associated with the Zadoff-Chu sequence. The processor is arranged to complete the Zadoff-Chu sequence search in response to the third intermediate vector—whereas the hardware accelerator and the processor are arranged to partially search the same Zadoff-Chu sequence at different periods of time.
US09331805B2
In a network based on IEEE 1588, comprising a plurality of nodes (201, 501) and a plurality of connections where each connection connects at least two nodes to allow communication between nodes including the exchange of messages according to a network protocol, the synchronization of IEEE 1588 is improved by allowing multiple grandmaster clocks (701) to operate simultaneously in the system. Thus, the re-election protocol of IEEE 1588 is made obsolete. For this, a multitude of nodes form a subsystem implementing a high-availability grand master clock (301) according to the IEEE 1588 Standard, wherein the subsystem is configured to tolerate the failure of at least one of said nodes forming said subsystem. Bi-directional communication link (401) are configured for physically connecting a IEEE 1588 Master clocks (201) and/or IEEE 1588 Slave clocks (201) to the subsystem implementing a high-availability grand master clock (301).
US09331799B2
A method and device for synchronously playing audio data over a number of audio playback devices that are connected to a network. The distribution of particular audio data to a plurality of audio playback devices that are adapted to play audio, where the audio playback devices are all connected to a network over which audio data is delivered from a digital audio source to the audio playback devices, can be accomplished by determining when more than one of the audio playback devices has been directed to play the particular audio data, and in response to the determination directing that two or more of the audio playback devices synchronously play the particular audio data.
US09331797B2
An RF receiver device includes a semiconductor chip in a chip package, and a test signal generator integrated in the chip. The test signal generator generates an RF test signal including first information. An RF receiver circuit integrated in the chip receives an RF input signal, down-converts the RF input signal into an intermediate frequency (IF) or base band, and digitizes the down-converted signal to obtain a digital signal. An RF receive channel includes a coupler having first and second input ports and an output port. The output port is coupled to the input of the RF receiver circuit, the first input port receives an antenna signal and the second input port receives the test signal from the test signal generator. A signal processor is integrated in the chip and determines, during a test cycle, whether the first information in the digital signal matches a predetermined criterion.
US09331796B2
A mobile user terminal, which communicates with a base station in an intermittent fashion, the mobile user terminal includes a radio transmitter which transmits downlink channel quality information indicating downlink channel quality and an uplink pilot signal to a base station in an intermittent fashion; and a transmit time controller which synchronizes transmit time of the downlink quality information and transmit time of the uplink pilot signal relative to each other, such that the downlink quality information and the uplink pilot signal are sent in adjacent different timings in a period corresponding to a state of intermittent communicate.
US09331787B2
An optical communication device includes a printed circuit board (PCB), a light emitting element, a light receiving element, and a light waveguide. The PCB includes a substrate. The substrate includes a first end surface and a second end surface opposite to the first end surface. The light emitting element is electrically connected to the first end surface. The light receiving element is electrically connected to the second end surface. The light waveguide includes a light incident end and a light emergent end. The light waveguide is embedded in the substrate. The light incident end is exposed to the first end surface and optically aligned with the light emitting element along a transmitting direction of the light waveguide. The light emergent end is exposed to the second end surface and optically aligned with the light receiving element along the transmitting direction of the light waveguide.
US09331783B2
A method and device for compensating, within a node of an optical network, chromatic dispersion undergone by optical packets transmitted within time slots of wavelength division multiplexed channels along at least one link of the optical network, a time slot duration corresponding to the sum of a packet duration and an inter-packet gap duration. The method and device demultiplexes the wavelength division multiplexed channels into a plurality of bands, and transmits the bands, via a respective plurality of delay lines having predetermined delays, toward a respective plurality of packet add/drop structures comprising a coherent receiver.
US09331781B2
A digital burst mode communication system operates at a fixed wavelength for transmission and reception of burst mode signals using a pair of transceivers and a single optical cable. The stray noise level in the system is significantly reduced by use of angled plate absorbers that receive scattered transmission burst signal from a 45 degree partially reflecting mirror. Use of transparent glass ferrule with or without a front surface anti-reflection coating instead of an opaque ceramic ferrule to support optical fiber at a selected location within the transreceiver reduces optical detector signal noise. Isolation of received burst signal from transmitted burst signal is increased to better than 30 dB. The system operates by sending only data bits across the single optical cable without scrambling or encoding preambles, significantly improving the efficiency of high speed communication.
US09331774B2
A satellite system for detecting radio frequency signals from space including at least two sensors, a processing unit and at least one receiver. Each sensor receives a plurality of radio frequency signals containing messages and outputs a sensor signal that is representative of the plurality of radio frequency signals. The processing unit selects a predetermined number of mathematical combinations of the sensor signals and combines the sensor signals into the predetermined number of mathematical combinations to produce a plurality of zone signals. The characteristics of each zone signal are undefined at the time the predetermined number of mathematical combinations is selected. The receiver extracts the messages contained in the zone signals.
US09331773B2
A method is described that involves establishing a wireless network between a wireless access node of an existing network and a remote location by wirelessly linking a plurality of electronic processing circuits each transported by a respective parafoil. The wirelessly linked processing circuits are to route packets from the wireless access node to the remote location.
US09331770B2
The present document provides a precoding method and system for open loop spatial multiplexing and a precoding indication method. The method includes: in transmission resources, a base station precodes N-layer data to be sent by using w a = [ u a a · u a ] , wherein ua is a vector or matrix related to a transmission resource location i; α is a real number or a complex number related to the transmission resource location i; and N is an integer less than or equal to the number of base station transmission antennas.
US09331758B2
The embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and an apparatus for sub-sampling of a codebook in the LTE-A system where a precoding matrix W is a product of two matrices W1 and W2, i.e. W=W1W2, codebooks for W, W1 and W2 are denoted as C, C1 and C2 respectively, and r indicates a rank. The method includes sub-sampling the codebook C such that the sub-sampled codebook C has a size of equal to or less than 4 bits. In the sub-sampling, codewords evenly distributed in the codebook C are extracted, where some or all of the codewords are in a form of discrete Fourier transform (DFT) vector to be suitable for evenly linear arrays, and the other codewords are suitable for cross-polarized linear arrays.
US09331756B2
A multiple-user multiple input-multiple output wireless communication system uses a set of multiple subcarriers arranged in plural subsets or resource blocks. Precoding of signals transmitted from a base station to user terminals involves acquiring channel state information on the connection channel between the base station and user terminals in the plurality. Channel quality indicators are detected with user terminals for respective subsets of resource blocks to produce user/resource block pairs having associated channel quality indicators. The user/resource block pairs are subjected to selection as a function of the channel quality indicators associated therewith so that precoding is performed by acquiring channel state information exclusively for the user/resource block pairs surviving the selection as a function of the channel quality indicators and, possibly, other selection steps as a function of other parameters, such as, speed, maximum bit rate, and direction of arrival or angular spread in a multiple-stage selection process.
US09331754B2
A communication device which generates a beamforming link between the communication device and an external device is provided. The communication device includes: a beamforming link generating unit which generates a first beamforming link between a first antenna of a plurality of antennas of the communication device and the external device, and which generates a second beamforming link between a second antenna of the plurality of antennas of the communication device and the external device; and a transmission unit which transmits data to the external device via each of the first beamforming link and the second beamforming link.
US09331751B2
Described embodiments calibrate an array antenna using near-field antenna measurements individually for each antenna element in an antenna under test (AUT). A signal is received at a first AUT antenna element from an antenna probe assembly by transmitting from the antenna probe assembly at each of multiple known probe locations in a near-field of the AUT. A signal is received at each probe location by transmitting from the first antenna element of the AUT to the antenna probe assembly. The received signals are combined into a combined signal for the first antenna element that de-correlates multi-path in the combination result. The combined signal is processed to generate a calibration coefficient for the first AUT antenna element. Remote boundary condition (RBC) testing is performed to reduce temporal instability. The multiple known probe locations lie on one of the following: a planar surface, a cylindrical surface, and a spherical surface.
US09331748B2
A method for sending data by inductive coupling includes: extracting an antenna signal from an antenna circuit, extracting from the antenna signal a first periodic signal, producing a second periodic signal by way of a synchronous oscillator, placing the oscillator in a free oscillation mode and applying to the antenna circuit the second periodic signal, modifying the impedance of the antenna circuit, restoring the amplitude of the antenna signal, then resynchronizing the oscillator on the first periodic signal.
US09331742B2
A system for driving a first signal onto a wireline includes a driver and feedback circuitry. The driver drives a deterministic signal onto the wireline with an unknown impedance load. The feedback circuitry measures a quality of the output signal from the wireline and modifies a gain of the first signal based on the quality of the output signal. The driver then drives the first signal onto the wireline with the modified gain.
US09331738B2
Embodiments of RF switching amplifiers are described generally herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09331736B2
Provided is a time division duplex (TDD) transceiver. A receiver chain processing received signals and a transmitter chain processing signals to be transmitted share an electronic component used in a circuit, such as an amplifier, a mixer, a filter, etc., so that the size of a semiconductor die needed to manufacture a radio frequency (RF) chip can be reduced.
US09331734B2
A system on a chip (SoC) includes a transceiver comprising a transmitter and a receiver, wherein at least one of the transmitter and receiver has a configurable portion that can be configured to operate in a single ended mode and in a differential mode. Two interface pins are provided for coupling the transceiver to an antenna via a matching network, wherein the two interface pins are shareably coupled to the transmitter and to the receiver. A tunable capacitor is coupled to differential signal lines of the configurable portion, wherein the tunable capacitor is configured to be tuned to optimize impedance matching of the configurable portion for each mode of operation.
US09331733B2
A wireless communication terminal device according to the present invention comprises a main body which has a built-in electronic component, a casing which houses the main body, a cover body which is detachably attached to the casing, an antenna for wireless communication which is mounted on the cover body, a pair of electrodes which are disposed on the inner face of the cover body and connected to the antenna, a pair of terminals which are disposed on the main body and make contact with the pair of electrodes, and at least two projection pieces which are formed on the inner face of the cover body near the pair of electrodes as well as on both sides with the pair of electrodes interposed therebetween and project higher than the surfaces of the pair of electrodes.
US09331728B2
Methods and circuits for reducing power dissipation in wireless transceivers and other electronic circuits and systems. Embodiments of the present invention use bias current reduction, impedance scaling, and gain changes either separately or in combination to reduce power dissipation. For example, bias currents are reduced in response to a need for reduced signal handling capability, impedances are scaled thus reducing required drive and other bias currents in response to a strong received signal, or gain is increased and impedances are scaled in response to a low received signal in the presence of no or weak interfering signals.
US09331721B2
The present disclosure shows new mechanisms for sampling an input signal. In particular, some embodiments of the present disclosure include a new type of a level-crossing sampling mechanism called a derivative level-crossing sampling (D-LCS). At a high level, D-LCS involves quantizing the derivative of an input signal when the derivative of the input signal crosses one of the quantization thresholds. For certain class of signals, the derivative of the input signal can vary at a slower speed compared to the amplitude of the input signal. Therefore, by sampling the derivative of the input signal, instead of the input signal itself, the number of samples per unit time can be reduced.
US09331719B2
An electronic device may be provided with a primary antenna that is used for transmitting and receiving signals and a secondary antenna that is used for receiving signals. The primary and secondary antennas may be used together in a diversity arrangement when receiving signals. The electronic device may have a transceiver. A phase shifter may be interposed between the transceiver and the secondary antenna. Control circuitry may select a communications band of interest for transmitting signals with the primary antenna. The control circuitry can adjust the phase shifter in real time based on which communications band of interest has been selected for transmission with the primary antenna. The phase shifter may impose a phase shift on signals carried between the secondary antenna and the transceiver that ensures that primary antenna efficiency degradation associated with the presence of the secondary antenna in the vicinity of the primary antenna is avoided.
US09331715B2
A transmission apparatus includes an encoder that codes a data sequence with a parity check matrix, wherein the data sequence includes a final information bit sequence and virtual information bits, and outputs the final information bit sequence and a parity sequence, as LDPC codes, and a transmitter that transmits the LDPC codes as a transmission data. A column length of the parity check matrix is longer than a total length of the final information bit sequence and the parity sequence, by a length of the virtual information bits that are set to “0” and are not transmitted. The total length of the final information bit sequence and the parity sequence has a sequence length corresponding to a length from a first column to a predetermined column of the parity check matrix. The encoder generates the LDPC codes by using the first column to the predetermined column among one or more column(s) of the parity check matrix.
US09331713B2
According to an embodiment, an encoding apparatus includes a parameter holding unit configured to hold a parameter; an error-detecting code holding unit configured to hold an error-detecting code that is generated from the parameter; an error detecting unit configured to detect an error in the parameter, which is held in the parameter holding unit, with the use of the error-detecting code held in the error-detecting code holding unit; an error correcting unit configured to correct the error detected by the error detecting unit; a selecting unit configured to select the parameter that has been subjected to error correction by the error correcting unit; and an encoding unit configured to encode data with the use of the parameter selected by the selecting unit.
US09331712B1
Data compression systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed. For each successive input word of an input stream, it is determined whether the input word matches an entry in a lookback table. The lookback table is updated in response to the input word. Input words may be of a number of data types, including zero runs and full or partial matches with an entry in the lookback table. A codeword is generated by entropy encoding a data type corresponding to the input word. The lookback table may be indexed by the position of the input word in the input stream.
US09331711B2
In method for processing a measured-value signal determined in an analog manner and a resolver system for implementing the method, the measured-value signal being supplied to a delta-sigma modulator, which makes a bit stream, particularly a one-bit data stream, available on the output side, in particular, whose moving average corresponds to the measured-value signal, the bit stream being supplied to a first digital filter, which converts the bit stream into a stream of digital intermediate words, that is a multibit data stream, the first digital filter having three serially arranged differentiators, the bit stream being clocked at a clock frequency fS, that is, at a clock-pulse period TS=1/fS, and therefore the stream of digital intermediate words being clocked, and thus updated, at a clock-pulse frequency fD, that is, at a clock-pulse period TD=1/fD, the output signal of the first digital filter being supplied to a second digital filter, the second digital filter having as its output data-word stream the difference between a first and a second result data-word stream, the first and second result data-word stream being determined around a first and second time interval from the intermediate data-word stream, the first and second time interval being situated at a distance in time T1, the first result data-word stream being determined as a time-discrete second derivation with time scale TD and the second result data-word stream being determined as a time-discrete second derivation with time scale TD.
US09331707B1
A programmable temperature compensated voltage reference is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that uses a reference voltage and a code to generate a DAC output voltage. The apparatus also includes a temperature compensator that uses a temperature measurement (T) and the DAC code to generate a temperature compensation signal. The temperature compensation signal is represented by a third order polynomial equation. The apparatus also includes a signal combiner that combines the DAC output voltage and the temperature compensation signal to generate a temperature compensated programmable reference voltage.
US09331698B2
A level shifter circuit for level shifting voltages of signals crossing multiple circuit domains includes an input stage and a driver stage. The input stage receives an oscillating signal generated by a ring oscillator and generates an inverted oscillating signal. The differential oscillating signals are provided to the driver stage, which level shifts a voltage level of the oscillating signal to a level of a supply voltage of the ring oscillator.
US09331697B2
An output apparatus includes an output driving unit configured to drive a final output signal; an output compensating signal generation unit configured to generate a delayed output signal by delaying the output signal by a predetermined time, and generate an output compensating signal based on the delayed output signal and the output signal; and an output driving compensation unit configured to compensate for the final output signal to a level opposite to a level to which the final output signal is driven.
US09331694B2
A capacitive coupling based proximity sensor is disclosed. In some embodiments, a sensor embedded in a mobile device comprises a transmitter configured to transmit a transmit signal and a receiver configured to receive a receive signal via capacitive coupling between the receiver and the transmitter as well as a circuit configured to detect human proximity to the mobile device in the event that the receive signal does not sufficiently match the transmit signal and configured to generate an output signal indicating human proximity to the mobile device that is employed to facilitate an appropriate response.
US09331687B2
A power-up circuit of a semiconductor apparatus using a plurality of external power voltages is configured to determine a stableness of the plurality of external power voltages through relative comparison of the plurality of external power voltages, and to activate a power-up signal.
US09331683B2
A ramp signal generator includes a reset control block suitable for generating a switch control signal according to a reset control signal from a control unit; a ramp signal generation block suitable for generating differential ramp signals, which include a power noise or a ground noise as well as a ramp noise; and a common noise canceling unit suitable for being initialized according to the switch control signal, and suitable for canceling common noise through a differential operation between the differential ramp signals.
US09331680B2
A flip-flop that includes a multiplexer configured to generate a multiplexer output. The multiplexer output is generated in response to an input and a scan enable, and is given to a transmission gate. A master latch is coupled to the transmission gate and to a tri-state inverter. The master latch is configured to receive an output of the transmission gate. A slave latch is configured to receive an output of the tri-state inverter and the multiplexer output. A data inverter is coupled to the slave latch. The data inverter is configured to generate a flip-flop output. A half clock gating inverter is configured to generate an inverted clock input in response to a clock input and the multiplexer output.
US09331675B2
Provided is a transmission drive circuit which can reduce distortions of a transmission signal and transmission noise, and is isolable from a signal line. A transmission drive circuit 700 includes a drive transistor 10 and an isolation diode 31 connected between a node n1 coupled to a signal line SL commonly used to propagate a transmission signal and a reception signal and a power source line HVP, and further includes an isolation diode 32 and a drive transistor 20 connected between the node n1 and a voltage line HVM. Furthermore, the transmission drive circuit 700 includes a switch 41 connected between a node n2 between the drive transistor 10 and the isolation diode 31, and a node n4 of a ground voltage Vs, and a switch 43 connected between a node n3 between the drive transistor 20 and the isolation diode 32, and a node n4. When the transmission signal is propagated through the signal line SL, the switches 41 and 43 are turned off by the clamp switch control circuit 200 such that bias current flows through the drive transistor 10, the isolation diode 31, the isolation diode 32 and the drive transistor 20.
US09331674B2
A multi-phase signal generator and a multi-phase signal generating method thereof. The multi-phase signal generator includes a signal generator, a first comparator, a second comparator and a logic operation circuit. The signal generator generates a periodic signal. The first comparator receives the periodic signal and respectively compares the periodic signal with a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage to generate a first output signal. The second comparator receives the periodic signal and compares the periodic signal with a first threshold voltage to generate a second output signal. The logic operation circuit performs logic operations on the first output signal and the second output signal so as to generate a plurality of first phase output signals.
US09331673B2
An integrated circuit having an external connection pad and an active circuit for generating signals to be output from the integrated circuit by means of the pad, the integrated circuit including an interface circuit associated with the pad, the interface circuit including a latch coupled between the pad and an output of the active circuit, the latch being capable of operating in a first mode in which the state of the pad follows the state of the output of the active circuit and a second mode in which the state of the pad is held by the latch.
US09331668B2
A method for manufacturing a vibrator according to the present invention includes: forming a coating layer that covers a silicon substrate; patterning the coating layer; forming a semiconductor layer that covers the silicon substrate and the coating layer; forming a vibrating portion having a beam shape on the coating layer and a support portion that supports the vibrating portion by patterning the semiconductor layer; forming an opening that exposes the silicon substrate; forming a recess portion by removing the silicon substrate through the opening; and removing the coating layer. In the step of forming the vibrating portion and the support portion, the support portion having a first portion that is located on the silicon substrate, and a second portion that connects the first portion and the vibrating portion and is located on the coating layer is formed.
US09331662B2
An adaptive voltage divider for measuring a high voltage between a ground terminal (GND) and a measurement terminal (U). It comprises a first branch comprising a first set of impedance elements (Z, R) forming a voltage divider circuit connected between the ground terminals (GND) and the measurement terminal (U) and a voltage meter (AD2) configured to measure voltage on one of the impedance elements (Z, R) of the first branch. Furthermore, it comprises a second branch comprising a second set of impedance elements (Q, P) connected between the ground terminal (GND) and the measurement terminal (U) and switchable between a plurality of configurations, wherein in at least one configuration the second set of impedance elements (Q, P) forms a voltage divider circuit, and voltage meters (AD1, AD3) configured to measure voltage on at least one of the impedance elements (Q, P) of the second branch. Moreover, a control circuit (DCSS) is configured to consecutively switch the configuration of the second branch between the plurality of configurations thereof, such that the relationships between the values of impedance elements (Z, R) of the first branch and the values of impedance elements (Q, P) of the second branch can be determined for consecutive configurations of the second branch as a function of the outputs of the voltage meters (AD1, AD2, AD3) and the total transmittance of the voltage divider can be determined at any instance as a function of the outputs of the voltage meters (AD1, AD2, AD3).
US09331652B2
An auto gain adjusting device and method is disclosed. The auto gain adjusting device comprises a predistorter, a gain unit, a power amplifier, a receiving unit and a calculation unit. The predistorter generates a plurality of test signals in a calibration mode, wherein the powers between a current test signal and a previous test signal includes a first difference value. The gain unit provides a substantially constant gain value to the current test signal and the previous test signal to generate a current amplified test signal and a previous amplified test signal. The power amplifier amplifies the current amplified test signal and the previous amplified test signal to generate a first transmitting signal and a second transmitting signal. The receiving unit converts the first transmitting signal and the second transmitting signal into a first baseband signal and a second baseband signal respectively. The calculation unit calculates a second difference value between powers of the first baseband signal and the second baseband signal, and compares the second difference value with the first difference value to determine whether the substantially constant gain value causes the plurality of test signals to be operated in a linear region and a compression region of the power amplifier.
US09331644B2
A clamping circuit for a class AB amplifier includes a reference voltage circuit, four NPN Darlington transistors having inputs coupled to the reference voltage circuit, and outputs for providing four clamped voltages and a split NPN Darlington transistor having an input coupled to the reference voltage circuit, and four separate outputs for providing four AC ground voltages.
US09331641B2
Disclosed is a circuit structure for implementing an adaptive function in a class-D audio power amplifier circuit, comprising an operation amplifier, a pulse width modulator and a driver stage that are sequentially and serially connected, an input terminal of the operation amplifier being connected to an external audio signal output terminal, and an output terminal of the driver stage being connected to a loudspeaker and connected to the input terminal of the operation amplifier via a feedback loop. The circuit structure further comprises: one or a plurality of a carrier adaptive circuit, a frequency adaptive circuit, a driver adaptive circuit, a temperature adaptive circuit.
US09331640B2
An amplifier includes: a package which includes a pair of edge portions; an input terminal which is provided in the edge portion; output terminals which are provided in the edge portion; a first-stage FET chip which includes an input port directly connected to the input terminal by a bonding wire; a first-stage terminal which is provided in the edge portion and is directly connected to an output port of the first-stage FET chip by a bonding wire; a second-stage terminal which is provided in the edge portion; a second-stage FET chip which includes an output port directly connected to output terminals and by a bonding wire; and an impedance matching capacitor element of which one electrode is connected to the second-stage terminal and the input port of the second-stage FET chip.
US09331635B2
A quadrature modulator includes a first switched capacitor power amplifier that amplifies a first high-frequency signal, a second switched capacitor power amplifier that amplifies a second high-frequency signal, a first combiner which includes at least one pair of winding wires, one winding wire in one pair being disposed on a primary side to which the amplified first high-frequency signal and the amplified second high-frequency signal are separately input and the other winding wire in the one pair being disposed on a secondary side, the first combiner combining the input amplified first high-frequency signal and the input amplified second high-frequency signal to generate a quadrature modulation signal from the secondary side, a first inductor disposed between the first switched capacitor power amplifier and the primary side of the first combiner, and a second inductor disposed between the second switched capacitor power amplifier and the primary side of the first combiner.
US09331628B2
In some preferred embodiments, a motor control circuit 1 for controlling driving of a plurality of motors 3 and 4 includes a serial communication circuit configured to perform serial communication with an outside, a received data storage 15 configured to store data from the serial communication circuit, a motor mode setting holding circuit 16 configured to store motor mode settings which decide operations of the motors, and a detection circuit 24 configured to detect changes in driving pulse of the motor. Depending on the detected result of the detection circuit 24, the data stored in the received data storage 15 is transferred to the motor mode setting holding circuit 16.
US09331626B2
A movable barrier operator apparatus having a motor and a control system is disclosed. The motor is configured to couple to a movable barrier. The control system is configured to cause the motor to move the movable barrier by supplying power to the motor. The control system is further configured to selectively supply nonoperational power to the motor to generate heat without moving the movable barrier.
US09331612B2
A motor control apparatus has an inverter circuit having a plurality of pairs of upper and lower arms provided so as to correspond to a number of phases, and switching elements provided on each of the upper arms and the lower arms of each phase that drive a motor on the basis of ON or OFF operations of the respective switching elements, a single current detector that detects a current of the motor flowing through the inverter circuit, and a duty calculator that calculates duties of PWM signals for turning the switching elements ON or OFF on the basis of a deviation between a current value of the current detected by the current detector and a target current value.
US09331606B2
A device with a suspended beam and piezoresistive means of detecting displacement of the beam and a method of manufacturing the device are disclosed. The device comprises a support, a suspended beam, moving parallel to the plane of the support, and means of detecting displacement, comprising at least two piezoresistive strain gauges that are not in line with each other. The beam is suspended through detection means. The two gauges are located on two opposite lateral faces of the beam respectively.
US09331603B2
An energy collection system may collect and use the energy generated by an electric field. Collection fibers are suspended from a support system. The support system is electrically connected to a load by a connecting wire. The collection fibers may be made of any conducting material, but graphene, carbon and graphite are preferred. Diodes may be used to restrict the backflow or loss of energy.
US09331601B2
The present disclosure relates to an inverter with power cell of dual structure for use in high input voltage by changing a conventional 6-level cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter to thereby reduce product development cost, manufacturing cost and volume of the product, the inverter including a first SMPS (Switching Mode Power Supply) connected to a first power cell region, a second SMPS connected to a second power cell region and a controller connecting the first and second SMPSs, where each phase is formed by serially connecting a plurality of power cells formed with a plurality of stages operated by receiving a power supplied from a phase shift transformer, and each of the plurality of power cells is mutually connected, and includes the first power cell region and the second power cell region independently operating.
US09331597B2
A latching comparator includes a switching logic circuit coupled to receive a first signal from a first signal circuit, and a second signal from a second signal circuit. The switching logic circuit is further coupled to receive a latching signal that is a rectangular pulse waveform in either a first or a second state. An output circuit having an input terminal is coupled to the switching logic circuit. The input terminal of the output circuit is coupled to receive both the first and second signals to compare the first signal and second signal when the latching signal is in the first state. The input terminal of the output circuit is coupled to receive only one of the first and second signals when the latching signal is in the second state.
US09331594B2
A method and apparatus for converting direct current into alternating current. An initial voltage level of an input voltage source is changed using a dual converter to form a plurality of voltage sources. Each of the plurality of voltage sources has voltage levels different from the initial voltage level. An inverter is supplied direct current from the plurality of voltage sources formed by the dual converter. The direct current is converted into a number of alternating currents using the inverter.
US09331593B2
In a switching power supply device having low loss in synchronous rectifying switches, exhibiting high power efficiency, and not causing troubles by reverse current in the switches. A secondary control circuit includes a reference voltage circuit to generate a reference voltage having a predetermined potential, and an ON-timing detector circuit to detect an ON timing of a synchronous rectifying switch through monitoring of a terminal voltage of the switch, an OFF-timing detector circuit to detect an OFF timing of the switch, and a timer circuit to be turned on at the ON timing and measure a predetermined period. The threshold voltage consisting of the reference voltage generated by the reference voltage circuit and an offset voltage is applied to the OFF-timing detector circuit during the measurement of the timer circuit, and the threshold voltage consisting of the reference voltage is applied to the OFF-timing detector circuit during the non-measurement.
US09331592B2
Driver circuits comprise power converters detecting automatically a topology used by the driver circuits. A controller controls a plurality of different types of power converters in accordance to a corresponding plurality of different operation modes. The controller comprises a measurement pin coupled to a first topology resistor of a first power converter of a type from the plurality of different types. The different types of power converters comprise topology resistors of corresponding different resistor values. The controller senses a voltage at the measurement pin wherein the voltage at the measurement pin is indicative of a voltage drop at the first topology resistor. Furthermore, the controller determines a type of the first power converter based on the sensed voltage, and selects an operation mode for controlling the first power converter.
US09331590B2
A device for detecting an average output current of a power converter includes a current generation unit, a first voltage generation unit, a first current mirror unit, and a second current mirror unit. The current generation unit generates a first charge current according to an intermediate voltage. The first voltage generation unit generates a first node voltage according to the first charge current, a first discharge current, a turning-on time, and an inverse turning-on time. The first current mirror unit generates a first current according to the first node voltage, and generates a second voltage corresponding to the average output current of a secondary side of the power converter according to the first current. The second current mirror unit generates the first discharge current according to the first current.
US09331575B2
A phase adjustment circuit of a power converter, the power converter, and a control method of the power converter are provided. The control method includes following steps. A delay signal is generated according to an error signal, and the error signal is associated with an output voltage of the power converter. A difference between the error signal and the delay signal is amplified. A control signal is provided according to the amplified difference and the error signal, and a phase of the control signal leads a phase of the error signal. The control signal serves to improve a response speed of the power converter.
US09331571B2
A power converter is disclosed. The power converter includes a comparator and a timing generator. The comparator compares a first input signal with a second input signal to provide a control signal. The timing generator is coupled to the comparator. The timing generator includes a plurality of timing generating units, a logic unit, and a calculation unit. The timing generator generates a plurality of timing signals through the timing generating units and the logic unit according to the control signal, and the calculation unit forms a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal according to the timing signals. At least a part of the timing signals are overlapped.
US09331569B1
A current generating circuit, which comprises: a first capacitor, comprising a first terminal and a second terminal; a second capacitor, comprising a first terminal and a second terminal; a first charge adjusting path, arranged for adjusting charges of the first capacitor according to a first charge adjusting voltage; a second charge adjusting path, arranged for adjusting charges of the second capacitor according to the first charge adjusting voltage; and a current generating path, coupled to the first capacitor and the second capacitor, arranged for generating a target current based on a difference between a first voltage provided by the first capacitor and a second voltage provided by the second capacitor.
US09331559B2
A system, method, and apparatus for kinetic energy harvesting are disclosed. An example kinetic energy harvesting apparatus includes a tubular-shaped magnet housing, a first end-cap magnet configured to connect to a first end of the magnet housing and a second end-cap magnet configured to connect to a second end of the magnet housing. The apparatus also includes a first wire coil configured to be connected to the magnet housing between the first end and a center of the magnet housing and a second wire coil configured to be connected to the magnet housing between the second end and the center of the magnet housing. The apparatus further includes a central magnet configured to be located within the magnet housing between the first end and the second end such that the central magnet is suspended within the magnet housing.
US09331555B2
An apparatus, brush holder and system are provided. The apparatus includes a main body configured for attachment to a brush holder, and a proximity sensor on the main body. The proximity sensor is configured for detecting the presence of a brush located at least partially inside the brush holder. The apparatus is configured to transmit a wireless signal to a remote location, and the wireless signal is transformable into an indication of a remaining life of the brush.
US09331539B2
A motor power distribution apparatus includes first insulating holders and second insulating holders. The first insulating holders are disposed to retain every other one of a plurality of stacked power distribution members that are unified by insert molding. The second insulating holders are disposed to retain power distribution members other than the power distribution members retained by the first insulating holders.
US09331538B2
A winding for a rotating electric machine includes conductive bars having straight parts and end windings and terminal portions of the end windings that are connected together. A protective cap is disposed on at least a portion of each respective connected end winding terminal portion. An electrical insulating material is disposed between each end winding terminal portion and respective protective cap and a seal is inside each protective cap.
US09331530B2
Disclosed herein is a laminated core of a motor including: a first core sheet including a first rounded core base, a plurality of first teeth which are radially formed on the first core base, and first tooth ears formed at the end of each of the first teeth; and a second core sheet including a second rounded core base, a plurality of second teeth which are radially formed on the second core base, and second tooth ears formed at the end of each of the second teeth, the second core sheet having the same shape as the first core sheet but being smaller than the first core sheet, wherein the second core sheet is located at the lowermost part, one or more the first core sheets are laminated on the second core sheet, and another second core sheet is located at the uppermost part.
US09331525B2
A method of controlling access to an electrical power network, comprising: receiving a power network access rule from a power network, the power network access rule defining an access condition which permits a device to access the power network; receiving a device usage rule, the device usage rule being a condition when the device is permitted use of the power network; comparing the device usage rule with the received power network access rule; and permitting the transfer of energy between the power network and the device upon a positive comparison between the device usage rule and the power network access rule.
US09331524B1
A system and method for remotely monitoring, measuring and controlling power to furniture having an electrically powered feature is disclosed herein. The furniture is preferably modular furniture (such as a cubicle) and the electrically powered feature is at least one of lighting or a power outlet. Alternatively, the furniture is a lectern and the electrically powered feature is at least one of lighting or a power outlet. Alternatively, the furniture is a charging cart and the electrically powered feature is at least one of lighting or a power outlet.
US09331516B2
A single power supply level shifter has first and second inverters in tandem that invert an input signal from a first voltage domain and provide a first inverted signal and an output signal in a second voltage domain. A charging control circuit charges a capacitor towards the second voltage when the input signal is high, and conducts a discharge current from the capacitor during a transition of the input signal from high to low to accelerate a corresponding transition of the first inverted signal from low to high. A third inverter controls a current reduction transistor in series with the first inverter, and a third control transistor connected between the input and the charging control circuit to accelerate the flow of discharge current during the transition of the input signal from high to low.
US09331511B2
A method for controlling an energy storage system. The same battery system shall support multiple services at the same time. During a planning phase, the multiple services to be provided are determined, based on the market situation and the capabilities of the energy storage system, and prioritized according to predefined criteria. During an operation phase, the power and energy status of the energy storage system is periodically monitored, and compared against the power and energy demands of the multiple services, in order to determine whether at each time instance, the multiple services can indeed be supported at the same time. In case power and/or energy limits are exceeded by the multiple services, at least one service is interrupted to allow the operation of the energy storage system to be within power/energy limits again. The interrupted service(s) is resumed when the power/energy limits are met.
US09331504B2
The disclosure relates to a method for charging a battery having at least one battery cell. A first connection of a charging device is connected to a first pole of the at least one battery cell by a rectifying device. The rectifying device is set up such that charging current can flow. The disclosure further relates to a charging device, a battery, and a motor vehicle, which are configured to carried out the method.
US09331502B2
According to one embodiment, there is provided a charge/discharge instruction apparatus including: a communicating unit, a communication frequency deciding unit, an information collecting unit and a charge/discharge managing unit. The communicating unit communicates with a battery storage system. The communication frequency deciding unit decides a collection frequency of Information related to the battery storage system according to a state of the battery storage system. The information collecting unit collects the information from the battery storage system at the collection frequency decided in the communication frequency deciding unit. The charge/discharge managing unit controls at least one of charge and discharge of the battery storage system based on the information collected in the information collecting unit.
US09331499B2
An energy transfer device for solar power systems operates to draw power from high-producing photovoltaic devices and apply that power across low-producing photovoltaic devices. An embodiment is a self-regulating energy exchanger using bidirectional DC-DC converters that operates to maintain uniform voltage across each series-connected photovoltaic device. An alternative embodiment is an energy exchanger that is controlled to maintain each of several series-connected photovoltaic devices at a maximum power point by drawing power from high-performing devices and applying that power across low-performing devices to provide uniform current among series-connected photovoltaic devices.
US09331497B2
An electrical energy storage unit and control system, and applications thereof. In an embodiment, the electrical energy storage unit includes a battery system controller and battery packs. Each battery pack has battery cells, a battery pack controller that monitors the cells, a battery pack cell balancer that adjusts the amount of energy stored in the cells, and a battery pack charger. The battery pack controller operates the battery pack cell balancer and the battery pack charger to control the state-of-charge of the cells. In an embodiment, the cells are lithium ion battery cells.
US09331483B2
Thermal energy storage apparatus, controllers and thermal energy storage control methods are described. According to one aspect, a thermal energy storage apparatus controller includes processing circuitry configured to access first information which is indicative of surpluses and deficiencies of electrical energy upon an electrical power system at a plurality of moments in time, access second information which is indicative of temperature of a thermal energy storage medium at a plurality of moments in time, and use the first and second information to control an amount of electrical energy which is utilized by a heating element to heat the thermal energy storage medium at a plurality of moments in time.
US09331481B2
A power transmission system is provided. The power transmission system includes at least one power substation for receiving power from a power source, and a Direct Current (DC) cable for transferring the power from the power source to the power substation. The DC cable includes a plurality of segments individually or in combination forming a path to route the power to the power substation. The system further includes at least one segment switch unit electrically coupled to each segment. At least one of the segment switch units includes a shorting switch element for providing a short circuit path to prevent the power from the power source to be routed to a respective segment in response to a shorting command, and a disconnect switch element for disconnecting the respective segment in response to a disconnect command.
US09331478B2
A circuit is configured for providing reverse battery protection. The circuit includes a load driver circuit having at least a first half-bridge circuit with topside and bottomside transistors coupled at a midpoint node by a first current terminal of both the topside and bottomside transistors. A second current terminal of the bottomside transistor is coupled to a voltage common node. The circuit also includes: a reverse battery protection transistor having a first current terminal coupled to a battery supply node and a second current terminal coupled to a second current terminal of the topside transistor; a bootstrap capacitor having a first terminal coupled to a the midpoint node between the topside and bottomside transistors of the first half-bridge circuit; and a diode having an anode coupled to a second terminal of the bootstrap capacitor and a cathode coupled to a control terminal of the reverse battery protection transistor.
US09331476B2
A solid-state fault current limiter including a current splitting reactor, comprising a system current input, a passive current output and a control current output. A voltage control reactor includes a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the control current output and the second end coupled to the passive current output. A fault current trigger circuit coupled in parallel with the voltage control reactor and configured to open when a fault current, received by the system current input, exceeds a predefined trigger current. A transient voltage control circuit coupled in parallel with the voltage control reactor to receive the fault current.
US09331474B1
A drive transistor is connected to a resonant load in a low-side drive configuration. The voltage across the conduction terminals of the drive transistor is sensed and compared to an over-voltage threshold. An over-voltage signal is asserted in response to the comparison. The drive transistor is controlled by a PWM control signal in normal mode. In response to the assertion of the over-voltage signal, the drive transistor is forced to turn on (irrespective of the PWM control signal) to relieve the over-voltage condition. Operation of the circuit may be disabled or forced into soft start mode in response to the assertion of the over-voltage signal. Additionally, the pulse width of the PWM control signal may be reduced in response to the assertion of the over-voltage signal.
US09331464B2
An electrical power system including a first power entry unit, at least one receptacle, and a second power entry unit. The at least one receptacle is electrically connected to the first power entry unit. The second power entry unit is electrically connectable to the at least one receptacle. The first power entry unit and the second power entry unit include at least one detection device. Either the first power entry unit or the second power entry unit is a selected power entry unit and the remaining one is another power entry unit. The detection device is configured to preclude an electrical power connection of both the selected power entry unit and the other power entry unit to the at least one receptacle.
US09331449B2
A gas laser oscillator includes a first control valve for controlling an amount of laser gas supplied into a gas container, a second control valve for controlling an amount of laser gas exhausted from the gas container, and a controller for controlling openings of the first and second control valves. The controller includes a storage unit for storing data indicating a relationship between the laser gas pressure in the gas container, the opening of the second control valve, and the exhaust amount of laser gas, a gas pressure control unit for controlling the openings of the first and second control valves, respectively, such that the laser gas pressure becomes closer to a reference gas pressure, and a gas consumption amount control unit for controlling the openings of the first and second control valves, respectively, such that the exhaust amount of laser gas becomes closer to a target consumption amount.
US09331447B2
A crimping apparatus includes a ram having crimp tooling for crimping a terminal to a wire during a crimp stroke and a force sensor detecting a crimp force during the crimp stroke. The crimping apparatus also includes a controller that monitors the crimp quality of a crimp based on a frequency profile of the crimp. Optionally, the controller may create the frequency profile based on a force profile using a frequency transform algorithm. The frequency transform algorithm may be a Fast Fourier Transform algorithm.
US09331441B2
An electrical power adapter has first and second prongs that are retractable and deployable. When the prongs are in the deployed position the adapter may be mated with a receptacle and when in the retracted position the adapter has a reduced physical size. A linkage couples the first prong to the second prongs such that the first and second prongs retract and deploy simultaneously. An actuation mechanism causes the prongs to have a first detent in the deployed position and a second detent in the retracted position.
